A PRAYER FOR HER RISING
As we shake off the shackles of the past, may we create a
whole new archetype for women in these awakening times.
As we reclaim our voices, may we find the strength
to speak for those who do not have one.
As we surrender to our cyclic nature may we be
strengthened by the effortless rhythm of the Earth.
As we honor our bodies, may we be reconnected
with the ancient wisdom that lies within.
As we remember the sacredness of our womanhood may
we step into the potency of who we came here to be.
As we let go of mistrust and past hurts, may we mend
the severing of sisterhood and remember that there
is more than enough room for us all to rise.
And so it is. And so it is. And so it is.
BALANCING THE MASCULINE AND FEMININE IN YOU
‘I believe in the power of men who respect
the Earth and her women.’
RUNE LAZULI
We each have within us both masculine and feminine energies. While your sex indicates what energies you chose to focus on in this life, we still embody both.
As we are coming out of 5,000 years of patriarchy, where the unbalanced masculine has been the focus, it is important to note that the unbalanced feminine can be just as destructive.
Just as the sacred feminine’s anger has been silenced through patriarchy, the sacred masculine’s ability to express emotion and recognize his divinity has too.
As we recover from patriarchy, it is important not to aspire to its polar opposite – patriarchy to matriarchy. Rather, let’s bring the sacred masculine and sacred feminine energies back into balance. As the sacred feminine rises, may the sacred masculine rise along with Her.
Below is a list of some of the characteristics of the sacred masculine and feminine energies when balanced and unbalanced. Read through and see which you relate to; remember we are capable of them all.
SACRED FEMININE UNBALANCED FEMININE
Compassionate, wise, in touch with her ability to heal, connected with nature and her seasons, sees herself as whole, loves unconditionally, fiercely protective of the planet and her children, sexual, wise, knows her power, intuitive, passionate, empathetic, understanding, healer, fertile, creative, abundant, in flow with the rest of life, provider of Shakti, assertive, truth seeker, fills up her well, able to be supported, revered and adored by the masculine, able to express anger and passion Depressed, needy, codependent, overly sensitive, wallowing and self-pitying, bitter, self-doubting, victim, people-pleaser, the good girl, low self-esteem, dependent, unable to stand on own two feet, gossip, resentful, doesn’t want to be happy, martyr, selfish, can’t stand other people’s happiness, manipulative, scheming, controlling, spiteful, unable to express her needs, insecure, puts everyone else’s needs ahead of her own, in thought compares self to others
SACRED MASCULINE UNBALANCED MASCULINE
Strong, protective, worships the feminine, supportive, present, active, proactive, abundant, powerful, provider, confident, physical, energized, passionate, heroic, courageous, able to be supported by the feminine, able to surrender to and be held by the feminine, able to love unconditionally, in touch with feelings but doesn’t let them control him, empowered, not threatened Destroys everything in his/her path, ruthless, does not think of anyone but himself, the end justifies the means, forceful, brutal, barbaric, selfish, egoistic, sees him/herself as separate, arrogant, disconnected, from the head up, weak, cruel, disconnected from emotions, easily threatened, cowardly, deceitful, stubborn, endures and strives when it is time to rest, headstrong
GOODBYE TO THE GOOD GIRL
‘As a woman I am expected to want everything
to be nice, and to be nice myself… I don’t design
nice buildings – I don’t like them.’
ZAHA HADID
Patriarchy tells us that if we follow a linear model everything will work out. Do long hours, keep your head down, just stick at it, you will be rewarded in the end.
The old rules of pushing on through for some promise or reward in the future no longer apply. Rugs are being pulled and whatever is inauthentic is becoming harder to hold on to. It is in these times that Kali, the dark mother, is by our side beckoning for us to loosen our grip, and let go, let go, let go. To let the Earth’s natural rhythm and our own medicine call us home.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t have a strong work ethic or fight for something that you love, but don’t push on through or fight for it blindly because that is what you should do or because you fear not having it in your life. We must no longer be enslaved and caged by our fears.
Do it because it’s what you desire. Do it because it brings you pleasure. Do it because it makes you come alive. Do it because it lights you up. Do it because your intuition told you to. Do it because it ignites a spark in your heart. Do it because it lights a fire between your legs. Do it because it’s what you came here to do.
We must relinquish our people-pleasing patterns. We must stop all endeavors to be the good girl who blindly follows and does what she is told. We must turn our authority within using our intuition as our compass.
We must rise as women not follow as girls.
Forget what they will say. If they gossip, it’s a sure sign you are doing something noticeable and good. Forge the path. Leave dust behind you. Have the courage to live your life in full.
Remember the description of ‘Virgin’ as being a woman ‘one-in-herself.’ Ancient Priestesses were seen as Virgins: Independent sovereign women who could not be owned or bound. When you reclaim your Priestess power you cease needing to be the ‘good girl’ and you step into your womanhood. You step into being a woman one-in-herself. Which you already are. So be that. Reclaim that. Initiate yourself as that.
RISE SISTER RISE
If you weren’t afraid of what other people would
think, say, or do what would you do?
How are you trying to people-please or
be the good girl in your life?
How can you reclaim your Priestess power
and be a woman one-in-herself?
LET’S BURN THE ARCHETYPES
As I alluded to earlier, for far too long women have been limited to two socially acceptable archetypes: the Virgin (the good girl) and the Mother (nurturing, loving, protective, and selfless) with no room for anything in between. Women are either Madonnas or whores. Good girls or bitches. Holy or witches.
The hangover of all of this has resulted in us doing our best to fit into these two acceptable archetypes and feeling shameful for all the bits that spill over the edges. The practice of endeavoring to keep our shadow side contained must come to an end. If we deny our shadow, we deny our light in all its power. From the ashes of the fire, the phoenix She rises.
We cannot truly be free if we are doing all that we can to keep a certain part of us hidden. Keeping the Wild Woman restrained in fear of the threat of being branded a ‘bitch’ or ‘whore’ needs to stop.
‘Good girls’ go through life pushing down rage, pushing down desire, pushing down shame, pushing down anger, pushing down the shadow, pushing down so much of the natural, wonderful, pleasurable, passionate, potent, and powerful parts of being a woman. When we are doing all we can to keep all of that contained, it’s no wonder we may find ourselves having ‘bitchy’ or even so called ‘whore-like’ outbursts. It is not possible to be the good girl all the time. It’s not healthy either. When we attempt to do so we cut ourselves off from the potent power of being a woman. The world needs more women, and fewer women as little girls.
But what if we took the shame and fear out of it? What if we saw our raw, wild, crazy, completely natural Shakti energy in all her embodiments and expressions as sacred? What if we reclaimed the dark parts of the lunar cycle and created space for all of Her to be here – to embrace the fierce Kali, Durga, and Lalita
parts of our feminine nature? What if we saw all parts of the feminine as holy? What if every woman tapped into her potent power and innate wisdom? What if every woman chose to rise? We would start a (r)evolution, that’s what.
RISE SISTER RISE
How are you keeping yourself contained?
Where in your life do you resort to being a
little girl instead of a powerful woman?
How can you let more of your crazy, wild,
passionate, sexual, fierce, powerful self out?
YOU DON’T GET TO SAY WHO I AM
The media and the world around us are constantly trying to tell us who we are. If you don’t know who you are with conviction, you will crumble and conform to what society says about you. Your true nature will be stifled. That would be a tragic shame. You are a walking piece of art. Crafted for lifetimes. Don’t waste it by letting others define you.
Be the author of your life. Claim who you are in all of your potency now.
In order to allow our true nature the space and nourishment it needs to rise, we must be vigilant at creating an intimate relationship with ourselves. We must study ourselves. Become experts in You©. If others have an opinion of you, it is simply that – an opinion, theirs. An opinion tainted by the filter that they see the world through. As a change-maker, you are choosing to see the world in a different way. Most people are not like you. Change-makers change things. Change is uncomfortable.
We must be relentless in the reclamation of who we are so that when another comes with their judgments (and they will, especially when you’re forging a path), you are so secure in your core identity that no words or amount of energy can throw you off your course. No one gets to say who you are but you.
RISE SISTER RISE
Who do people see you as or say you
are that is just not accurate?
Who have you learned to be that is not actually who you are?
Who are you really?
OWN WHO YOU ARE
‘I am not who I sleep with. I am not my weight.
I am not my mother. I am myself.’
AMY SCHUMER
You cannot stand in your power unless you know who you are and own it. The strengths and the weaknesses, the shadow and the light.
If you don’t know who you are and claim it, you will look to others for permission to be who you think you might be or desire to be someday.
If you know who you are with conviction, no one can define your worth, take away your power, bring you down, or say what is possible but you.
If you own your shadow no one can call you out, for you would have already claimed it.
So who are you? Write a list of ten things that are true about your light and your shadow. Light and dark. Own it ALL. Shame-free.
THE LIGHT (THE GOOD)THE DARK (THE SHADOW)
EMBRACING YOUR ‘TOO MUCH’
‘The world needs your medicine, woman.’
SARAH DURHAM WILSON
Do not underestimate the power of reclaiming your so-called weaknesses. With the right understanding, these can be the most precious things of all. More often than not, our weaknesses are actually the exact things that are masking our unique gifts. Our unique gifts aren’t meant to fit perfectly into a linear world – that’s why they are unique.
Think of the parts of you that you’ve tried to fit into a box. The times you’ve been accused of being ‘too much’ of something. Too sensitive, too emotional, too sexual, too opinionated, too honest, too blunt, too big… This ‘too much’ is just a way of saying your uniqueness is different and makes me feel uncomfortable.
Say you are someone who is ‘too sensitive.’ Perhaps you are drained by crowds and being around other people constantly and thus crave free time on your own. Perhaps when you don’t give yourself this solitude, you are quite grumpy, people call you selfish or rude or whatever. So you try to endure this craving for solitude, in order to fit in with the rest of life. To bind up the thing that you are ‘too much’ of. In doing this, this unique thing about you becomes the thing that you need to ‘overcome.’
But what if this so-called weakness was actually your strength. What if this craving for solitude was actually your medicine? What if by giving yourself the medicine that you so crave you stumble upon your true gift to the world? What if your sensitivity [or insert your ‘too much thing’ here] was not something that needed fixing, rather, it was your gift? What if it was the solitude that filled you up and allowed you to do the work that you are here to do?
What if your so-called weakness was
actually your greatest gift?
In the wrong setting – for example working in an open-plan office – sensitivity and need for solitude could be seen as a weakness. But in the right setting, say spending your days creating, your weakness could actually be your unique gift. And by giving yourself the medicine that you crave, this unique gift can then be alchemized into medicine for the world.
In the wrong setting – for example working for an unethical corporation – your highly opinionated, truth-speaking nature gets you into trouble. But in the right setting, say forging a new way of ethical leadership using your art to have the conversation you want to have with the world, your weakness could actually be seen as a gift.
Before I stepped into my current work, being a healer, spiritual teacher and writer, I saw myself as being ‘too sensitive’ or ‘feeling things too much.’ But, since realigning my entire life around my true nature and giving myself the medicine I need, these so-called weaknesses are actually now my greatest strengths.
My sensitivity allows me to write from the heart and to pick up on the slightest subtleties in my clients’ energy, to empathize and deeply relate. My craving for solitude was a craving for the very thing that nourishes my true nature. The solitude was my medicine. And by honoring this, my medicine is transmuted into medicine for others. When I am nourished by the solitude I am able to feel and hear the words that are mine to share – to allow my writing and creations to flow through me. Today my whole business is built on my so-called weaknesses on those parts of me that were ‘too much.’
What makes you different from others?
What parts of you have you been trying to change
in order to fit into a box-shaped world?
If you inquire deeply enough, you may just discover that your greatest weakness may in fact be your greatest strength. And in living in service to that, your true medicine will be transformed into medicine for others.
RISE SISTER RISE
What have you been accused of being ‘too much’
of: Too sensitive, too opinionated, too sexual,
too passionate, too emotional, too honest, too
much of a big presence, too disillusioned…?
This is your unique strength.
What does this unique strength demand
from you in order to nurture it?
This is your medicine.
How can you realign your life so that your medicine
could be alchemized into medicine for the world?
This is your gift to the world.
My unique strength is…
My medicine is…
My gift to the world is…
IT’S OK TO SOFTEN
You don’t need to suffer in order to succeed. You don’t need to strive in order to make things happen. You don’t need to hold it all together. You will become stronger, as you soften. You will be more supported, as you stop pushing so hard. When we loosen our grip what is truly meant for us will stay, that which isn’t will go.
Many of us have learned to rise in a man’s world. Learned to be skilled at things that are not aligned to our core. Each time we do these things we lose a little bit of ourselves. The tighter we hold on to an old way of being, the more rigid life gets and the more likely the tower will come crumbling down.
The days of fitting into a linear model in order to survive are coming to an end. We must soften back into our true nature and cal
l all the lost pieces back. In softening to our true nature, we will each forge a new path without even trying.
RISE SISTER RISE
What are you trying to control or bend to your will?
What have you learned to be good at that drains you?
What are you striving for/where in your
life are you pushing or controlling?
What is behind that striving/pushing/controlling?
How are you being called to soften?
DIVINE MOTHER
Thank you for assisting me in
releasing any old identities that are no longer aligned
with who I am and came here to be.
While I acknowledge and appreciate
how they have served me thus far,
I stand here willing to release my
attachment to them so that even more of
my true nature can emerge.
And so it is.
OLD IDENTITIES AND WHAT’S NO LONGER SUSTAINABLE
We are all being called to face up to those parts of our lives that are no longer sustainable.
To methods of survival, which might have served us tremendously in the past, but now have an expiry date.
To learned ways of being that no longer have our best interests at heart.
To those parts of our soul’s shadow we allow to define who we are.
To identities that are out of alignment with who we are today, or that we no longer need.
As we are called to transform, it is crucial that we get clear on what identities we are leaving behind so that we change the program, as well as the circumstances. I am ready to let go of being the one who puts service to others ahead of service to herself, the one who overschedules her day so she always feels like she is not getting enough done, the one who is driven by pressure not pleasure, the one who dislikes exercise, the people-pleaser, and the persecuted. All of these identities and ways of being are no longer sustainable. Sorry, no room. Use by date hit. Expired. See you later.
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