In God Makes the Rivers to Flow; An Anthology of the World’s Sacred Poetry & Prose, Eknath Easwaran has included a selection from the Chandi and entitled it “Hymn to the Divine Mother.”  I have written the following poem-like reflections inspired by this selection.

Greeting the Mother

O thou the giver of all blessings,
O thou the doer of all good,
O thou the fulfiller of all desires,
O thou the giver of refuge—
Our salutations to thee, O Mother Divine.
—The Chandi

Count your blessings—the bread on your table, the shoes on your feet—and add them to the Divine.  The equation will equal the Source.  It will be wine overflowing in your cup.

Consider every hand that you’ve held.  That is the hand of the Mother.

Consider every friend who has helped you.  That is the Source at work.

Consider every person or pet you’ve ever loved, or who has ever loved you.  You have received the love of God.

Keep in mind that everything you’ve ever owned was first owned by the Mother, the Divine, the Source, God.

Keep in mind that every place you’ve hid has been built by the Lord.

Every sanctuary of peace offers the peace of God.

The Mother surrounds you.  God is within you.  The Divine loves you.  The Source made you.

All is one, and you are one with all.

Greet the Mother with a holy kiss.  She will never betray you.