When universal feminine energy supports a society, its core values support the balance of male-female forces. They honor women’s contributions to the family, the economy and to the body politic. Societies such as these, which are called matriarchal, recognize that a woman’s relationship to universal feminine qualities, exemplified by Shakti, Isis, Tara, Lilith, etc., have a profound influence on her well-being – and the health of her relationships.
Although no two matriarchal societies are exactly the same, some features are shared by all of them. In matriarchal societies, care is taken to maintain a healthy balance between women and men – as well as between humans and the natural world. This leads to a non-violent society that values life and relationships above power and wealth.
Another unique feature of matriarchal societies is the adoration of life, which includes Gaia and the richness of life that she nourishes.
Both women and men in these societies recognize that the well-being of the community depends on having this wealth of female power available to everyone. That’s why in matriarchal societies and those influenced by matriarchal societies – such as those found in Egypt, Tibet and India – girls have been taught, by women of wisdom, to know themselves, love themselves and share their universal female qualities of with those around them.
Universal Feminine Qualities
Universal feminine qualities include power, creativity and radiance as well as pleasure, love, intimacy and joy. They also include the qualities of good character, which have for millennium been embraced by woman of all cultures. These qualities include, non-harming, loyalty, perseverance, discipline, patience, long-suffering and courage.
The universal qualities we’re talking about are reflected even today in the Indian tradition of the “Devadasi.” Traditionally, these Indian priestesses had the ability to heal others with their dance because they were taught to freely radiate the pure essence of the universal feminine, which grants life – as well as healing.
Unfortunately, universal feminine energy and women who radiate its qualities are rarely given the respect they deserve by modern patriarchal societies.
Although progress has been made and many women now live relatively free lives, the core values that support the oppression and marginalization of women remain largely unchanged.
These core values are transmitted in two ways: through the acculturation process and by man-made female archetypes. A man-made female archetype is a distorted and/or superficial image of women – embraced by a patriarchal society that limits a woman’s power, creativity and radiance.
To give you some idea of how pervasive man-made archetypes have become in modern society, we’ve included this text written by an anonymous woman at the end of the twentieth century.
‘… what we look like is more important than what we do, and if we get raped, it's our fault, and if we get beaten, we must have provoked it, and if we raise our voices, we're nagging bitches, and if we enjoy sex, we're nymphos, and if we don't, we're frigid… if we ask our doctor too many questions, we're neurotic and/or pushy, and if we… stand up for our rights, we're aggressive and "unfeminine," and if we don't, we're typical weak females, and if we want to get married, we're out to trap a man, and if we don't, we're unnatural….’
The man-made female archetypes included in this anonymous text are just a small sampling of archetypes that are generally accepted as natural by men and women alike in modern Western society.
Are You Immune? – Think Again!
You may believe that you’re immune from repressive and distorted man-made archetypes. But to be a modern woman, living in a patriarchal society beset by archetypes – some of which are millennia old – that set limitations on self-expression, power, opportunity and radiance is to be a woman trapped by contradictions. These contradictions may be subtle – but nonetheless, they can have a devastating effect on a woman’s self-worth and her ability to establish a healthy identity.
Viva La Revolution
But what if a contemporary woman didn’t have to struggle with man-made female archetypes? I believe that she would be able to express her innate power and creativity freely and that joy would replace disappointment and despair. Such a woman would be powerful, radiant and self-confident. She wouldn’t need to compete with men, and she wouldn’t want to be like them. Such a woman would do things that were appropriate for her because she would be motivated by the same energy that created and sustains the living Earth.
Such a woman would view her body as a sacred temple worthy of honor and love. This would be reflected in the care she gave to it. She would nourish it with wholesome foods, and her sexual activities and choice of a partner would be appropriate because they would be a reflection of her self-love – not men’s lust.
Because she would no longer be a victim, she would be fearless. That would enable her to share pleasure, love and intimacy with the appropriate partner without submitting to him.
Celebrating the Inner Woman
A woman – regardless of her age – who has liberated herself from the man-made female archetypes will discover a new femininity which incorporates the old myths that celebrated the universal feminine and the freedom women have achieved in modern Western society. The synthesis of old and new would provide every woman with an unparalleled opportunity to enter a new age where she would love herself, her body – and she would give herself to a man joyfully, without restrictive belief patterns getting in the way.
Change may appear difficult at the moment because you appear trapped in dependent relationships, because you’re responsible for people who are dependent on you or you’ve been traumatized or stigmatized by people who are violent and/or adhere to the values of a male dominant society. However, by replacing man-made archetypes with archetypes that celebrate the universal feminine, you will release all the power, energy and creativity you need to become the woman you always knew you could be. In the following text, I’ve included five life-affirming, feminine, archetypes that you can use to replace the man-made, female archetypes that continue to limit you.
The Innocent Girl: This archetype can be used by any woman who has been traumatized or abused as a child. The most important qualities of the innocent girl are innocence and trust.
To be innocent doesn’t mean to be naive or childish. Innocence is the purity of soul that a joyful, balanced woman retains throughout her life. It’s lost when a woman’s energy field has been polluted by man-made archetypes and by projections from selfish and abusive people.
By trust we mean more than the trust in a benevolent universe. Innocence includes this form of trust, but it’s much more. It includes self-trust that can only emerge in a woman once she knows herself and has the courage to be herself.
The Warrior: This archetype can be used by any woman ready to take back her feminine power and to freely assert it in the world. The Warrior is a woman who respects herself because she respects her intuition and what she senses about the world around her. The Warrior has developed courage and perseverance and has chosen to be herself regardless of the cost. As a result, she can’t be manipulated by the core values of patriarchy which equate femininity with weakness and dependence. The woman who becomes a warrior is the master of her own mind and the equal of any man.
The Nourishing Woman: This archetype can be used by any woman who needs to overcome, self-importance, narcissism or the need for male attention. All these qualities emerge from patterns of self-doubt and insecurity, which indicate a lack of self-esteem.
The Nourishing Woman doesn’t require a man’s validation to feel whole. She has a generous nature and radiates her nourishing power to both “saint and sinner alike.” Such a woman has overcome the narcissism and egotism that comes from the inability to love herself and those around her. She has found herself and gives without expecting anything in return.
The Adventurous Woman: This archetype can be used by any women who feels trapped in a conventional life that is stifling her. If you feel like you’re drowning in other people’s needs or that you must sacrifice your own well-being for family or friends, the adventurous woman offers you a way to achieve the inner freedom that you seek.
The adventurous woman doesn’t run away from life; she embraces it by creating an inner life that is rich in adventure and experience. If you’re a woman who seeks her own path, the adventurous woman offers you the inner strength and conviction you need to trust your decisions and put the universal qualities of the feminine first. A woman who embraces this archetype trusts her senses and embraces all experiences – both good and bad. She learns from her mistakes and becomes stronger as a result. Although she may wander alone at times, she is never lonely because she has found herself.
The Wise Woman: This archetype can be used by any woman who consistently makes bad decisions. The problems most woman face have their foundation in bad decisions that interfere with their dharma (life path) and well-being. Bad decisions are motivated by patterns that support the core values of patriarchy. That is why the universe doesn’t support them.
Facts don’t lie; when a woman’s core values support patriarchy, then the decisions she makes will inevitably lead to pain and suffering. Decisions to love a wounded or abusive man, to sacrifice yourself for others or to embrace a sexual persona that demeans a woman’s dignity are examples of bad decisions based on the values of patriarchy. Wise women reject the core values of patriarchy and make decisions based on core values that enhance female power, creativity and radiance.
Such a woman trusts her intuition and the decisions she’s made. She has given up guilt and shame because she has learned from her mistakes. As a result, she feels the creative energy of the universal feminine flowing through her. It’s the wise woman, of any age, who can heal the world.