The Shadow Masculine
This is a companion piece to The Shadow Feminine article I wrote a while back as new information comes through my awareness.
Photo credit: dreamstime.com
These characteristics do not necessarily point to a biological male, but rather are signs that there may be an unintegrated male shadow energy present in your life.
Like an undiagnosed parasitic infection, shadow forces will steal your energy until you reclaim radical self-love and trust that everything you need comes from within (and God) — and not by farming out your needs for others to fulfill.
In the presence of an unintegrated male shadow, the feminine may experience:
A worsening of health and vitality despite all of the normal health routines and habits.
Despite all of your best efforts, your energy flags and you don’t know why.
Mysterious health issues.
Over time, mysterious health issues start to creep up, particularly with the ovaries or female hormonal system such as cysts, hormonal imbalances, early menopause symptoms, or the need to take surgical steps. Removal of the female reproductive system is symbolic of cutting out female sensitivity and intuition in exchange for masculine order and control.
You notice an inability to fully relax.
You feel slightly on edge all the time, but maybe blame yourself that this is your ‘anxiety.’ The inability to fully relax and feel safe and at home in the body is a potential indicator that there is an unintegrated masculine shadow at work in your life be it romantic, friendship, business or mentorship.
Your perfectionist tendencies ramp up instead of down.
Healthy masculine energy provides containment and safety, not the need to prove your worth by appearing perfect.
Despite all of the inner work, your confidence and self-esteem seems to plateau. This could mean a male energy is capping you instead of expanding you.
As your income capacity grows, masculine defenses and insecurities go up.
Your success triggers the masculine’s self-worth leading him/them to behave more like a child than an adult.
Subtle jokes and comments that poke at your insecurities.
A shadow masculine energy may jokingly poke fun at your looks, relationships, or overall intelligence/competence. In general, you may feel your capacity for independence is undermined instead of supported. It’s just a joke, they mighty say, but this may still not sit well in your body.
While it may be more common for a woman, or a person who identifies as having more feminine energy, to blame herself or try harder when in the presence of a potentially toxic masculine energy, I’ve noticed that the answer almost always lies within digging deeper into self-love. Loving all the parts of you that feel imperfect, needy, unworthy and inadequate, and separating from any and all behaviors and people that make you feel as though you need to earn or perform for love, acceptance and safety, might be the path forward when encountering an unintegrated male shadow trying to steal your life force instead of facing his/their own traumas, insecurities and limiting beliefs.
Women may also demonstrate an unintegrated masculine shadow, particularly those in careers that demand logic, control, and linear progress such as healthcare, hard sciences, and advocacy work.
When embarking upon the path of soul evolution, the outer world becomes a mirror for aspects of self that need to be reclaimed. There is movement from victimhood to loving autonomy while learning to find love from within the soul and the creator. In the 5th dimension, shadow forces are mere corrections sent from the Divine to place you back into alignment.
Have you encountered situations such as this? What did you notice? How did you take your power back?
Join the discussion in the comments below.