Balancing Humanity
Feminine/Masculine energies, astrology and an award
The story behind the feminist movement is that women needed to participate in society in the same way that men were. And when you think about it, I think what that was really, truly a call for, was an orientation for men and women towards the feminine. But what it ended up doing is, from my perspective (and I know I'm not the only one who sees it this way), I see it now as an attempt to make women more like men.
But truly what we're working towards collectively is more of a balance between the feminine and the masculine, which in order to achieve that is going to take an adjustment for both men and women. So it was never really about gender, but it was sold that way to us. And it put a lot of pressure on women to be out in the world working, but also be incredible mothers at home — to sort of do everything.
—Garbriella D’Urso on The Weekly Transit
It had been a while since I had listened to The Weekly Transit podcast but I was drawn to look up the latest episode (The Full Moon Lunar Eclipse in Libra), and I'm glad that I did. There were some rich insights which I heartily agreed with. The Weekly Transit is a discussion hosted by Astrologer Scott Tejerian and Psychotherapist Gabriella D’Urso in which they reference astrology and Jungian psychology in considering “how the planets and stars are influencing life on Earth, and how you can best work with the energy.”
I met Scott several years ago through Instagram. He showed up in my feed, as we both would post nature and sky-view photos of Southern California. His account went quiet for a time until he came back with a new focus on astrology after a long period of study. I was intrigued and was one of the first people he did a birth chart reading for (that's where he looks at the placement of the planets and stars at the time and date of your birth and shares insights how those placements affect your life). It was fascinating and very affirming (he even gleaned from my chart that I have digestive problems, a detail that would prove more and more true in the ensuing years).
Since then, Scott has also had an intuitive reading with me when I was first offering my services. And then he also referred Gabriella to me, and I did an intuitive session with her. So, I've met both of them (virtually) and respect them as spiritually-open people and professionals with integrity.
Although I come from a conservative Christian background, you can probably sense that I'm also quite open to additional viewpoints of spirituality. Many of the other spiritual practices conjoin with my understanding and experience of God in this world. The Spirit world is so much vaster and more varied than we expect. I figure astrology, intuitive work, energy work, therapy and so on are tools to move toward a greater understanding of our relationship to the Divine, ourselves and each other. And I recall too that the mystical is present in the story of Jesus’ birth with the wise men (astrologers) following a star they had sought through their studies of the skies. (I wrote about this in A Supernatural and Multicultural Light.)
I was pleased to listen to the recent episode, as Gabriella and Scott brought out some important points in light of what's going on with the planets and the lunar eclipse. For me, it stands to reason that if these celestial bodies pull on our planet to affect the ocean tides, they will also have an effect on us. I figure it's worth a listen to consider how the creation might also be in conjunction with the turmoil and strangeness so many of us feel these past months. And sure enough: Scott and Gabriella share, based on the astral forecast, that we are in a period of tension between planet energies and therefore masculine and feminine energies are also in tension. Hence, Gabriella's quote above and their delving into the feminine/masculine and the need for a new balance in our lives.
I loved what they shared, because I've written about this concept from a different angle in my post What the World Needs Now (is love and soft skills) last May. Too often the power-broker, masculine-type energy is what appears to move the world forward and is more valued, but really those soft skills are needed, that feminine energy of nurture is where life has meaning and sustenance. And that's not to say that feminine energy only belongs to females. I believe, and Scott and Gabriella go on to share, that each of us has feminine as well as masculine qualities, but that the Divine is calling us to be more balanced — not to allow the millennia-long priority of masculine energy dominance to color the more recent feminism. For females to simply take on the male power structure is not to bring the feminine into society in an authentic way.
(And once again, I think about Jesus who was the perfect blend of male and female. He came to love, serve and understand — to give of himself in life and death. He didn’t come to control, grab power and dominate. He treated women, children and the oppressed with kindness and respect and rejected the power-brokers of his day.)
Gabriella and Scott express this balanced male/female concept so well in the episode and they reveal how some forms of feminism have not considered the children and who will nurture them. This hit home hard for me, because I highly value being there for my kids — even as they get older and need me less. I recognize that they require nurturing in different, yet no-less-important, ways. And I'm very fortunate to have a husband and parenting partner in Dan who is an appreciable blend of nurturing at home and also high-functioning in the world.
Additionally, I'm grateful to have many examples of wonderful working parents and wonderful stay-at-home parents in my circle. No matter the circumstance, the desire to foster the children and the family is apparent in both the women and men. It's not all about achieving, money and status.
As we think about balancing our individual and collective humanity, I recommend a listen to this insightful podcast episode. And if you're so inclined, consider a birth chart reading with Scott, who is a very grounded (albeit also celestial… smile) person based in Los Angeles but available to everyone virtually.
Lastly, as we consider Women's History Month, I'd like to share that I received a very meaningful award from my dear friends in our local NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) branch. Two of us received a Woman of the Year Award. My friend Rosie Brady and I were the 2024 recipients. It's fitting, because she and I work closely together, and Rosie has nurtured and encouraged me in service to the branch. She is also a regular reader of this newsletter and shares my writing with others. Thank you, Rosie!
I felt honored to be given this award, as I highly value the people I serve with and the volunteer work that I do with our branch. Being involved with this group has been one of the most positive and consistent aspects of my life here in Murrieta, and that is because we are all committed to serving our local BIPOC community and each other. Since I joined in June of 2020 after attending a candlelight vigil for George Floyd where the then-Branch President Pastor Willie Oliver spoke, I've been welcomed warmly in the branch, especially by Rosie, Mary Venerable - the matriarch of the branch, Pastor Oliver and our current President Myles Ross. I've been the Communications, Press and Publicity Chairperson since September of 2020, and Rosie, as Branch Secretary, has been by my side all the way (and along with Mary suggested that I serve in Communications).
There's so much more I could say about working with the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization (formed in 1909) that is making a difference in our area, but I’ve done that before and this is getting long (smile). I'll reference one of my NAACP posts, Building Bridges, in case you'd like to read it.
Thinking about the award, about Women's History Month and about The Weekly Transit, it's all coming together to impress upon me how much doing the quiet work matters. Without an award, without a mention in a history book, we women who serve right where we are — and the men who value and join us — are giving the world what it needs: love and understanding.
May we women (and men) sense what a healing effect we have in this world as healers rising. May we see ourselves as valuable — even if not outwardly visible. And may we seek that greater balance within ourselves of the masculine and feminine qualities — experiencing a greater wholeness as humans on this planet.
With love,
Jen
“Balance” is key to everything in life and yet challenging to achieve. Congratulations on your award. You are most deserving and an example to us all.