Resilience: What does it really mean ?
This month at Soul Veda we are talking about the Goddess Parvati and I would like to take a moment to summarize the latest discussions around the Goddess Parvati, the word resilience and what it has in common with the force of water.
Nature shows us the power of resilience everyday. Parvati is nothing else, than the energy (Shakti) of the nature. The divine goddesses in mythology often times stand for the forces of mother earth, while the gods represent the powers or mind and mankind itself.
Parvati: From a Princess to a Goddess with many Faces
Parvati is the reincarnation of Sati—Shiva’s previous wife—who died a painful death in a fire ritual, unable to withstand the social pressure and injustice she faced due to the ongoing dispute between her husband, Shiva, and her father, Daksha. Her sacrifice changed Shiva’s life forever, plunging him into immense anger and grief—so powerful it nearly destroyed the entire universe. In response, Shiva renounced all worldly matters and withdrew into deep meditation.
Parvati, meaning she who is from the mountains, is a princess from a remote mountain village. But from a young age, she is unlike any other princess. She is drawn to the ascetic life of the sages, joining them to meditate by riverbanks and amidst the wild mountain valleys. She knows she is destined to marry Shiva, and against all odds—against societal norms and even the will of the gods—Parvati wins Shiva’s heart through dedication, patience, and resilience. She is also defined by compassion and unwavering commitment. It is only through her deep bhakti (devotion) and tapasya (penance) that she transforms into a pure force of energy so powerful it breaks Shiva’s meditation. Because of this, Parvati is also known as Shakti, and together, she and Shiva embody Shiva-Shakti—the divine balance of masculine and feminine energies.
Shiva-Shakti: The Balance of Creation and Destruction was maintained because of Parvatis resilience.
Shiva-Shakti represents the harmony between mankind and nature, yin and yang, male and female. Both are necessary for existence. Shiva had to be called back into the world because humanity needed his guidance, and no one but Parvati could bring him back.
Parvati’s resilience restored balance to the universe. It was her resilience that healed Shiva’s broken heart, helping him to love again and embrace the life of a family man. Her resilience enabled her to endure the harsh mountain life as the wife of a hermit—often isolated and alone. She did not allow loneliness or darkness to break her; instead, she embraced her purpose. She took ownership of her own destiny, bearing children and even creating Ganesha from her own body when she felt the need. This shows that she was in charge of her fertility and the decision of motherhood. Parvati’s resilience also made her a provider in times of need when Shiva could not. In this role, she is known as Annapurna, the goddess of harvest and nourishment.
Painting Shiva-Shakti by Mamta Rana : balance of male & female in one soul
But What Does It Mean to Be Resilient?
We discussed this deeply in our last Soul Veda storytelling session.
Resilience can be experienced and expressed very differently. Often when we talk about resilience it is outwards projected resilience.
Sometimes we think we are resilient when we go through a breakup and build up an emotional wall, to protect us from more pain and disappointment.
In the corporate world for e.g. resilience is a word often used to push us toward higher productivity, making us immune to external stressors so we can maintain high performance even in the most challenging times—all while balancing mental health and family life.
It embodies the idea of never giving up and pushing forward no matter what.
I personally feel that resilience in the corporate world is often defined through a very masculine lens. There is little room for compassion, softness, or gentleness.
For women, the pressure to be resilient in order to succeed in their careers can become an immense burden. They are often forced to suppress their feminine side or even choose between career and motherhood. Even in modern times, many industries still make if difficult to align the desire for motherhood and nurturing qualities with professional career growth and leadership possibilities for women.
But men are affected, too. They are expected to embody resilience in an almost exaggerated way—not only toward their male counterparts but also toward female colleagues. There is a growing expectation that men should always be tough, competitive, and emotionally detached, further reinforcing a culture where vulnerability and emotional intelligence are undervalued.
This creates an imbalance. If resilience only means relentless perseverance without space for reflection, compassion, or rest, we are bound to break.
And what happens when we do break?
We either fall silent, retreating into ourselves, or we erupt—like a volcano of emotions—unleashing our anger and frustration, ready to destroy and transform everything around us. We become Durga, Shakti, Kali—we get angry, really, really angry. This anger is not random; it is a sign that we are breaking free from an illusion—an illusion we believed would bring us peace and satisfaction. But waking up from it, we see the wreckage we have become.
These are also the faces of Parvati.
So, what does this teach us?
That suppressing anger and ignoring our needs is bad? Or that destruction and anger can be something good?
I believe it teaches us that life is like an ocean—a series of waves. Some waves are high and rough, while others are calm and gentle. If we are in the water, trying to ride these waves, we must use different skill sets to stay afloat. Instead of drowning, we must learn to flow with grace and determination.
Flow and Strength: What Water, Waves, and the Ocean Teach Us About Resilience and Creation
Water and waves are powerful symbols of resilience and creation, reflecting the ever-changing yet persistent force of nature. They show us that resilience is not about resisting change, but about flowing with it—adapting to circumstances while maintaining our essence. Waves rise and fall, much like life’s challenges, but water itself never disappears—it transforms, reshapes, and finds new paths.
This connects deeply with the goddess Parvati, who embodies the ultimate power of creation, transformation, and the nurturing force of the Divine Mother.
Like water, she adapts, nourishes, and creates—whether as Shakti, the divine feminine energy, or as Kali and Durga, fierce protectors who destroy illusions and bring necessary change.
The connection between water, waves, and Parvati can be seen in:
Resilience Through Transformation – Just as waves continuously rise and fall, Parvati’s deep penance and devotion to unite with Shiva demonstrate the power of perseverance and inner transformation. She evolves from a princess into a goddess through unwavering determination, much like water carving through stone over time.
Creation and Sustenance – Water is essential for life, just as Parvati, in her many forms, nurtures and sustains the universe. As Annapurna, she provides nourishment; as Gauri, she embodies the radiant mother who fosters balance and growth.
The Cycles of Renewal – Waves remind us that nothing is truly lost; everything is part of a larger cycle. Parvati embodies this as she shifts between destruction and renewal—dissolving old energies (as Kali) to make way for new life, just as waves erode old shores while forming new landscapes.
The Power of Surrender and Flow – Water does not resist—it moves along the path presented, flowing around obstacles instead of against them. Parvati’s devotion, meditation, and connection to her values exemplify this surrender—not as weakness, but as a recognition of the greater cosmic force that she ultimately embodies and controls.
Ultimately, both water and Parvati remind us that true resilience comes from an innate connection to something greater than ourselves. Whether in the ceaseless waves of the ocean or the embrace of the Divine Mother, we learn that strength is not in rigidity, but in the ability to flow, transform, and nurture life itself.
Use this Mantra to support your practice to cultivate love & resilience from within
So, What Is Resilience ?
To me resilience is more than the ability to face external challenges. It is more than the corporate definition of resilience.
True resilience is directed inward.
It is what keeps us grounded, focused, and connected to our dreams and values. It is what allows us to be compassionate with our loved ones while, ultimately, cultivating love for ourselves—so that we can stay in flow, like water.
Perhaps, that is true resilience.
Join my online Soul Veda Mantra Art Session on the 22nd Feburary 2025, 11 a.m. CET.
Share your thoughts about resilience and benefit from an inspiring Art Therapy Session to cultivate more of it.
