I’ve spent the last two years looking for my yin. I didn’t even know that I’d lost it! I knew about yin and yang, but until I did my yoga teacher training, I didn’t really grasp the full concept of it and how it related to me specifically.

I learnt that the properties of Yin and Yang energies can’t exist without the other. If we’re seeking wholeness, our energy needs to be devoted to creating a perfect harmony of Yin and Yang. Both men and women possess an inner feminine and masculine energy.

We live in a Patriarchal Age where there is a tendency to allow males to dominate workplace, political and home decisions, and a dysfunction of the collective consciousness has occurred. World-wide there’s a shift in which women are being given equal rights with regard to working and earning income, however Society is predominantly patriarchal, especially in the Western World where value is placed on money-making, busyness is glorified, and focus is placed on appearance.

Both men and women feel pressured to live Yang lifestyles, with men feeling they need to work long hours, to gain wealth and high status whilst also feeling they don’t have an emotional outlet. Having ‘negative’ feelings such as anxiety, sadness and depression are generally discouraged, and men are expected to suck it up. These intense pressures can lead to too much booze, taking drugs, and addictions such as gambling, technology, and pornography.

To fit in to a Yang-based society, women are acting like men, and becoming ruthless in the workplace. They’re over-training in the gym to attain society’s image of the perfect body, and most women are unable to embrace the Yin essence of Goddess beauty which sees all shapes and sizes as unique and beautiful.

Women tend to ignore signs or messages from their bodies to rest, leading to things like adrenal fatigue, self-competitiveness, and the overall sense that they’re not good enough. They’ll keep striving to succeed with an outward image of being happy and in control, whilst internally they’re exhausted and miserable.

Both men and women are suffering from feelings of inadequacy and depression whilst trying to fit into a Yang society. We need to learn to trust our feelings and surrender our ego to live a life of balance and connection with Self.

Finding balance doesn’t mean we need to tone down our masculine energy, however we do need to raise our feminine energy to meet the Yang.

Our Inner Goddess needs to be given freedom to do things in her own time. She trusts that the present moment will bring her what she needs to experience love, joy, peace and prosperity. She rests when needed without feeling guilty, and clothes herself with beauty. She practices self-love rituals and doesn’t concern herself with rules about eating, however eats consciously to avoid harm to animals and Mother Earth. She’s a fierce protector of those she loves and can provide a feeling of unconditional love, safety and deep contentment to those who come into her embrace. She’s wise and allows others to be themselves. The Inner Goddess is also discerning and trusts her feelings as to who to invite into her tribe.

The Inner Goddess allows herself to indulge in creative passions, such as cooking, dancing naked under the moonlight, creating music or designing art. She’s kind, compassionate, empathetic and caring.

Once I realised how much I wasn’t in touch with my Inner Goddess, I started implementing things like journalling, Yin Yoga, and daily meditiation.

Over time, I’ve noticed that my overall style has become more feminine, and I seek more time alone to allow myself to just ‘be’. To sit and be quiet and focus on my breath, or practice yoga, or meditate, or write in my journal. I also enjoy walking in the sand barefoot at the edge of the ocean. I feel that I crave quiet, especially as I spend a lot of time around people in a predominantly yang environment.

All these years (and believe me, there’s been a few!) I thought I wasn’t creative. Like many kids, the creativeness was shamed out of me in High School when teachers scored me low grades for art projects, which is sad, because I really got in to some of those projects!

I’ve discovered how I love being creative in the kitchen (don’t ask me for a recipe, I don’t have one!), and I’m really great at making up a group fitness class to music without any preparation! I love mindful colouring and I also enjoy writing my blog. I even wrote a poem the other day!

Now that I see that I am creative, I’m starting to think about other things I can do and I’m building the courage to step into the arena and take on projects outside my comfort zone – all in the name of self-growth and honouring my Inner Goddess.