So, we are talking about ‘shakti sage’, your shakti sage.
Let’s start with a couple of definitions taken from both wikipedia and websters.
Shakti = force, power or energy of a divine feminine aspect
Sage = one who is distinguished for wisdom
I want to be really clear, I have totally made up the phrase shakti sage. I have drawn from my reading and experience and responded to a creative spark in designing and catalyzing this term. To me the words shakti sage encompass the unique energy, equilibrium and action being called forward from women in our world today.
To me, a shakti sage is fully embodied, that is, she has re-claimed her physical body and is anchored in a soft, warm heart. A shakti sage is a blend of power and wisdom and embodies the additional following qualities: courage, fierceness, boldness, balanced by unconditional love, integrity and gentleness. You may wish to add more of your own qualities.
A shakti sage is aware of her natural cycles and is in tune with the rhythms of nature. She honors natural time.
Let’s talk first about the word “power”. Many women have great difficulty using this word in relation to themselves. In our culture, the word power is often associated with and played out as “power over”, ie a boss has power over an employee, a parent has power over a child, a husband has power over his wife through control of money for example. This is called the “dominator model”. I want to introduce you to the “partnership model” as designed and discussed by Riane Eisler. In the partnership model, power is used as “power with” leading to engagement in collaborative, co-creative, win win, relationships and communication.
Moving into the personal, each of us contains personal internal energy. In ancient traditions this is referred to as prana, chi or vital force among other terms. Think of your personal power as vital force or internal energy which fuels all of what you do. Does the word “power” sound or feel different to you than thinking of it in this way? Power is a powerful word, play around with this word as part of you, as describing you as powerful.
Shakti sage also contains the energy of the Divine Feminine. Each of us has a concept of the Divine Feminine based on our childhood upbringing and adult experiences. You can bring what ever feels right to you into the mix. Some women think of Mother Mary or Mary Magdalene, some think of Quan Yin, others Saraswati or the Great Mother. There is a magical, mystical, immanent and transcendent quality to the divine feminine.
Female wisdom is a fairly well accepted concept in our culture particularly in elder women. Shakti sage women are emboldened by their wisdom and act from this wisdom for the common good and often use this wisdom for the healing and nourishment of the next seven generations.
In peace & mindfulness
namaste,
Zoey
coaching for your heart & soul