I love Asia and visited temples in India, Nepal, China and Japan. The divinity that I worship is a Tara, the female counterpart of a Bodhisattva, a small gold metal and turquoise stones statue made in Tibet in the 18th century and used during religious ceremonies. I selected Her because it was a feminine divinity, an important factor for me, perhaps because I grew up praying to the Virgin Mary, and because God has always been presented as masculine, hence my need to bring some balance; in addition, the small size of my Tara makes it easy to take with me when I travel.
In the books of Agni Yoga, which I am studying, the epoch we are in is described as the Epoch of Women. The Mother of the World is the feminine aspect of divinity, my Tara represents that divinity. I quote from Letters of Helena Roerich, Volume I, 11 January 1935: “The star of the Mother of the World is the planet Venus. In 1924 this planet for a short time came unusually near to the Earth. Its rays were poured on Earth, and this created many new powerful and sacred combinations which will yield great results. Many feminine movements were kindled by these powerful rays.”
Mother of the World, N.K. Roerich, Roerich Museum, New York
In 1924, Nicholas K. Roerich, husband of Helena Roerich, painted several variations of his painting "The Mother of the World." (Letters II, 24 August 1936). The “Mother of the World” painting is exhibited at the Roerich Museum in New York City.
Patience, steadfastness and an unshakable fervor are key here to discover/experience what that divinity is. When I visualize Her image and place it in my heart center, I feel a sharp sensation, at times stronger than others. This feels like a confirmation that I am making a connection, but the mystery remains. At times I feel closer to Her than at others. In my effort to discover who/what She is I endeavor to bring Her into my daily activities, like a friend who is always on my side. When I have a difficult day, I ask Her for help; I offer Her my joys as well. Many times after I’ve made my offerings at home I play the CD of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, “In Paradisum”, for Her, because I find the ethereal quality of the celestial voices of the choir very uplifting; I also think that my Tara resides in such a peaceful and ethereal energy field.
Every day I pray that I may be able to see Her where She resides. Today, as I reflected on that, I thought She resides in my heart.