Beyond Gender: The Universal Archetypes of the Divine

The divine masculine and divine feminine are concepts that have been around for thousands of years, they represent the two primary archetypes that exist within all of us.

The divine masculine is typically associated with strength, courage and action, while the divine feminine is associated with intuition, nurturing and creativity.

Both archetypes are equally important, and when they are in balance within an individual, they create a sense of wholeness and completeness.

Unfortunately, our society often places more value on the masculine archetype, which has inevitably led to an imbalance within individuals and communities at scale.

Men are often taught to suppress their emotions and focus solely on achieving success, while women are actively encouraged to prioritise relationships and caretaking over their own needs.

This can be damaging for both men and women, as it prevents them from fully embodying their true selves and can lead to a lack of fulfillment and purpose.

It's important to recognize that the divine masculine and divine feminine are not limited to gender. Anyone can embody both archetypes, regardless of their biological sex or gender identity. We all have the potential to be strong, courageous and action-oriented, as well as intuitive, nurturing and creative. It's all about finding balance where you can.

To fully embrace both archetypes, it's important to cultivate self-awareness and to practice self-care. This means taking time to reflect on our thoughts and emotions and nurturing our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It also means acknowledging and honoring the unique qualities of both the divine masculine and divine feminine within ourselves and others.

Interpreting your own energy can be a deeply personal and introspective process. As Jon Hopkins, Creator of 'Sitting Around The Fire' put it, "The real work you have to do is in the privacy of your own heart."

Having experienced this journey myself over many years, here are a few key steps you can take to gain more clarity and insight into the level of balance you have within yourself:

Take the time to tune in to your own body and emotions. This feels like paying attention to physical sensations such as tension, relaxation, warmth or coldness, as well as emotions such as joy, anxiety, fear or excitement. Whatever is coming up for you, just be mindful of it. If you don't feel anything, just be aware of that too.

As I've said a million times through my posts, Journalling is an incredibly powerful tool for gaining clarity on your own energy. It's a fantastic way reflect, evaluate and manifest.

Set aside some dedicated time to reflect on your feelings and experiences, why not try using some of these prompts to guide your writing if you're unsure where to start:

1. What emotions am I feeling right now?

2. What situations or people tend to drain my energy and which ones replenish it?

3. How does my body feel when I'm experiencing different emotions?

4. When do I feel most alive and energised?

5. What are my personal values and how do they influence my energy?

6. What patterns do I notice in my energy levels throughout the day or week?

7. How can I prioritize self-care and activities that bring me joy and fulfillment?

8. What beliefs or thought patterns might be limiting my energy or potential?

9. How can I practice gratitude and mindfulness to cultivate positive energy and awareness?

10. How can I honour and respect my own energy while also being mindful of others'?

11. What does the divine masculine mean to me? What qualities do I embody that align with this archetype? Where do I feel I could use more of this energy in my life?

12. What does the divine feminine mean to me? What qualities do I embody that align with this archetype? Where do I feel I could use more of this energy in my life?

13. How do I typically respond to challenges or obstacles in my life? Do I tend to take action and persevere through difficulty, or do I rely more on intuition and creativity to find solutions?

14. How do I prioritise self-care in my life? Do I make time to nurture my physical, emotional, and mental well-being, or do I prioritize external responsibilities over my own needs?

15. How do I express my emotions and communicate with others? Do I tend to be more assertive and direct in my communication, or do I rely more on empathy and active listening to connect with others?

16. How do I approach my relationships with others? Do I prioritize nurturing and building strong connections, or do I value independence and self-sufficiency more?

17. What activities or hobbies bring me a sense of joy and fulfillment? Do they align more with the masculine or feminine energy? How can I incorporate more of both into my life for greater balance?

This is a journey, your own personal process, so there is no right or wrong way to interpret your own energy.

Be kind and compassionate with yourself, and allow yourself to be open to new insights and perspectives.

When we can embrace both archetypes within ourselves, we foster energy and space to create a sense of harmony and balance that extends beyond ourselves and into our relationships with others. We become more empathetic, compassionate and understanding and are better able to make connections on a deeper level.

To truly embody the divine masculine and divine feminine, we must be able to recognise and honour the inherent worth and dignity in everyone, regardless of gender, identity or expression. We must work to dismantle the stigma and societal structures that continually perpetuate inequality, discrimination and division. In order to create a world that values and uplifts everyone, we have to be able to acknowledge our mistakes and lean into resistance, to be able to move forward.