If 2023 taught us anything, it’s that we desperately need a break from busyness and chaos. Our schedules are maxed out, we’re struggling with stress and overwhelm, and we get nowhere near the rest we need. It’s time for a major reset, says Andrea Menard—and that means tapping into your innate feminine energy to find the calm you crave.
“Western culture, with its addiction to overactivity, depletes our energy and keeps us divorced from the stillness we need to feel and be our best,” says Menard, author of Seeds from the Sacred Feminine: A 52-Card Wisdom Deck with Handbook (Mango Publishing, 2023, ISBN: 978-1-64250-956-4, $34.99). “This is far from normal and healthy, and yet too many people live this way year after year. As 2024 commences, people of all genders can stop the cycle of depletion and experience wellness and peace by embracing the Sacred Feminine.”
Menard—an Indigenous thought leader of Métis heritage, and one of the co-stars of the CTV/CW popular new series Sullivan’s Crossing—says stress and exhaustion are the result of an overabundance of masculine energy that makes us gravitate toward assertive, competitive, and action-driven behavior. To achieve balance, we must also embrace traits that honour our feminine energy, such as stillness, intuition, gentleness, and creativity.
“When we acknowledge and find value in both our Sacred Feminine and Sacred Masculine natures, we find harmony in hidden places,” says Menard. “In a world that is too busy to slow down, unlocking your feminine wisdom is the best resolution you could make.”
The Seeds from the Sacred Feminine wisdom cards and handbook offer gentle reminders on how to connect to your feminine spirit and find your way back to your center. They channel the wisdom of the Grandmothers, gentle feminine teachers in the spiritual realm who are respected by Indigenous cultures all over the world. The messages in this deck give you direct insight and offer simple guidance to rearrange your life in a more harmonious manner. Adorned with beautiful painted imagery by Leah Marie Dorion, the cards, paired with the handbook, provide all the tools you need to learn how to enter the realm of the Sacred Feminine, walk in a sacred way, and live in harmony with the rest of Creation. For more information about the cards, please visit https://andreamenard.com/cards.
To start the new year off right, tap into the Sacred Feminine with these simple tips.
First, know that it might feel frightening to “press pause.” Some people stay busy because they feel afraid of confronting thoughts and feelings that might come up when they become still. Further, when you are used to going nonstop, it can be just as jarring to take a pause. But exploring stillness is a skill you can practice, says Menard. Take your time and play with what feels good, neutral, or even bad. Above all, remember that embracing a calmer lifestyle has many rewards. It is worth it to find a way to get away from the noise and learn to be still.
Practice being still. The speed of the world is dizzying, observes Menard. Your physical body has trouble keeping up. The heightened level of stimulation, which is exciting to your Sacred Masculine natures, takes its toll on your nervous system, affecting your moods and your sleep patterns. This is why it is important to set aside time to meditate or simply be quiet for a bit.
“Take a moment to breathe and stop the whirlwind,” says Menard. “When was the last time you sat still for more than 20 minutes? Try it now. Move into a comfortable position and find a gentle space to relax into. Be still like a deer or rabbit. Settling your body into stillness is the first step. Now, still your mind. It will try to convince you that every chore and task is more important than your well-being. Without judgment, notice your thoughts chatter away. Then, with loving regard, let them flow onward. Your sacred self waits for your moments of stillness to emerge. Be still and remember who you are. In the silence, feel your connection to the Great Mystery.”
Explore your innermost thoughts. Journaling is an excellent way to slow down, pause, and figure out what’s really going on in your heart and soul. Try to find time for a writing practice, even if it’s only five minutes a day. You can write about whatever is on your mind or respond to a prompt like, “What are my emotions trying to tell me?” or, “What would bring me joy today?”
Get your hands dirty (in the garden). Spending time working with your hands is a great way to get “out of your head” and enjoy the calming energy of the earth. And, as Menard points out, when you surround yourself with alive things, you become more alive too. While the weather is still cold, curl up with a stack of seed catalogues and start planning your spring garden. Or, if you want to start a garden right now, plant a small patch of winter vegetables such as cabbage, kale, or carrots. Another winter option is to create an indoor plant wall or windowsill garden.
“There is great healing in the Earth Realm,” says Menard. “Plant a garden or invite the plant family into your home. Nurture them with your attention. All of Life responds joyously when a human being shines its love upon it. If you have a green thumb, and plants already fill your home or yard, acknowledge them now. Be proud of your healthy relationship. If you struggle with keeping plants alive, be patient with yourself. Water them. Give them sunlight. And love them. Remember, love is the most important part of this ritual. Your plants will appreciate being watered and sunned, but the real food they crave is your love. Ignite your heart with gratitude for their presence and watch how they respond. And then watch how you respond to the beauty of your Plant Relatives.”
Bring calmness into your home. Sometimes the chaos in our minds overflows and creates chaos in our homes. We might even hang on to physical things when they are no longer useful to us. This can result in a disorganized and cluttered living space.
“You are not meant to hold on to physical objects that no longer serve you,” says Menard. “You are a spiritual being who holds infinite power in your hands. Release your hold on the stuff and feel the relief rise in your chest. You are free again. Remember the ways of your Ancestors and pare your life down to the basics. Use only what is necessary. Allow your wealth to flow to someone who needs it more than you.”
Have a cup of tea. (It’s the antidote to worry.) There is nothing like a steaming hot beverage to ease your mind and fill you with warmth when you are worried or fatigued, shares Menard. Heating water over a sacred fire is soothing and is as old as the love between Father Sky and Mother Earth.
“Be present to this ancient tradition,” says Menard. “Receive the ingredients of warmth, love, and comfort that are hidden inside the sacred plants. There is potential for communion with the Sacred Feminine in one cup of tea. Just become present. Enjoy the feel of your favourite mug in your hands. Honour the dried plant for its flavour and nourishment. Send gratitude to the gardener, be it Mother Earth or your local farmer. Bless the Waters of Life that sustain you and the Sacred Fire that gives you warmth. Now let your worries fall away as you experience a community of loved ones sharing tea time with you. Enjoy it fully.”
Use the wisdom cards for daily connection with the Sacred Feminine. There are several ways to use the 52-card deck. For example, you can select one card and ask for clarity on 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. Upon receiving any thoughts, intuitions, or messages from the cards themselves, you can read the corresponding message in the Seeds from the Sacred Feminine booklet.
“It may feel like you don’t have time to do these things, but chasing time is one of the symptoms of an out-of-balance lifestyle,” concludes Menard. “If you embrace and nurture your Sacred Feminine energy, 2024 will begin to feel like the new beginning it really is. When you approach each day with a seed of calmness in your heart, you will notice a difference in the way you handle stress, manage priorities, and show up for life each day. It’s a new year, but it’s also a new you.”
