Do you ever feel like there are two different versions of you? I’m not talking about any next level, Jekyll and Hyde sh*t but maybe you operate in two different modes depending on what is required of you. Maybe there’s the goal-getting girl boss version of you, who’s assertive, sassy and go, go, go. Then there’s the more nurturing, sensitive side, who loves baking treats for your friends and cries in commercials with cute puppies. Maybe you relate to more than one over the other, but chances are you’re some combination of the two. If this is the case, you’ve experienced what it’s like to operate in both your masculine and feminine energy.
Contrary to what the name suggests, this actually has nothing to do with your sex. While most of us are born either male or female, we aren’t born masculine or feminine. These qualities have to do with gendered socialisation but in the healing world, it’s also known as the divine balance. The idea is that we all have both masculine and feminine energy within us (yes, even men) and in order to truly live a happy and prosperous life, we have to learn to balance the two.
What is masculine energy?
The traits associated with masculine energy include:
- Strong
- Assertive
- Driven
- Structured
- Logical
- Independent
- Analytical
Masculine energy is associated with the left side of the brain and ‘doing’. It comes in handy in certain career situations you need to take control, such as in negotiation scenarios. Unsurprisingly, it’s also useful to harness when working out, especially when lifting heavy weights.
What is feminine energy?
The traits associated with feminine energy include:
- Softness
- Intuition
- Creativity
- Empathy
- Nurturing
- Feeling
- Compassion
Feminine energy is associated with the right part of the brain and ‘being.’ When you are in touch with your feminine energy, there’s a strong connection between your body, mind and intuition. It’s useful for leadership scenarios where empathy and compassion is required, and is essential for being a nurturing and attentive partner, friend or parent.
What happens when your masculine and feminine energy is out of whack?
When there is a surplus of masculine energy, it can come across as ego, aggression and anger. On the contrary, having too much feminine energy has been linked to weakness, complacency and being taken advantage of. Healers believe that in order to really thrive in your career, relationships and life, you must reach a harmony between the two. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be an exact 50/50 mix of masculine and feminine. It’s about harnessing the two energies, to use in situations where they’re appropriate. So, you may want to operate in more masculine energy when you’re at work, and feminine energy at home.
How to balance your masculine and feminine energies
In order to nurture your feminine side, try to occasionally just ‘be’, whether that’s practising mindfulness, listening to a friend or partner’s issues without trying to fix them or simply allowing yourself to just do ‘nothing’ on a Sunday afternoon. To develop your masculine energy, try to immerse yourself in more ‘doing’ activities, such as goal-setting, taking the lead in social situations or doing some problem-solving.
