How to Balance our Feminine and Masculine Energies

Feminine and Masculine Energy

What are the attributes of each and how do they get expressed when in balance or if imbalanced?

Did you know that you have a feminine and a masculine side to you? It presents itself in your physical body split from left to right sides which, also happens to be the median plane of movement or mid sagittal. Take a minute now to think about what ailments, aches or pains you often complain about. Which side does it present on - the left side or right? Have you ever noticed if it is more on one side versus the other one? In this blog I want to discuss how to balance our feminine and masculine energies so that we don’t continue to create more imbalances. Our thoughts are our reality, after all!

It’s interesting that I used to joke that I had right-sided “itis” because every time I’d get injured or feel pain it was on the right side. I would laugh about it but never thought much more about it until later in life when I started really studying spirituality and what that means on a deeper level. Upon deeper study and meditation I have found that the metaphysical, science and physical manifestations to be utterly fascinating and love to look deeper into the meaning of it all. So, let’s dig deeper into this and see what we come up with!

The Feminine and Masculine Divine

The history of masculine and feminine energies.

Masculine and feminine energies have been respected for centuries. The ancient Mayans divided the world into masculine and feminine energies. For them the feminine energy was the energy of caring, sharing and nurturing, as well as respect for nature, animals, plants, and all material and non-material aspects of the universe. The masculine energy, on the other hand, was the energy concerned with the material aspects of life such as striving, achieving, building and competing.

I have often wondered why I have such an affinity towards nature and always wanting to be in it but also of the spiritual side of life. I wonder and research the meaning of certain wildlife or sea life that appear out of the ordinary around me too. I must admit that I will often look up the meaning of certain birds, butterflies, fish, or whatever comes near me when I’m out. Perhaps this is the feminine energy within me that I am attuned with as are all of us if we become aware.

Eastern philosophy

The right side of the brain is feminine and left side is masculine.

Buddhists believe the right side of our brain is feminine and the left is masculine. The left hemisphere of the brain is our rational side—responsible for language, logic, math and facts. The right hemisphere is our intuitive, big-picture side. It’s where our creative process starts. How creative are you and have you ever thought about the things that may intrigue you or pull you to study it more intensely?

In Eastern philosophy they believe that our life’s mission is to balance the 2 halves. I wonder though if that also has a part to play in how we are supposed to connect with our other halves to create a whole or if it simply refers to the energies we each have inside of us. These are the questions that I find intriguing and like to delve deeper into!

The idea of masculine and feminine isn’t just a spiritual concept.

The Anima and the Animus

Carl Jung called the feminine side anima and the masculine side animus.

In the West, the psychiatrist Carl Jung explained that men have a feminine side (which he called the ‘anima’) and women have a masculine side (the ‘animus’). He taught that our journey in life involves coming to terms with both of these sides of ourselves.

He believed men are the physical embodiment of the masculine, yet they have the feminine energy within them. Likewise, women are the physical embodiment of the feminine, yet they have the masculine energy within them.

According to Jung, in order for a person to become whole - a process he called ‘individuation’ - a person must encounter and embrace both their masculine and feminine energies

How do you define masculine and feminine energy?

What attributes would you use to describe them?

Have you ever given much thought about how we would not exist if it wasn’t for a sperm and an egg from our mom and dad? That we literally cannot live without a part from our mom and a part from our dad? Take a minute and think about what kind of a miracle it truly is. For years it has been thought that men and women are wired to think very differently but new research is finding that we have more similarities than differences.

Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a psychologist at Cambridge University, thinks we all are have a range of being either an Empathizer or a Systemizer. A Systemizer is a person who would enjoy breaking down and analyzing systems, focusing closely on one task - which is usually categorized as masculine energy. An Empathizer would be great at empathizing with others and communicating well—which is more feminine energy.

According to his research, 44 percent of women have empathizing brains, 17 percent of them have systemizing brains and 35 percent have brains that are somewhat balanced between the two.

Masculine and feminine brains

Empathizing and/or Systemizing?

For men, Baron-Cohen found that 53 percent of men have systemizing brains, 17 percent have empathizing brains, and 24 percent are roughly balanced. The remaining 6 percent have an extreme male brain -- and these men, he believes, exhibit behavior that has been labeled as autistic.

The differences are said to be created in the womb according to how much testosterone you are exposed to as a fetus. Lots of testosterone in your mother’s womb causes your brain to develop a Systemizing approach to life. Less testosterone in the womb leads to an Empathizing approach. Fascinating isn’t it?!

The energy that manifests in you can switch depending on if you are in work-mode or chill mode. I have noticed within myself that when I am on vacation, in nature, having a dance party, being silly or have a day off with a loved one I can easily switch to my feminine flow spirit. When I’m in work-mode with clients then my more masculine energy flows. The more I grow into my awareness of these things the more I can also feel when I go into my toxic feminine or masculine from my past and be able to pull back from it. It’s very powerful and also deeply healing in my relationships.

There are layers to us that can be uncovered when we go deeper into our inner selves through meditation. Taking a deeper dive to uncover our unconscious behaviors to understanding ourselves better leads to a healthier and happier life. Meditation or any Spiritual practice can help us to have more enriching lives and is key to a more spiritual life. 😊