Power has been a historically troublesome word for women, especially when viewed in the power over / power under context. Merriam-Webster actually defines power as “the ability to act or produce an effect”; “capacity for being acted upon or undergoing an effect”; and “possession of control, authority, or influence over others.” Women at one time were considered the property of their husbands, were unable to marry a romantic partner that was not male, did not have the ability to own real property on their own, and did not have the right to vote. In other words, those voting for important legislation and policy makers were men and the laws and policy typically favored men. Women actually had to organize and fight to have rights that we should have had as a human being. Any of the women reading this likely know this history very well, and my purpose of referencing this history is to point out that we have had to FIGHT for that portion of POWER we have today and therefore most of us would relate to the term -power- negatively in that (1) it is something you have to fight for; and (2) when you get it, it is still not completely transferred; and (3) you have to fight to keep it.
I do happen to be somewhat of a fighter, but I am inclined to do it less and less as it does not align with the lifestyle I now demand for myself which is a peaceful, content, joyful existence. I’ve also learned that as I allow myself to live in alignment with my authentic self, I am empowered and therefore no longer feel I have this struggle with power, because a power-struggle does not exist for me in any area of my personal life. I believe that as we women release all that does not serve our highest good and stop “playing the roles” and “appeasing others” and choose to authentically step into our highest selves each moment, the power that is rightfully ours as the embodiment of the Divine Feminine will naturally align with our sex and the “fighting for the power” will be unnecessary.
SWL 