Why do I need Goddess Work?
I'm a woman but don't connect with my feminine self. Why? Well, there is a list of personal reasons for me. As the youngest child of my family, most of my siblings had already left the nest by the time I was born. So if my mother needed any help (programming the remotes, moving furniture, mowing the lawn, etc.), it was left up to me to figure out. Also, the woman who was supposed to be my caring maternal figure was an alcoholic. So I never had a guiding parent or a maternal figure. I was the parent who had to take care of everything. Regarding school, things were highly structured, and standardized tests reigned. All students had to excel at everything and compete for scholarships. It didn't matter how much knowledge you acquired. All that mattered was your GPA.
Fast forward to the workplace. Current 9-5 workplaces were created around a male's testosterone levels and lifestyle with the idea that someone would take care of everything at home, but that isn't the case for modern society. I would go to work, be on my feet all day, and work twice as hard to be taken seriously. In a world that values productivity, competition, and individual achievement, I often felt pressured to suppress my emotions, intuition, and creativity to succeed. Then, I would return home and still be expected to do all the household chores. I was burnt out and exhausted.
Now that I live in Italy and can't work, I've had time to step back and truly examine the life I was leading before. A female's body was not made to be in a constant state of go-go-go. Our hormones fluctuate throughout the month, taking our energy with them. There are times when we have limitless energy and times when we need to rest. Through books I've been reading lately, I understand now that I'm not alone and many other women feel the same way I did. There are tons of websites and books all about the Inner Goddess and Feminine Awakening.
What is the Divine Feminine?
The divine feminine is the spiritual belief that there is an equal feminine power that balances the masculine powers that have long dominated organized religions. This goddess energy is not tied to one specific belief system or gender, but exists within each of us, male or female. This idea is most easily viewed in the Yin Yang symbol. Each human being is dominantly male or dominantly female. Yet, in order to be a balanced, whole individual, we also must have a touch of the other. Notice that I did not say man or woman. These energies are present in all sexes. A woman can flourish by having predominantly male energy, and the reverse is true. It's when we are forced to choose something other than what we naturally want that we become imbalanced.
Masculine energy is often viewed as "action" energy. The power and aggression of doing something. While feminine energy is a "reflection" energy, more thought and receiving. While these energies are often tied to one sex or the other, it's the balance of both that creates a stable and harmonious life. A dominant male soul needs to have compassion and kindness traits. A dominant female soul benefits from having the determination and confidence to speak their truths. However, in modern times, the masculine traits of producing visible results have been more heavily cultivated and expected, shunning feminine intuition and leaving most feminine souls in an imbalance.
Working with the Goddess
There's no perfect solution to our societal issues yet. I highly doubt America will ever adopt a more open schedule. But there are certain things we can work on at home that might lessen our stress levels and bring our bodies back into alignment. Over the next few weeks, I want to look into ways to reawaken my feminine side and slowly integrate them into my life in a way that works for me. I'll dive deeply into one idea a week, test it out for the week, then update you on the results. This journey will be an 11-week series, and I hope you'll follow along.
Sources and Extra Reading
Goddess Work Series Quick Links
Introduction to 'Goddess Work'
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