Tantra for Today: Tara, Goddess of Wisdom and Compassion

This fall in this column Kathy Kali focuses on 3 goddesses who are important in Tantric Practice: Aphrodite, Tara, and Kali; embodying the powerful qualities of Sensuality,Compassion, and Transformation.

“Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha”

All Hail Great Goddess Tara! Liberate us from suffering and lead us into Immortality!

The Goddess Tara is the archetypal Great Mother. Compassionate and strong, she offers protection, peace, and wisdom to all who seek her. She is known as a great white flame, burning away ignorance and suffering, and bestowing enlightenment. Seated upon a lotus flower, which symbolizes the opening of the lower chakras, she gazes lovingly upon the world. In tantric dance practice, the”white flame” of Tara can often be felt by channeling sexual energy up the chakras into the heart, and by allowing softness, receptivity, and love to enter the body.

The story goes that millions of lifetimes ago Tara had an opportunity to ascend to the infinite realms but when she saw how much suffering there was in the world she decided to “stick around” to help all sentient beings. Her name means “she who saves” or “she who leads across” or “star.” She is worshipped widely today in Tibetan Buddhism(where she is known as “Dolma”) and in Hindu tantra. While some people honor her 21 different forms, White Tara, the peaceful mother of wisdom, and Green Tara, the dynamic mother of action, continue to be her most popular aspects.

Millions of people all over the world chant the Tara Sutra, or “Om Tara Tuttare Ture Soha”, in devotion to Tara’s spirit of Compassion. It is said that this practice releases negative karma, and purifies the psychic channels in the body, which allows compassion and generosity to flow more freely. Tantric Dance is also a wonderful way to connect with Tara, as the practice of mingling sexual energy with loving energy fills the body with light and powerful vibrations for healing.

Tuning in to Tara the Savioress can help us better take care of ourselves and others. In your life, where are you needing to be “saved”? And who in the world do you want to “save”? Meditating upon Tara, either in her peaceful, or dynamic form, we can make the necessary internal shifts to honor and love ourselves more fully. In addition, she provides a model for us to be fully embodied, loving beings on this planet at this time; awakened to our power and open in our hearts. Om Tare!

Kathy Kali is a tantric guide, and joyful devotee of the Great Mother. She teaches weekly classes in Tantric Dance of the Divine Feminine, a sensuous movement meditation for women. Contact Kathy at 846-0631 or www.tantricdance.org.