This is my daring attempt at taking a topic that should be studied for months or years and should be an entire book and condensing it into a nice little introduction of the importance of balancing feminine and masculine energies.

We all have both masculine and feminine energy in our subtle bodies.  You may be familiar with yin and yang.  Similarly, in tantra, feminine and masculine energies are represented by Shakti and Shiva or Ida and Pingala are the energy channels called nadis. The feminine energy, or Shakti, like Yin, is characterized by cool, lunar, passive, intuitive, negative polarity and flows through Ida.  Shiva, like Yang, is hot, solar, active, logical, positive polarity and flows through Pingala.  The energetic body is a microcosm of the universe.

When the feminine and masculine energies are out of balance the result can be a real problem.  Too much masculine energy manifests in greedy and aggressive behavior.  When feminine energy dominates the result is depression and stagnation.  These energies do not necessarily coincide with male and female roles in our society, but imbalance makes healthy relationships very difficult to maintain.

A Quick and Dirty Global Historical Context

In ancient times, the initial concept of a higher being was feminine. Most societies worshiped the Goddess, the Great Mother, creator, provider, and sustainer. Civilization was matriarchal, however, there is little archaeological evidence that the female members of these societies held themselves superior over their male counterparts. Humankind was in harmony with nature. The women had the common sense not to become drunk with power and abusive. Generally Goddess worship had been balanced with the honoring of both the male and the female. [Read more...]