My story with my womb involves an unbalanced masculine energy, in the form of patriarchy. And with patriarchy I am referring to a “power-over” and dominating or controlling energy, which is not necessarily gender based.
Once upon a time….
There was me, a little girl, growing up in family and religious structures which were very rigid and overbearing. According to the transactional analysis model in psychology, I internalised this external “critical parent ego state” at a very young age and as a result, the “adaptive child ego state” within myself complied with all of the external demands and my “free child ego state” did not have much chance to express itself (either through self- or other- imposed restriction). In large part, this was due to a structure of daily church activities, to having been subjected to frequent corporal punishment, to striving for excellent grades, to committing to loads of extramural activities (piano, choir, ballet, where these activities in and of themselves also allowed for very little room for spontaneity), to having no time for friends and nobody to talk to. In a nutshell, there was always pressure to be doing something, and as if that was not enough, it also had to be done in an orderly fashion – these are all signs of extreme masculine energy.
With my limited childhood perspective, I made an unconscious decision to adopt behaviours that are masculine in nature. Dissociating myself from being female in the quest to study life sciences and become a career woman, and I took pride in one day being able to compete with men for success. I preferred the company of men and mostly associated with men. I committed to studying at University for 12 years, adopting a lifestyle of no lunch breaks, eating in front of the books or computer, sleeping only 5 to 6 hours a night, drinking up to 8 cups of coffee a day, and If I wasn’t in my head, I was working out in the gym fanatically or going for runs pushing my body to its max (in the quest to be skinny and to cater to society’s patriarchal whims).
Suffice to say, the psychological dis-ease I presented with in childhood advanced to the point that I finally mustered up the courage to see a clinical psychologist. In addition, my body also suffered the consequences in the form of female hormonal imbalances, and I ended up with stage two adrenal burnout.
The breakthrough came when I started my journey with yoga: I could clearly notice how my thoughts and behaviours impacted my body and mind in an adverse way, with what I have now learned to be signs of excess masculine energy. For example, even though I outwardly always looked very feminine with being beautifully clothed and groomed:
• I almost never cried and felt a disconnection form my emotions and sensations in the body
• I looked for a sense of self-worth outside of myself, especially from the opposite s*x
• I struggled to give affection and give or receive nurturing
• I preferred hanging out with men as they were logical and rational and I could have intellectual conversations with them
• I was only interested in my studies (working toward becoming a professor) and escaping from the hard work with one form of addiction or another
• I felt isolated and unsupported, going from one co-dependent relationship to another, interspersed by short flings that left me feel empty and unworthy
• I was living from the neck up, and specifically in the left rational, executive brain.
By having had experienced the dark side of patriarchy, both on the inside and outside, I can honestly say that I have traversed the underworld, first unconsciously, and in later years consciously by exploring a number of healing modalities. I am very grateful to have healed most of my childhood wounds, manifested in mind and body and womb, and I am devoted to helping other women heal from theirs in their own heroic journeys. In the words of Rachel Naomi Remen, professor of Integrative Medicine: “Wounding and healing are not opposites. They're part of the same thing. It is our wounds that enable us to be compassionate with the wounds of others.”
And they all lived purposefully ever after…
Qualifications:
I obtained a PhD in Neuro-physiology, and combined my knowledge of chronobiology - how every system in the body has its own rhythm - with preserved indigenous and Taoist wisdom predating the Patriarchal era, in coaching on hormone balancing. In addition to a thorough investigation in Depth Psychology, in particular the roles of mythology, symbolism and specific goddess archetypes in the female psyche, I have completed a vinyasa yoga teacher training inspired by Jivamukti yoga, and have also trained in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT), a mindfulness-and-values-based behaviour therapy.
Why is this work important?
1) Women of today are experiencing more gynaecological issues than ever before, ranging from poly cystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis, difficult periods and thyroid and adrenal issues, to premature aging, infertility and low libido.
2) As far as relationships are concerned, many women battle with love/s*x addiction, low self-worth, past or present maltreatment/trauma, and are insecurely attached to their romantic partners, seeking constant other-validation.
3) In general, many women are just not living passionate lives.
Moreover, in today’s Patriarchal society, many women have experienced some form of childhood physical or emotional neglect and/or physical, psychological or s*xual abuse, where they then repeatedly re-enact those patterns of maltreatment by attracting romantic relationships that mirror those dynamics. Also, in ancient cultures, BEING rather than DOING/performing was encouraged, the phases of the menstrual cycles and female s*xuality were honored in relation to nature, and women were celebrated as goddesses. In contrast, modern programming and r**e culture includes dominance over women and Mother Nature (as reflected in the extreme in the po*******hy industry), and lifestyles that are governed by goal-directed, incessant activity, artificial light, hormone disruptive cosmetics, cleaning agents, water and diet. Consequently, we are in a time of much needed healing, finding balance, and living in accordance with the principles of nature.
Who would benefit?
Any woman who,
a) is challenged in the context of maltreatment or complex trauma (past or present), love/s*x addiction, and low self-worth,
b) is insecurely attached to their romantic partners, seeking constant other-validation,
c) suffers from hormone imbalances and gynaecological issues (poly cystic ovarian syndrome, fibroids, endometriosis, difficult periods, thyroid and adrenal issues, premature aging, infertility and low libido),
d) wants to discover her life purpose and the archetypes that can propel her forward on this quest,
e) is willing and committed to rewrite limiting unconscious beliefs, and embody the Divine Feminine.
How you would benefit?
You will benefit from this work by healing trauma that resides within the womb, and take full residency in your womb. By incorporating self-care practices, dietary and lifestyle practices, you will learn how to naturally balance your hormones, cultivate a connection with your life purpose, needs, and values and restore vitality and passion. You will get to know which goddess archetypes are operating in your life, and how the manifestation of their shadow aspects can be transformed by means of a process of rewriting your story to one of love and feminine empowerment.
Offerings:
Shaktishop: for yoni eggs, yoni wands, smudge bundles and Chinese Herbal Medicine formulas, please visit: SHAKTI BOUTIQUE
Sessions:
Each session is 90 minutes long, at R600 per session, either at Avalon ashram, or in the comfort of your own home. Session one is compulsory, but you have a choice between Session two, Session three, and Sessions four to eight (or the substitute session for Sessions four to eight). Committing to all eight sessions will ensure a discounted price of R3 600 (at R450 per session).
Session 1:
Completing of an intake form that includes outcome measures based on congruence with values (work, relationships, leisure, personal growth/health, and spirituality). Introducing the 7 Greek goddess archetypes and completing a questionnaire which assesses dominance of a particular archetype (s).
Session 2 (womb and yoni care):
Education on how to take loving care of your yoni and release trauma from the yoni/womb, as well as learn how to use this feminine center for pleasure, expression of the goddess, manifesting, and creativity. Introducing Taoist ta**ra, including yoni egg regime, as well as other sacred self-care practices such as yoni steams. If so desired, this session can also involve practical, in-session work with the egg or with a steam.
Session 3 (hormone balancing):
Education on how to use the four phases of your menstrual cycle (in relation to the lunar cycle) to your advantage in terms of, a) herbs, diet and lifestyle, and b) psychological processes and energetic principles, for example, using shadow work, intuition, nourishment, receptivity, magnetism, creativity and manifesting.
Sessions 4 to 8:
These sessions include the identification of emotional triggers (introduced by people, situations, or events), projections and underlying beliefs, as well as replacement beliefs and values-directed bahaviours. It also includes exploration of 7 Greek Goddess archetypes (see images below), establishing to what extent each is operating in your life and harnessing their beneficial aspects in trigger scenarios. By doing this work, in mythological terms, it is a journey of decent into the underworld (unconscious mind), with the purpose of integrating the unconscious with the conscious. These sessions therefore involve doing shadow work (for a rationale of including shadow work see WHY SHADOW WORK?).
With respect to both light and dark aspects of the goddess archetypes, I teach a 5-step Inner and Outer Alchemy Method TM, I designed, whereby one’s unconscious limiting beliefs/stories/schemas are systematically rewritten to create one’s reality from a space of love, in line with one's values and life purpose. This method draws on the modalities of Acceptance Commitment therapy, Somatic therapy, Internal Family Systems Therapy and Depth psychology. The aim is to both deal effectively with the trigger as well as use the trigger to tap important information locked away in the unconscious mind, essentially digging for the gold in an alchemical/transformative process. By consciously writing the script of your life and transforming your inner world, your outer world will naturally follow suit.
Alternative to sessions 4 to 8:
A single session, providing a crash course of the “Inner and Outer Alchemy Method TM”. The method will not be explored in as much detail and also with less personal assistance, compared to committing to all five sessions, but you will be able to implement it in your life immediately. You will also receive a detailed manual of the method, to refer back to when you apply the 5 steps in your life.
Yoga sessions:
For additional yoga sessions, please consult the YOGA SESSIONS page.
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Om Parashaktyai Namah! (“I bow to the Goddess of Immortality")
