DurgaMata of London

How did DurgaMata of London get started?

By profession I am a teacher. My specialist subjects were Religious Education and Art. But when I retired I chose to become an entrepreneur. I met my spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy, 50 years ago and he gave me my name, DurgaMata. The qualities that this represents (which he recognised that my soul came into the world to develop) are: 1 - Power to fight for God's Victory, 2 - Weapons to defeat evil and 3 - Compassion to embrace the whole world. When I retired from teaching I felt - now is the time I can focus on developing the qualities of my name in a more focussed way. I paint my silk scarves and make my accessories as meditation, so just looking at the lovely colours, holding and wearing them, can lift your consciousness and increase your positive energy. I also offer monthly workshops free, as a way of serving those who are on low income - notably refugees.

A bit about where your lovely purchases are coming from

I have a little studio where I paint the silk scarves, the 'consciousness-river' style are created by hanging the silk and dripping the dyes. I use gravity to draw the colours down and create the wonderful patterns, then, when I lie them flat, I scatter salt which creates the great textures.

For my accessories, I often create these when sitting on my sofa or at the table. The main thing is to have a meditative attitude of mind, while making them, so that they capture something of that high consciousness and positive energy.

All parts of our being, body, mind, emotion and spirit are interconnected, so I work to balance the energy and lift the consciousness.

And what about the crafting talent behind these great products

As a student I studied at Roehampton University where I took a two-subject degree - Theology and Religious Studies twinned with Mural Art. I specialised in Stained Glass because as an artist I am fascinated by colour and light. I followed my degree with a PGCE training as a teacher to share my passion for all things spiritual and beautiful with the young people I taught. Whenever I taught exam-level Art I encouraged my students to use as many different techniques and media as possible, and when anyone engaged in silk-painting I found myself drawn to it. I was soon painting silk myself at home. I find the same delight in colour and light that I enjoyed in stained glass, in silk-painting but the added advantage that it is so instant and fluid. I have been a silk-paint artist for more than 30 years. What I love most is to use the liquid dyes freely to create abstract patterns.

Anything else? This is our sellers chance to tell you a bit about themselves

There is so much I would like to say here - but I need to reflect on it.

I have two books published on Kindle, Mindfulness and Happiness (currently undergoing some editing) and a short autobiography, which includes lots of inspiring quotations - 'DurgaMata – A Life-Overview Linked to Animals, especially Cats, Mindfulness, Spirituality and Philosophy'

It's only 5 pounds but if you would like a free copy in return for some nice testimonials, email me on durgamataoflondon1@gmail.com and I will send you the link.

Here are some poems which inspire me about creativity

Freedom, freedom!

Freedom within, freedom without,

To allow

Beautiful, soulful

And powerful creativity

To take birth in us.

Sri Chinmoy,

Twenty-Seven Thousand Aspiration-Plants, number 26729, part 268, 1998

When you work with enthusiasm,

You are bound to establish

A free access

To an unending flow of life-energy

And creative power.

Sri Chinmoy,

Seventy-Seven Thousand Service-Trees, number 15278, part 16, Agni Press, 1999

We're happy to do commissions, so if there's anything you'd like to ask please get in touch. durgamataoflondon1@gmail.com