Divine feminine and divine masculine are interconnected and can’t exist without one another. This means that despite our cultural associations of masculine and feminine with men and women, respectively, we all have both energies within us. They just might not be evenly balanced. When we have excessive masculine energy, we get aggressive and strive for domination. If there’s too much feminine energy, we get disempowered and suffer from stagnation.

In a world dominated by masculine energy, more and more people today are looking to tap into the divine feminine. In fact, some are going through the divine feminine awakening. In this article, we will explore 10 divine feminine qualities and what they mean.

The Divine Feminine Qualities

#1: Heightened Empathy

Divine Feminine souls are highly empathetic individuals. They easily connect with other people’s emotions, whether negative or positive. In turn, they find their happiness in others and also feel the pain of others as if it was their own. As an empath, the Divine Feminine: –

• Is a highly sensitive person (HSP)
• Cares deeply for others
• Finds comfort in nature
• Feels overwhelmed by crowded places
• Struggle with setting boundaries

#2: Communication

Communication is one of the Divine Feminine qualities that facilitate the rest of the feminine traits. The feminine energy makes us relate in a sacred way. Hence, the Divine Feminine uses communication skills to empathize, collaborate, forgive, understand, and nurture others. 

For example, instead of getting defensive when criticized, this individual is receptive to the needs of others and looks for a lesson in an unpleasant experience. And, the feminine communicates from the heart, not the head, to listen more and speak only when necessary.

#3: Creative

Are you interested in science, entrepreneurship, art, or medicine? If so, when you are going through a Divine Feminine awakening, the feminine energy in you will propel you to become a successful artist, scientist, business owner, or medical practitioner. This energy creates life and will help you manifest your thoughts into concrete forms. You can tap into this creative spring through: –

• Dreams – Journaling your visions helps you capture the creative messages from your soul and think of ways to turn them into form. 
• Staying rooted – Referring to and building on the creative thoughts from our parents, school, and culture
• Using Intuition – Question the status quo to make life better. Asking our inner self for guidance.
• Pausing and listening to our innovative thoughts – Creative ideas can flood the mind, giving you little time to process them before you forget about them. Yet, visualization and meditation techniques can help us slow down and capture these ingenious messages.

#4: Intuition

Do you find yourself relying on facts and logical explanations in decision making, or are you intuitive, preferring to go with your gut feelings instead? See, the Divine Feminine rarely use logic in their discussions. Instead, they rely on their heightened energy reading capabilities, trusting their intuition more. This intuitive ability sharpens as you progress in your spiritual journey. 

#5: The Warrior Spirit

The Divine Feminine is humble yet courageous, ready to defend what they love. In turn, if your Divine Feminine is awakening, you will have a vision of what you want and pursue it with a passion. And, should you face challenges along the way, your warrior spirit gives you the drive to press on. Likewise, you stand up for the oppressed in society and prefer using actions more than words. 

#6: Nurturing

Feminine energy is synonymous with nurturing. Here, you find happiness in caring, nourishing, and encouraging others to achieve their full potential. As a parent, you could also be creating an ideal environment for your kids to develop their talents. 

Likewise, a nurturing spouse takes up a supportive role in the relationship. For example, this wife or husband provides the money or emotional support for their personal development. 

#7: Collaboration/Interconnectedness

Collaborative Divine Feminine qualities refer to your natural ability to: –

• Set goals and direct a team towards achieving them 
• Work in harmony as part of a team
• Be knowledgeable and pull the right talent pool to tackle a common goal
• Lead others by making the first step when tackling challenges
• Asking relevant questions that help in solving problems at hand
• Giving credit where it is due
• Listen attentively to others, to understand their point of view

Hence, the Divine Feminine is always diplomatic when interacting with others. This individual sees the missing links in a bigger picture and uses hindsight to solve recurring challenges. 

#8: Yearning for Immediate Results, But Also Know Patience

If you are a Divine Feminine and dating, chances are you will want your friend to commit to the relationship sooner. Likewise, you will be the first person to take action in a team. Still, you are willing to go the extra mile and wait for others to accomplish a common goal. 

#9: Forgiving

What are your immediate thoughts when someone wrongs you? Well, if you have a hard time forgiving others, you could be having excessive masculine energy. See, the feminine power in us urges us to let go of grudges to heal from betrayal. More so, we let go of the past and unblock our feminine potential. For this, a Divine Feminine in leadership facilitates conflict resolution and prefers peace over winning. 

#10: Reflective

Finally, the feminine power helps us understand our personality; what and why we like or dislike certain things. More so, we find hidden meanings in conversations, where others overlook clear-cut clues. The Divine Feminine takes time away from crowds to contemplate recurring thoughts. As a deep thinker, this individual looks forward to meaningful conversations to gather new knowledge. 

Similarly, the Divine Feminine can see when someone is pretending or truthful. This reflective quality gives the Divine Feminine emotional intelligence to accept and forgive others or accommodate opposing views.

Conclusion

Are you experiencing a Divine Feminine awakening? If so, you may notice a heightening of Divine Feminine qualities in you. Indeed, if you are a true Divine Feminine soul, you have in-built traits that include empathy, creativity, intuition, nurturing, collaborative, forgiving, and a warrior spirit lying dormant in you. These qualities are crucial in leadership, team dynamics, and nurturing talent. 

The original ancient tantra was a path to enlightenment and liberation for anyone on a spiritual path. Later on, the practice became available to other persons, not necessarily on a spiritual path. Today, tantra is available in the West on a commercial level. This modern and commercial version of the original tantra is called neotantra. 

And, it is popular in the West, used to spice up sex lives or bring harmony in relationships. So, what does neotantra entail? And, how does it differ from the classical tantra version? Let’s discuss more in this article: –

Understanding Tantra

Tantra is a philosophy and a set of practices that form the basis for our healing and transformation. It revolves around working with the three most powerful human experiences. These are sexual desire, love, and our desire for freedom. Historical records indicate that tantra came into Buddhism and Hinduism in the 6th century. At this time, the practice was in spiritual rituals to invoke all-powerful deities. It, however, spread fast in India, with Hindu and Buddhist monasteries studying its ideologies. 

Some of the pioneers of neotantra include: –

• Sir John Woodroffe
• Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh
• Margot Anand: “Skydancing”  tantra. The Art of Sexual Ecstasy
• Daniel Odier, Charles Muir, The Richardsons and others

Neotantra vs. Classical Tantra: The Differences

#1: Focus: All vs. Select Ancient Teachings

Classical tantra embraces ancient holistic Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religious practices. These are authentic tantric teachings to balance, heal, and enrich our physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental being. More so, it liberates us from suffering by getting rid of trauma, societal conditioning, or ignorance, leading us on a path to spiritual awakening.

In contrast, modern tantra focuses on limited ancient instructions relating to sexuality. Here, the practice alters the original teachings on tantric sex to create its western variation. Here, tantric sex draws on the creative power of sexual energy to evoke healing and transformation in our lives. It bridges the gap between sex and spirituality as a form of transcendence. 

#2: Spiritual Sex vs. Sacred Sex

Since neotantra focuses only on the teachings on sexuality, it is a small puddle in the original classical tantra. The practice combines modern therapeutic techniques with original tantric concepts like sacred rituals and devotions. It aims at elevating the person into a higher level of spirituality. Hence, sexual pleasure is no longer focused only on the genitals but the entire body. Modern tantra benefits us physically, psychologically, sexually, and spiritually. Check out some of the activities typical of neotantra below: –

• Purifying one’s chakras and consciousness
• Making the sexual space sacred
• Having slow, uninterrupted sex
• Looking at orgasm as a means, not a goal for sexual intimacy
• Practicing mindfulness during sex; being present in body and mind
• Becoming aware of your entire body during sex
• Practicing meditation and relaxation as part of sexual intimacy
• Attaining transmutation of one’s sexual energies
• Maintaining eye contact/gaze with a partner
• Practicing slow and deep breathing
• Expressing love 
• Controlling ejaculation and other sexual impulses

In contrast, classical tantra has three traditional forms as follows: –

Monastric Tradition

The monastic tradition of classical tantra refers to an intense way of living where the participants withdraw from mainstream society to pursue purity. The participants live solitary and disciplined lives, characterized by silence, prayer, and a struggle against sin and vice. They spend most of their time studying the ancient tantric texts and practicing sacred rituals like drawing mandalas, singing mantras, and performing ritual prayers (fire pujas). Likewise, the monks sustained their lives by doing simple manual work like farming, gardening, basket weaving, and rope making.

Householder Tradition

The householder tradition of classical tantra involves lay practitioners applying the sacred concepts of tantra to ordinary everyday activities. For example, lay practitioners seek to find magic or unity in nature, people, and animals. They do this as they go about their lifestyles when talking to others, cleaning, working, meditating, or engaging in intimate relationships. The ultimate goal is to live in communion with the universe. 

Wandering Yogis Tradition

During the early medieval period, the Mahasiddha people living in forests and caves of Northern India practiced the wandering yogis tradition. It is a combination of yoga and tantra, also called tantrikas. These people would hold ganachakra ceremonies, a type of tantric feasts, and practice meditation to celebrate the pleasures of senses. There was singing, dancing, eating meat, drinking alcohol, and having sex. Today, the wandering yogis tradition remains active in India, often taught in yogic schools.

#3: Conflicting Sexual Ideologies & Interpretations

Did you know that some neotantra sexual ideologies are considered as sinful when viewed under classical tantra? Indeed, unlike neotantra, classical tantra does not entertain sexual fantasies in pursuit of sexual pleasure. Also, the original tantra views any sexual activity that involves menstrual blood a taboo. 

#4: The Benefits

Below are some of the benefits of classical tantra: –

• Growing presence and self-awareness
• Practicing self-love and body confidence (acceptance)
• Harmonizes the active and receptive energies
• Connects our physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual being
• Expands lovemaking beyond attaining an orgasm
• Promotes healing, integration, transformation, and spiritual maturity

Here are some of the benefits of neotantra: –

• Get more from a sexual relationship
• Attain a sexual awakening characterized by the loving presence and profound intimacy
• Healing wounds from sexual trauma
• Have longer and satisfying lovemaking sessions
• Releases toxic sexual energies, including shame
• Provokes a journey of self-discovery leading to the entire body or multiple orgasms
• Improving communication and communion between intimate partners
• Cultivate a holistic approach towards sexual intimacy, focusing on mind, body, and spiritual connection
• Delaying orgasm or preventing premature ejaculation or non-ejaculatory orgasms for men

Conclusion

What does tantra mean to you? Tantra continues to be a subject of fascination for many, even misunderstood at times. Yet, the practice has evolved for centuries and is now either classical tantra or modern tantra. Whereas classical tantra sticks to the authentic teachings that are a path to spiritual enlightenment, neotantra focuses on only the sexual component of the original tantra. By channeling sexual energy throughout the body, neotantra aims to achieve a higher level of intimacy and sexual pleasure.

How much empathy do you naturally have for other people? Do you use this powerful concept to connect with people? See, using empathy in communication makes it easier to tackle topics such as racism and gender-based violence. This approach can calm down violently prone people or make clients respond positively to your team. So, how do you practice empathic communication?  

In this article, I will share the 3 ways to use empathy in communication and how this affects other people. Sounds interesting? Let’s get started.

Understanding Empathic Communication

Empathy refers to our ability to understand and share other people’s feelings. It entails putting yourself in their shoes and looking at the situation at hand from their point of view. Unlike sympathy that divides people, communicating with empathy makes it easy to connect with what others are experiencing at that moment.

Does Communicating with Empathy Make Any Difference?

Yes, empathic communication shapes your interaction with other people as follows: 

#1: You Connect Better You with Your Audience

Empathic communication makes us listen to others to understand their perspective. In turn, your audience knows you hear their point of view and respect it. It is this reciprocation that creates an emotional connection with the audience.

#2: It Portrays Compassion in Your Communication

Suppose you are a call center representative, assisting customers with difficulties using certain products. A caller can tell from your tone or choice of words if you care about them or are simply doing your job. Yet, when you empathize, your show of compassion helps you connect to the other person.

#3: Be Mindful of Your Listeners

Empathic communication forces us to make a careful choice of words when interacting with others. You aim to tailor the message to meet the listener at their perspective. Mindful communication makes every person you interact with feel unique.

It works wonders especially when you deal with lots of clients throughout the day. Each client gets the impression that they are the first ones and that you are eager to know and help them with their orders.

How to Practice Empathic Communication

Are your interactions with family, friends, or audience robotic? If so, here are empathic communication ideas you can practice to connect better:

#1: Paraphrasing – Check for Understanding

Paraphrasing refers to using your own words to repeat what the other person is saying. It forces you to think about what the other person is telling you. And, when in a group set up, paraphrasing translates words, making more people understand the topic at hand.

Besides, the person talking to you is sure you get them and are not thinking about what you want to say next or a similar situation you’ve had in the past.

To practice paraphrasing:

• Use your own words to explain what the other person is sharing or feeling.
• Describe their experiences without injecting your assumptions or beliefs.
• Start your sentences with such phrases as, “I believe what you mean to say is………………”
• Use questions to paraphrase. For example, say, “In other words, you’re saying that………….?”
• Retain the focus on the other person. For example, if someone says, “Working out during the day wears me out. “Don’t paraphrase as, “We probably all get tired when working out during the day, right?”
• Avoid a judgmental tone in your paraphrases.

Paraphrasing gives the other person a chance to clarify if you understand them or not. Hence, let them restate their position once again where necessary. After all, paraphrasing emphasizes that the discussion is about the other person, not you.

#2: Mirroring – Reflecting What the Speaker Says

Mirroring refers to reflecting the verbal or non-verbal messages as they are from the other person. Here, you aim at reflecting the emotion behind the information. That way, the speaker knows that you understand how they feel.

Unlike paraphrasing, mirroring encourages the other person to open up some more. For example, when you enter a conflict resolution meeting where none of the parties is willing to listen to the other, begin by mirroring their non-verbal gestures. It could be sitting back with hands folded.

As you mimic their doing, switch to a lively posture. The participants begin to mirror your actions without even knowing it. In no time, both parties are on talking terms and discussing how to resolve the crisis.

Mirroring works best when the other person is sharing about a jittery experience in their lives. When they start hesitating, mirroring helps the other person know that it is okay and they can continue to share.

Practice verbal and nonverbal mirroring techniques in communication by:

• Wearing proper attire for your audience. For example, go casual when talking to a group of students. Switch to a professional outfit when going for a board meeting with chief executives.
• Sit, stand, or walk side by side with the other person. For example, get down and sit with a patient who is in distress. Or get playful when interacting with kids at a playground.
• Match the speaker’s pace and volume.

As you use this empathic communication technique, be careful not to overuse it. Too much mirroring can interfere with the speaker’s thought process.  

#3: Supportive Body language

Finally, use eye contact and nodding to indicate your full attention to the speaker. These two techniques work best when you are standing or seated shoulder-to-shoulder with the speaker. Still, avoid staring at the person, lest it makes them feel uncomfortable. Use supportive body language as follows:

• Look for an appropriate seat or standing position that keeps you shoulder-to-shoulder with the speaker.
• Combine eye contact and triple nods to demonstrate your interest in the other person. Your eye contact should neither be too little (looks tentative), or too much (looks creepy). Also let the other person speak three to four times longer.

Conclusion

If you have a hard time connecting with people in a meaningful way, try using empathic communication. Communicating with empathy goes beyond that introductory phase in a relationship. It makes us attuned to the content, intention, feeling, and emotion behind the delivery of the message. Paraphrasing, mirroring, and using supportive body language are conscious empathic communication techniques to validate the person’s feelings and listen in a non-judgmental way.