Unleashing Wild Women and the Sacred Feminine to Transform the World
13th September 2015
Guest Writer for Wake Up World We live during a time of awakening consciousness, a time in which we are exploring ways to bring the Sacred Feminine to a more central focus in our lives, in order to stop the wars, bring compassion to all, and nurture our Earth Mother who gives us everything we need. In a time of great change such as we live in today, it is critical, perhaps even a life-or-death matter, to explore the idea of women connecting with their deepest inner knowing and powerful creative energy to find their passion and transform the world. Women in Indigenous CulturesIn many indigenous cultures around the world, from the Australian Aboriginal peoples to the indigenous peoples of North and South America, woman are considered sacred because they maintain a close connection to nature; to birth, life, and death; to medicinal plants; and to spiritual knowledge. In these ancient cultures, the Sacred Feminine is encouraged to shine forth alongside the Sacred Masculine. Both the feminine and the masculine aspects of humanity bring important wisdom and abilities to the community as a whole. The two types of energies combine within each individual to create a life-affirming balance. Too often in modern society, the masculine qualities are valued over the feminine, creating an imbalance driven by insecurities and deep fear. When we open up to the Sacred Feminine in our lives, we restore that balance, we find confidence and integrity, and we develop the courage to move past our fears. In The Sacred Hoop: Recovering the Feminine in American Indian Traditions, Paula Gunn Allen writes:
It is only natural then, that at this important time of re-evaluating humans’ impact on the planet over the past 500 years or so, that we should return to a consideration of allowing women to step forward with their nurturing, strong-willed, and wild natures ready to make great social change. It also makes sense that we would look to the Sacred Feminine found in so many indigenous cultures, whose wisdom can help us discover new ways to respect the Earth and to honor its abundance. A Wild Nature Buried WithinWhen a woman, or any person for that matter, is in touch with their deepest inner knowing, when they can hear their “soul-voice,” they feel a deep connection with the universe. They are able to follow their intuition without doubting and second-guessing themselves. Too often in modern culture, our intuition is drowned out by to-do lists and schedules, money problems, and worries about what other people will think about us. The list of distractions goes on and on. The Wild Woman is able to let go of all of these small concerns in order to nourish what is most important for her soul: the pull of her heart toward what she really loves and what she is meant to do in the world. Every person, in order to be whole and complete, needs to offer their truest self to the world. We all have something very special and unique to share. We need every single person on the Earth to feel free to share their gift, in order to accomplish the huge task of creating the just, sustainable world that we want to see. We must each start within. We can begin by discovering and releasing what is wild within each of us, allowing it to open and blossom in our lives. Once we find the voice inside, the same voice that guided our indigenous ancestors to medicinal wisdom and spiritual knowledge, then we are in touch with the Sacred Feminine, the connection to birth, life, and death that guides each of us. When we allow this voice to become stronger, when we truly listen to it and acknowledge it, we will understand what our gift is and how to share it in the world. In her book Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. writes of the feminine nature:
What Happens When Women Open to their Deepest Wild Nature?Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Ph.D. has a doctorate in ethno-clinical psychology, meaning she is an expert on the study of groups or tribes. She works with women who wish to access their true natural self which may have been lost for any number of reasons. She consults their dreams, their memories, and explores with them certain tales, legends, and myths which pervade all cultures and reveal deep truths about the feminine soul. Estes says:
Who Is the Wild Woman Today?The Wild Woman is one who is not afraid to reject society’s rules in order to make great change which she knows is important and necessary. Her intuition is clear and strong, and she uses it to guide her actions and strengthen her resolve. She is fiercely protective of her own children and grandchildren, her partner, her community, all sentient beings, and Mother Earth. Estes says:
In other words, Wild Women have rediscovered a connection with their heart and their deepest instincts, which may have been lost for years or decades. They will passionately reinvent their own lives and their world when they discover their wildish nature. Many of the world’s great social change leaders, progressive thinkers, and tireless activists are Wild Women. Think of Julia Butterfly Hill, Rosa Parks, Margaret Fuller, Mother Theresa, and Waangari Maathai. These woman stepped outside of the normal boundaries of the society of their time, defying all odds and proceeding with what they believed in no matter what obstacles they faced. As social movements rise during this time of expanding human consciousness, who will be the next Wild Women who will change history? Many of the newest generation of Wild Women are already beginning to ignite the world with new perspectives and an unyielding drive toward transformation. Are you one of them? About the author: Jocelyn Mercado received a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish Languages and Literatures from the University of Delaware and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts. She has worked in Finance for over 15 years and is excited to be embarking on a new career in writing. She is currently working on her first novel, a modern myth based on actual and historical events that explores the fate of the indigenous cultures of the Americas and the ways that indigenous cultures are inextricably linked to the health of our planet. Jocelyn enjoys hiking in the mountains (especially Lake Placid and Asheville), spending time with her husband and two young daughters, gardening, trying out new recipes, and traveling. Jocelyn is a contributing author at the Pachamama Alliance — a global community that offers people the chance to learn, connect, engage, travel and cherish life for the purpose of creating a sustainable future that works for all. Visit www.Pachamama.org for more information. Copyright © 2015 Wake Up World.
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