Reclaiming the Fierce Feminine

This post was written by Community Partner, Podcast Host, and Women’s Advocate, Sarah Engelhart.

You were born to speak your truth, live authentically, and feel capable of accomplishing anything you set out to do. When you struggle with holding clear boundaries out of fear or habitually second-guess yourself it may be time to explore reclaiming the fierce feminine in your life. 

Reclaiming Intuition

Have you ever felt excited to say “yes” to something, even though you had a bad feeling about it, and then later regretted making that decision? What about the opposite? Have you ever had a gut feeling that something wasn’t for you and in retrospect you were so grateful you didn’t do it? 

Consider that your intuition is always there, like a reliable friend who is looking out for you in the highest sense. However, sometimes it can be difficult to know what our intuition is telling us amidst all the inner & outer noise. It takes practice to connect with our inner knowing. 

Pausing to listen to the voice of intuition is a crucial practice on the journey of creating a powerful life. Learning the difference between the inner voice of our “ego”, vs the clear voice of our intuition requires discernment. Taking the extra effort to pause and go inward in daily life is not always easy, but the results of being attuned and receptive to the wisdom that wants to pour forth from within us lends itself to greater fulfillment on every level. 

Committing to a daily meditation or prayer practice is guaranteed to give both immediate and lasting results in strengthening your connection with your intuition, and giving you the confidence to speak your truth, even in the face of opposition. To be courageous and stand up strongly for what you know to be true in the depths of your being is an important part of reclaiming the fierce feminine.

Reclaiming Boundaries 

Connecting with your intuition is one important part of reclaiming the fierce feminine because it helps you to get in touch with what your truth actually is and therefore gives you a clear direction to move forward into. However, knowing what your truth is without taking the action to implement it can leave you feeling deflated. This is where boundaries come in.

Healthy boundaries are necessary in order to have a powerful and fulfilling life. Plus, holding a clear boundary that is truly aligned is an invigorating experience. 

Finding a balance between too few boundaries (over-extending ourselves, doing something that is out of integrity, or saying yes just to avoid judgment, etc.) or too-firm boundaries (avoiding or cutting people out of your life indiscriminately, habitually saying “no”, or being afraid to commit) can be difficult.

Setting boundaries with a clear yes, or no and integral follow-through is one of the many ways we let others know who we are and what we are available for. When we set boundaries with clarity, the ripple effect leads to making choices we can stand behind; so that even if things get difficult in the process of fulfilling our commitments, it is easier to reorient ourselves towards the original agreement and persevere. 

Reclaiming healthy boundaries includes finding a balance between our inner and outer worlds. The fierce feminine is a natural protector and does so from a place of compassion in order to protect what is sacred. We can be that way with the boundaries we set in our lives. We can protect our most important values through the choices we make.

Reclaiming Balance

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, feminine energy is associated with Yin and qualities like passivity, intuition, and receptivity. It can also be described as cool, dark, soft, still, and contemplative. Yin is said to represent the energy of the Earth and Moon and is in a constant state of balancing itself.

The primary habits of our modern culture are connected to yin deficiency (overworking, under-sleeping, over-eating, over-exercising, emotional stress, and even excessive sex!) When the feminine (or yin in this example) is out of balance we might find ourselves feeling deeply depleted, possibly trying to mask those symptoms with excessive caffeine or feeling like we can’t get out of bed (hello, adrenal fatigue). 

Anytime we fall out of balance it’s an opportunity to get in touch with ourselves again. To ask ourselves whether our habits are serving us, and to answer authentically. The goal here is to find balance and not fall into excess or deprive ourselves of what we need to be deeply nourished and enlivened. We can use our intuition to rediscover our intrinsic balance from moment to moment. 

Reclaiming the Fierce Feminine

It is fiercely feminine to be courageously self-expressed, deeply connected to your inner knowing, open and curious to learning new things, willing to speak your truth, holding clear boundaries, and committed to taking a stand to protect what is sacred. 

Each of us must define what is sacred for ourselves, and yet if we are willing to listen deeply and to live with our eyes wide open, we will inevitably discover that truth is self-evident. 

We were born completely equipped with everything we need to navigate this world with a great deal of love. We were born to face the unknown with curiosity and an open heart. Remembering this makes us capable of holding the nuances of seemingly opposing forces without becoming rigid in our thinking. This is an invitation to keep reclaiming the fierce feminine in your life because it’s so much more fun to do it together. 

More About the Author: Sarah Engelhart is the co-host of the Be Love Podcast. She is a student of life, with a background in psychology and religious studies. She is a singer/songwriter, artist, chef, and co-producer of Divine and Dangerous. She is a mother of two little boys and lives on Sovereignty Ranch practicing regenerative agriculture and hospitality on 200 acres.