Since the results of the most recent election a clip of Malcolm X speaking about how black women are the most disrespected, unprotected, and most neglected person in America has been making its rounds on the internet.
I don’t know about you but these past few days have been filled with mixed emotions for me and from what I’m hearing a lot of you are feeling the same way too. It feels like once again we as Black women must navigate how to respond to what feels like a betrayal coming from all directions. When out in public it may feel like we have to wear heavy invisible armor and we’re unable to tear it off of ourselves until we reach the comforts of home (we’ll have to talk about ‘What if home does not feel like a safe place for you’ in another blog post).
While I empathize with those of us who feel this way, I do hope to poke a pin in the darkness that often feels all consuming and allow for a ray of light to penetrate that we can bask in from time to time. Over the past few months I have been in numerous settings and spaces and heard about Feminine Energy vs. Masculine Energy. Prior to these last few months this topic hadn’t really crossed my mind but when I started hearing about it from various sources I took that as a sign from the universe that I ought to pay attention to this.
I wonder how many of us have lost ourselves in this energetic tightrope that we must walk everyday. Pausemedition.org characterized masculine energy as residing in a “doing” mode and feminine energy as residing in a “being” mode.
We as black women have oftentimes been conditioned to prioritize strength over being tender and vulnerable. We are often the pillars of our families and communities with little to no recognition. Our feminine energy is something that has always been there as we tend to be the nurturers but is it also somewhat out of balance for many of us? Our feminine energy is powerful and our birthright and for many of us can be our path to healing not only for ourselves but for those around us.
Now before I get dragged for sounding very antiquated, old school, and antifeminist please know that I am in no way encouraging us to turn back the hands of time to where women were treated even more unequally than we are now. I am talking about searching within ourselves to ensure that we are making space for those tender, vulnerable, and freeing moments where we allow others to take the reins and afford ourselves some respite.
Feminine energy is creative, intuitive, nurturing, and flowing. There is an ease to it that you can feel and others around you can feel. Residing in feminine energy can look like slowing down, taking time out of your day just for you, and letting go of the apparent need to control everything. Yes there will be moments – out of necessity – where we will have to tap into our masculine energy however, it’s just as important to find those moments where we can prioritize our self-care, pause and love on ourselves and those around us, allow our creativity to flow via art, music, body movement, or whatever avenue your spirit seeks.
How do we increase our ability to tap into our feminine energy you might ask? Some ways in which to create space for tapping into this power we possess is by ensuring our boundaries are in place and that we encourage others to honor those boundaries. As stated earlier, tap into your creativity through music, singing, or body movement. Write a letter to yourself embracing love-of-self, giving yourself permission to let go of things you can not control but have been trying so hard to do so. Access your village to seek and receive help when needed even if that means just allowing someone to be there with a listening ear for you.
We are the vessels that have been chosen to bring forth life. Life can take on numerous meanings in this context. We can think of it in the literal sense of the word but life can also mean anything that enriches our lives. We are the teachers, the healers, the nurturers, the feeders of minds, bodies and souls; and because of that we deserve and require balance between the two energetic forces that reside within each of us. Take some time today and check-in with yourself and if you feel a sense of imbalance try some of the tips suggested. Allow yourself to take that step towards aligning yourself in your truth.
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