“I was not ladylike, nor was I manly. I was something else altogether. There were so many different ways to be beautiful.”
― Michael Cunningham, A Home at the End of the World
The deities Shiva and Shakti represent the male and female energies within Hindu, Buddhist and Taoist traditions.
Shakti is the feminine energy and resides in the darkness; lunar, cool, slow and soft. She is described as yin and is governed by the lunar cycle. She is the symbol of pure power, beauty, movement and change. The great mother, she nourishes all of life.
Shakti is reflective and observing in nature. She moves down into our bodies and delights in movement, touch and the feeling of the Earth beneath her feet. She relates to the fluidity of water and mysteries of the night.
The right brain is feminine. It sparks intuition, creative thought and emotional responses. It flows, abandoning the rules for a freer approach to existence.
Shiva is the masculine energy. He is consciousness and realises destruction as a means of creation. He is the seed which Shakti then waters with life.
Shiva is described as Yang. He is represented by the sun, is fast, hot, dry, and strong. He is driven by fire and resides in the conscious mind. He is dynamic and moves the air in order to manifest his thoughts.
The left brain is masculine. Logical and practical, it is focused and follows the rules. It thrives in an organised environment with set boundaries.
Together they represent perfect union. These energies are present in all of us. It’s important to note that they are complimentary rather than opposing forces. When we actively seek balance in the brain, the body and the chakras, we literally become one, abandoning duality for the singular whole. This is where we find true beauty.
This weeks classes are about seeking balance between the masculine and feminine.