Last night at the Radiance Rising Circle, after chanting to Sri Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god who removes all obstacles, we shared in a lively discussion about many topics. One such topic was the differences between the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine. In this blog, I will highlight my sense of their attributes, and I invite you to comment here with any further characteristics that you see.

The Divine Feminine is receptive, nourishing, holding space, allowing, and inviting. The Divine Masculine is focused on solar purpose, discerning, concentrating, holding form, and acting. At the highest level of Consciousness, the two are in constant Union. Like fire and its power to burn, they are inseparable.

So how does this apply to those of us who are not yet living at the highest level of Consciousness? Well, first we need to understand that all of us – men and women – have both the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine within us. Next, we can look to see if those attributes (listed above) are in balance within us. When we look inside, we might notice some imbalances. If the Divine Feminine is not in balance we might feel irritable, whiny, needy, and/or grasping. If the Divine Masculine is not in balance we might feel impatient, aggressive, forceful, and/or intolerant.

Once we begin to cultivate the witness and get to know our internal feminine and masculine aspects more intimately, then we can gradually heal those elements and bring them into harmony within. That internal mystical union is truly the goal of “tantra”.  Today there is much focus on the sexual union aspect of tantric yoga, but at the highest level, the tantric union of Shakti and Shiva is not meant to be acted out on the physical level. Rather, it is symbolic of the internal union of the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine.

When I witnessed the dance between the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine within me, I noticed that I have tended towards easily accepting and forgiving the Feminine element within, but I have not been so easy on the Masculine element within! I have often expected my internal masculine to be perfect all the time! This explains why I have expected the men in my life to be perfect all the time, since we often project our internal experience out onto our beloveds.

What do you see when you look within at these elements? I welcome your comments here below.

May all beings everywhere know Balance within.

Om Shanti (Peace),

Yogini Tejaswini

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Photo of Mt. Shasta through car window taken by Teja Shankara while driving on I-5!