Awakening Shakti, by Sally Kempton

Dear reader!  

I begin with a caveat: I have *not* read this book from cover to cover. Yet, I am writing this review because I am convinced that it is absolutely not necessary for an honest take on the merits of this book. This is because of the unique way that I love to experience a book like this, whose goal is to connect us to our individual and divine feminine shakti (AKA our power). If you’re interested in tapping into “the power to be conscious, the power to feel ecstasy, the power of will or desire, the power to know, and the power to act,” then read on, my friend. 

Kempton begins with an introduction to the divine feminine as a concept, along with a clear, digestible overview of the “grand tantric narrative.” After that, she delves straight into the exploration of 11 Hindu Goddesses, with a chapter devoted to each. Each chapter includes an image and overview of the goddess, as well as multiple practices to connect with her directly.  

The goddesses covered are as follows: 

• Durga: “the warrior, cosmic protector, and empowering mother.” 

• Lakshmi: “the goddess of good fortune, wealth, and inner and outer abundance.” 

• Kali: “The mysterious, terrifying, fiercely loving goddess who brings radical change into your life and ultimately dissolves all forms into the void.” 

• Parvati: “the goddess of the sacred marriage; the divine yogini, who embodies the power of creative will.” 

• Saraswati: “the goddess of language, creative intuition, music, eloquence, and speech.”  

• Sita: “the faithful wife, guardian of the womb, goddess of the earth and its mysteries.” 

• Radha: “the goddess of erotic devotional love who carries the gift of divine longing and mystical surrender.” 

• Dhumavati: “the crone goddess who teaches us how to turn disappointment into spiritual growth.”  

• Chinnamasta: “the goddess who presides over the sacrifice of the false self.” 

• Lalita Tripura Sundari: “the queenly goddess of sacred sexuality as well as the highest form of mystical experience, whose blessing unites the energy of the body with the energy of the spirit.”  

• Bhuvaneshwari: “the goddess of sacred space who creates reality out of the infinite space and dissolves all limitations into herself.”  

  
  

Each of us has aspects of these goddesses within ourselves, though we may not even be aware of this! Thus, Kempton's book serves as an illustrative and practical doorway into deeper self-awareness and power!

Now, back to my particular way of working with this book and other’s like it. What I do is to close my eyes and let the book guide me as to where it wants to be opened. Then I work with the goddess it has chosen for me. Some are shorter than others, some are more challenging, but this practice makes it so that I feel held by the universe and guided in my self-discovery! 

To be clear, this is not your basic “find the goddess within” text, encouraging you to put a flower in your hair and a smile on your lips. It is not for those who want only “love and light,” and desire to ignore the shadow side of life and the darker aspects of the divine feminine. This is a text for practical embodiment of the many different facets of our individual shakti as a spiritual and psychological practice! 

As ever, if you’re interested in purchasing a copy, I encourage you to shop here in order to support local bookstores! 

With love for words and self-discovery, 

Sarah