SS#3 From Hustle to Harmony
Understanding feminine and masculine energy, three subtle shifts, the beginning of Circle of Harmony
This year, I decided to flip the script on my birthday. 🎉🎂 No fancy dinner, no late-night party. Instead, I gathered my 12 closest girlfriends and my mother and asked: “How are you leaning into your divine feminine?”
The topic was new to me, and who better to explore it with than the women I admire most—strong, inspiring, and unapologetically themselves. 👑
Let me start by saying that feminine and masculine energy have nothing to do with gender or sexuality. It’s just energy. Whether you identify as "Core Feminine" or "Core Masculine," it’s about balance, not labels. ⚖️
We all have both feminine and masculine energy. They exist as a duality: one doesn’t exist without the other, and true harmony lies in balancing both.
Here’s the gist:
🌙 Feminine energy is aligned with yin (moon energy in Chinese philosophy), embodying receptive, more inward-focused qualities (think: intuition, creativity, emotions, receptivity, fluidity). It’s more people-focused, deriving value from connections.
☀️ Masculine energy is tied to yang sign (sun energy), signifying active, outward-directed power (think: leadership, action, logic, assertion). It’s more thing-focused, finding value in accomplishments.
We are, quite literally, the union of these energies. Regardless of how the union happened, the masculine (think sperm), enters and gives, while the feminine (think egg), receives and nurtures.
These dynamics ripple throughout life.
Recognizing these energies has been transformative for me. It’s helped me identify patterns in my life, particularly how societal norms shape us. For example, Western society highly values achievement, assertiveness, and material rewards, pushing us toward an image of success rooted in action, logic, and productivity.
For most of my life, I thought success was defined by action and achievement. I pursued more science and business subjects, became an investment banker, and worked nonstop because it seemed like the “valuable” path. And while it did bring accomplishments, it also brought exhaustion, disconnection, and a lingering sense of emptiness. 😵💫
I eventually realized that something was missing. It wasn’t about more—it was about balance.
Here are three shifts I made that helped me honor my feminine energy:
1. From Rest Is Weakness → Rest Is Power
Masculine: Productivity, efficiency, drive.
I used to view rest as indulgent. Weekends were jam-packed with back-to-back workouts, coffee dates, girls’ brunches, group dinners, night outs, and errands. By Sunday night, I’d feel wired and depleted, like a hamster on a wheel. 🐹 After all, if NYC is the city that never sleeps, why should I?
Feminine: Rest, renewal, and restoration.
Now, I see rest as essential—just like seasons in nature, we need periods of stillness and renewal to thrive. 🛌 Resting doesn’t mean laziness; it’s a foundation for creativity, clarity, and joy. Embracing this has brought a sense of balance and harmony to my life, helping me become more creative, expressive, and imaginative. ☘️
2. From Always Doing → Learning to Receive
Masculine: Giving, leading, providing.
Afraid of being seen as “needy” or “dependent,” I constantly took on the role of giver, planner, and provider. 🤓 Every Monday morning on my commute to work, I organizer the weekend’s brunches and dinners, making sure everything was set before anyone even had to ask. I convinced myself that if I didn’t take charge, nothing would happen—but in doing so, I left little room for others to show up for me.
Feminine: Receiving, flowing, allowing.
Learning to receive was humbling at first. It required trust: trust that others would show up, and trust that my worth wasn’t dependent on how much I contributed. Slowly, I’ve started letting others take the lead, and it’s been a revelation. 🤲 Not only has it deepened my relationships, but it’s also allowed me to experience connection in a more balanced, reciprocal way. 💛
3. From Rationalizing Everything → Trusting Intuition
Masculine: Logic, discipline, structure.
For years, I took pride in being logical, rationalizing everything from major life decisions (“I should work in finance because my degree says so”) to minor daily choices (“I can’t be hungry—I ate an hour ago”). I saw the world in straight lines—1+2=3—always opting for what was practical, expected, and “made sense.” But in the process, I silenced my intuition, ignoring the quiet signals that often knew better than logic ever could.
Feminine: Intuition, emotion, authenticity.
Now, I’ve started tuning into my intuition and asking, “Does this feel right?” instead of “Does this make sense?” The result? A deeper sense of alignment and authenticity in my choices. Trusting my inner voice has been liberating, and it’s helped me navigate life with more confidence and calm. 🔮✨
Reconnecting with my feminine energy hasn’t meant abandoning logic, independence, or ambition—it’s meant balancing them.
It’s meant recognizing that rest fuels productivity, that receiving doesn’t diminish my strength, and that intuition is just as powerful as logic.
By honoring both energies, I’ve found more ease, depth, and fulfillment in my life. And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that true power isn’t just in doing—it’s also in being.
A quick moment to express my gratitude: these incredible women, each with their own unique stories and perspectives, have been integral to the evolution of Circle of Harmony. 💫 From sparking new ideas to adding depth and nuance, they've been true expanders, encouraging me to dream bigger, think deeper, and live more authentically.
But that—how our closest relationships transform us—is a story for another time.
The truth is, our connections with the people who challenge, inspire, and elevate us are often more powerful than we realize.
I hope that this space and Circle of Harmony can offer you the same richness and growth that my friends have given me.
And finally, it’s a beautiful, full-circle moment (pun intended 😉) to think that on this very night—sitting together in circles, bathed in the glow of the sunset—the symbols that would come to define Circle of Harmony quietly began to take shape.
So, how can you begin today?
Small, gentle shifts can help you integrate feminine energy into your life. Consider these:
How can I carve out moments of mindfulness and self-care during my busy workday? 🌿
Incorporating mindfulness doesn’t have to mean taking hours out of your day. It can be as simple as taking a few deep breaths before meetings, practicing gratitude in the morning, or scheduling short breaks throughout the day to reset your mind.
What creative outlets can I explore to balance my work life? 🎨
Creativity doesn’t have to be confined to art or hobbies—it can also be a tool to enhance your professional life. Whether it’s brainstorming innovative solutions to work challenges, exploring new ways to present ideas, or even just journaling your thoughts, nurturing creativity helps you stay connected to your intuition and opens up new opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally.
How can I nurture authentic, empathetic connections at work? 💛
Work doesn’t have to be a transactional space. You can create deeper, more meaningful connections by truly listening to others, offering support when needed, and being open about your own experiences. Connection is built on trust and empathy.
In what ways can I show vulnerability and empathy at work? 🫶
Vulnerability is a strength. When you allow yourself to be authentic, share your struggles, and ask for help when needed, it encourages others to do the same.
💪 Leaning into your femininity is not a sign of weakness.
🔮 A women's intuition is never wrong.
🌊 Embrace the things you resist.
🕊️ Balance is powerful, and sometimes, it's okay to swap that power suit for something softer.
Musings sparked while in a state of flow,
One Totally Random Thing I'm Absolutely Loving This Week: I've been dealing with some breakouts this week, and it really gets me down. It's something I've struggled with for almost 10 years. While it's gotten better over time, I still get hormonal breakouts now and then. This past week, the cold weather and my travels made my skin extra dehydrated, which can worsen flares. As soon as I got home, I put on the BelMondo Moisture Renewal Mask, recommended by Pacific Touch NYC—a holistic acne specialist. My skin instantly felt calmer and more hydrated. 💆♀️ Everyone's skin is unique, so it's important to find what works best for you. But if you have sensitive skin, I highly recommend giving it a try.