In this episode we attempt to tackle the tricky idea of the masculine and feminine within each of us these energies that are required for balance are not only opposites, but they are interdependent and go beyond the definitions of male and female.
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Kellie writes:
It is a tricky business to explore this topic without trying to put everything in a tidy box. Society has for so long defined masculine/feminine roles as norms, and I love this new age we find ourselves in where everyone is accepted as an individual. It is the variety and unexpected that make life and relationships so interesting.
Of course everyone we know falls somewhere on a spectrum of traits. Some people are more aggressive than others. Many people are really creative and think outside the box. Plenty of people are rigid and need strict order. We all know someone who thrives on good deep hugs.
The way I visualize things, it feels like every trait and its opposite are on a sliding bar scale. My scale would never look the same as the day before, because I am always changing and evolving based upon what I am doing, how engaged I am, and what I am looking forward to.
Here is a sampling of some traits I am feeling today.
Below, Juliette lists a number of traits attributed to Masculine or Feminine. Combine those with some emotions (which belong to everyone) as I have done and every person we know falls somewhere unique to them, unique to their life experience and specific to their day. How amazing are the possibilities!
I challenge you to think of some of the traits you honor the most about yourself, and some of the traits that drive you nuts about someone else, and see if you aren’t just at different places on the same scale.
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Juliette writes:
As we explore the subject of the Muse or Inspiration through a series of episodes, we thought it would be interesting to look at the concept of masculine/feminine and how that affects our creativity and our inspiration.
All throughout the world, time and culture, opposite ‘forces’ are represented such as masculine/feminine, night/day, dark/light, sun/moon,etc.
This is also the concept of yin and yang in the Chinese medicine/culture. These energies (forces, elements?) are a necessary part of human beings. Each of us is using one or the other or both, all the time. Always trying to find the equilibrium that suits us best, at the moment.
We need both sides to make things whole.
I wonder how often we are conscious of which side we are using most at a certain moment. Which side is helping us create? Which side are we not using that could help us grow further as a creative? Are we missing something by not always looking into finding balance?
In a culture that would feed us one side vs the other, I believe we would lose something necessary. This imbalance would eventually force us to acknowledge some vulnerability and learn to accept the side we may not use enough. If we need to be in touch with both sides of our nature, it would be what provides us with balance and helps with our creativity.
I also noticed that these energies are not only opposites, but they are interdependent. Just as there cannot be dark without light.
Let me make one thing clear in this reflection about Masculine/feminine that is it goes beyond male/female.
Here are common characteristics attributed to masculine and feminine:
Masculine characteristics: assertive, results oriented, analytical, competitive
Feminine characteristics: caring, patient, sensitive, connecting, conscious, communicating, compassionate
My question to you is this: where does this reflection on Masculine/Feminine take you?
Do you feel this duality in our human nature?
How does it impact your creativity?