The subtle creates the gross. 

Challenges we experience in our physical existence (our bodies, health, lives, relationships) are simply mirroring an imbalance, dysfunction, or state of dis-ease in our subtler bodies (the emotional, mental, and spiritual layers). 

Struggles with the adrenal glands and the hormones responsible for proper energy and circadian rhythms have their roots in stress – physiologically impacting the delicate hormonal dance between our brain and adrenals and energetically impacting our root chakra and all it metaphorically encompasses.

How does this happen? Unprocessed trauma, particularly shame and Feminine Shame, that makes us more susceptible to the ill-effects of daily stress.  Stress and trauma are compounding.  Undigested blockages stack on top of each other and the system’s vital energetic flow goes towards trying to manage the mountain of “foreign invaders” (the energetic and physiological residue of the compounding stress).  

This means that daily maintenance required by the system on all levels is maintained only halfheartedly, or depending upon the stage of the undigested blockage, completely neglected.  Additionally, the traumas in question don’t necessarily have to happen to you in your lifetime; they can also be ancestral and handed down through the lineage.

This is how dis-ease manifests on the physical body. 

The subtle bodies send their messages and warnings and we fail to pay attention, identify and honor the needs.  The subtle creates the gross, remember?  The subtle, and now dysfunctional, building blocks of our system on all levels create an undesired gross experience.

The most interesting part of the dis-ease process is how it manifests and in which area of our physical experience and how our physical body produces its signs and symptoms of dis-ease.

Watch this class on subtle energy healing to tap into your subtle, energetic body.

In cases of adrenal insufficiency (or “adrenal fatigue” as it’s more commonly known), there’s a chronic state of nervous system activation – hyper-vigilance, fear, survival-based operating, and doing anything to remain “safe.”  This is why many sufferers are also perfectionists with type-A personalities and relentless inner critics.  They may also be in the habit of engaging in “victim mode” and viewing the world as unsafe and predatory. 

While dietary, lifestyle (proper exercise and stress management resources, for example), herbal and nutrient interventions can work wonders, they aren’t the panacea. 

True healing must begin within and on the subtle levels so they can then create the desired gross experience. We must look at the shame, particularly Feminine Shame, we’re carrying that is contributing to the depletion and chronic “fight-flight-freeze” mode.

Watch this class on Nervous System Love to begin to support your system in healing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Feminine Shame

What is Feminine Shame?

What is Feminine Shame:
Shame is an often misunderstood state that we do our best to avoid – and about which we rarely speak! However, it is a natural, necessary response that arises when we perceive our sense of safety, belonging, contentment, and/or joy to be in jeopardy. It motivates us to make change so that we may repair our sense of safety, belonging, contentment, and/or joy.
 
Feminine Shame, a phenomenon and concept created by InnerSpark, is when we perceive ourselves, in our innate, natural state, to be the barrier towards our sense of safety, belonging, contentment, and/or joy simply because of our existence and presence. It is an intense and deeply held resistance, aversion, resentment, and fear towards anything that is soft, transient, cyclical, fluid, passive, nurturing, intuitive, an/or emotional in nature.
 
It is a shame towards that which is natural in a world attempting to get us on board with what’s “normal.”
 
This learned disconnection leads us into a perpetual state of “not enough.” We feel wrong, bad, unworthy, fundamentally flawed just for existing. As a species, we’ve lost our taproot and have learned that it’s better to ignore the innate naturalness of our being, unless we wish to open ourselves to scrutiny, judgement, and more shame. What we’ve learned and emulated across many generations now, largely due to Puritanical programming, isn’t “natural,” although we’ve come to certainly view it as “normal.”
 
Living with Feminine Shame is a constant fight between natural and normal and an internalization that there’s something wrong with us. We are disconnected from our InnerSpark and continually seek cues and validation externally. This compartmentalized way of life makes everything harder and wreaks havoc on us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually and contributes to dis-ease on a massive scale.

Why Does Feminine Shame Exist?

Why Does Feminine Shame Exist:
The root cause of feminine shame is in the programs that have taught us to shun our naturalness and to view it as wrong, bad, sinful. Since so much of our world in its natural state is meant to encompass these qualities (our physical bodies, the cycles of the Earth, the stages of life, growth, and aging, and more), it’s an unfortunate truth that we’ll all experience this feminine shame at some point our lives to varying degrees.
 
Always striving to fit into a rigid, external measure of “normal,” willing ourselves to continue the quest when what would truly bring us back to wholeness is embracing our natural state and our Spirally essence.

Who Does Feminine Shame Impact?

Who Does Feminine Shame Impact:
Feminine Shame impacts everyone – regardless of gender or physical anatomy. It’s an abstract, permeating concept that mostly refers to shame towards that which is natural and has virtually nothing to do with gender or anatomy.
 
It is when we believe our very natural existence and presence, especially those aspects that are fluid and natural, are the source of our sense of safety, belonging, contentment, and/or joy being in jeopardy.
 
While womxn do tend to experience it more directly, as a species, we’ve undoubtedly come to a place where the essence of “feminine,” or the Spiral Principle is not held with high regard. We are all impacted, as is our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health and the health of our planet.

How Do We Heal Feminine Shame?

How Do We Heal Feminine Shame:
We heal Feminine Shame intentionally, compassionately, gently, and lovingly. We do so by embracing what’s natural and letting go of what’s been deemed “normal.”
 
In The InnerSpark Method, a system for supporting deep-feeling, sensitive women in breaking the cycles of burnout, people-pleasing, anxiety, and constantly trying to “fix” themselves, we heal Feminine Shame through five phase approach: befriending the body, managing our energy system (with resources like InnerSpark’s Energy Management Tools) and connecting with our emotions, mastering our mind, and aligning with Nature’s wisdom and rhythms.
 
We do so by reconnecting with ourselves, our InnerSpark, to see the parts of ourselves riddled with shame. We do so in community where we allow ourselves to be seen and witness each other. We come back to a state of reverent balance and holistic living and thriving.

You can’t heal anything while continuing to operate from the same paradigm that bred the current dysfunction.

Suggestions for healing the adrenal challenges:

• Herbs & Botanicals. Mother Earth has provided all the medicine we need and while flower essences support the subtle bodies in creating the desired gross experience, herbs and botanicals offer more direct support to the physical while it is “catching up” and the subtle blocks are rebuilding it. 
  • Adaptogens and nervines soothe a fried nervous system and support hormonal balance
    • Ashwagandha, licorice, reishi, holy basil, rhodiola, astralagus, chamomile, skullcap, lavender
• Root Chakra Clearing & Healing practices. Practices such as yin yoga, breathwork, mudras, expressive arts therapy, somatic movement, journey and shadow work, and more can be very beneficial in healing and identifying the core story that is creating the physical imbalance.
• Release what no longer serves you – but like, for real this time.
  • What outdated grudges or beliefs are you holding onto that no longer serve?
  • How do you view yourself?
  • Does your life, for the most part, bring you joy, contentment, and a sense of purpose?
  • Do you fully love and accept yourself, just as you are right now?
• A thriving spiritual life and daily practice strengthens your connection to the divine within.  It is our divinity that sustains us and sparks our ability and desire to successfully heal our bodies and our lives. 
  • How do you connect to the divine within? 
  • Do you have a daily practice for feeding your spiritual body? 
• Your vessel is a sacred temple
  • Is your current lifestyle conducive to feelings of safety and stability?
  • Are you properly feeding your physical body?  “Properly” is different for everyone and fluctuates in any given season and life stage.  
  • How do you deeply honor and care for yourself?   

The physical body is a mirror.  What is yours telling you?  What needs to be addressed on the subtle level?  The physical body is slower than your subtle bodies as it’s created by these tiny, energetic building blocks over time.   Compassion, patience, and disciplined self-love are crucial during any healing process.