“Even after all of this time the Sun has never once turned to the Earth and said “you owe me”. Look what happens with a love like that- it lights the whole sky.”- Hafiz
In my practice I lead clients through a balancing meditation for the divine feminine and divine masculine archetypes that live in every one of us. As we journey into what each of these represent in their lives I am finding that there is great confusion and emotion around the divine masculine energy within; at times even more so than the societally broken divine feminine energy.
I have been going over in my heart for months on how to express what I experience with this imbalance and misunderstood masculine. But, I first had to understand it more for myself and how it has impacted my entire life. As we approach the height of summer I decided it is only appropriate that now is the time to approach this topic as the Sun is the full embodiment of the masculine essence. I know in my life I have always been more fire and a devout sun worshipper. My masculine side was always in overdrive, on the move and burning hot. As I write this my body is going through a major transition through injury and recovery from illness and exhaustion. I am beginning to sense a softness calling me, begging me to slow down, rest, create and flow a bit more like water than burn hot like a flame. I know that what burns so hot and bright can also burn right out if not tended to.
Divine Masculine?
Well in order to understand the divine masculine energy we must also have knowledge of the divine feminine. Simply put and to directly quote Janet and Stewart Farrar..
“The male essence is linear, analytical, with concentrated and logical awareness; it takes things to pieces to see what things are made of; it is fertilizing energy, force rather than form. The female essence is cyclical, synthesizing, with diffuse intuitive awareness; it puts things together to see how they relate; it receives the male energy and gives it form….. Either without the other is incomplete, distorted and vulnerable”
I find that my male clients crave the cradling force of the Earth Mother- the divine feminine. As they begin to tap into the passionate, emotional and wild masculine creatures they are- they feel their primal instincts stir from dormancy and from under this shroud of modern numbing. A spark of something ancient begins to burn and spread through their bones but the fear, shame and confusion of where to direct it and how to harness these feelings rises just as strong. They have been faced with the conflicting messages of “be tough” and “boys don’t cry” along with being told that the “big macho tough guy act” is too aggressive. The feelings and emotions they do have are buried under a mound of anger and disconnect from their passions and creative desires.
In my female clients their masculine sense has been on overdrive with balancing career, family and social calendars. They have been warriors in their lives and crave to be seen as the soft and fertile creative force they truly are. Being “too emotional” is something to be ashamed of and so often as women we burry and discount our true feelings. This shows up in hormone imbalances and PMS among many other symptoms. When I feel their right ovary (the right side of the body and right ovary hold the masculine energy) it’s in a spin as the left side and ovary (feminine) feels sad and uninspired and so thankful to have the attention.
Our most primal instincts are to survive and create. In ancient civilizations the masculine warrior would go out to hunt for and protect the women and children only to return to the softness and nurturing of ceremony, gathering and the womb of a woman. As well, the women would gather and create medicine, art and tend to the children and home and welcome back into their sacred circle the heat of their warrior at the end of the day. There was a an honor of the rhythms and natural roles of each gender in balance with their archetypal counterpart. Although men were the warriors and protectors they also gathered together in embrace and healing, often in the arms of another brother; emotion was celebrated and held.
Now of course we do not live in such defined roles any longer and have advanced in so many ways with equality in gender rights and opportunities- thank goodness. But, in these advancements we have lost the essence of our divine nature and rhythms. We have become broken inside so that we can produce and “succeed” outside. The masculine has been used up and burned out in almost all. The re- awakening in the last few years of the divine feminine archetype is no accident and why the terms Goddess, priestess and womb wisdom are becoming commonplace. We need her watery, emotional and creative ways because as we emerge into the rise of the feminine archetype, her wisdom and energy our internal warrior is needing some serious rest and regeneration.
So, as the Sun rises to his highest point and you feel your fire burn bright remember that at the end of every warm sunny day is a cool, restorative and dreamy dark night…
Nourish and Balance
Tune in: Honoring the elements that embody the divine feminine and masculine archetypes is a beautiful and simple way to bring balance. Upon rising each morning look east and give thanks to the vibrant masculine Sun for warming you and the Earth and to be there to greet you each day. As night falls, look to the Moon to bring you into the mystery of the feminine as you fall into deep sweet sleep.
Receive Maya Abdominal Massage: Scheduling bodywork in general will help you to land in your body to better understand where your blockages are. But, specific work in the seat of your emotional body will open, teach and transform your understanding of your imbalances and where you are storing trauma and stress. Maya Abdominal Massage (specifically ATMAT®) addresses stagnation physically, emotionally and energetically in our pelvic and abdominal organs to allow optimal flow of energy, nourishing blood, lymph, oxygen and chi.
Journal your experience: Ask yourself what divine masculine and divine feminine mean to you in your life. And for one lunar cycle (from new moon through full moon to new moon) tune into what force drives your decisions, your communications, relations, emotions and your creativity. Feel where you need to explore and heal.
Create-Create- Create: Your masculine side will thrive when your creative juices are flowing and being expressed. The feminine creates and the masculine brings the creation to life. When what you are putting out to the world (masculine) reflects what is in your heart and creative soul (feminine) you will find balance and grace.
Healthy Emotional Release: As one of my dance teachers always says “you gotta feel it to heal it”. Allowing your bound up emotions to go opens up space for healing in your entire life. Emotions are of the water element and they temper the fire. They soften the edges like a stream over rough stone. Emotions inspire creativity and the fire puts the passion and ideas into action. I don’t know of any songs, art or dance that don’t come from a place of deep creative inspiration. Every human- every spirit needs this balance and this includes our men.
I know that when I allow myself a good cry my digestion seems to automatically improve in the moment and I feel empty and ready to rest and refuel. Release can come in many ways: cry, sing, dance, om, orgasm, sit in your car and scream (I can attest that they all are quite effective). The caveat is this, healthy emotion release. If you are constantly crying and in despair please seek support…
Explore These Balances in Your Relationship: The dynamic of connection, love and relation between man and woman is the truest expression of the divine balance. When we lose our sense of these within ourselves we can get entangled into imbalanced relationships. I feel the lack of divine masculine and feminine teachings is the main reason we cannot deeply connect and stay connected. Divorce rates are incredible and there are too many creative, passionate, amazing and very single individuals in the world seeking connection. There are many books and sites that can help you dive into these dynamics within yourself and your relationship- be curious and seek what calls you.
I desired to truly meet the feminine in all her wild and beautiful elements, and to remember how the masculine was an integral part of this vast, dynamic beauty. For it is this communion with the feminine that births the wild masculine. – Dr Azra Bertrand
Happy Summer Solstice!
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