In the teachings of the Tantras, the goddesses are said to have three forms through which they can be engaged: the image we see in paintings and statues, the mantra, and the geometric form, or yantra. Each of these forms, the Tantric sages say, fully contains the energy of the deity. As we tune into that unique energy signature, it will start to

But the deities visualized are not merely token symbols; they reflect the essential power of the subtle body and its potential to clear away confusion and open the gates of wisdom. For this reason, the realm of subtle-body yoga is the realm of the ḍākinī in Tibetan Buddhism.