The Importance of the Sacred Feminine for the Modern Woman

By Davena Amick Elder

"The Divine Feminine" or "Sacred Feminine" are popular phrases these days, but there is some confusion about their meaning and importance in modern life.

If we look at the Creator from a holistic stand point, we can see that the traditional patriarchal version is lopsided and therefore unhealthy. We all have a need for a deity that we can relate to. Women have not always had that. The Sacred Feminine brings balance and wholeness to our vision of the Creator. Those who work with the energy of the Sacred Feminine do not seek to overthrow the concept of the Sacred Masculine, but to bring balance, insight, and feminine wisdom back into the equation.

There are two basic ways you can work with the energy of the Sacred Feminine. The first is to work with the energy of the "Great Goddess" as counterpart to "God the Father." This vision of the Goddess does not have a specific personality nor is she limited to a specific culture. She is "Yin" to His "Yang," left to his right, up to his down.

Women who work with the Sacred Feminine in this manner might adjust their prayers or affirmations to include "goddess" with or instead of whatever they have normally used when speaking to the Divine. The universal images of a fertile mother figure or of a veiled figure of serenity or peace are often very appealing to these women. Incorporating the Sacred Feminine brings a feeling of balance and completeness into their lives. For some it feels safer to work with the Sacred Feminine in this manner, as there is no specific personality attached to the energy. This is simply returning the balance to Godsource that had previously been lost.

The other way to work with the Sacred Feminine is to see Her in all of Her various aspects and view each as living archetypes. Working with the Sacred Feminine in this way allows us to see in our own behaviors a part of the Divine, free from the judgment we would normally place upon behaviors we don't like. Archetypes are universal patterns of behavior that go by different names but are easily recognizable. For instance, a woman who is a scholar or a strategist may have Athena as a lead archetype.

All feminine behaviors and attributes are possible for every woman to connect with and are all seen in different goddesses from around the world. This makes it easier for us to look at our own behaviors without judgment. I can recognize when my Athena, my Hera, or my Aphrodite are "on lead," just as I can recognize when I need to call on the energies of Kwan Yin, Inanna or Kali. By studying these attributes we can also recognize, through our behavior, which aspects of the Sacred Feminine within us are in need of healing or are ready to mature.

Let's use the Athena archetype and an example. One of Athena's attributes is being very straightforward. When one Athena talks with another Athena, things are great. They get to the point quickly and efficiently. But we all have different lead archetypes and Athenas don't always talk to other Athenas.

When an Athena is speaking to a less direct archetype, such as a Persephone, things can get ugly. In her normal, direct manner, Athena will lay out what needs to be said or done, not realizing that her direct style might be perceived as harsh or unfeeling. Gentle Persephone feels almost assaulted by the directness with which Athena conducts herself. She may not say anything, already feeling intimidated, but her feelings are hurt and the message may have been lost due to her emotional reaction. Had these two women understood the ways that the Sacred Feminine work within each of us, they might have been able call upon aspects of Her that would have allowed for better communication and understanding.

Recognizing these energies within ourselves allows us to connect with more appropriate energies when necessary. Since all of the goddess attributes and archetypes are available for every woman to draw on, learning about them allows us to broaden our horizons and discover in ourselves where we are strong and where we are vulnerable. This allows us to discover which goddess energies we need to draw on in different situations and circumstances. It also allows us to know when we have inappropriately drawn on the energies of a particular goddess, or when we are relying too heavily on the energies of one goddess and not enough on the others, resulting in a life out of balance.