“My heart only ever had one thought, one want. One need. Despite all, in spite of all...All my heart has ever wanted
is you.” ― Stephanie Laurens
WEEK eleven: helping vs saving (the benefits of needing)
INTENTION
Learning that needing expands us: in vulnerability and in physical space, is important. This week we will discuss the concept of needing in partnership (and beyond) and how to effectively ask for what we need as well as understanding the needs of the partnership and men. We will also touch on the wisdom from Alison about men’s three lists regarding what they provide: the things they can provide, the things they cannot provide and the things they will not provide. Taking these things into consideration when expressing our needs and/or asking for help is vital for respecting a man/the masculine. The intention this week is also to touch on trust and respect as it applies to putting ourselves in need and asking with a man/the masculine. My intention is to inspire you to open your capacity to receive this week by getting curious about what you could ask for and what you need right now.
daily practice for this week:
Being In Need: ASKING - The practice this week is simple, yet profound. The first part of this practice is a journaling practice, I invite you to keep a journal of asking or a journal of needs. This first step helps you to feel into the asking and naming the exact needs you have in this moment. The second part of this practice is to put yourself in the energy of needing as often as possible, to ask for what you need (in any given moment) and then to open your self to receive.
BONUS: The “advanced yoga pose” of this practice is to add the layer of considering your capacity to receive right now and opening beyond it as wide as you can. To enter into this practice: name one need you have that you would “NEVER” ask a man for; consider why this asking feels like a “never” for you. Now imagine asking for this need, what does this feel like? Do you have the capacity in your body, your heart, your mind, your nervous system to ask, and then to receive? Why or why not? (Be brave this week and ask for this exact need.)
where will you place your devotion this week?
“There is no journey of the Feminine without devotion.” Each week I will be asking you to share where you will be placing your devotion for the week. You have three choices: Your Higher Self, on God/The Divine (as you call it), or on The Masculine.
felt sense for the week:
Each week we will focus our attention on the practice of allowing ourselves to be felt. For many of us this practice includes learning to articulate how we feel in any given moment, and learning to trust our bodies to tell us how we feel, and having the courage to take action (mas)/or move (fem) from here. The very first step to this forever practice is allowing ourselves to FEEL, so that we can feel it and trust it for ourselves. Be prepared to enter our circle this week by sharing how you are arriving, in a felt sense.
This week I invite you to FEEL: Needing, Vulnerable, Open, Trusting + Truth
altar + tools:
Each week I will be inviting you to consider the ways you incorporate the Feminine element of “the sacred” into your life; this is completely, uniquely YOUR way. I will be sharing things each week to inspire you, please find your own ways to deepen in here and I hope that you will share these during our journey so that we may be inspired by you and your practices.
This week I invite you to BE CURIOUS ABOUT:
Your idea of “an altar” and if you feel inspired, please create an altar that will represent this full journey. If you already have an altar, please consider placing something on it that represents your focus for this week.
Consider the “tools” you have to practice and/or to add “the sacred” into your life: candles, rituals, ceremonies, oils, prayers, affirmations, tinctures, cards, crystals… (If this is something you need guidance with please let me know and we can muse together on our Friday call.)
questions for contemplation + discussion
On a scale of 1-5 (5 being fully open) how is your “needing” today?
On the same scale, rate your willingness/comfort level with being vulnerable and your capacity to open to what you need and receive it from a man.
Can you share 3-5 things you “need” right now? (Create a Need Practice this week and practice naming your needs.)
Be prepared to share a time when you needed to be saved; be specific, what was the outcome?
What “help” do you need right now from women? What help do you need right now from men?
Are you able to ask for help when you need it? What needs to happen to improve this?
Practice asking for help from a man that you trust this week; what is the outcome?
Mirror Talk Practice this week: “I NEED…”