Masculine principle describes how to manifest. It describes the skilful means needed to engage in compassionate, powerful and wise action. Perhaps it can be connected to the right side of the U—the realizing process of bringing insights, sparks of inspiration, and crystals of ideas into prototypes. Here we move into action quickly and create small projects that can move the vision forward. We bring our vision down to earth and join the ideas with all the on-the-ground practicalities, restrictions, demands and obstacles.
Recognizing the gap between what we sense is possible and the current reality is often a place of discouragement and frustration. Here, remembering the gentleness of the feminine principle can encourage us to lighten up and extend some kindness to ourselves and to the ones we work with. Working to change our team, our organization, or our community is not an easy job. It requires fearlessness of the masculine principle, the gentleness of the feminine principle, and the intelligence to know how to balance these in the challenges that we encounter.
I once heard Otto say, “Sometimes all we know is which direction to face and where to put our foot down for the next step.” Knowing which direction to face is feminine principle; taking that step is masculine principle. And moving forward is always possible.
Arawana Hayashi, excerpt from “Feminine principle and Theory U”
