A Holistic Journey
Rediscovering the Power of Feminine Intuition
Maria Tibblin
During my pilgrimage in Assisi this late summer, I spent much time reflecting on the feminine strength and power. I am discovering stories of remarkable women, and I feel humbled as I read about their lives. I am specifically interested and very curious about what instinctively drove them to act as they did, the nature of the force guiding them, and where this powerful drive originated.
Throughout history, women have been guided by a deeply intuitive sense of wisdom, a force rooted in our very being. Often referred to as "female intuition," this inner knowing is an undeniable truth that speaks from deep within, yet many women today find themselves disconnected from it. This wisdom, long embedded in the feminine essence, has gradually been overshadowed by societal expectations and external pressures.
In my daily life, I often reflect on "The Woman", a timeless figure that embodies the feminine energy in all its forms. She exists within each of us and has been expressed through literature, poetry, music, art, and the countless stories of women throughout history. She appears in religious figures, goddesses, and is an ancestral archetype.
Many women today, faced with overwhelming demands and uncertainties, struggle with a sense of disconnect. It seems to be a yearning to reconnect with the inner wisdom, often manifesting as subtle symptoms of unease or dissatisfaction. This disconnection, rooted in the repression of the feminine intuition, has profound consequences. We have drifted from the deep, sacred values once revered by our ancestors, values that are still present within us but buried beneath layers of societal conditioning.
The Great Mother
Erich Neumann’s work on the Great Mother, a universal archetype, explores the embodiment of this powerful feminine essence. For millennia, the Mother Goddess was worshipped as the source of life and nurturing. However, the gradual suppression of the feminine spirit has contributed to a widespread sense of disconnection among women, particularly when it comes to embracing their inner strengths.
We carry both light and shadow, positive and negative traits that coexist within us. To accept this opposition rather than striving for perfection, can be a liberating experience and allowing both sides of ourselves allows us to reconnect with our true nature, our womb as a vessel for life and creativity, holding our deepest values.
Women’s Health – Unique Challenges and Opportunities
As both a woman and a health professional, I hold a perspective on the challenges women face in maintaining health. Today, women lead busier and more demanding lives than ever before, often balancing the competing demands of personal and professional responsibilities. For many women, one of the biggest obstacles to a healthy lifestyle can be a lack of time and to prioritize one's own wellbeing.
This is something I’ve experienced in my own life, and I hear it repeatedly from women of all ages and backgrounds in my practice. Women face a broad range of health concerns throughout their lives. from fertility issues to hormonal imbalances, chronic illnesses, and mental health challenges. These challenges are not just about physical health but about empowering women to fully engage in every aspect of life.
As the United Nations emphasizes, “Women have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” This right is crucial in empowering women to lead fulfilling lives.
This is not simply about being healthy; it is about enabling women to fully participate in every aspect of life. As Langer (2015) notes, the health challenges women face throughout their lives require a life course approach.
The Underfunding of Women’s Health Research
Despite a growing awareness of the unique health needs of women, research remains significantly underfunded. As Bird (2022) notes, the medical sciences have historically treated men and women as interchangeable, prioritizing men’s health in research funding and using the male body as the standard model.
This has resulted in substantial gaps in our understanding of women’s health, leaving many aspects uncharted, particularly in how diseases present differently in women and how treatments must be customized to address our specific needs.
Critical issues like breast cancer, menopause, pregnancy, and cervical cancer are not just gender-specific; they have a profound impact on every aspect of a woman’s life. Hormonal health, in particular, is an area of great interest to me because of its far-reaching effects on both mental and physical wellbeing.
The deep interconnection between physical and mental health cannot be overstated
My personal journey, from my early exposure to Jung’s ideas to my ongoing work as a health professional, has been driven by a passion for women’s health and wellbeing. Women face unique challenges that require specialized attention and a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach.
Looking ahead, I feel a strong sense of purpose in advocating for women’s wellbeing. It is not just about living longer but about leading healthier fuller, more meaningful lives. By reconnecting with our feminine intuition, accepting the duality within ourselves, and embracing a holistic approach to health, women can reclaim their inner strength and wisdom.
This journey, both personal and collective, is one of empowerment and transformation, offering a path toward healing and individuation for generations to come.
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