Episode 10 - Lakshmi’s Light & Shadow with Constantina Rhodes
Join Jeanie Manchester on the Evolutionary Women's Podcast as she dives deep into the sacred journey of spiritual awakening in everyday life. In this episode, Jeannie welcomes special guest Constantina Rhodes, a renowned scholar and intuitive consultant, to explore the divine feminine through the lens of Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and abundance. Together, they unravel the layers of Lakshmi’s presence—both her bright and shadow sides—and discuss how invoking the divine feminine can help us navigate challenging times with clarity, authenticity, and grace.
Constantina shares her profound insights on Lakshmi’s multifaceted nature, the importance of balancing material and spiritual wealth, and the transformative power of surrender and intuition. This episode is a rich blend of mythology, personal anecdotes, and practical wisdom, offering listeners tools to connect with their inner goddess energy and embrace life’s ebbs and flows.
Podcast Highlights
Exploring Intuition as a Divine Feminine Tool : Jeannie and Constantina emphasize that we all possess intuitive abilities—it’s about learning to listen and trust our inner voice to navigate challenges and find alignment with higher consciousness.
The Many Faces of Lakshmi : From her radiant form symbolizing prosperity and beauty to her esoteric "shadow side" represented by Siddha Lakshmi and Dhumavati, Constantina reveals how embracing both aspects of the goddess leads to deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth.
Balancing Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha : The conversation highlights Lakshmi’s role in harmonizing life’s four pillars: righteousness (dharma), material wealth (artha), enjoyment (kama), and liberation (moksha). Understanding these dimensions helps cultivate balance and fulfillment.
Navigating Shadow Work Through Goddess Energy : Constantina explains how confronting fears, doubts, and feelings of unworthiness—the “dark night of the soul”—is essential for transformation and aligning with Lakshmi’s blessings.
Rituals and Practices for Connecting with Lakshmi : Discover accessible ways to invoke Lakshmi’s energy, from chanting mantras to simple rituals like reciting hymns near cows or horses, which ground divine connection in tangible experiences.
Finding Joy Amidst Darkness : Drawing parallels between the current global challenges (like the pandemic) and the dance of the goddess, the discussion celebrates moments of collective joy emerging even in difficult times—for instance, New Yorkers cheering at 7 PM daily during quarantine.
A Guided Exercise for Intuitive Development : Constantina offers a brief meditation exercise to help listeners tap into their intuition, encouraging them to quiet external noise and tune into their inner guidance system.
The Cyclical Nature of Life : Both hosts reflect on the impermanence of prosperity and hardship, emphasizing that Lakshmi’s energy teaches resilience and adaptability while reminding us to stay aligned with consciousness and authenticity.
Shakti Energy Made Accessible : Constantina breaks down complex concepts like Shakti (cosmic energy) and its manifestations in everyday life, making ancient wisdom relatable and actionable for modern seekers.
Surrender and Trust in Challenging Times : The episode concludes with reflections on surrendering to the flow of life and trusting the process, inviting listeners to view challenges as opportunities for spiritual expansion.