The new year should be a time of renewal and hope. But after the uncertainty, stress, and heartache of 2023 (and the tumultuous years leading up to it), it’s hard to be optimistic about the year ahead. Resignation or even despair seem more logical ways of thinking. Chaos, suffering and death dominate our headlines as we become more divided by the day. And despite it all, our souls cry out for refuge and healing. Is there any hope for peace and happiness in the coming year?
Yes, we cannot solve the misery of the world, but we can wake up, tune in and anchor ourselves in our feminine energy.
This soul shift will change the way we experience life. Opening ourselves to the sacred feminine helps us find peace in the midst of chaos and trauma. The danger we are regularly exposed to keeps us extremely off balance and constantly exhausted, stressed, anxious and reactive. But when we connect with and find value in our innate feminine wisdom, we become calm, peaceful, and even joyful. This grounded state not only allows us to heal ourselves, but also to listen to, love, and care for others. I can’t think of anything humanity needs more in 2024.
“If the chaotic, horrific events of 2023 have left you world-weary and cynical, then it’s time to tap into your feminine wisdom and find the peace and healing you desire. Andrea Menard, a Métis author, speaker and co-star of the hit CW drama Sullivan’s crossingshow you how.”
Our planet is dominated by masculine values that encourage us to be competitive, assertive and driven. This in itself is not a bad thing, but an overabundance of masculine energy leaves our souls exhausted and malnourished. If we want balance, we must also appreciate the nurturing feminine aspect. By building a relationship with your soft side and cultivating a physical and spiritual connection with the Earth, people of all genders can connect with the Sacred Feminine energy that promotes silence, intuition, compassion, cooperation, empathy and creativity. This less stressful way of being creates a gentler, more inclusive world where individuals care for the well-being of themselves and others.
The Seeds of the Sacred Feminine Wisdom cards and handbook provide gentle reminders on how to connect with your feminine spirit and find your way back to your center. They channel the wisdom of the Grandmothers, gentle female teachers in the spiritual realm who are respected by indigenous cultures around the world. The messages in this deck give you immediate insight and provide simple guidance to organize your life in a more harmonious way and experience the silence, intuition, softness and creativity you desire.
There are several ways to use the 52-card wisdom deck. For example, you can select one card and ask for clarity about a specific situation. Or you can choose four cards (each card representing one of the four sacred bodies) and absorb the messages or teachings they bring. You can also simply choose a card and ask for a seed of daily wisdom. If you receive thoughts, intuitions or messages from the cards themselves, you can read the corresponding message in the text Seeds of the Sacred Feminine booklet.
Here are some ways to connect with your Sacred Feminine energy and find peace and healing in 2024.
Stop crossing your heart boundaries. When others depend on you, it is easy to focus on them and make sure all their needs are met. However, leaving your own needs unmet and unheard dishonors your authentic self. Loving yourself is your true and only job if you want to be of service to others. Know your worth, for you are a beautiful being. Be kind to the needs of your heart and listen to the signals when you have overstepped your boundaries.
Honor your emotions (yes, even the unpleasant ones). Your emotions are great wisdom keepers, says Menard. They pass on valuable information. Don’t be afraid of the messages these emotions are trying to convey. They’re not trying to harm you; they just want to be felt. But in this world you are trained to push feelings away. This has caused a major imbalance.
Your feelings are sacred. Honor them and know that it is okay to feel hurt or angry. The emotional body is often misunderstood and needs your light to shine in the darkness.
Water is healing. Make sure you get enough. Most of us are chronically dehydrated. One of the easiest ways to practice self-care is to drink water. Coffee, soft drinks and juices don’t compare to the physical and emotional healing waters they provide. You may have become so accustomed to being thirsty that you don’t even notice that you are dry and cracked. Pay attention to your body’s cues to get water. Your body needs lubrication so that all organs and fluids can work properly. Your sleep patterns, body flexibility and thinking patterns are connected to your fluidity. Honor your Sacred Waters. Drink enough and do it often.
Do you feel dry and humorless? Lack of water can cause stiffness and undermine your playing feel. Fill yourself with the life-giving waters and allow fluidity to return.
Go for a walk outside. You’ve been inside too long. Get up and leave your home or office and let your feet lead you to a place of natural beauty and quiet contemplation. (Leave your phone at home.) Let your physical body move freely through your neighborhood or along newly discovered trails. The gentle forward movement of your body will shake loose the problems in your mind. As you walk, breathe in those organic essences and feel the Life Force all around you. This is joy for your physical body. It is easy to return to harmony when you spend time in the realms of the Sacred Feminine with your kin: the birds, the trees, the wind.
Lying on the ground. When was the last time you felt a connection to the natural world? If it’s been way too long, now is the perfect time to spend some time with your mom. Lie down on the grass and let your back connect with Mother Earth. Feel her healing energy flowing through your spine, transmuting all the exhaustion and pain you carry. Enjoy and refuel. A few moments will change your entire day.
Test your green fingers. When you surround yourself with living things, you also become more alive. There is wonderful healing in the natural world. Plant a garden with hardy vegetables such as kale, cabbage and carrots. Or invite the plant family to your home. Feed them with your attention. All life responds joyfully when a person shines his love upon it.
Embrace a new idea. Our minds are capable of embracing everything that has ever been conceived. Yet we often get stuck in linear and logical ways of thinking. Why limit ourselves when anything is possible if we can just imagine it?
You are wise and more than capable of understanding new ideas. Let go. Feel and intuitively take the next step. Watch what happens when you let go of control and fall into the arms of the Great Mystery. When you allow yourself to trust the Sacred Feminine, you will discover a whole new way of being.
Healing may not happen overnight in these difficult times, but every step you take to become more in tune with the Earth and more aware of your own feelings, thoughts and natural rhythms will bring you suffering reduce and bring you more peace and harmony. And rest assured, your healing will impact those around you. May 2024 bring us all closer to our true potential.
About the artist:
Leah Marie Dorion is an interdisciplinary Métis artist raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Dorion has a bachelor’s degree, a bachelor’s degree in arts, and a master’s degree in arts. As a teacher, painter, host, filmmaker and published writer, Dorion views her Métis heritage as a unique bridge of knowledge between all people. Her paintings honor the spiritual power of indigenous women and the sacred feminine.
Leah Dorion has sold more than 150 original paintings, and several original works of art have been purchased by the Government of Saskatchewan Public Art Collection. She has had gallery presentations of her artwork in renowned galleries across Canada, and her original paintings have been brought together for the first time as a collection in this pack of wisdom cards. She has created numerous commissioned works of art and many of her paintings are in private collections. For more information please visit www.leahdorion.ca.
About the cards:
Seeds of the Sacred Feminine: A Wisdom Deck of 52 Cards with Handbook (Mango Publishing, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-64250-956-4, $34.99) is available from Mango publishing house and major online booksellers.