Ahimsa: The Fierce Softness of the Heart

Let’s begin by taking a breath together.
In through the nose…
Out through the mouth.
Let the body soften. Let the mind arrive.

Today, I want to speak about Ahimsa—the first of the Yamas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Often translated as non-violence or non-harming, Ahimsa can easily be misunderstood as simply “not hurting others.” But it’s much deeper than that.

Ahimsa is not just an ethical guideline—it’s a living, breathing practice. One that we explore not only through our actions, but through our breath, our thoughts, our choices, and our relationships.

It asks us to consider:

• How do I speak to myself when I feel like I’ve failed?
  

• What inner narratives do I repeat that shrink me?
  

• Where do I rush, override, or ignore what my body truly needs?
  

• Where do I withhold softness—from myself, or from others?
  

Ahimsa is not passive. It’s not just the absence of harm—it’s the presence of love. Of radical kindness. Of fierce softness.
It’s a commitment to remembering that every being—including you—is worthy of tenderness.

A Living Expression of Ahimsa: The Mantra

There’s a mantra I often return to when working with Ahimsa:

Om Jaya Jagadambe He Ma Durga,
Jaya Jagadambe He Ma Durga,
Ma Kali Durge Namo Namah

This is a devotion to Ma Durga and Ma Kali—two forms of the Divine Mother, embodiments of sacred feminine power.

• Durga is the protectress, riding into battle to restore balance—not out of vengeance, but from love. She reminds us that non-violence doesn’t mean inaction. Sometimes it means speaking truth. Drawing boundaries. Walking away. Standing up for someone (or some part of ourselves) that has no voice.
  

• Kali, fierce and transformative, cuts through illusion and ego with her sword of truth. She destroys what holds us back—not to punish, but to liberate. This, too, is Ahimsa. Sometimes the most loving act is to burn down what no longer serves.

This mantra reminds us that true non-violence is rooted in strength. In clarity. In deep love.

Om: The Sound of Connection

At the heart of it all is Om—the vibration of all creation. When we chant Om, we tap into the deep knowing that we are not separate. That what we do to another, we do to ourselves.

When we embody Ahimsa, we live in harmony with this truth.
We choose softness over self-criticism.
We choose boundaries over burnout.
We choose love—even when it’s hard.

A Practice, Not Perfection

Let Ahimsa meet you where you are today.

Let it:

• Soften what has become rigid.

• Strengthen what has weakened.

• Remind you that you don’t need to be perfect—just present, and kind.
  

Let this be your mantra and your mirror:

Om Jaya Jagadambe He Ma Durga
Jaya Jagadambe He Ma Durga
Ma Kali Durge Namo Namah

May We Remember

May we walk with peace.
May we speak with kindness.
May we remember the divine mother within.

A bow to you.
To this path.
And to all beings, everywhere.

Inspiration:

Listen: I am - Beautiful Chorus, India.Arie

Read: The Four Agreements - Don Miguel Ruiz