Exploring the Feminine Part 1: The Power of Archetypes for Gaining Confidence
The inner landscape of being a human being and caring deeply can feel like being caught in turbulent waters.
If we have no maps to help us understand where we are or what to do, it can be a scary place to immerse and navigate. A great source of support on this journey is knowing and understanding what others have gone through, and what is possible as a human being. It helps us to feel less alone and isolated in thinking we have to figure it all out for ourselves. Knowing that others have walked this path before us and found a way to tap into their deepest wisdom and compassion can be deeply inspiring. It helps to give us signposts along the way.
History is filled with stories passed on from generation to generation of archetypes and mythical beings. These stories might be fairy tales or about having super powers that illustrate something of our capacity. Sometimes the archetypes are religious or spiritual heroes who illuminate profound truths and show courage in the face of adversity. As we age, it is still important that we connect with beings who inspire us and help us to move beyond our sense of limitation. In the Vajrayana world, there is a very specific way we can work with such inspiring beings to help us to touch our highest potential. We can draw on stories of people who were humans just like us, bound by the same or often harder challenges, who came through them. These beings can engender different qualities that we aspire to, such as freedom from fear, wisdom, love, and compassion, and can be both tender and fierce.
Being born into a female body, I had practiced for a number of years within the Buddhist world before I realized I was lacking in female archetypes. It became very apparent to me one day when I went on a self-retreat. The cabin I stayed in was a lovely rustic cabin that had a small shrine. On the shrine was not the usual male Buddha, but a Kuan Yin female figure. When I saw a female Buddha, I noticed how it sent me that signal that the qualities of a Buddha were possible for me too. There was someone who looked like me representing enlightenment. My meditative posture started to take on a new dimension.
What archetypes have been important in your life and what qualities do they evoke? How have they inspired you? You don’t need to worry whether the qualities truly reflect the feminine but look to see what qualities invite you into a greater sense of aliveness. Notice if you see these qualities reflected in yourself and others.