As mentioned before, a common misunderstanding that is much more prevalent in the West than in the East is this: Westerners believe that masculine = male and feminine = female! However, both masculine AND feminine energies are present in women and men, and in fact this is one of the most interesting aspects of working with energies, leading to many a realisation that we are all just part of a spectrum rather than one or the other. In the Indian tantric tradition, Shiva usually represents the masculine, Shakti the feminine aspects and energies in partner tantra. You may have seen depictions of the divine couple in the yab-yum position, with Shakti straddling Shiva’s lap and both of them embracing. It’s a common depiction of the masculine/feminine union and very much in line with the yin/yang symbol we are all familiar with. Where we often get the wrong idea is this: while Shakti and Shiva represent the male and female aspects through their gender, the masculine and feminine energies are shown in their extreme state of separation into two different persons. It’s an ideal, not the default, that both gender and energy coincide! Who says that Shakti isn’t the active/giving partner at this moment? Shiva might just be accepting her administrations, in which case their energies would be inverted: Shiva takes on the feminine, Shakti the masculine aspects. It’s confusing, but for once as gay men we have an advantage: we do instinctively realise that both masculine and feminine aspects are present inside of us and we shift their balance according to the situation we find ourselves in. One day we may be very active and aggressive, the next day we take on a more passive, accommodating role. For us, that image of the divine union feels misleading as it associates gender with a particular energy. use any opportunity to explore different energies
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About me
These are my own thoughts on aspects of my work I feel strongly about. Archives
September 2021
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