In ancient times, earth goddesses ruled the world. With the emergence of patriarchy around 1500 years ago however, they were dethroned in all but one place: India. In Hinduism, goddess energy, aka 'Shakti', is considered the foundation of life itself - the creative force that is responsible for the creation, nurturing and destruction of the universe. With a wild and heartfelt passion, this feminine life force has been worshipped throughout the ages in India in the shape of goddesses, as diverse and colorful as the real-life women who inspired them, from graceful Durga to fearsome Kali. Of all the Hindu goddesses who embody love, Lalita ('She who plays') may be my favorite. In a playful yet passionate way, she urges us to love: ourselves, each other and perhaps most importantly, the earth.

Born out of fire, Lalita is exquisitely sensuous, a beauty with thick flower-scented hair and golden-red skin. According to an ancient Sanskrit text*, her eyes look like 'fish playing in the lake of her face' while her ears have 'the sun and moon as studs'. I particularly like the description of Lalita's belly: it has 'three pretty folds' and 'wisps of beautiful hair'. Lalita is all about attraction; not just the kind that draws bees to flowers, but also the force that draws atoms together into molecules. A stunning manifestation of ancient Mother Earth energy.