Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. In anticipation of her spring workshop, Embracing the Divine Feminine, Elizabeth Philipose shares thoughts on how to awaken the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity.
Femininity is not the sole domain of women, nor is it confined by the modern binary gender system. It is an essential, universal force that brings balance to a world long dominated by unchecked masculinity. When masculinity operates without the counterbalance of femininity, action, control, and force are untempered by patience, intuition, and flow. Many saw a rise of the divine feminine and a step toward a more equal and inclusive leadership when a woman of color candidate entered the presidential race. The prospect electrified nearly half the nation — and for those, it felt as though we were shifting onto a new timeline. When she lost, it seemed for some as though the feminine had been defeated.
The rigid boundaries imposed by the binary gender system place masculinity and femininity in opposition, creating harm for all. When we are socialized to embody only one and fear the other, we are denied half of our humanity. This fuels an inner conflict of never feeling like we are enough.
From leadership to ecology to interpersonal relationships, we’ve long been askew from the feminine — and this puts us out of sync with life itself.
Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. It celebrates sacred listening and allows our deepest desires to lead the way. It awakens the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity. It restores masculinity back into right relationship with femininity and makes us whole again.
This isn’t an issue of concern only to women, but for all who seek authenticity, wholeness, and freedom in an evolving and inclusive world. This is a personal and collective journey — a vital act of healing in a world in crisis.
Leadership is a mirror, reflecting what we have collectively avoided confronting. This political era serves as a divisive lightning rod, bringing to the surface the deep fractures at the foundation of our nation — between men and women, the able and disabled, and those who are deemed normal and abnormal. It highlights the chasm between humans and nature, nations and races, and between those who have and those who do not. These separations were constructed for political gain and divided what should never have been separated in the first place.
The universe often delivers messages for us to course-correct. When we aren’t responsive, the messages get louder and more insistent. Sometimes, it takes a “tower moment”— a calamity so profound that it compels us to pivot. We have received countless calls for transformation: the climate crisis, violence against women, endless wars, and persistent deprivation. The time and conditions are ripe for radical change. Whether we see ourselves as victims of circumstance or agents of a new consciousness will determine our path forward.
What if this moment is not merely an obstacle but a catalyst for collective evolution? What if it is an instrument that awakens consciousness and pushes us to reclaim balance with the feminine? What if its role revives our creatorship and agency to bring about a different kind of society?
The process of evolving consciousness isn’t linear, easy, or comfortable. We don’t necessarily evolve from getting what we want. We evolve in friction, turmoil, and even despair. It must sometimes become very dark before we see the light. It is often in the darkest moments that we gain the greatest clarity about who we want to be and the world we wish to create.
Mystics teach that we are born of One Life, a single Source and Universal Presence that breathes existence into all of creation. We are inseparable from the whole and from one another. We are wholeness itself, by design.
Could it be that we are being called to recognize, revere, and uplift this truth? Could it be that our purpose is to embody and manifest this unity in the world? In a system that thrives on division, our greatest power lies in our embodied and unwavering commitment to unity, healing, and wholeness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Elizabeth Philipose will be coming down the hill to lead Embracing the Divine Feminine: A Mystical Approach from May 26–3, 2025.
Elizabeth Philipose has a lifelong passion for evolution and the expansion of consciousness. As an academic, she studies causes and consequences of violence and pathways to peace. As a spiritual therapist, she offers individual counseling and group programs in decolonial wellness.
Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. In anticipation of her spring workshop, Embracing the Divine Feminine, Elizabeth Philipose shares thoughts on how to awaken the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity.
Femininity is not the sole domain of women, nor is it confined by the modern binary gender system. It is an essential, universal force that brings balance to a world long dominated by unchecked masculinity. When masculinity operates without the counterbalance of femininity, action, control, and force are untempered by patience, intuition, and flow. Many saw a rise of the divine feminine and a step toward a more equal and inclusive leadership when a woman of color candidate entered the presidential race. The prospect electrified nearly half the nation — and for those, it felt as though we were shifting onto a new timeline. When she lost, it seemed for some as though the feminine had been defeated.
The rigid boundaries imposed by the binary gender system place masculinity and femininity in opposition, creating harm for all. When we are socialized to embody only one and fear the other, we are denied half of our humanity. This fuels an inner conflict of never feeling like we are enough.
From leadership to ecology to interpersonal relationships, we’ve long been askew from the feminine — and this puts us out of sync with life itself.
Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. It celebrates sacred listening and allows our deepest desires to lead the way. It awakens the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity. It restores masculinity back into right relationship with femininity and makes us whole again.
This isn’t an issue of concern only to women, but for all who seek authenticity, wholeness, and freedom in an evolving and inclusive world. This is a personal and collective journey — a vital act of healing in a world in crisis.
Leadership is a mirror, reflecting what we have collectively avoided confronting. This political era serves as a divisive lightning rod, bringing to the surface the deep fractures at the foundation of our nation — between men and women, the able and disabled, and those who are deemed normal and abnormal. It highlights the chasm between humans and nature, nations and races, and between those who have and those who do not. These separations were constructed for political gain and divided what should never have been separated in the first place.
The universe often delivers messages for us to course-correct. When we aren’t responsive, the messages get louder and more insistent. Sometimes, it takes a “tower moment”— a calamity so profound that it compels us to pivot. We have received countless calls for transformation: the climate crisis, violence against women, endless wars, and persistent deprivation. The time and conditions are ripe for radical change. Whether we see ourselves as victims of circumstance or agents of a new consciousness will determine our path forward.
What if this moment is not merely an obstacle but a catalyst for collective evolution? What if it is an instrument that awakens consciousness and pushes us to reclaim balance with the feminine? What if its role revives our creatorship and agency to bring about a different kind of society?
The process of evolving consciousness isn’t linear, easy, or comfortable. We don’t necessarily evolve from getting what we want. We evolve in friction, turmoil, and even despair. It must sometimes become very dark before we see the light. It is often in the darkest moments that we gain the greatest clarity about who we want to be and the world we wish to create.
Mystics teach that we are born of One Life, a single Source and Universal Presence that breathes existence into all of creation. We are inseparable from the whole and from one another. We are wholeness itself, by design.
Could it be that we are being called to recognize, revere, and uplift this truth? Could it be that our purpose is to embody and manifest this unity in the world? In a system that thrives on division, our greatest power lies in our embodied and unwavering commitment to unity, healing, and wholeness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Elizabeth Philipose will be coming down the hill to lead Embracing the Divine Feminine: A Mystical Approach from May 26–3, 2025.
Elizabeth Philipose has a lifelong passion for evolution and the expansion of consciousness. As an academic, she studies causes and consequences of violence and pathways to peace. As a spiritual therapist, she offers individual counseling and group programs in decolonial wellness.
Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. In anticipation of her spring workshop, Embracing the Divine Feminine, Elizabeth Philipose shares thoughts on how to awaken the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity.
Femininity is not the sole domain of women, nor is it confined by the modern binary gender system. It is an essential, universal force that brings balance to a world long dominated by unchecked masculinity. When masculinity operates without the counterbalance of femininity, action, control, and force are untempered by patience, intuition, and flow. Many saw a rise of the divine feminine and a step toward a more equal and inclusive leadership when a woman of color candidate entered the presidential race. The prospect electrified nearly half the nation — and for those, it felt as though we were shifting onto a new timeline. When she lost, it seemed for some as though the feminine had been defeated.
The rigid boundaries imposed by the binary gender system place masculinity and femininity in opposition, creating harm for all. When we are socialized to embody only one and fear the other, we are denied half of our humanity. This fuels an inner conflict of never feeling like we are enough.
From leadership to ecology to interpersonal relationships, we’ve long been askew from the feminine — and this puts us out of sync with life itself.
Restoring the divine feminine brings us back into harmony with ourselves and one another. It places collaboration, nurturing, and creativity at the center of our lives. It celebrates sacred listening and allows our deepest desires to lead the way. It awakens the compassion, wisdom, and strength needed to heal and liberate humanity. It restores masculinity back into right relationship with femininity and makes us whole again.
This isn’t an issue of concern only to women, but for all who seek authenticity, wholeness, and freedom in an evolving and inclusive world. This is a personal and collective journey — a vital act of healing in a world in crisis.
Leadership is a mirror, reflecting what we have collectively avoided confronting. This political era serves as a divisive lightning rod, bringing to the surface the deep fractures at the foundation of our nation — between men and women, the able and disabled, and those who are deemed normal and abnormal. It highlights the chasm between humans and nature, nations and races, and between those who have and those who do not. These separations were constructed for political gain and divided what should never have been separated in the first place.
The universe often delivers messages for us to course-correct. When we aren’t responsive, the messages get louder and more insistent. Sometimes, it takes a “tower moment”— a calamity so profound that it compels us to pivot. We have received countless calls for transformation: the climate crisis, violence against women, endless wars, and persistent deprivation. The time and conditions are ripe for radical change. Whether we see ourselves as victims of circumstance or agents of a new consciousness will determine our path forward.
What if this moment is not merely an obstacle but a catalyst for collective evolution? What if it is an instrument that awakens consciousness and pushes us to reclaim balance with the feminine? What if its role revives our creatorship and agency to bring about a different kind of society?
The process of evolving consciousness isn’t linear, easy, or comfortable. We don’t necessarily evolve from getting what we want. We evolve in friction, turmoil, and even despair. It must sometimes become very dark before we see the light. It is often in the darkest moments that we gain the greatest clarity about who we want to be and the world we wish to create.
Mystics teach that we are born of One Life, a single Source and Universal Presence that breathes existence into all of creation. We are inseparable from the whole and from one another. We are wholeness itself, by design.
Could it be that we are being called to recognize, revere, and uplift this truth? Could it be that our purpose is to embody and manifest this unity in the world? In a system that thrives on division, our greatest power lies in our embodied and unwavering commitment to unity, healing, and wholeness.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Elizabeth Philipose will be coming down the hill to lead Embracing the Divine Feminine: A Mystical Approach from May 26–3, 2025.
Elizabeth Philipose has a lifelong passion for evolution and the expansion of consciousness. As an academic, she studies causes and consequences of violence and pathways to peace. As a spiritual therapist, she offers individual counseling and group programs in decolonial wellness.
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
