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:
Have you ever felt out of step with the world, simply for embracing the natural ebbs and flows within yourself? At InnerSpark, we define “Feminine Shame” as a deeply ingrained resistance towards that which is cyclical, fluid, nurturing, intuitive, or emotional. It’s the uneasy feeling that arises from being cyclical, intuitive, or in tune with seasonal rhythms in a world that often values linear progress and constants. This disconnect is what distances many from their true essence, their InnerSpark, causing them to feel adrift, overwhelmed, and detached from the comforting rhythms of nature. It’s feeling ashamed of our innate, tender nature in a world that parades “normal” over “natural.”
 
Rooted in centuries-old beliefs, Feminine Shame drives that whispering ghost of “not enough.” It convinces us we’re wrong, unworthy, flawed at our very core. We’ve been conditioned to see our natural state as abnormal, which distances us from our true selves. This tug-of-war between the natural and the “normal” drains us—physically, emotionally, mentally, relationally, spiritually—leading to widespread dis-ease. It’s high time we ask: isn’t it time to bridge that gap? To finally come home to ourselves? That’s where The InnerSpark Method is your guide.

Why Does Feminine Shame Exist?

Why Does Feminine Shame Exist:
From our early years, society hands us a blueprint of how to “fit in.” This blueprint often discounts the beauty of nature’s spirals – the inherent fluctuations and cycles that we, as beings of this Earth, naturally resonate with. When these intrinsic rhythms, intuitions, and emotions are labeled as irregular or inconsistent, it creates a landscape where Feminine Shame finds fertile ground, urging us to adopt the “standard” instead of cherishing our unique spirally essence.

Who Does Feminine Shame Impact?

Who Does Feminine Shame Impact:
Feminine Shame isn’t reserved for a select few. Imagine a shroud, thin but omnipresent, covering everything and everyone. Feminine Shame is that shroud. It blankets us all, an invisible veil impacting every heart. Regardless of gender or anatomy, everyone feels its presence – the nudge to prioritize society’s “shoulds” over the nurturing call of nature. It’s the tension that arises when our natural desire for a holistic, integrative life clashes with societal expectations, leaving us yearning for authentic connections, rhythms, and a return to our true nature.

How Do We Begin to Heal Feminine Shame?

How Do We Heal Feminine Shame:
The path to healing starts with recognizing the value of our innate connection to nature’s cycles. By turning towards our own challenges and deepest desires, and embracing the rhythms that have always been a part of us, we can find grounding and resilience. It’s about harmonizing with nature’s wisdom, tapping into its rhythms for guidance, and shedding the layers that keep us from living organically and authentically. Together, as a community that sees, supports, and validates each other, we transition from feeling fragmented and out of sync to dancing in harmony with life’s beautiful, ever-changing spirals.

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.