Trish Cooney Unleashes the Feminine Power

Although the contemporary world witnesses the growing power of women, many of us continue to subordinate ourselves to men subconsciously. Posters and magazine adverts of slim figures challenge our values and judgements. Is it our will to have a perfect body? Or is it only a desire to please our opposite sex? As you desperately chase your perfect silhouette, are you also taking care of your inner feminine self?

Trish Cooney, a Shamanic Practitioner and Ceremonialist, invites us to go back and understand our feminine power while elucidating the change of women’s statuses over the passage of time and course of history.

“In older days, traditional societies recognized women’s power in their connections with nature, spirits and ancestors,” says Cooney. “The natural flow of a woman’s cycle allowed a deep, magical connection with the moon and the earth. When women bled, they returned to mother earth and thanked her for the gifts of intuition and all-knowing power they received. It was a time when they went into powerful silence and sought for answers. And men felt comfortable with the natural rhythm and power that women possessed.

“Then with the erection of the church, masculine power came into dominance and feminine power was bruised and considered unorthodox. Next came the three waves of feminism, and now is the perfect time when we revive a balance between the masculine and the feminine.”

2012 is a fantastic time when the Earth will experience a dramatic shift in energy, entering into a new phase. Financial crisis is just part of nature’s scheme. Trish reminded us that out of chaos comes creation. Prior to that, a clear-out from the established norms is necessary. It is the best time for us to stop searching on the outside but to look within. Deep in our DNA lies a feminine seed, waiting to bloom.

“Understand your feminine power,” urges Cooney. “Learn how to be in tune with your body. Respect yourself and your strength. Honour who and what we are as women. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Recognize and embrace that energy. Say thanks to what is given. This is a way to look at your life and see yourself with a new definition.

“Allow it. Flow with it. Women are powerful because we have the ability to create life. While you are thinking and analyzing day-to-day situations, try also to give way to your feelings, intuition, heart and belly. Connect with the Source. Our inner knowing will take us to what we need to learn and experience. Very often we feel painful because we try to fight against it.”

Life is a journey. During the process we encounter different significant stages. Instead of running away from them, we listen. We are no longer the fool, standing at the threshold, ready to embark, but a wise human being, embracing the knowledge and experiences that have made us strong.

Traditional societies perform four rites of passage for women. The first one is a celebration of the first blood when a girl gets her period. The second passage marks the time when a girl becomes a young woman. The third is initiated by her menopause and finally there is the wise elder. In Shamanic tradition, ceremony is seen as a central part to invoke changes in one’s life. This is something that Cooney wants to revive in the modern world.

Some people deem that perfection can’t be realized on earth. However, to Cooney, everybody is perfect. “Self-nurtured, an ideal woman creates a balance between the masculine and the feminine. She is courageous enough to respect her intuition and the messages she receives. She’s a good listener, yet she also sets up boundaries, so that she will not be overly giving, but rejuvenates and saves enough energy to give when needed. Although some women get lost on their path, it is possible for them to find the way again. Know that everybody has something to offer. Feel free to laugh and cry, just allow yourself to be real and to live your truth. This is what I coin as a beautiful life.”

We are encouraged to listen to our own heart. However, how are we going to tell the difference between our heart’s whisper from a mind’s cry? If you are unsure about your heart’s murmur, Cooney suggests a simple and effective technique. “Recall from memory a scenario that feels good. Go to that place and observe how you feel. Then go to a dire circumstance and watch how your body reacts. Make these the foundation. Later when you are to make a decision, test it with this foundation and you will get a crystal clear inner knowing of what feels right to do.”

Cooney’s Native American name is Owl’s Cry. Like the animal totem, she’s been able to see in many directions in the dark. This also connotes fertility, magic and mystery. To no surprise, Cooney is also associated with other bird totems such as eagle, hawk and humming bird. This probably explains why she does much sound work during her sessions, such as drumming and chanting on top of other techniques and healing tools, including Bowen, Kinesiology, Reflexology, colour, stones and various vibrational essences.

Joanna Lai

Trish Cooney resides in West Australia and will be in Hong Kong from November 18 to December 2. Click here to see her schedule.