Awakening Shakti: The Transformative Power of the Goddesses of Yoga

Since beginning to read this book, I have called, texted, e-mailed, Facebook shared and told in person, every woman I know that this book is something they would benefit from reading. The way feminine power is viewed as not only positive but necessary in the Hindu cosmology is so good for women of the Western world to recognize, it can be life-altering. Those parts of ourselves that we in the West are taught to repress are instead exalted in Hindu cosmology because they are viewed as aspects of the one Ultimate source of all that is, the goddess Shakti, who broke herself into tiny pieces from the one whole, giving us the illusion of separateness when in fact we are unified on a personal level (all aspects of ourselves) and on a cosmic level (we are the stuff that stars are made of). So instead of repressing our sexuality so that we are not branded as sluts or told that we "deserve what happens to you" when you express said sexuality in dress or in other ways, that aspect has its own goddesses who are celebrated and honored for those very qualities. There are avenues of expression such as devotion to one's spouse or lover, or other outpourings of expressions of love that are available and again, worshipped and wished for, as opposed to here where those longings remain secret on behalf of both men and women. Here in the America most women are taught to repress their anger lest they be deemed "bitches". But Durga is worshiped in India exactly because when she gets angry, legions of people, entire countries, are saved from horrible fates by the compassion her righteous anger represents and delivers. The Hindu goddesses serve as archetypes representing aspects of ourselves, all of which come together to make us whole. We need all sides of ourselves to fully function in order to fulfill our life's purpose. The repression of anger and sexuality takes out of play two very powerful energetic forces for change in our lives and in the world. This book discusses ways of looking at ourselves that bring understanding and eliminate shame embedded in our psyches by the conditioning of our cultures. This book is an opportunity to heal some of the wounds our conditioning has inflicted. I invite all women and their male consorts to get a copy and read so that you may begin to recognize which archetypal energies you manifest naturally, which ones have met with societal resistance and led you to repress them, and which ones could serve you if you are lacking them, so that you may be a more fully realized person having a more complete life experience. Blessings on your journeys :-)

I'm moved to write a review of this book because of the powerful shifts it is helping to create in my life. Other reviewers have expertly explained the contents and the value of the exercises. I have only to add that the author's own deep spiritual work (and perhaps the energies of the goddesses themselves) create the effect of love emanating from every page. Kempton is able to see the gifts of each goddess (and thus every personality type in the human spectrum) clearly and without bias. She says she is a Saraswati woman, but she describes that goddess with no more or less devotion than she offers Lakshmi, Kali, or Lalita: all are revered and welcomed. The exercises and meditations she offers feel deeply relevant for the issues each particular goddess raises in one's own experience -- no cursory work here. The effect is that one can actually identify with each of the energies being presented and truly "find oneself" through communion with each goddess. There's no "woo-woo" factor here: Kempton doesn't insist we believe in goddesses as beings in the sky. This could just as easily be a positive alternative to the Myers-Briggs or the Enneagram, particularly for women. Of course, she doesn't dissuade us from conceiving of them as actual goddesses, either; giving us the gentle reassurance that inviting them into our lives will indeed make a difference. I'd particularly recommend this book to women in transition, whether that's college graduation, about to embark on motherhood, menopause, the empty nest, or moving toward the end of life. It's comforting and freeing at once. Bless you, Sally Kempton, for putting so much love, life energy and responsible reporting into this project. You are truly changing lives.

The teachings contained in this book are pure gold. Every chapter contains teachings on a different Mahavidya - that is, an aspect of the Goddess, or Divine Mother. The book is FILLED with practices that are useful in navigating life. I started my own table of contents (TOC) on the different practices so I could go right to them when I needed to practice with them, then I started starring the practices in the TOC. As Ms. Kempton states in the book, the book can be used and referred to over a lifetime to explore the different energies, find what is personally useful at the time, become closer to the Divine. Amazing stuff. Sally Kempton's style of writing is so accessible, personable, even intimate. When I read stories of the different Goddess myths, I felt as though she were in the room with me. I have never met her personally but I pictured her gesturing as she was telling the stories, her eyes alive with merriment and mystique at the start of the story, full of warmth, joy and satisfaction as the story closed. So much fun! Her energy is steeped into the words of this book.

I'm still working with the goddess energies. I've made it to Lakshmi Goddess. I love the stories, the meditations, and the contemplations that Sally offers and invites each of us to use. It is a lucid, well written work. I am probably a quarter of the way through it so far and keep sipping at it like a fine wine. One reason I don't want to rush through from cover to cover is because this is a book to really follow along with closely. I have made powerful insights and discoveries along the way. An important point I wish to make about this book is that it is not gender-biased. My being a man reading this has given me greater appreciation for both sexes, but more importantly, a deeper and expanded felt sense of the intimate divine, as I like to think of it. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to have a light beacon in dark times. You will derive much from this book. It will become your friend while you wade through mysterious and challenging life situations.

An excellent meditation guide for shakti sadhana. The author is an experienced scholar and practitioner with over forty years of experience. I highly recommend this book for all wishing to take yoga to a deeper level.

I've been very slowly savoring this book for about five months, mostly because I didn't want to get to the end. I learned SO much about Hindu goddesses, and the author presents the information in an accessible and compelling way. Each chapter, which follows the same format, is centered around a specific goddess and includes meditations to help the reader manifest the goddess and her energy. Even if you don't particularly believe in Hinduism or goddesses, a person could benefit from reading this book by exploring personality archetypes. Each person embodies a combination of Hindu goddess archetypes, and it can be helpful when you want to enhance or diminish certain aspects of your personality. I received so much "food for thought" from this book and now have a lot that I want to explore on my own. I didn't do all the meditations on the first read, but I can now refer to ones that I want to do. Very well written and organized. I highly recommend.

The author's intimate experiential knowledge, deep reflection and lively intellect combined with her ability to tell a story and convey information in a manner easily understood by a new student or an experienced spiritual seeker/practitioner, makes this book an absolute must for anyone with even a small degree of curiosity or desire to know if there really is "something more than just this". Having read the book on my Kindle I have ordered two copies in paper book form to lend to friends and yoga students because I consider it the most useful work I have ever read both for understanding the Goddess qualities in all existence and for personal transformation. As a therapist,meditator and spiritual seeker/practitioner of many years, I have gained new insights and new perspectives from every section of this book. I would recommend it to those taking their first steps into personal development, experienced practitioners and everyone in-between regardless of gender.

This is one of my favorite books. I do not need another book on mediation. The author is so awesome in her descriptions and offers exercises that may have a profound effect on the reader. I have experienced shifts in my life whenever I follow any of these exercises or mediations. I loved the way the book opens your mind to different ways of seeing the world. You really must read it cover to cover to understand. I am rereading this book a lot. I have shared with friends but they have to get their own copy because it really is a reference. I have read a lot of books on spirituality and meditation and this is my favorite. I am not sure if this author has many other books but I highly recommend this and any other books Sally Kempton has wrote. She writes from experience, and if you do read it you will know what I mean when I say this author gains the reader's trust through this book. This book can help restore a sense of true empowerment in women but it is so much more than that, because it is not just for women.