Heart of Yogini Navaratri

Namaskaram

Navaratri-Nine Nights for the Mother Ya Devi aarva bhuteshu shanthi roopaena samsthitha Namastasyai namastasyai namastasyai namo namah (I bow to the Great Mother who manifests in all beings in the form of peace.) Navaratri is a nine-night (nava meaning "nine," ratri meaning "night") period dedicated to the triple form of the Shakti that helps us to transform the shadow world during the changing of the season (Ma Durga), to celebrate the sublime creative flow (Ma Saraswati), to realize abundance of love, beauty, and generosity (Sri Lakshmi), and to celebrate the victory of consciousness as the culminating point of the sadhana period (Vijaya Dashami). While this celebration is additionally honored in the spring season, the autumn festivities often come with more grandeur. The first three nights are dedicated to Ma Durga. She is often on a tiger or a lion; she is resplendent in a red sari. She has ten different weapons of consciousness, and her primary text is the Devi Mahatmyam. Ma Durga is the invincible force of consciousness. She can overcome any forces of regression, negativity, or obstacles that do arise, particularly in adult life. Often these are psychological forces, although sometimes they may literally be physical obstacles. It is important during the Durga puja phase to reclaim one's personal energetic magnetic field. Over the next three nights, a connection is made with Ma Lakshmi, who is the abundant flow of creation in all forms that sustains both our own life and the lives of others-this includes all forms of sustenance food, money, and vitality. She is often seen seated on a lotus flower, and her primary text is the Sri Lakshmi Sahasranama Sthothra. The final three nights are spent worshipping the Mother as Saraswati, the Goddess of wisdom, creation, and intelligence. She is primarily seen with a peacock or swan, and her foremost text is the Saraswati Veda. This final phase of Navaratri is an auspicious time for transformation, manifesting prosperity, creating shifts toward more balance, and feeling supported in academic and literary pursuits. Honoring Navaratri may include ritual fasting, large or householder-style pujas, daily ritual offering of mantra japa, and deeper study of the different aspects of the Great Mother. Fasts can vary in intensity, from eating just fruit, to fasting with milk, to a kitchari fast. Other ways of fasting include eating vegetarian or vegan, or eating just once a day. Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Vishnumaayeti Shabdita Namastasyei Namastasyei Namastasyei Namo Namah Salutations to Divine Mother-Shakti Devi The power of Lord Vishnu, who abides in all beings Who abides as the eternal consciousness in all beings. Who manifests as power in all beings. Who abides in all beings in the form of forgiveness. Who manifests in all beings in the form of peace. Who manifests in all beings in the form of faith. Who abides in all beings in the form of beauty. Who abides in the form of compassion in all beings. Who abides in all beings in the form of delusion. The ruler of all senses and sensation The ruler of all elements The ruler of all creation and beings To This Divine Mother, My Heartfelt Salutations Shakti Devi pervades this entire universe and abides in all beings in the form of consciousness. Salutations to Her again and again -Devi Mahatmyam Navaratri Preparations Prepare your house and altar space by cleaning as best as possible with love and enjoyment. You are inviting Goddess into your heart and home. Begin to gather ritual items with peace and care: These are general altar items needed: * Images of the Great Mother through form - pictures or murtis (statues) and/or * Formless Symbols of the Goddess such as one or two womb shaped pots: * Brass pots for Kalasha (to be filled with blessed or purified water) and-or * Ceramic pot, soil and barley seeds to plant on the first night of Navaratri. * Sadhana seat, blanket and optional shawl to cover yourself during meditation for grounding and keeping energy contained * chant sheets, sacred texts Items that change: * Altar Cloth in red, orange, white, gold colors * Coconut, fruit, flowers for altar * Flowers : Lotus flower or yellow roses for Ma Saraswati and red flowers or roses for Ma Lakshmi. Jasmine or white flowers for Ma Durga. Puja altar items: * small bowl and spoon (for achamanam - purification practice) * ghee lamp or non-polluting candle * aarati lamp (if you cannot get one then just use ghee lamp or candle) and camphor (for aarati lamp) Optional: kumkum (red tumeric), sandle powder, vibhuti (sacred ash) - all available at an India store or online Daily Sadhana Commitments for morning and evening * Mantra japa for aspect of Shakti according day of the cycle (9-18 rounds) * Honoring the beginning and ending of the sadhana cycle by creating a samkalpa, dedication and bringing closure to the process.

Sadhana Overview & Guidelines in the Getting Started tab

We will stoke the fire of Soulful community ~ All Live Sessions with Shiva with Group Sessions on Replay Meditation - Live and replay Meditation, visualization and mantra as we meditate on the Namavali ~ garland of the mantras of the Goddess. Inspiration - passages, study of Devi Kavacha part of the Devi Mahatmya, Lalita Sahasranama, as well as background articles to understand the Navaratri cycle. Embodiment - weekly pranam, namaskar, Shakti Prana Flow movement meditation as Shakti Sadhana Our Seva Project 100% of our proceeds will be to support women's art in action: Happy Hats of Kashi, Pink Mandala Mats and Global Mala Offerings (see Below). * women in our angel pass program who receive this course for free (email yogaalcemy108@gmail.com) * shipping of a pink mandala mats to for our Shakti Angels program which provides pink mats and movement meditation for free * filming of the next Global Mala Movement Meditation for Women during Navaratri About the Heart of the Yogini The Heart of the Yogini is OPEN CIRCLE of women around the world coming together to tend the fire of our life-force and spiritual journey as women. We begin with our innermost connection to the heart of the mother and slowly over the course of the year to understand by heart a yogini's living sadhana in harmony with the rhythm, embodiment and lifestyle. This year-long open circle is intended to support embodiment and our daily connection to the Goddess within. To deepen with both lineage and creative practices Shakti Sadhana, to receive support in the yogini circle and awaken our understanding of the Great Mother Goddess traditions and historical yoginis. We open to the power of Navaratri or the Nine-Nights for daily meditation, ritual, mantra, prana vinyasa shakti namaskars and community altars. Navaratri is a 10-day sadhana period dedicated to the triple form of the Great Mother that is celebrated around the world during the transforming period of the Equinox when the world is in a delicate balance. Shakti Sadhana opens our life to transform (Ma Durga), create (Ma Saraswati), sustain as abundant love (Sri Lakshmi) and celebrate the victory of consciousness as the culminating point of the sadhana period (Vijaya Dashami). This journey is accompanied by simple life-sadhanas and a period of blessing and fortifying one's home to bless and celebrate the fruition of the year's journey at the following New Moon. This is a process that is inclusive to all spiritual backgrounds and encourages a personal approach to the universal teachings and practical wisdom of yoga. Sadhana includes guided audio meditations and videos. You can choose from 10 minutes to 1.5 hour of practice a day and connect with the collective in this transformative sadhana. Once you enroll, you can join the group every year. May all beings know the peace and support of the Great Mother. Jaya Mataji ki Jai!

New Moon Pranams + Song

Says “I am beautiful,” considers freedom and the soul, and repeats that we are all we need.

New Moon Sadhana Prep Call

A preparation call focused on the New Moon Sadhana practice.

Downloads

Durga Namaskar

Chant three Oms, practise Chandra Namaskar and Durga Namaskar with Malasana and Virabhadrasana II, exploring clarity, courage, and releasing obstacles.

Durga Namaskar Savasana

Deep relaxation accompanies recitation of Durga’s 108 names, honoring her forms as goddess, Shakti, protector, and destroyer of obstacles.

Day 1: Durga Puja 1

A class centered on the first Durga Puja practice session.

Day 2: Durga Puja 2

A class centered on the second Durga Puja practice session.

Day 3: Durga Puja 3

A class centered on the third Durga Puja practice session.

Sally Kempton Durga Meditation

A class centered on a meditation practice focused on Durga.

Lakshmi Namaskar I

Om, Chandra Namaskar, Lakshmi Namaskar, backbends, downward dog, cobra, Malasana and mudras cultivate Sri Lakshmi’s regenerative abundance.

Lakshmi Namaskar Savasana

Relaxing deeply while receiving Lakshmi’s 108 names and bowing to her as the divine mother, primordial power, and goddess of yoga.

Day 4: Lakshmi Puja 1

A class centered on the first Lakshmi Puja practice session.

Day 5: Lakshmi Puja 2

A class centered on the second Lakshmi Puja practice session.

Day 6: Lakshmi Puja 3

A class centered on the third Lakshmi Puja practice session.

Sri Suktam - An Ancient Vedic Hymn To Lakshmi

A class focused on Sri Suktam, an ancient Vedic hymn to Lakshmi.

Downloads

Saraswati Namaskar

Practice Saraswati Namaskar with seated meditation, Padma Mudra, Malasana, twists, lunges, pigeon variations, lotus visualization, and Saraswati mantras.

Saraswati Namaskar Savasana

Saraswati Namaskar and Savasana are the practices named in this class title.

Day 7: Saraswati Puja 1

A class centered on the first Saraswati Puja practice session.

Day 8: Saraswati Puja 2

A class centered on the second Saraswati Puja practice session.

Day 9: Saraswati Puja 3

A class centered on the third Saraswati Puja practice session.