Author: Azur Ekić
As people celebrate the Divine Mother during Navaratri, let us also acknowledge the profound impact of our earthly mothers. While the divine feminine represents a powerful principle, our biological mothers are the tangible expressions of love, sacrifice and nurture in our lives. While we focus on the heavens, we might forget to appreciate people right in front of us while they are still here.
I understand that, for some, this might sound far less attractive, but our relationship with our parents, especially our mother, plays a pivotal role in our further development.
From the moment we are born, their love—or absence—leaves an imprint on our hearts, influencing how we connect with others and how we see ourselves. Psychology recognizes what many spiritual traditions have long taught: our earliest bonds affect not only our emotions but also the way we navigate the world. A loving, secure connection in childhood fosters confidence and resilience, while wounds in this relationship can echo into adulthood.
But what happens when this relationship was difficult, or when our parents are no longer with us? Even if they are gone, their presence lingers in our thoughts, in the lessons they left behind, and sometimes in the pain we still carry. Neuroscience shows that our early experiences with caregivers shape the very wiring of our brains, influencing how we process love, trust, and even forgiveness. This means that healing our relationship with our parents—even within our own hearts—can bring profound inner peace.
Forgiveness is not about excusing every mistake, but about freeing ourselves from burdens that no longer serve us. Many ancient teachings, including those in Hinduism and Buddhism, emphasize the power of releasing resentment—not just for the other person, but for our own well-being. Modern science echoes this wisdom: letting go of bitterness can lower stress levels, ease anxiety, and even improve physical health. On a deeper level, forgiveness is an act of love—not just for our parents, but for ourselves.
First Miracle
A poem by A.E. Stallings
Her body like a pomegranate torn
Wide open, somehow bears what must be born,
The irony where a stranger small enough
To bed down in the ox-tongue-polished trough
Erupts into the world and breaks the spell
Of the ancient, numbered hours with his yell.
Now her breasts ache and weep and soak her shirt
Whenever she hears his hunger or his hurt;
She can’t change water into wine; instead
She fashions sweet milk out of her own blood.
Motherhood is often a quiet miracle—one of sacrifice, resilience, and devotion. Even as we grow, that influence lingers, shaping who we become. If our parents are still with us, we have the opportunity to appreciate them while we can—to express love, to understand them beyond their roles as “mother” or “father,” and to see them as human beings who also carried struggles of their own. If they have passed, we can still offer gratitude and healing through prayer, remembrance, or even writing them a letter we never send. The bond between parent and child is one of life’s most profound connections—shaped by presence, guidance, and the quiet ways we carry each other within us. Whether through memory or experience, this relationship continues to influence who we are. Embracing it with understanding allows us to grow and deepen our appreciation for those who have shaped our lives.
