What Do You Love About Being A Woman?

Last month I was interviewed for the Rising She Tribe podcast and one of the intro questions they asked me was ‘What do you love about being a woman?’ The question landed inside of me with a thud. Huh? What an interesting concept. What a revolutionary notion – is it actually possible for me to love being a woman when the whole world has conspired against this very possibility? The only thing that swirled in my mind was SHAME – up until the last few years being a woman has never felt good or safe. Was there anything I loved about being a woman?? I grew up feeling deeply ashamed of my body, my feminine essence, of being a woman. I remember experiencing shame around my body and sexuality from as early as 2 or 3 years old. This was a result of a number of external circumstances and key relationships in my life, but I also understand that this comes from a set of imprints I came into the world with, not to mention past lives I have experienced. Our DNA is very wise. It is programmed with all of the wisdom of those who have walked before us in order to protect us, to ensure our survival. And in my lineage women suffered A LOT of trauma.  And you know what? – So did the women in yours. The feminine has been persecuted for centuries and we have become really really good at surviving. In order to survive we: + Buried (or felt shame around) our innate capacity to feel deeply; + Disconnected (or hid) from our intuitive abilities; + Separated from (or felt shame around) our natural sexual desires and sensuality (we’ve had two choices given to us by Christianity: Virgin or Whore); + Bought into deep judgement and shame around our bodies (weight, shape, size, menstrual cycle, etc); and + Disconnected from our source of power: the Divine Feminine. As a teacher and life-long student of spirituality I have come to understand that the whole of existence was birthed into being by the Creative Force of the Universe, known as Adi Shakti in the Kundalini yoga lineage. This creative force is an ecstatic knowing & experience of LOVE. In order to bring energy into form, this creative intelligent force created polarity – Yin & Yang or Divine Feminine & Divine Masculine. Through the interplay of these forces and a whole lot of what we humans will never fully understand through the mind, we came into being as an expression of divine love and union of the universe. This understanding of creation has been woven into stories, myths, archetypes and sacred teachings across the planet in all cultures since the beginning of civilization. It has been captured in the story of divine couples such us Shiva & Shakti in India, Isis & Osiris in Egypt and in the Western World in the story of Mary Magdalene & Jesus. Wait – what?? Mary Magdalene and Jesus? Did I miss the memo? Well the patriarchal forces at the time didn’t – they knew the power this Divine couple held and what it would mean for their system if the Truth were revealed. So they did what the patriarchy (an ideology perpetuated by both men & women) does best – gaslighted, distorted, diminished, bullied and right out changed the facts. They cut off the voice of the feminine and rewrote the story for Her (again). There is a large and growing following of scholars, teachers & students who have been unearthing a fuller and clearer story of these two master teachers. Mary Magdalene and Jesus worked together. Their relationship was one of Sacred Union, representatives of the Divine Feminine (Yin) & Divine Masculine (Yang) here on Earth.  Together they taught sacred practices to unify these energies within ourselves, together with our partners and with the Divine/Source Energy. All of their teachings and practices are gateways back to Divine Union, back to the source of the Universe – back to pure, innocent, all encompassing, source energy: Love. But Mary’s voice – like our own, like the collective feminine voice, was suppressed, buried and distorted. And so – this brings me back to women surviving. The Divine Feminine is now rising – the dark underbelly of what the patriarchy has created is being revealed and in that unearthing the feminine is rising back up in incredibly fertile soil. Mary Magdalene is making a come back – women are no longer willing to accept this narrow version of HIStory. Women are longing to move beyond surviving – women are looking for tools and support to heal the shame and judgement they carry in their DNA and in their bodies. The same shame and judgement bestowed upon the Magdalene. Women are ready to move from surviving to thriving. Can I get an AMEN? 😉 So how do we begin this healing process? It might feel a bit daunting, a bit overwhelming and a whole lot of scary. I get it – I’ve done it, I am still doing it. There is a lot of work to be done – but as each woman steps into her divinity and embraces her Feminine power, we amplify the process, creating a tidal wave of momentum. You – WE – are not alone. We are creating this change together. AND – this process can also be a lot of fun. Yes – FUN!  (Last year this process took me on a solo-pilgrimage and exquisite retreat to the South of France to commune with the sacred sites devoted to Mary Magdalene & the Divine Feminine – Incredible!!!) My first step in this exploration was to work with feminine archetypal energies – different facets of the Goddess. I first began this work with the 13 Moon Mystery Oracle. And then began studying with an Initiated Priestess from this lineage (Elayne Kalila Doughty). This opened up a playful, experiential world of ritual, ceremony, energy work, remembrance and deep healing. It has been an exquisite return HOME to my feminine essence. This year I am offering offering you the opportunity to be guided into the realm of the Divine Feminine and her various archetypes. The opportunity to work together, in sisterhood, to remember, reclaim & experience your mystical feminine essence. I invite you into The Mystical Sanctuary. Over the course of the next 3 lunar cycles (Jan 16th – April 13th) we will be exploring, discovering, remembering and playing with different expressions of the Divine Feminine. + You will experience what it feels like to flow with the cycle of the moon.  + You will find a deeper sense of connection with your self and Self. + You will begin to re-member a time, beyond the mind, when you were divinely connected and foster, nurture & deepen this connection. + You will reconnect with lost, hidden or repressed aspects of your Feminine Essence. + You will have the opportunity to explore different tools of the Divine Feminine to create more meaning and ritual in your life. + You will experience deep energetic activations and healing. + You will connect with other women who too are on this path of reclamation, remembrance and liberation. The container I weave is one of reverence, compassion, trust and safety. I I whole-heartedly welcome you, all aspects of you into this sacred Sanctuary. The Mystical Sanctuary opens 4 times a year, for 3 lunar cycles each. The Gates to the upcoming cycle are currently open and will close the eve of January 14th. Will you join me & attune to your divine feminine essence? If you have any questions or would like a 1:1 to support your decision making, send me a note HERE. And to see all of the details, you can visit The Mystical Sanctuary page HERE. www.mariakurylo.com/mystical-sanctuary The Divine Feminine is rising once again – please know that in these times you are fully supported to cultivate and cherish your fullest, embodied expression as a woman. And to answer the question: what do I love most about being a woman? Everything. Absolutely Everything. Much love, Maria Seraphina