The Woman Warrior
A warrior shakti moves through me—a force ignited by a fight for justice, equality, and values that are woven into my being. This vira, or warrior shakti, can only be born from deep compassion and a re-evaluation of truth. It is then that one becomes empowered with resilience and the discernment to distinguish mindful, righteous action from harm.
This vira shakti or women warrior energy serves as a protector and guide for others, embodying an innate ability to trust, lead, and inspire—not for personal gain, but out of love. It requires sacrifice, a relinquishing of one’s own needs at times, because the inner conviction and calling for truth in humanity are so profound that one is gifted the strength to make these sacrifices.
Sacrifice manifests in intricate and subtle ways: holding back a reactive tongue, resisting the urge to speak unnecessarily, or setting aside one’s own emotional needs to nurture those who are traumatized. The women warrior knows that in giving, one receives. It may mean sacrificing wealth and material gains to serve the marginalized and underserved. The warrior understands the difference between needs and cravings.
The path of the warrior is often a lonely one. Courage takes them away from the common road, compelling them to seek truth and speak out against the masses. Yet even the woman warrior must sometimes collapse, allowing herself to cry in exhaustion. Without embracing her own softness and humanness, her wounds cannot heal.
The woman warrior experiences the world differently, feels it differently, and responds to conflict in a way that is uniquely her own. Her wisdom is refined, and her sensitivity and patience allow her to avoid impulsive reactions. These qualities give her the intelligence to fight with clarity and without ego. Her softness allows her to feel empathy even in battle, and her vulnerability brings a rare wisdom that heals broken hearts. She weeps with the common folk and becomes an undercurrent of quiet yet powerful change.
Yet she gives selflessly, often finding herself exhausted at the end of the day. There are moments when she trembles with fatigue, her spirit stretched thin. No man can fully hold her or ground her, for he cannot truly understand the depth of her weariness. His strength is born of physical power, while hers emerges from vulnerability and sensitivity.
Only grace—God’s grace—can hold such a woman warrior and nourish her back to life. From her surrender, her power is reborn, a strength that defies the understanding of the masculine. This warrior shakti is a gift to every woman, though many have yet to access it, overshadowed as it is by the prevailing dominance of the masculine.
