The Dark Feminine is complex energy that is clouded out by the nurturing and motherly nature that is so often associated with divine femininity. Where divine femininity has been forcefully suppressed, weakened, and turned into complacency, the dark feminine’s power remained. The truth and strength have been crushed under the weight of gender roles, erasure, and fear. We are mysterious creatures tempted by the call of the darkness.
My Call to the Dark Feminine
I felt my first call to the Dark Feminine when I was in middle school. Although I didn’t quite understand the power at the time I am sure now of what it was. Before high school I was attached to my independence, a quality my parents were convinced was merely my being antisocial. However, that independence bred confidence, free-thinking, and strength. I was never deeply pained by the loss or lack of friends, the bullying, or even the pestering of my parents. Then I survived Superstorm Sandy and felt myself struggling to pull back up. When I found people that felt similarly to me I latched on and as a result when I lost them I broke down. By the time high school rolled around a few months later, I had let go of who I was and who I wanted to be. I let my personality be molded by friends and of course, I unluckily chose the worst possible ones. My personal voice was gone, I disconnected from my traumas by request of those terrible friends I previously mentioned, and even had them manipulating my romantic choices. The power within me had been cast into the shadows, and I had not yet learned to see in the dark.
I didn’t start to reconnect until my junior year of college, and I didn’t try to engage with it so directly until January of 2021 which was nearly 10 years after the hurricane. Trigger warning for the next sentence, in italics so you skip over. Much of my journey consisted of directly challenging the sexual assault and grooming that occurring to me during and after high school, I didn’t know how badly I needed healing until I tried to heal. The dark feminine teaches you to connect with yourself sensually while demanding respect sexually. The dark feminine demands your independence and free thinking. It asks you to look into your trauma and gives you the strength to fight back. All of this sounded great to me, but when I tried to implement it the first time it was a complete fail.
Dark Feminine Archetypes
There are archetype quizzes all over the internet now that will explain different areas of dark femininity. I have broken it down to eight unique archetypes inspired by models, icons, and aspects of dark femininity.
The first dark feminine archetype is the Raven. This archetype draws from the Raven’s association with dark goddesses and deities, as well as their dual existence as tricksters and messengers across multiple cultures. The raven is the messenger between worlds carrying the secrets of the shadows into the realm of our corporeal being. They serve as our connection to the mysteries of the universe. This archetype helps us embrace change and delve into the secrets of our existence.
The second dark feminine archetype is the Shieldmaiden. This archetype draws from the very real Nordic warriors and nordic mythological features. Stories of the fiercest type of love and loyalty, the willingness to die to protect what is most important to us. The Shieldmaiden archetype channels the fierce and protective aspects of the Dark Feminine. It represents the inner strength to fight for what is just and to protect oneself and others from harm.
The third dark feminine archetype is the rebel. While rebellion is not inherently feminine or masculine, the fight against societal norms towards equality is often voiced by the oppressed against their oppressors. Think of important women such as Malala Yousafzai and Harriet Tubman. They aren’t always violent fighters like the Shieldmaidens, it’s their voices that make the gravest impact. The rebel embodies the spirit of defiance against oppression and the courage to challenge the status quo. This archetype encourages breaking free from societal constraints and asserting one’s true self.
The fourth dark feminine archetype is the seductress. Inspired by the sirens, mermaids, and succubi of lore, the seductress is about embracing the control that is afforded to us by our sensuality. The seductress taps into the power of sensuality and allure, reclaiming the often stigmatized aspects of feminine sexuality. This archetype empowers individuals to embrace their desires and use their allure as a form of personal power.
The fifth dark feminine archetype is the owl. It may come as no surprise to most that this aspect is inspired by the goddess Athena. The owl represents deep wisdom and the ability to see beyond the surface. This archetype encourages tapping into intuitive knowledge and gaining insight from the darkness within.
The sixth dark feminine archetype is the She-Wolf. She is inspired by the myths of Luperca, Asena, and La Loba. The wolf symbolizes the primal instincts and deep sense of loyalty within the Dark Feminine. This archetype teaches the importance of trusting one’s instincts and valuing the bonds formed with others.
The seventh dark feminine archetype is the mystic. The mystic is not a witch, but a woman of spirituality. This represents all of the women that have been persecuted for practicing their cultural traditions. It stands for the very real women who were lost in witch trials, in crusades, in pagan extermination, and through forced assimilation and colonization. The mystic delves into the spiritual and metaphysical realms, seeking connection with the divine and understanding the deeper truths of existence. This archetype embodies the quest for spiritual enlightenment and profound inner knowledge.
The eighth dark feminine archetype is the phoenix. While not inherently feminine the concepts of death and rebirth or inherently feminine since that which creates life is that with the power to destroy it. The phoenix symbolizes the experience of being crushed to dust by the world, and rising from the ashes more beautiful than before.
LUMINARIES AND PLANETS
In astrology and in witchcraft, the two luminaries – the sun and moon – represent the two divine forces of masculine and feminine energy. The sun which represents our ego, vitality, and presentation of self is the divine masculine. The moon which represents our emotions, habits, instincts, and intuition is the divine feminine. Not all aspects of the divine feminine will be important in our discussion. The domestic, nurturing, and maternal aspects are beautiful paths if one chooses to follow them. The dark feminine, however, hones into the aspects of femininity that have long been rejected, the aspects that draw us away from the roles society has outlined.
Your moon sign will reveal to you two important things in our discussion of the dark feminine. Firstly it will tell us about your intuition and instinct. It is important to identify the difference between them. Instincts are influence by your emotions as well as your ego and presentation. It draws from our sun sign and connects us to the divine masculine. Intuition comes from wisdom, Clairknowledge, psychic abilities, and shadow knowledge. Secondly, our moon sign tells us which surroundings will have the best influence on our confidence.
In addition to their role as luminaries, the sun and the moon are also considered two of the ten planets used in astrology. The other eight are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Venus and the moon are the only planets with divine feminine association, however, when we identify planets based on aspects of the dark feminine we can also look at Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto placements. Your Uranus placement tells us about the things that bind you or make you feel bound. It reveals a person’s need for freedom, independence, and liberation. It also tells us about areas of your life where you may feel the need for unconventional approaches, or if there is a need for rebellion. It also encourages sexual indulgence. Neptune is a symbol of indulgence, mystery, and the subconscious. It tells us about your influences and your deepest secrets and desires. It also tells us about what mystery is most appealing to you. Pluto is a symbol of death, liberation, and battle. It tells us about the areas of your life where you will experience transformation. Your Pluto reveals the type of leader you will be where you will have the most power and domain over your life, sexual desires, and occult gifts.
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