**Adapted from "My Story" in The Agentic Feminine's Sisterhood of Wilding Women (coming soon):

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In the months before the revelation of my North Star, I had been listening to FIERCE SELF-COMPASSION by Dr. Kristin Neff on audiobook. I have the hardcopy now and while, I would never have a mandatory reading list for women rewilding -- if I did... this would be on it bc it is *hella* eye-opening:

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In most cultures, females are considered 'communal' and males 'agentic.' These stereotypes map closely to the qualities of yin tenderness and yang fierceness. Women are seen as sensitive, warm, cooperative, and concerned with the welfare of others, whereas men are seen as strong, aggressive, goal-oriented, and independent.

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Okay. "Agentic"... Oooh, I liked that word. I like the word "agency" to connote power TO-DO,as opposed to power OVER. And I like it a helluva a lot better than "masculine" to effectively communicate what I'm describing: A WOMAN WHO HAS THE POWER TO DO WHATEVER THE FUCK SHE WANTS TO DO.

And "communal" was no good bc... just blech. 

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I wanted women to be proud of a femininity that was -- as Dr. Neff described it -- in harmony or well-balanced with masculinity. A feminism that wasn't OVERLY communal. 

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A femininity that could do shit and kick ass and honor itself. A sacred feminine that was... agentic.

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Ba-da-bing, you see where I'm going with this. "Agentic" needs to be a word that rolls off all our lips on the regular. I don't know if Dr. Neff originated the term "agentic," but she gets my credit bc she gave me so many awakenings. Much respect.