in person
with John Markland
July 21st - september 8th
There is a metaphor I use to describe the masculine and feminine relationship. The masculine is the cauldron and the feminine is the potion. The masculine is a structure, a vessel, a container within which the feminine is a bubbling, flowing, concoction of energy. Both need each other for creation to take place. The masculine bringing boundaries, stillness, logic, and direction. The feminine holding emotion, intuition, feelings, and energy. They complete each other. Without a container energy is chaos. Without the energy the vessel is empty.
There is a balance to this relationship. When it is in balance the masculine offers purpose, structure, boundaries, vision, protection, logic, routines, direction, and action to move forward. In balance the feminine offers intuition, creativity, love, feelings and the expression of them and a connection between self and the world.
When they are out of balance. The masculine degrades into isolation, dominance, judgment, aggression, superiority, and withdrawal even into disassociation. Out of balance the feminine dissolves into co-dependency, pleasing, validation seeking, boundarilessness, reactivity, inaction, and disassociation.
This balance affects every aspect of life: work, relationship, personality, creativity, self-care, decisions, beliefs, and spirituality. The key is that they work in tandem that they ebb and flow together. The masculine must be connected to the heart and vulnerability, or it quickly becomes rigid and lifeless just as the feminine must be connected to structure and purpose or it becomes chaotic and desperate for acknowledgement and unable to make a decision.
Some of the symptoms of a wounded masculine are needing control, no structure, feeling unsafe or undervalued, procrastination, weak boundaries, doubt, and brutal self-criticism. Some of the symptoms of a lacking feminine are people-pleasing, self-punishment through work, lack of rest, inability to receive affection or help, you become disconnected from joy and creativity.
This class will focus your senses to the balance of the masculine and feminine within you. We will then practice approaches to unlock, invite and engage those parts of the masculine or feminine that may be blocked, stagnant or absent. There will be some confronting elements of identity that will likely arise but on the other side of balance a sense of freedom, relief, gratitude, and power.