The classroom was transformed into a sacred space. Each participant was smudged with sage as they entered. We formed a circle and created a resonant field. And we began…

The first experiential exercise, designed to engage the mind and aesthetic of each participant, was a smorgasbord of images. About forty in all, the images offered a compliment of everything from nature scenes to the earliest Goddesses images to Muslim women praying. Alex Grey stood beside Stonehenge; Raphael’s ‘God Creating Adam’ proudly found its place near a crop circle mandala. In choosing the images, I was conscious not to project my own thoughts and bias of the Divine Feminine.

Each participant chose an image, and back in the circle, we shared: What attracted me to this? What ethic of the Divine Feminine might be inherent in this image?

The conversation was illuminating, diverse and touched upon a variety of impressions, understanding and questions about the Divine Feminine – far more than I could have ever introduced on my own.

The second exercise was a meditation, followed by a somatic Open-Space. The meditation was from my work with Barbara Marx Hubbard’s Emergence Process, and led participants on an exploration of the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine meeting a wounded egoic self and allowing it to speak its hurt and be transformed. I dare say this exercise had the most impact: weeks later, I am still receiving feedback from participants as to its transformative power.

Here is the brainstorm from the group – these are the words that emerged as they meditated and then expressed themselves through art, dance & movement.

 

DIVINE MASCULINE

 

  • Self-assured
  • Honourable
  • Inspirational
  • Creative
  • Power ‘with’
  • Trustworthy
  • Caregiver
  • Witness
  • Proactive
  • Energetic
  • Manifesting
  • Intention
  • Protecting
  • Passionate
  • Husbanding
  • Loving care
  • Exploring
  • Body
  • Leading
  • Fearless
  • Found
  • Exploring
  • Solid
  • Loving
  • Be
  • Expressive
  • Creative
  • Courageous
  • Stepping forward
  • Solid
  • In flow
  • Set the sails
  • Climb the mountain
  • At last allowed to be

 

WOUNDED MASCULINE

 

  • Insecure
  • Sleazy
  • Power ‘over’
  • Untrustworthy
  • Perpetrator and/or victim
  • Reactive
  • Driven
  • Creepy
  • Competititive
  • Controlling
  • Depleted
  • Powerless
  • Beaten
  • Rigid
  • Tired
  • Unsupported
  • Limited
  • Right & Wrong
  • Need to be seen
  • Privileged white male
  • Do fast
  • Impatient
  • External validation/value
  • Afraid
  • Alone
  • Apart
  • Restricted
  • Special/different
  • Hurt
  • Lost
  • Not good enough
DIVINE FEMININE

 

  • Receptive
  • Nurturing
  • Empathic
  • Interpersonal
  • Connecting
  • Relational
  • Creative
  • Inspirational
  • Intuitive
  • Instinct
  • Holding a space
  • Loving Kindness
  • Harmony
  • Radiant
  • Emergence
  • Abundance
  • Warm & Loving
  • Accepted
  • Home
  • Powerful
  • Fierce (in a good way)
  • Beauty
  • Body
  • Grounded
  • Fearless
  • Stillness
  • Wholeness
  • Trust
  • Receiving love
  • Alive
  • Expressive
  • Strong
  • Delightful laughter
  • Flowing
  • Patient
  • Evolutionary spiral
  • See light
  • Feel the wind
  • Childhood delight
WOUNDED FEMININE

 

  • Reactive
  • Manipulative
  • Abusive
  • Competitive
  • Scheming
  • Depleted
  • Emotionally out of balance
  • Gossipy
  • Perpetrator and/or victim
  • Subservient
  • Birthing as the only creative act
  • Passing on abuse
  • The Bitch
  • Silent
  • Unfeeling
  • Buly
  • Savage
  • Control
  • Insignificant
  • Conflicted
  • Depressed
  • In need/reliance
  • Need to be needed
  • Limited
  • Afraid
  • Passive
  • Misunderstood
  • Repressive self belief
  • Unsure/Sad
  • Bitter
  • Resigned
  • Wrong

 

The final exercise was a delight: Three men (including my partner) led us in a drumming meditation. The reflection question was: What gifts do you have that the world needs most right now?

The gift that my world needs right now is a return to wholeness – the Feminine and the Masculine each in their rightful place in a dance of synergy.

Blessings,

Maggi Feehan