mercy
The Goddess Energy Of The Sacred Feminine
Many people assume the sacred feminine is a concept relevant to women only. This is not true at all. The sacred feminine is a way of living for everyone, and a reorientation of how we move through life.
In his book Power vs. Force, author David R. Hawkins explores the intrinsic energy that is fundamental to all of life – an eternal power that is not driven by ego, will, or forceful means, but rather by a natural flow, like we see with the sacred feminine.
If you think of a goddess archetype, such as Kwan Yin, there is a gentle flow of energy that outpours from her, and yet there is an immense power in the dragon she rides! In Chinese Buddhism, Kwan Yin is an icon of compassion, kindness, mercy, and love.
Recognizing the gentle power of the divine feminine comes down to resistance. Is there a natural flow that is working in harmony for the greater good, or is there an extreme push with no regard to anyone else’s well-being with what is trying to come through the power in a given situation?
The latter of the two may bring about success for an individual or small group in the short-term, but what about the long-term impact? How will this show up karmically, or affect the greater good down the road?
When there is a strong desire to create something and it is met with resistance, those in touch with the sacred feminine tend to be more patient and will enter a state of receptive stillness and assess the situation from a viewpoint of loving kindness and wisdom.
The sacred feminine is quiet and gentle, but it does not mean one who lives like this is a ‘dishrag’ who acquiesces to everyone else’s needs and demands. Nor is it choosing to never go after a strong desire, or holding back full effort to win a tennis match!
The Fierce Journey To The Heart Of The Goddess
There are many divine beings around us throughout our lifetime. When I do a reading, a variety of angels, spirit guides, ascended masters, and goddess archetypes may show up to lend their wisdom, love, and guidance to my clients, for whatever situation they are going through.
Not only do we have guardian angels constantly with us, but we also have various ‘inner band’ and ‘outer band’ spirit guides who interchange through different periods and cycles in our lifetime. We also have deities or higher-level beings with us during certain times.
Recently I have had many encounters with the goddess Kuan Yinin during readings. She is the Buddhist bodhisattva associated with compassion and was first known as the ‘goddess of mercy’ among Jesuit missionaries in China. Guanyin, Guan Yin or Kuan Yin, is short for Kuan-shi Yin, meaning she who ‘observes the cries of humanity.’
She is a popular goddess in Chinese folk religion and worshipped in many communities and cultures all over the world. In the mid-17th century outlawed Christians in Japan created statues of the Catholic Virgin Mary disguised as Kuan Yin, known as the ‘Maria Kannon.’
I have always associated her with compassion, kindness, and forgiveness, but I was recently reminded that Kuan Yin rides a dragon! This makes a lot of sense to me, now that I have examined her legend more closely.
Kuan Yin is teaching us by example. To arrive at a place of compassion and kindness, we must first piece through some uncomfortable feelings of anger, sadness, and fear, to arrive at the ‘heart of the goddess.’ Kuan Yin rides her dragon of fierce bravery through stormy waters and scorching fires. She follows through with the journey to a place of completion and does not avoid the challenges that confront her along the way.
