Hinduism can offer an apt and nuanced way of understanding the complex workings of the
psyche. The focus of this talk will be on the goddess Kali, whose name refers to time, black and death. Often depicted in horrific form, she has generally been portrayed as an image of the Terrible Mother in western psychology. In India, though, Kali, as a manifestation of the divine feminine, is mainly seen as saviour and protector. This presentation explores the myth of Kali as portrayed in the Devimahatmyam, the 2,500-year-old religious text translated as “In Praise of the Goddess,” wherein Kali is engaged in the epic battle to save the gods. It will include historical and philosophical background and will apply a symbolic understanding of the story to clinical understanding and practice.
