Balancing Our Masculine and Feminine

    We all have both a feminine and masculine side. Yin and Yang. Carl Jung termed it the anima and animus. Females have an inner male side and males an inner female.

    Your masculine side gets expressed when you're working toward a goal, making progress, getting things done, and pushing forward. It contains direct, rational, practical, and assertive qualities.

    Your feminine side gets expressed when you move with the flow of life, embracing your creative energy, imagination, sensitivity, dance, and play - being attuned to your internal process.

    In our culture, masculine qualities tend to be "valued" more than feminine qualities. We see this evidenced every day as women struggle to be accepted, to find their own power, their voice, fearing that they will be "put in their place" or thought of as sexual objects. We see it in the aggression, stress, and fear men experience, struggling to be in relationship, but not knowing how; being taught that it is "wimpy" to show emotions and feelings. We see it in the movements that have taken place over the last 20 years to bring greater equality to the sexes.

    It often feels as though the male and female are struggling against one another, out of touch with one another. This creates a feeling of being off-balance, both individually and culturally. When we overvalue masculine energy, we spend more time at work, on our computers and smartphones, and less time in nature and expressing our creativity. Since most of us (males and females) need to nurture our feminine side, that is what I’ll be focusing on here.

1. Take time to put your awareness on what’s happening in your body. Exploring your thoughts and feelings is an excellent way to go deeper into your feminine side. Really listen to how you feel.
2. Spend time in nature. Go for a walk in the park, focusing on the trees, the smells, and the sounds of nature.
3. Feminine energy is creative. A woman’s body creates life, but creativity can be expressed in many ways - dancing, drawing, writing, playing an instrument, and any other form of artistic expression you can think of!
4. Make time for play. Don’t wait until a planned vacation to feel playful. Take time for yourself often and prioritize time for relaxation. This could mean reading a book before bed, taking a bubble bath, listening to music, or attending a restorative yoga class.
5. Be open to receiving. Masculine energy is a penetrating force, while female energy is a receptive, opening energy. Be open to receiving love and attention from others. Get a massage, a pedicure, or have a friend make a meal for you.
6. Spend time with groups of females. Spending time with women recharges our feminine energy.
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    One of my favorite books on this subject is "We" by Robert Johnson. Johnson is a Jungian analyst who provides an explanation of the meaning of romantic love, and shows how understanding its psychological dynamics is useful in all our relationships. "Learning to cope with one’s own masculinity and femininity within is an absolute prerequisite before one can then focus on exterior relationships."
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    As we connect with both the masculine and feminine parts of ourselves, we'll be creating a dynamic balance between the two. The male/female balance is in reality a oneness, like everything in life - both beautiful, both equal, both parts of a greater whole. By working in harmony, honoring the gifts that each aspect of our being brings to us, we can create a healthy, well-balanced life.