Awakening Through the Shadows: The Feminine Power to Transmute Violence

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a clarion call for global awareness and transformation. It places the issue of violence against women on the world stage, yet it also compels us to confront the painful truth: despite decades of activism, violence persists. This enduring reality challenges us to explore not just systemic change but also the deeply personal, internal processes required to dismantle the roots of violence.

As a woman who has walked the harrowing path of childhood sexual abuse and rape, I recognise the profound work necessary to transmute violence—both within and in the world. The process begins in the shadows: the shadows of memory, pain, and inherited narratives that keep us in cycles of survival. To lean into these shadows is to reclaim a forgotten power, a voice buried beneath the weight of shame, rage, and fear. This voice, once awakened, holds the key to personal and collective liberation.

When we live in a body conditioned by trauma, survival becomes second nature. We deny, avoid, and shut down as a means of coping. For years, I operated from this space, unconsciously replaying the echoes of my wounded inner child—the girl who was scared, silenced, and intimidated. Yet there came a moment, a breaking point, when the accumulation of suppressed rage, guilt, and shame could no longer be contained. In that implosion, a portal opened—a pathway to liberation.

Reclaiming the Whole Self

True freedom, I have learned, requires the integration of the whole self: the physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual. Too often, we fragment ourselves, rejecting one aspect in favour of another. We deny our spiritual nature in favor of logic, or we suppress our physical needs while over-identifying with emotional pain. Yet healing demands inclusion. To transmute the energy of violence into strength, we must welcome every part of ourselves to the table.

This process calls for courage—a word whose etymology is rooted in cor, the Latin word for heart. It takes heart to face the wounded child within and invite her into a new narrative. It takes heart to transform rage into fuel, fear into wisdom, and pain into power. The divine feminine, in her fullest expression, embodies this alchemy. She is both wild and wise, chaotic and calm. She does not reject the rage born of injustice but channels it into the fire of transformation. Through her, the intimidated becomes the empowered, and the silenced becomes the sovereign.

The Feminine as a Force for Global Change

As women, our internal healing ripples outward. When we transmute our personal pain, we contribute to the disintegration of violence on a larger scale. This is the power of the feminine: to transform the imbalances we see in the world by first addressing them within ourselves. The qualities of the divine feminine—intuition, compassion, creativity, and fierce love—are not just tools for personal healing but also blueprints for collective liberation.

The United Nations' agenda for the 16 Days of Activism reminds us of the importance of systemic action. Yet systemic change is only sustainable when paired with individual transformation. The world needs women who are willing to dive into the depths of their pain, transmute it, and emerge as forces of nature—aligned, authentic, and liberated.

From Survival to Sovereignty

The journey from survival to sovereignty is not linear, nor is it easy. It requires us to confront our shadows, embrace our complexities, and honor our divine essence. But it is through this journey that we access our true power. When we align our spiritual, physical, and emotional selves, we become unstoppable forces for change—not just for ourselves but for the world.

The feminine is rising. She is no longer content to be silenced, intimidated, or fragmented. She is calling for wholeness, for integration, for liberation. And as she rises, she transforms violence into peace, pain into purpose, and imbalance into harmony.

Through our stories, through our courage, and through our unwavering commitment to healing, we embody the change we wish to see. This is the essence of activism—not just fighting against violence but creating a world where its seeds no longer find fertile ground.

#divine feminine