Mansi Poddar- Trauma Informed Psychotherapist Working Globally

psychotherapist in India by Mansi Poddar

Feminine Archetypes in Indian Mythology and Their Reclamation refers to the process of revisiting powerful mythological figures-like Kali, Durga, Saraswati, Lakshmi, Sita, Radha, and others-not just as deities to be worshipped, but as psychological and symbolic blueprints for healing, identity, and empowerment.

What Are Feminine Archetypes?

In Jungian and cultural psychology, archetypes are universal patterns or energies that exist within the human psyche. Indian mythology offers a rich spectrum of feminine archetypes that embody everything from rage to tenderness, wisdom to wildness, devotion to destruction.

Common Feminine Archetypes in Indian Mythology:

1. Kali - Fierce, wild, and boundary-destroying. She represents feminine rage, the power to destroy illusion and ego. Reclaiming Kali means allowing your anger, power, and sacred "no" to rise.
2. Durga - Warrior and protector. She symbolizes inner strength, resilience, and the ability to stand for justice.
3. Saraswati - The archetype of knowledge, creativity, voice, and discernment. Reclaiming her means reclaiming your right to speak, study, express, and be heard.
4. Lakshmi - Abundance, beauty, and self-worth. She's about prosperity not just in wealth, but in nourishment and joy.
5. Sita - Traditionally seen as the ideal wife, but reclaiming Sita could mean honoring your own endurance, grief, and resilience-while questioning the ideal of silent suffering
6. Radha - Embodies longing, emotional depth, and divine love. Her story also speaks to unfulfilled desire and devotion beyond norms.

Why Reclamation Is Necessary:

Many Indian women have been conditioned to worship these goddesses but are discouraged from embodying their traits-especially those that challenge patriarchy (like anger, independence, sensuality, or assertiveness). Reclamation means:
- Deconstructing patriarchal interpretations of mythology
- Seeing these figures as mirrors of our own inner lives
- Using them as anchors for emotional healing and self-expression
- Integrating them into therapy, journaling, ritual, and bodywork

How Reclamation Can Look in Practice:

- Journaling with archetypes: "What would Kali say about this boundary I need to set?" "Where is Saraswati's voice within me?"
- Movement and dance: Embodying Durga or Kali through movement to process anger or reclaim agency.
- Inner parts work: Seeing these archetypes as internal figures who can guide, protect, or empower wounded parts.
- Creative exploration: Painting, storytelling, poetry, or drama to connect with these energies.

Final Thought:

Reclaiming feminine archetypes is a sacred act of remembering who we were before we were told who we should be. These goddesses are not outside us-they live in our bodies, our bloodlines, our longings. And by reclaiming them, Indian women can begin to heal centuries of suppression and step into wholeness
Disclaimer- the narrations are not based on a particular persons life. They are the descriptions of how trauma and healing manifest in first person voice.

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