Fully Standing in Your Light: A Sacred Journey of Integration
In the sacred stillness of Loft in Borsele—a former church now a sanctuary for transformation—seventeen courageous women gathered for our annual retreat, “Pajama Party for the Soul.” Our theme, “Fully Standing in Your Light,” was not merely a call but a soul’s summons to unveil the deepest truths within.
We laughed, danced with elemental forces, shed tears, and channeled ancestral wisdom. In this sacred space, we allowed what was hidden to emerge, not with drama, but with the serene clarity of truth.
The Heroine’s Journey: An Inner Odyssey
While Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey charts the external quest for achievement, Maureen Murdock’s Heroine’s Journey invites us inward—to heal, integrate, and reclaim the fragmented aspects of our being. It is a path of descending into the depths to rise anew, whole and radiant.
Phases of the Heroine’s Journey:
Separation from the Feminine: Rejecting traditional feminine qualities to fit into a patriarchal mold.
Identification with the Masculine: Embracing logic, independence, and achievement as primary values.
Spiritual Death or Crisis: Facing internal emptiness despite external success.
Descent and Encounter with the Feminine: Reconnecting with suppressed emotions and feminine wisdom.
Healing the Mother-Daughter Wound: Reconciling with maternal lineage and feminine aspects.
Integration of Masculine and Feminine: Balancing action with receptivity, intellect with intuition.
Wholeness and Empowerment: Embracing a fully integrated self, authentic and whole.
Throughout our retreat, we delved into reflective inquiries:
What parts of ourselves have we abandoned for acceptance?
Where have we over-identified with achievement?
What truths have we suppressed that now seek expression?
How can we embody both softness and strength?
Who are we when we no longer need to prove ourselves?
Integration: The Sacred Union Within
The Heroine’s Journey culminates in the sacred marriage of the feminine and masculine within. It is the alchemical process of uniting intuition with action, compassion with clarity. In this union, we find our center—a place of profound peace and authentic power.
As we reflect on this transformative journey, a question arises: How might this path of integration serve men? Not as a replication, but as an authentic journey toward wholeness, inviting the masculine to embrace vulnerability, intuition, and emotional depth.
May we all—regardless of gender—embark on this sacred journey inward, embracing all facets of our being, and emerge fully standing in our light.
With love and gratitude,
Andrea
About the Author
Lead True Global Leader Andrea Henning’s vision is that when people discover their authenticity and dare to follow their bliss they are happier and more successful in their lives while serving as an inspiration to their communities.
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