Shiva, symbol of the power of transformation. Photo by Marisa04
Today is Maha Shivaratri, a celebration of the power each of us has to transform our lives. But what does that mean? That we have to start yet another new routine, or practice, or observance, that will finally help us get where we want to go? Actually, true change requires just the opposite: letting go of everything in our lives that does not reflect who we are in our heart of hearts.
Shiva represents this idea in all its - sometimes terrifying - glory, which is why he is feared by some as the Destroyer (Brahma being the creator and Vishnu representing preservation). But more precisely, Shiva symbolizes the destruction of ideas, things and habits that keep us from manifesting all we are meant to become in our lives, all that keeps us from starting anew as the person we want to be.
These ideas are presented in Shiva’s stories and iconography. In one tale, a father tries to prevent Shiva from marrying his daughter because Shiva refuses to bend to societal expectations. Shiva wears what He wishes (a tiger skin), does His hair as He wishes (in matted locks), and hangs out with whom He wishes (those whom society views as outcasts). Shiva is purely Himself. He is often equated with the unchanging element of consciousness within us, that part of us that we constantly identify as “us” despite the changes which may happen in our bodies or lifestyles over the years.
Sometimes Shiva wears nothing at all, and this really bothers some people. This presentation depicts Him as one who needs no additional trappings to move through the world, one who has shed anything that is not genuinely Him, and is simply Himself - nothing more, nothing less. The people who most fear Him are the ones who feel the need to cover up, to hide, to be ashamed of parts of who they are. Shiva demonstrates the freedom that comes with being comfortable with who one is.
For many of us, the time of Lent is fast approaching. Lent represents a time when a seeker makes a concerted effort to change something that has been holding them back on their journey. Often, it is associated with adding something on to one’s already busy daily routine, but actually it also allows for letting go of something that is holding one back: negative thoughts, a dependence on something in the material world, a limiting belief. Even those who do not regularly observe this practice can create a Lent of their own, dedicating a number of days or weeks to shedding something that is no longer needed nor beneficial.
Today, Maha Shivaratri, is said to be a highly auspicious time to try a fresh approach to life, perhaps because millions of people the world over will be doing exactly that. But any day can be a Shivaratri. Any year can be a Lent. Cathy and I have dedicated 2023 to this theme of lasting transformation in our lives and yoga practice. We invite you to join us as we undertake the most scary yet exhilarating quest a person can begin: the quest to live who you really are. When that happens, your life will change, your health will change, your relationships will change. Won’t you join us?
Om Namah Shivaya - salutations to the great power of transformation!