Journal of Sacred Work

The Superiority of The Feminine Divine – Day 245

Ah0-rising   Although raised male in a male-dominant world by a great dad who taught me "how to be a man," I always wondered about the role of women.

   "Always respect them," Dad sternly instructed. But was I really "superior" as society implied? 

   Nope.

  Fortunately, the "male" assertiveness I developed was balanced by my mother and two sisters. But as a boy I wondered why men dominated the world. Even religion. With the exception of the Virgin Mary, where were the women?

   Thank heavens we are in an age where the sexes appear to be entering balance. Indeed, gender identification is in dispute. 

   In 2019, I explored The Feminine Divine in my two-month-long film art show at Vanderbilt Divinity School's Art Gallery. No one objected to the nudes. Only that I was not gender-inclusive enough. 

   In early 20th century England, feminist Francis Swiney advanced the fascinating notion that "all life, spiritual as well as physical, begins as female. [Evolutionarily] the masculine was only a temporary and transitional phase, between the eternal feminine cause and the eternal feminine effect."

   For Swiney there was only one sex, the feminine…Men were simply imperfect women, both physiologically and spiritually," she argued. (emphasis added)

  This is about energy difference not body parts.  Society adapts slowly. How much longer can we tolerate the violence routinely caused by men? We desperately need balance.

    Balance is what happens in the best healthcare settings. Healing occurs only when male assertive-energy (via man or woman) is balanced by feminine nurturing (via woman or man).

   The time for men to recognize the superiority of the feminine divine is not only here, it is long overdue!

-Rev. Erie Chapman 

Poster-art Courtesy, Vanderbilt University Divinity School

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4 responses to “The Superiority of The Feminine Divine – Day 245”

  1. Judy Herendeen Avatar
    Judy Herendeen

    Once again Erie, you offer so much for us to think about. When I was studying developmental psychology, we often talked about individuating, healthy separation as becoming our own person. Then I had the opportunity to hear Judith Jorden, PdD, at the Women’s Stone Center in the mid 80’s. I had never heard of the concept of relationship mutuality. It’s the concept of reciprocity. The idea that in mutual exchange one is affecting the other and being affected by the other. “One extends out to the other” and is open and receptive to the “ impact of the other”. Sounds like empathy but more. An example was the mutuality between Mother (or caregiver) and infant. The cycle of Mother smiling, holding, blinking impacting the baby and the baby in turn smiling, blinking, cooing to the Mother. Empathy. The subjective experience of the other. Oh how we could use this inherent way of being with each other today. This is a generalization but men are socialized to separate, not rely on others because it can been seen as weak. Not all but many men. This steals from them the development of mutuality. I understand I am oversimplifying a much more layered concept have not given this subject it’s due respect. If your readers are interested they can Google Judith Jorden and relationship mutuality. Thanks again Erie for stimulating such a thoughtful discourse.

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  2. Liz Wessel Avatar
    Liz Wessel

    I appreciate the sacred lens through which you see women Erie, throughout your distonguished career as well as in your artistic endeavors in honoring the Beauty of the female form. do not fit societies mold
    You recognize that we have both feminine and male characteritics in each of us and throgh cultural mores men have certain expectaions placed on them. Yet, younger people are more open to this reality and sadly their is a lack of understanding and tolerance of those who do not fit societies mold. Ignorance and fear subject people to such prejudices , injustice and violence. May we find pathways towards our common humanity and let love overcome hate.

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  3. erie chapman Avatar
    erie chapman

    Hello Judy!
    Thank YOU for you typically thoughtful and eloquent response. The real goal is for society to arrive at better levels of balance regarding all minorities. What has always disturbed me is the history of male domination almost across the board – starting before the myth of Adam and Eve – up until recently…and it still needs work. One start on this is to raise awareness of aspects of physiology and ancient wisdom on feminine strengths.
    Meanwhile, labeling e.g. one is “stronger” than the other is always a dicey and very binary pathway. THANK you, Judy.

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  4. erie chapman Avatar
    erie chapman

    Thank you, Liz! You already know my views on this better than most. At the center of this is my almost lifelong amazement at the way civilization has reversed the whole gender issue, e.g. the male dominate across the board in religion, business, etc. One way to reverse this is for men (and some women) to appreciate female strengths at a broader and more sophisticated level. This is happening only very slowly. Meanwhile, gender views as binary are also under attack…which may be good but remain confusing for my old and fading generation. Thank you!

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