Who is Dhumavati?
In my Vulva Wisdom Oracle© , this is the Tantric Wisdom Goddess Dhumavati. Embodied she is a powerful mature single wombn, possibly “widowed” or without a partner which is a stigma in many cultures even today.
Note: The words Woman and Female don't give the feminine it's own identity so I will be using the word wombn
She is the veil that separates waking reality from the world beyond the physical. Many fear her because she is wise and sees through deception.
She reduces the ego by seeing through it. She sees through phoniness in social mores and chooses her lovers, she may have her own money—but regardless knows how to take care of herself. Many of these wombn make up her own rules if she allows herself to be blessed by Dhumavati. She knows the power of her womb and may be a long practitioner of tantra and/or Taoist yoga, which are strongly sexual yoga based and focus on rejuvenation practices. She is in fact very sexually active with or without a partner(s) and enjoys the finer things in life including an active social life.
These wombn are either working through consciously and deliberately or have worked through and resolved their own emotional bitterness, jealousies and envy—or at least recognizes it in herself and does not feel ashamed or project it on others, she owns her shit. She ages with her wellbeing and health as a high priority and has little time or patience for nonsense. Her more mainstream counterparts wonder why she has the energy and appearance of a younger person and probably relies on natural healing as a first course of action in her own health plan. She understands that many ills and ailments are centered in the womb, liver, and kidneys due to aging without addressing emotions of bitterness, regret, and jealousy and recognizes that engaging in rabid competition and envy of her younger and in demand sisters is a futile practice. She knows how to physically take care of herself during the “change of life.”
She is often depicted as ugly, “haggish”, toothless, unkempt, etc at worst and a "cougar" at best—all patriarchal labels.
Unconscious, she often does not know the power of her womb. By the way, Dhumavati's amrita (spiritual power) is illusion/smoke and mirrors. The cosmetic industry both surgical and chemical has a huge stake in goddess wombn of Dhumavati in her unconscious phase. She is a wombn of “emptiness” meaning nothing can “hold” her she is free. Dhumavati also is associated traditionally with the experience of suffering; mentally, physically and emotionally. The purpose only your soul knows and you have to connect with this more knowledgeable part of yourself to understand what is going on. She is the wisdom of knowing when to let go—final acceptance of death and change. She is an aspect of Kali but does not have the regenerative force of Kali. For Her death is final.
The reason for this introduction is to acquaint the reader with the part of Tantra that is an essence teaching. The definition of living a tantric life is this:
- Tantra is a path of living in harmony with the natural world and the larger multilayered universe; the organic alkhemy which comes from weaving personal and spiritual energies is the magic that is tantra.
- Why "tantric black yogini?" It's who I am and have been for 30 plus years is the simple answer. My experiences are definitely not that of the younger yoginis of any race.
My experiences as a Black wombn in the yoga community is definitely different as even the way hatha yoga is practiced is different now than it was when I first started which was in 1978. My second yoga teacher was a wonderfully eccentric Black tantrika who I studied with for many years. Her classic hatha yoga style of teaching was under the same teacher from a yoga center in Cleveland, Ohio I studied with although we didn't take classes at the same time. My tantrika was a wild cross between Kali as Chamundi, Lalita, and Oya! A beautifully destructive Kali yoga witch if ever there was one.
She was a practitioner of 'dark chaos magick' i.e. Aleister Crowley and Abermelin.
I now know these men and their cults are very vampiric and are practicing chaotic aspects of Afrikan magic—specifically the Kemetic traditions. They will never know the real deal because it is one of those things in the dna that cannot be duplicated or cloned. The portals for these teachings must be opened to you. Otherwise there is a great deal of deception, false teachings, imposter spirits, etc.
I do know a strong hatha practice does help to ground you and gives you discernment if you choose to enter initiation into the deeper mysteries. Mother Kali led me simultaneously to the Dakinis, ShriVidya, Lalita and Kemetic initiation. I've come to love Mother Kali as a result of my teacher's introducing me to Her. That was my main takeaway with Shakala, my teacher.
It was through Kali as my teacher I came to know myself as a daughter of the Black Mother. It was the Black Mother as Kali who led me to deepen my yoga practices to become more
'kundalini, less hatha. These are my yoga roots.
After researching the "tantric" movement which is more 'neo-sexual tantra, the yogini/yogi/yoga movement, and the more recent Black yoga movement I see there is a real need for more experienced yogis/yoginis to stick around. Though no longer on Instagram, while there I saw it flooded with beautiful young yogis and yoginis in various asanas showing what is possible with a well-tuned body. It is important to be flexible (in mind and body) as that is the original purpose of hatha yoga (all of the different schools where the emphasis is on flexibility and bringing the body under the control of the mind are hatha yoga schools no matter what the creators call them). Hatha yoga prepares the body for long periods of meditation—clears the nadis—which is a part of the subtle nervous system, strengthens the entire glandular and nervous system as well as calms the emotions. But, asanas and pranayama are only a small part of the whole picture and on the tantric path, asana or "seat" becomes the entire being; it reveals the inner condition of several layers of your being.
I often wonder how many yogis and yoginis of Instagram meditate, know their inner conditions, do mantras, etc. What I'm saying is not a negative against what is happening in the yoga community only a meditative observation on what the younger ones want from their yoga practice; there is so much more potential for a deeper, richer personal experience.
What I have seen is that without an experienced and grounded teacher and/or support when all of the "stuff" comes up as a result of the clearing nature of yoga all hell breaks loose in the aspirant's life. Even in hatha yoga. Emotions can be out of control, trigger points are heightened, desires can be uncontrollable. And that's just the practitioner's stuff. Yoga can also work on the ancestral cellular level and astral frequencies. Old wounds, experiences, and unresolved relationship issues will often surface sending the person down confusing paths. A reliable, supportive lineage is a big help in keeping somewhat centered when the going gets really tough.
From time to time I will blog about my journey so far as a Black tantrika. I've built up a legacy from the years of practice, teaching, magical unfolding, working through my own delusions, deceptions, self depreciation anger, rage, insights, love journey, resolutions, etc. My experiences can be either a cautionary tale and/or pathway of healing for those who embrace the yogini/dakini path. The jewels here real and I invite you, for those interested, to journey with me.
Head to the sky, feet rooted in earth - Awakened Oracle
