About a month ago, we celebrated Dhūmāvatī Jayanti. Of the 10 esoteric forms of Kālī known as the Daśamahavidyās, Dhūmāvati, the widow is perhaps the most mysterious, misunderstood and feared of all the Tantrik Goddesses.

She bears a striking resemblance to the Morrigan and the Cailleach in Gaelic/Celtic traditions and her dhyāna mantra (presented below) might remind you of the (albeit often somewhat cartoonish) caricature of the "witch" you find at department stores around Hallowe'en. No coincidence there!

In this video, we talk all about this and more! Also: Before we gave our lecture on just who this mysterious Tantrik Goddess is and what she represents, we first went and performed her worship using her dhyāna mantra (presented below) in a guided meditation.
You can practice that here.

विवर्णकुन्तला रूक्षा विधवा विरलद्विजा ॥
काकध्वजरथारूढा विलम्बितपयोधरा ।
शूर्पहस्तातिरूक्षाक्षी धृतहस्ता वरान्विता ॥
प्रवृद्धघोणा तु भृशं कुटिला कुटिलेक्षणा ।
क्षुत्पिपासार्दिता नित्यं भयदा कलहप्रिया ॥

Pale and restless, irritable and old
Clad in soiled garments
Pale-haired, dry-skinned
A widow with few teeth
Mounted atop a chariot whose flag is a crow
With drooping breasts and surpassingly cruel eyes
Who holds a winnowing basket
Who shows the boon bestowing gesture
A crone with crooked nose and crooked eyes
Who is always hungry and thirsty, quarrelsome and fearsome.

Lectures happen live on zoom every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and Friday at 6pm PST.  There's Q&A right after the lectures. 
It is free and open to the public. All are welcome!
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815
Our hatha yoga class is Monday 5pm PST with Amrita and Wednesdays at 11am PST and again at Friday 5pm PST with me via this same link also.

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM

Support the show

Lectures happen live every Monday at 7pm PST and Friday 10am PST and again Friday at 6pm PST.
Use this link and I will see you there:
https://www.zoom.us/j/7028380815

For more videos, guided meditations and instruction and for access to our lecture library, visit me at:
https://www.patreon.com/yogawithnish

To get in on the discussion and access various spiritual materials, join our Discord here: https://discord.gg/U8zKP8yMrM