Chameli Ardagh Interview

Chameli Ardagh is a yogini and a women’s wisdom keeper. For more than 28 years she has been immersed in the studies and practices of women’s wisdom teachings, and has crystallized maps of spiritual awakening and leadership that are accessible, practical and honoring of women today. Rooted in earth honoring, devotional women’s spirituality and goddess centered tantric yoga, she is especially appreciated for her love of mythology and storytelling as a key to spiritual awakening and embodiment.

As the visionary and CEO of Awakening Women, she works together with an administrative team of 9 women, exploring a business model based on ease, freedom and honoring of the cyclic nature of creativity. She is passionate about making spirituality the source of our practical living and social justice, and committed to using her influence and resources to educate and support organizations working on behalf of Mother Earth and the empowerment of women and girls.

Chameli was born in Norway, and when she is not traveling, she now lives in Northern California.

OUR INTERVIEW

Stories Of Rematriation Art

Connecting Heaven & Earth - Yggdrasil

(Pen Ink on Paper)

Chameli shared with me the story of Yggdrasil, the immense mythical tree in Norse cosmology which connects the nine worlds, heaven, and earth. The three Norns who are at the base of the tree govern fate. Urd: The origin, the past, the memory of the world. Verdandi: The present. Skuld: The future, death (that which has to be). I asked Chameli to demonstrate how she worships or prays to the Earth, the three Norns are modeled after photos I took of Chameli in worship of the divine feminine and the Earth. The snake in the roots is one of the oldest symbols of the goddess or feminine. The eagle represents sovereignty and was associated with the God of kings and heroes. The squirrel communicates between the eagle and the snake in the roots.

Listening To The Land

(Yuba River Stones, Earth Mineral Paints on Wood)

“The more I engage with the land here, the more the land engages with me. The more she reveals herself. It takes time. I have a committed practice with the Yuba river, one month every summer I am there every day, and I receive a lot of teachings from her and the rocks. But it has taken time, it is this practice of going to the same place regularly, and just to be yourself there. It took 5 years before I started to receive some communication. Because I have to tune into rock consciousness, so it takes time. It has a lot to do with receptivity, and to listen and remember that language.” – Chameli Ardagh

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