Vignette from last month … A workshop drawing the symbol “Matangi”, creating your own portal of creative Shakti, taught by Chanti Tacoronte-Perez.
Matangi is considered to be the Tantric form of Sarasvati, the goddess of music and learning. Like Sarasvati, Matangi governs speech, music, knowledge and the arts. Her worship is prescribed to acquire supernatural powers, especially gaining control over enemies, attracting people to oneself, acquiring mastery over the arts and gaining supreme knowledge. (Don’t we all need her help? lol)
Yes, Matangi is Wisdom Goddess of creativity and speech. Matangi’s power is to access our authentic voice and to speak from the “deepest expression of our hearts” (Frawley).
Chanti shows the way through the process that “creativity is a balancing act of complete surrender coupled with discipline. Matangi being an “outcast” is free to play in the waters of the unconscious, where the bounty of creativity can be accessed.” Her workshop allows us “to identify our own creative power or explore the possibility of introducing creativity to our practice and life.” (excerpt from her workshop flyer:)
We began (really with hot cup of chai …then) with meditation and contemplation of Matangi and our own creative shakti. In constructing the Matangi yantra, we slow down our minds, shift the mood and perspectives where you can see your inner-Self a little better. Taking time out – Chanting and focusing … in meditation and contemplation of “Matangi and our own creative Shakti(power/energy)”.
Yoginis in a beautiful private yoga room.
SO peaceful.
A lovely yogina brought over a plate of homemade raw cacao/dark chocolate covered coconut balls to share …sweetened only with maple syrup, she says. Thank you for where to find the recipe – found it!
Look, I picked out this card out of this stack of cards!
Buddha card … You draw to yourself what you find inspirational in his teachings.
Lines not straight and not as symmetrical as I’d like it to be but … for first timer, it’s okay? It’s the process that was most special …Used the wrong paint brush – next time, shall use a thinner brush for more control… Drishti focal point to the center of the geometrical shapes until you start seeing … the vision.
Thank you Friend for hosting Chanti’s Yantra session. Love Chanti – she’s so down to earth and so skilled – Usually, anyone sharing the same set of teachers is a kindred soul. Kind of felt this sisterhood and feeling of serenity sweeping over the room as we used the ruler, compass, pencil and erasers like kids back in school … all yoginis, all certified yoga instructors maybe?, drawing and sipping chai. Felt soooo much at home:)
Here’s Chanti’s homepage www.yantrawisdom.com.
She’s in Hawaii most of the time so for the yoga classes … when you are in the islands – Aloha:)
About Chanti:
Chanti’s passion is to inspire everyone to find their creative Self though movement, effortlessness and sadhana. She has been studying and teaching yoga in the Tantric Hatha Linage since 2005 initiated by her teacher Yogarupa Rod Stryker, founder of ParaYoga. Chanti has studied the art of Restorative Yoga & the practical applications of yoga therapy with Judith Lasater and she travels to India yearly, where she studies Sacred Art with Mavis Gewant and Pieter Weltevrede. Currently Chanti is attending Pacifica Graduate Institute pursuing her masters in Humanities with and emphasis on Depth Psychology deepening her exploration of healing through creative practice.
A soothing art therapy for the yogini needing an escape, some self-care. To me any place of yoga practice is a … sanctuary. Dear Yogini Friend, thank you again and again for holding the space, to me a sanctuary, so lovely.
