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I think that to understand who Shiva or Kali are, is a very deep quest. You know, there are devotees of Siva and/or Kali in India and Nepal dating back thousands of years. Some are very interested and some are not. Some like Vishnu, Krishna, Lakshmi, Ram, Tara, Saraswati, Hanuman, etc. It's all fine to me.

For background the ancient stories or narratives about Siva and his exploits can be found in the Puranas. These "stories" are parables, allegories, and wisdom stories.

In the Vishnu/Krishna cults (Krishna/Vishnu being the maintainer of the Universe), thee sometimes Siva is depicted (As the Destroyer) as the competition - as terrible. For some "change" is frightening, hence in some of the Vaishnavite Puranas, Siva is depicted as terrible, but again I think the allegorical nature of the story should be recognized. Both Kali and Shiva are associated with Shiva, while Radha and Sita are associated with Krishna and Rama respectively. Siva is really the transformer - the agent of change and change always includes a death and destruction to the old leading eventually to a rebirth (Brahma). The main resistance to change is fear of death/change. Hence we invoke Shiva to liberate ourselves from fear. Shiva and Kali are destroyers of the ego (not the physical body which most humans misidentify as "self". In short change is necessary for evolution, hence Kali and Siva are natural forces in the great scheme of things, just as is Brahma and Vishnu are as the Hindu Trinity

Similarly, one can also read many stories/myths about Kali. and again she might be demonized and blamed in certain Vaishnavite sects, but all because there are rumors blaming the devil for something, should one believe in all these stories or not? She is often portrayed as an emanation of Durga (Appearing from Durga's forehead) in her battle with the demon, Mahishasura, (the ego and all his allies). One of the greatest allegorical texts in Hinduism is the Candi (Also called the Devi Mahatmya, the Durga Saptashati, where Kali as her main general does the slaying of the arch demon, Mahishasura. Again this has to be taken allegorically. As you know, Kali cuts off heads with her sword, which means she destroys the ego. This same symbolism is also used in fierce Buddhist goddesses and gods. So of course this is a metaphor.

This is not at all "new spiritual spin" but very old. Siva and Kali are considered very old indigenous gods/goddesses of India and essential (at least in teh Hindu Trinity of things. In Hindu tantra especially all the gods have consorts. With Siva, Parvati, Sati, Kali, and Durga are asociated with him

In Saivite Tantra, then we invite in Siva and Kali to help us, to destroy the demons (which are recognized as inner demons - wars within the mindfield). That has been the teachings of my teachers. If any crimes or murders are committed in the physical world that is because of a lack of spiritual awareness, not because of Siva or Kali, but because of ignorance. Some one may kill in the name of God, Allah, Jahweh, or whomever, but really who is responsible there despite the claims or attributions?

Regarding Campbell, I really dug him in the sixties, as he turned me on to many things, but I found that his understanding of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Tantra were very limited. He did not understand sunyata (emptiness) and hence he did not understand Shiva/Kali (the two being connected). However given what was available about Hinduism and Tantra in early 20^th century translation, he did well given that he came from Western academia. At the same time I have found some very strange, superficial, and inadequate interpretations by Campbell. I find his contributions more helpful when applied to Western mythology and especially in the idea of modern man finding a living creation myth/story. After all we can not know "self" without knowing where the human form has come from - where life, creation, and the galaxy has come from (and I mean that in a as affect as well as in objective terms. In short if you want to study Kali or Siva, there are many better and more accurate sources.

Kali - wiki

Shiva - wiki

Origins of Human Sacrifice -- wiki (below is excerpt from that article)

India

Further information: Thuggee and Kalika-Purana

Human sacrifices were carried out in connection with the worship of Shakti till approximately the early modern period, and in Bengal perhaps as late as the early nineteenth century^[28]. Certain tantric cults performed human sacrifice till around the same time, both actual and "symbolic"; it was a "highly ritualised" act, and on occasion took many months to complete^[28].

The question of whether human sacrifice is permitted in the Vedas and, if so, was actually practiced is a matter of dispute by scholars. The prevailing nineteenth century view, associated above all with Henry Colebrooke, was that human sacrifice had little scriptural warrant, and did not actually take place. Those verses which referred to purusamedha were meant to be read symbolically^[29] or as a 'priestly fantasy'. However, barely a generation later Albrecht Weber collected textplaces referring to human sacrifice with greater specificity; and Rajendralal Mitra published a defence of the thesis that human sacrifice, as had been practiced in Bengal, was a continuation of traditions dating back to Vedic periods^[30]. Hermann Oldenberg held to Colebrooke's view; but Jan Gonda underlined its disputed status.

It was agreed even by Colebrooke, however, that by the Puranic period - at least at the time of the writing of the Kalika-Purana, human sacrifice was accepted^[29]. These two periods, however were separated by a period of increasing "embarrassment" in the use of violence in worship, contemporaneous with the Upanishads.

In the post-Puranic medieval period, however, it became increasingly common. In the seventh century, Banabhatta, in a description of the dedication of a temple of Chandika, describes a series of human sacrifices; similarly, in the ninth century, Haribhadra describes the sacrifices to Chandika in Orissa^[31]. It was "more common" in the Southern parts of India, where it took on a scapegoating rather than purifying role^[31].

The Khonds, an aboriginal tribe of India, inhabiting the tributary states of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, became notorious, on the British occupation of their district about 1835, from the prevalence and cruelty of the human sacrifices they practised.^[32]

Jai Kali Ma !

Amen Alleluia !

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;


Rev 1:13And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.


Rev 1:14His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire;


Rev 1:15And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.


Rev 1:16And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.


Rev 1:17And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:


Rev 1:18I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.


Rev 3:18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.


Rev 3:19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.


Rev 3:20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.


Rev 3:21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.


Rev 3:22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


Rev 5:1¶And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.


Rev 5:2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?


Rev 5:3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.


Rev 5:4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.


Rev 5:5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.


Rev 5:6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.


Rev 5:7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.


Rev 5:8¶And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.


Rev 5:9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;


Rev 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.


Rev 5:11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;


Rev 5:12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.


Rev 5:13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.


Rev 5:14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Rev 10:1¶And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire:


Rev 10:2And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth,


Rev 10:3And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.


Rev 10:4And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.


Rev 10:5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven,


Rev 10:6And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:


Rev 10:7But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.


Rev 10:8¶And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go [and] take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.


Rev 10:9And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.


Rev 10:10And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.


Rev 10:11And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.