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Whether it’s an art project or the birth of a child, the creative process is often mysterious. We all know the magic involved in bringing something to fruition. And especially if we have nurtured life within our wombs, we have a truly embodied experience from which to speak.  Either way, we know the struggles of the journey and what it takes to hold true to our virtue and soulful purpose amidst others’ opinions and our own doubts.  As the time of our creative endeavor, literal birthing, or self-awareness process grows, winds, unfolds, gets shaped by our will and is manipulated by our unconscious intentions and agendas (or those of others), we learn some of the cosmic forces that have come together for the manifestation of our own bodies and this Earth. 

The philosophy of Tantra, and specifically that of creation, or <i>srishti</i> (as it’s called in Sanskrit), involves 51 distinct components. This article deals with a subset of these within the microcosm of our personal reality to provide additional insight as to the nature of the journey, regardless of manifestation or eventual outcome. The process by which Shakti creates the world of forms is the focus of our engagement.  Shakti is Goddess, the primordial feminine/female principle that enlivens All. Moreover, She is energy, the Divine spark. The process by which She descends from the transcendental into the realms of spirit and then into matter is called <i>pavritti</i>.  (As She expands and becomes increasingly drawn back to Source, the process is called <i>nivritti</i>, which is spiritual evolution.) Whether using this cosmology as a tool to bring mindfulness to your daily projects, to a pregnancy, or to your spiritual development, the hope is that you as a seeker are able to take away revelations from meditations on the movements of energy and its relationship to consciousness that this understanding informs. 

Following then are the levels of increasing manifestation as descended from the One, that which is nameless and formless, residing beyond the confines of Time and Space.  Each of these ten phases of the creation process is adapted from the working of essential purification based on the Tantric sadhana (spiritual discipline) known as Tattva Shuddhi.  You will notice that each of these is resonant with the ten lunar cycles from conception to childbirth. Each is also based upon the nature and duration of the flows of energy through the cycle of involution; and elements within this process are given here noting durations.  These are in the appropriate ratios relative to one another as related by the adepts. Thus, for example, when within the timeframe of Ether (which has a duration of two in the creation/creative process), we cycle for half the time than when in Air, which as a duration of four. These cycles can be weeks, days, hours, minutes, months or years—the timeline is up to you and your creation process. 

This outline and progression can be used to help deepen your own birthing experience, no matter what it is or where you are (or were) in the process.  Each section below:  i)  contains a description of a tattva (principle or element) as key to understanding a phase of that creation process; ii)  invites you further into the mystery with a reflection question or two; and, iii) provides a brief ritual you may wish to do.  It is intended to serve as a guide for all your endeavors so that they will manifest that for which you yearn and labor, and it seeks to help awaken you to exciting new potentials for creation.  

<h3>(1)	Prana Shakti - Source (Duration 1)</h3>
At the very beginning, we feel the stirring of our insides. A yearning comes to awareness and we desire to create or realize we are creating. Just as the Divine chose to incarnate in order to know and experience more of the Divine, we too can learn from choosing to create. Prana Shakti, the flow of vital energy within us, is our teacher and guide as we undertake the journey. Here, you will want to know the forces of breath within you, for they carry Her. Delve more deeply too into the basics of your practice so that you may (re)discover the fundamental patterns and movements of energy within. Visit the energy centers or chakras of the body, as well as the rivers or channels through which the currents flow. These are 72,000 in number and are called nadis—but you may wish to focus on establishing a relationship with the main ten or so. See what you can discover through your own turn to the inner landscape. 

While a birthing will happen at some point in the future, this is not the time for agendas or expectations. All we can know is that the end will come at some point, that the solidification of our efforts will eventually manifest, and the beginning of something new born of our effort, patience, love and inspiration will happen in time. Today, we stand poised and expectant. The infinite source of our soul connects to potentials and possibilities in this world, and we are free to let our creativity flow. We may strive to bring consciousness to all we attempt. Still, this is not the time to begin willful engagement toward a specific outcome. It is rather a time for heartfelt deepening into self and world. It is from this place that the specific components of our creative process will be revealed. 

<b>Reflection:</b> What is it in me that gives rise to this potential, this awakening, this project or this child (metaphoric or literal)?  Can I remain free of expectations and agendas in order to serve and honor the end as one unto itself? 

<b>Ritual:</b> Think of all you have done to get to this point of creating. Honor yourself and those who have helped you. Set a sankalpa (sacred intention) for the journey (this can be revised as you progress). You may wish to place a marker on your altar denoting the initiation of your process. Something that is personally meaningful and symbolic of your path is most likely to inspire you, whether in the most happy of moments or during the challenges and obstacles that you may face ahead. Make time to gaze at this object every day to reconnect and embolden your efforts. 

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<h3>(2)	Prakriti-Purusha (Duration 4)</h3>
Here we rest in the dance, largely unconscious, of what it takes to make something come alive. The push and pull of energy and consciousness here enlivens the process and we are creating even when we may not be aware of what’s happening.  In this second stage, these forces—energy and consciousness—begin to particularize and polarize, creating an articulated dynamic tension from the spark of our whim that is geared toward experiencing something new in the world birthed through us.  We are offered clues of the goings on through dreams and synchronicities—we might wish to pay attention—but the work of this phase rests predominantly on who we are and what we have done before.
 
The power of <i>prakriti</i> (the principle of Shakti within and as nature) is the creatrix activating our imagination and intuitive juices. The awareness of purusha (the principle of consciousness within our world) provides connection to soul. Together, they are the initial force required for the birthing to occur. Prakriti and purusha are partners responding to you and to any stimulus in your world as a river would to a rock in its path: they continue their flow uninterrupted. Without consideration of their dance, however, we may lose the impetus toward action or may dwindle our energies in mindless pursuits that do not serve our essence or the greater good.  By paying attention here, we gain the ability to see the potentials of the sacred and of evil, of compassion and of violence; of all the ways in which harmony is achieved not by forceful resistance to the flows of the Divine will, but by the application of holistic vision to all life has to offer. 

<b>Reflection:</b> Do I allow myself to trust intuition, that sacred balance of embodied knowing and spirit? Can my motives stay pure, as in reflective of a harmony between outer perception and inner experience? How do I reflect the dance of prakriti and purusha in and through my choices, actions, speech and thought? 

<b>Ritual:</b> Create a list of all the things that you desire to be in the mix so that your creation will be born whole and perfect.  Choose four to be the cornerstones of your birthing process and meditate on these, holding them in your mind and heart as fully as possible throughout your pregnancy or creative endeavor.  You may also wish to create a collage or work of art to represent the fullness of your dance with prakriti and purusha. Use this visual representation as a mandala to help strengthen your resolve and commitment.  

<h3>(3)	Mahat Tattva (Duration 5)</h3>
Mahat Tattva, the Great Principle, is the expression of higher mind (often called buddhi) within us. It is also the discriminating force of judgment that is unclouded by ego or emotion.  Mahat tattva is what guides our motivation toward intention aligned with soul and then action.  Here is the space then of deep contemplation, self-reflection, emerging wisdom, and continued release from things that may hinder perception, discernment, and our ultimate ability to make decisions that serve the creative process and its eventual outcome.
 
As you consider this, know that in mahat tattva we are given room to trust and augment the previous work done toward cultivation of soulful caring; that is, caring not tied to past impressions, habits or other enmeshments in the world. This can be very challenging, and it is in this stage that we spend more time than we have on previous stages of our journey.  Often, the word used to describe the stance of mahat tattva is dispassion, but to be dispassionate in this space is again to care infinitely. We do so while remaining clear and free of the things that get us fired up, triggered, or otherwise tangled in the ruts of daily life—whether real or imagined. In mahat tattva, we trust our intuition (not our instinct!) as it has been increasingly refined through the interplay of prakriti and purusha and brought further into waking consciousness. 

<b>Reflection:</b> Where and in whom do I place my trust as a provider of information? Do I listen to others before I listen to myself? Can I release myself from the tangled strands of gossip and half truths that surround me in all the spaces I inhabit (work, school, family, friends, etc.)?  

<b>Ritual:</b> Meditate on a time in which you were emotionally charged by something or someone (let it be far enough in the past that you can enter this space easily). Go through the instance or episode again briefly in your mind, allowing yourself to feel the experience in your body. Notice the internal landscape of impressions as you relive the moment. Let this resolve somewhat quickly into a natural conclusion. Now, return to heartfelt breath and bring in sakshi, or witness consciousness. This is the power cultivated through mahat tattva of nonjudgmental discernment. Staying aware of a dispassionate stance, allow yourself to notice your reactions from this mental position as you again replay the incident or situation. See what you notice and what you learn.  

<h3>(4)	Ahamkara (Duration 1)</h3>
Ahamkara in Sanskrit means I-ness, and we often simply refer to it as ego. Ahamkara is the birthplace of self-awareness in this journey, of that which tells me there’s a “me” and there’s a “you.” It is therefore a starting point for us as individuals (for herein lies our blossoming individuality) to take full responsibility for ourselves. This is the work of this phase of our creative process. 

So that the nature of our task is clear, you may wish to think of ahamkara as a point around which both freedom and fetters circle continuously. Stuck in the grooves of past incarnations, of pleasures, addictions, worldly goods or arrogance?  We are limited by ahamkara in that it is what ties our soul to this reality. Yearning for understanding to bridge divides of difference, for equity, peace, health and well-being for all?  We are liberated through ahamkara in that it provides a focus for our unique soul imprint (called <i>jivatman</i> in Sanskrit) on the backdrop of creation as a whole. In this way, the Divine may experience itself through us and we may in turn experience the Divine. As we increasingly realize this reflection as true, ahamkara is shattered and we are able to take in reality as Reality. 

Gaining enough self-awareness to reign in our ego appropriately, however, takes dedication and practice.  Still, as we create, a healthy amount of ego presence is required to ensure that we have what it takes to support our creation throughout the birthing and into the world.  Ahamkara is necessary but not sufficient for the sustenance of our creative process. We might think of it then as the spiritual equivalent of all that’s involved in fortifying and readying the body so that as mothers metaphoric or actual we can provide healthy and rich breast milk to our newborn.  

<b>Reflection:</b> How do I fall into the entrapments of ego? Am I willing to take on the full ramifications of my thoughts, words and actions? What do I need to change or do to make it so? 

<b>Ritual:</b> Do sadhana. That is, make a commitment to spiritual practice, and do something every day. Find a practice you can do regularly at the same time even if only for five minutes. Let it be fun and transformational, deepening and enlivening.  Perhaps you will chant while doing laundry, or memorize verses while running. Perhaps you will sit in silence or stare at a candle flame. No matter what your choice, understand this dedication as a strengthening exercise, one that will make you ready for all it takes for a strong relationship to ahamkara, one with true humility and open-hearted presence, to emerge.

<h3>(5)	Akasha / Ether (Duration 2) </h3>
An important transition is occurring as we move into the realm of akasha, for here is the final space in which the subtle body fully dominates our creative process.  As akasha enters the picture, we begin to sense the world of forms, even if they are still a bit farther down the road.  It is here and by this influence that as embodied beings we begin to listen to our spiritual impulses; but during the incarnation process in which we’re currently engaged, it is here that the boundaries of our psychic selves are established and the spaces that hold the physical matter of our bodies together are formed.  With this, energy and consciousness as thus far come into beingness are making a lot of noise, as it were, in the subtle realm. As we enter akasha, it is thus increasingly important to be diligent and mindful of the things, persons, and intentions that impact us. For some, readiness to continue engaging creatively means establishing appropriate protections so that inimical influences do not sway or hinder us. 

Akasha is the void, space, and blackness. While primary among akasha’s responsibilities is articulation of the psychic centers, called chakras, illumination of the way to understanding through vibration and sound is also a key component of this element. Akasha is thus keenly tied to our hearing sense. As the first of the basic tattvas to arise, it is also the last to go as we dissolve back into Source on our spiritual quest. Thus, when in meditation, you may find that you can focus on the internal landscape, keeping out all smells, tastes, visions, and tactile sensations, but you are aware of sounds arising from outside of yourself almost no matter how deeply you may seem to go into an altered state.  Utilize the force of akasha to tune in to the most delicate of impressions as you journey now, and strive for your ears to become increasingly attuned to the sounds of your origins—to those speaking to you from your clan wave (the ancestors). Listen well too to the promises of others, to the whispers of your imagination, and for the sounds of falsehood.  

<b>Reflection:</b> What is the substance of my psychic self and how can I cultivate a relationship with my subtle body?   Am I willing to truly listen? Do I need to protect myself in any way for this creative process to unfold in alignment with soulful purpose? 

<b>Ritual:</b> Give your creation, child or project a spirit name (even a temporary one). Tie a red, black and white piece of cloth to a stick and place it on your altar like a flag. White represents our highest spiritual power, red our activity in the world, and black our latent potential. These forces, known as gunas (qualities of nature) arise with akasha and inform all of our elemental work.  Imagine now connecting to the very first vibration of the cosmos; that from which all else arose. Let this inner sound reverberate. As you feel ready, pick up your flag, press it between your palms, and move it to the sounds and rhythms of this vibration, intoning the name you have chosen.  You may wish to record any impressions or experiences you have as messages from akasha.         

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<h3>(6)	Vayu / Air (Duration 4)</h3>
Vayu is that which arises from the void, from the blackness of space that is akasha. It arises because of excitement, and it is thus the current that powers the spiraling of the elements within nature even while it remains formless. Each part of manifest creation is made up of the elements in different proportions, and vayu provides the creative turning, fast or slow, that propels the combinations into actuality. Vayu is also simply the wind that caresses us gently. It is too the tingles we feel on our skin every time we are reminded of a lover’s touch, and it is the life-force energy that carries us more deeply into the body, the means we have through which to know and experience the world.  

Vayu is a sweet shaper of our intentions and a guide toward our dreams. Through vayu, we know the feel of the world. In our creation process, vayu is a time of heightened intuition, of flowing thoughts and ideas, of increased potentials for success, of heartfelt connections and of constant change. Because things may seem to be moving along quickly now and variance is a key part of the journey here, it is a good time for reflection on the patterns of our lives. As you meet others and interact in and with the world, stay focused and present to the constancy of your commitment despite the challenges of flightiness and diffusion that vayu can bring. As you sense the winds of change, allow the tingles of vitality you feel—vayu’s reminder of engagement—to enliven your efforts toward moves that best serve your creative process.

<b>Reflection:</b> What is it that distracts me or makes me lose focus? Do I need help or assistance now to stay on track with my efforts, centered in myself, nourished, and feeling vital? 

<b>Ritual:</b> Find your breath. Take time to pause and be present for the thrill of the moment. You are alive and the world is turning. The moon, sun, and stars are all waiting. Open yourself now in a stance of gratitude and humbleness, awe and yearning, to the potentials that lay head.  Allow prana—the vital energy carried on vayu—to fill you as you breathe. Send the breath from the tip of your toes to the crown of your head and back down again, relaxing into every cell of your being so that the vital airs that sustain you provide deep cleansing . As you perform this exercise, you may also wish to chant (silently or aloud) vayu’s seed mantram, YAM (pronounced yuh’-m). Use this seed syllable to get into those hard-to-reach places. 

<h3>(7)	 Agni / Fire (Duration 6)</h3>
Increasing vibration next gives rise to perceptible light. Light shines through the darkness of the causal and then the subtle realm, giving us entry to new frontiers. It is at once static and traveling, particle and wave, here and there. Agni, or fire, is the awakening of light in this world, and it is a defining force.  We welcome in this phase of the birthing mystery with an important recognition of wonder, as well as of the small self and its impact.  This is relevant especially now because as we are able to discern by the power of sight selected forms arising from the energy put forth in the last phase by vayu, our spirits are moved and simultaneously, even more than before, we know a distinct “I.” The difference between us and the world seems to expand; if left unattended, ego can take center stage.

Other challenges are to be found here as well, such as anger and resentment.  Agni’s light generates warmth, and this heat can fire up tempers. Mindful then of the challenges brought with the arrival of agni, we can harness the gifts offered to diligent travelers. Clairvoyance, for example, is among them. But whether extrasensory or pedestrian, the offerings of agni are all magnificent tools in the work of shaping destiny.  Our ability here to put into our crucible the variety of boons bestowed and cultivated this far in the journey serves to render us humble and free—for we must remember that they are not our gifts alone.   

Agni both consumes and radiates, all the while transforming, catalyzing and sparking something new. A guide into the darkness of our personal shadow, agni offers an opportunity now to move into and out of your pain, sorrow, fear, hatred, jealousy and rage. Allow the burning to cleanse and anoint yourself with the ashes. There is more than meets the eye to this phase of the journey. 

<b>Reflection:</b> Who am I that gives rise to this creation? Am I the same person I was when I started? What has transformed, seen increase, or seen burning away? 

<b>Ritual:</b> The yantra or sacred diagram associated with agni is a red downward pointing triangle. In embodied purification practice, it is situated between the heart and navel. At each point of the triangle, there are bhupura, or gates.  Either seated or laying down, visualize this yantra within your own body. Now, imagine the ingredients of your life that have been with you since the beginning of this voyage as grains of sand filling it. Just as the filling completes, the yantra begins turning clockwise, gradually getting faster and faster. At the climax of the spinning, the bhupura open and grains are flung out, but not all. The ones that remain are the building blocks of your looking glass. Take time to see and reflect on whatever you put into the mix that lingers. Look deeply into that mirror and take in the gaze of the one who looks back.   

<h3>(8)	Apas / Water (Duration 8)</h3>
From time to time now, the structure of our creation has hints of borders, for in apas we find a perfect balance of order and chaos. Here, our excitement rises as the container is filled. The cells of our body feel the quickening. Although we realize things are not yet set or settled, we are readying. Our work is ripening and we anticipate the juiciness. We can almost taste it. 

Apas is an element that can feel intimate. It is the stuff of our blood, our tears, our sex, our secretions. It is the fluid of life and in this sense, the magic of creation on Earth. Without water, nothing would be possible. Apas therefore tells us to soak, not bathe, and to make ablutions, not wash. It reminds us to play in fountains and slurp down rainbows. It says that if we wish to gain clarity, then we must cleanse and purify; that is, harmonize inner and outer reality .To do this, we must  listen to the small voice inside that comes from a marrying of head and heart.  
Apas here in this phase of our journey pervades everything, and consciously or unconsciously, we drink it in. 

A time of heightened creativity and imagination, apas opens us to potentials for laughter, love, delight and healing.  It invites us to listen to our intuition, for it may have meaningful messages. But at the same time that we feel a bounty of divine blessings, apas asks that we begin to feel the edges of practical concerns. For example, have we planted enough and tended enough, watered enough and weeded enough, to realize a good harvest?  This is the time to balance fluidity with a measure of confinement such as the setting of goals and establishment of guidelines. Therefore, find the edges of your stream, and knowing the beauty of its source, seek to navigate safely toward its conclusion. 

<b>Reflection:</b> Where do I flow and not resist? Where do I resist and wish to flow? Can I surrender as a stick upon a river to the currents of life while still surely placing footfalls on the path? 

<b>Ritual: </b>Gather beads or make some of your own. Collect charms and amulets from broken bracelets and necklaces that have sat in boxes or drawers for years. Meditate on the gifts they brought you when actively worn, and on the ways they might serve you now. Gather these energies to you and consider a new piece of jewelry or altar adornment. String it together and let magic flow. Alternatively, make soup. Cut your favorite vegetables into chunks, add broth and seasoning, stir, simmer and let sit for thirty minutes before eating.  In other words, find a way to nourish yourself soon.   

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<h3>(9)	Prithvi / Earth (Duration 10)</h3>

The end is almost in sight, but patience is required because we remain under prithvi’s spell for a while, this phase of the journey offering us a chance to assess our position.  Although the journey is not yet complete, there are signs that closure is coming. Already, no more adjustments can be made, and we thus look to the road ahead with reasonably measured glances. Fitting the solidity of earth, we stand our ground here as prithvi weaves and knots the energy of apas into form, and we mark our travels noting what was, what will be, and what shall be no more.  Gazing at the horizon, we can see the light shifting into brighter colors, our eyes awakening here to the yellow of the sun. This color is the hallmark of manifestation on our path, a vibration that signifies the radiance of life.  

We may be hopeful and excited, but it is also not yet quite the time for celebrating—there is still work to be done.  We might, for example, wish to plan a party! Now is a time for preparations, for readying, and for deciding how to honor this passage as it draws nigh. What ritual components will be fit for the coming occasion?  In order to decide what might be most appropriate or best reflective of the journey and serve as a rite (whether simple or elaborate), we must come to know the now-discernable boundaries of our creation. Take time therefore to explore those edges. As one together, you have been co-creating; and as soon-to-be two apart, you will be in a new kind of relationship, that of creator and created. From this dance, the waiting time of prithvi will help reveal deeper truths about your respective natures. Finally, we must here enliven our senses, and especially the grounded sense of smell, so that we can tell by the aromas wafting all around when the cooking is done.
 
<b>Reflection:</b>  Prithvi offers us a chance then to feel the fullness of our work, our belly, rest, and in our repose, sweeten the foundation of our efforts with fragrant memories. Take some time to be close to the earth and the source of your connection to creativity, be that a mountain, river, forest, or ant hill.  

<b>Ritual:</b> Sprout a seed or bud from your next fridge foraging and plant it in your home or garden.  Avocados, potatoes, onions, and fruits work well. As you do the planting, bury any ritual materials you have acquired during this whole manifestation time that you wish to return to Earth. Note the coming full circle and offer your gratitudes to the dirt for all that this sacred substance contains. 

<h3>(10)	Completion: The Birthing</h3>
An ending and a beautiful beginning, birth is violent as matter is both created and destroyed. Perfect in every way, the process nonetheless leaves us whole and complete. Today, we reap the rewards of our journey and take in the awesome power of Shakti engaged and fulfilled.  The magic of the moment brings us into heightened awareness of the world, and if awe is not immediately apparent, we are at least given the potential to see through new eyes. Here, we awaken to the mystery. In this way may your journey be soul-making, and may you be thus inspired to willingly create again. 

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<em>By: Chandra Alexandre</em>
Originally published in Llewellyn's 2013 Magical Almanac under the title, <em>Doing Life & Creating Life: An Introduction to the Birthing Mystery through Tantra</em> 
