You’ve probably come across someone talking about the “divine feminine” alongside imagery of a voluptuous goddess with flowing locks of hair emerging from the sea on a giant scalloped shell if you’ve been scrolling through witchy or mystical accounts on Instagram. But divine feminine energy is more than a Goop-Esque new age buzzword — it’s sacred spiritual energy believed to exist within all of us, and embracing it is about finding strength in our softness and challenging society’s idea of what it means to be empowered.
While spiritualists’ definitions differ, the divine feminine is generally thought to represent the part of our consciousness that connects us to qualities such as intuition, feeling, nurturing, receptivity, and interconnectedness. It’s a type of energy that anyone can access and tap into — it’s not something tangible or a secret club that requires membership. According to Gabriela Herstik, witch and author of the upcoming book Goddess Energy, “the Divine Feminine refers to a face of the divine spirit that is connected with the body, with nature, and with the cycles of creation and transformation.” “It is generally understood and felt through the body’s subtle intuitive wisdom.” Taping into divine feminine energy is similar to embracing your inner Goddess.
We live in a patriarchal society that appears to value logic over intuition, action over receptivity, and directing our energy outward rather than inward — but sacred femininity allows us to challenge that status quo. “Divine feminine energy is about uplifting that which has been denigrated in our society,” says co-editor of Divine Feminine Consciousness Zine, healer, and artist Edgar Fabián Fras. “It is about challenging, rebuking, reclaiming, and transmuting the hierarchies that have shaped our experiences, as well as re-centering those who have been marginalized in the conversation.” We can create an imbalance by embracing only certain aspects of ourselves (as dictated in part by our societal values), but embracing divine femininity can help to heal that inequality.
“The more you can think of divine femininity as something you’ve already experienced, the easier it will be to see it as something beyond gender that you have inherent access to,” says Herstik. “Sometimes it’s just knowing how to connect to this energy.” According to actual witches and healers, here’s what you need to know about divine feminine energy and how to align yourself with its empowering message.
Throughout history, Divine Femininity has existed.
The idea of a divine feminine force is prevalent in various mystical practices today and throughout history, but this multifaceted energy cannot be represented by a single definition. “There are many examples of the sacred feminine in different traditions, and what’s beautiful about them is that their definitions of femininity and deification are vast and expansive,” Fras says.
Indeed, if you were raised in a religious household or have pursued various spiritual practices on your own, you’ve most likely already encountered manifestations of the divine feminine without realizing it. “The Divine Feminine is found in every culture around the world,” Herstik says, “but different traditions place this energy in different roles.” “To name a few, the Goddess appears in Christianity as the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalen; in Judaism as the Shekinah; in Hinduism as Goddesses like Kali and Durga; in Buddhism as Tara and the Dakinis; in Santeria as Yemaya; in Greek pantheons as Aphrodite and Demeter; in Egypt as Isis and Hathor; and in Celtic tradition as Brigid and Morrigan.”
Gender Has Nothing to Do With Divine Feminine Energy
We may automatically think of the gender binary when we hear the word “feminine.” However, divine femininity is about energy rather than gender. “We all have a polarity within us — that of the masculine (active/force) and the feminine (receptive/form),” Herstik explains, “and we experience these through periods of action and periods of rest and integration.” “The Divine Feminine is the creative and life-giving energy within all of us that gives shape to what we care about and invest our energy in.”
Many different mystical practices have used the concept of “masculine” and “feminine” energy throughout history to describe two synergistic forces that exist within everyone, regardless of gender expression. This is reflected in practices ranging from astrological dualities to god and goddess archetypes in various religions. While many practitioners are moving away from using gendered language to describe energy, “masculine” energy is often thought of as active and outward-focused, while “feminine” energy is thought of as receptive and inward-focused.
While the phrase “divine feminine energy is life-giving” may conjure up images of fertility and the female reproductive system, it goes far beyond that. “This is not biological, and it has nothing to do with motherhood,” Herstik adds. “The divine feminine is a way of aligning with the vibrant love of the universe and channelling that through your body into creating, connecting, or loving — and it’s accessible to everyone because we all have a body, no matter what.”
How to Incorporate Divine Feminine Energy into Your Life
Now that you understand divine feminine energy and its power, you may be inspired to intentionally bring more of it into your life. Here are a few simple things to concentrate on to achieve that goal.
While being logical and focusing on facts is an important part of navigating life and making decisions, we mustn’t completely disregard things like our feelings and intuitions because our society places less value on them. “The Divine Feminine is a powerful creative energy, inextricably linked to the sexual mysteries that give and sustain life,” Herstik says. “Goddess is the moon, the earth, the sea, the desert, poetry, art, love — it represents what is felt rather than what is thought.” These aspects of ourselves (which are associated with divine feminine energy) can provide us with useful information that can help guide us spiritually, so make time to connect with your gut feelings.
Acceptance of Care and Community
The divine feminine reminds us that collaborating and helping one another has more power than rugged individualism, so incorporating care and community into your daily life can help you align with this energy. “The divine feminine can assist us in tapping into, cultivating, and forging new forms of power — and in envisioning power as something you cultivate within, rather than something you hold over others,” Frias says. “It can help us see care and collaboration as powerful, and it can teach us how to embrace the vulnerability, joy, and empowerment that comes with asking for help from others.”
Include the Divine Feminine in Your Mystical Practice
There are numerous ways to incorporate divine feminine energy into your practice and align with its magic, regardless of your spiritual beliefs. “Pray to a Goddess with whom you feel connected, wear something that makes you feel beautiful and connected to your spirit, spend time in nature’s brilliance, or create an altar dedicated to the Divine Feminine within you,” Herstik suggests. “More than anything, as you go about your day, connect with your heart — notice when something touches your spirit or inspires your soul, take moments to appreciate beauty, and see yourself as a potent manifestation of the Feminine Divine.”
We live in a patriarchal society that appears to value logic over intuition, action over receptivity, and directing our energy outward rather than inward — but sacred femininity allows us to challenge that status quo. “Divine feminine energy is about uplifting that which has been denigrated in our society,” says co-editor of Divine Feminine Consciousness Zine, healer, and artist Edgar Fabián Fras. “It is about challenging, rebuking, reclaiming, and transmuting the hierarchies that have shaped our experiences, as well as re-centering those who have been marginalized in the conversation.” We can create an imbalance by embracing only certain aspects of ourselves (as dictated in part by our societal values), but embracing divine femininity can help to heal that inequality.
There is no correct or incorrect way to connect with this sacred part of your consciousness, so begin exploring and see what power emerges within you.