The Prophecy of the Eagle

This Organization is Bringing Shakti Leadership into Healthcare. Read more!

May 21, 2024

Deep within Native American teachings lies a prophecy passed down through generations called the prophecy of the eagle. I learned about it from our May book pick. It compares humanity’s journey to that of a bird. This bird represents us. For ages, we’ve flown with just one wing – the masculine. Meanwhile, the feminine wing, with its nurturing essence, has been largely ignored, held back by societal norms. This imbalance, the prophecy says, has led us to circle endlessly, filled with violence and conflict.

But as we stand on the brink of a new era, the prophecy offers hope. It predicts the awakening of the feminine wing, ushering in an age where both masculine and feminine energies will collaborate. With both wings fully spread, humanity will soar, avoiding the endless circles of the past.

This prophecy does a beautiful job of summing up Shakti leadership, a style of leadership that blends masculine and feminine energies.

As I think about this prophecy, I see its relevance today. For far too long, we’ve leaned heavily on qualities like clarity, assertiveness, discipline, structure, and strength – qualities deemed masculine by the book. In isolation, these traits aren’t inherently negative. In fact, they can be quite beneficial. However, when we overemphasize them without balancing them with the feminine qualities, they can morph into aggression, cruelty, insensitivity, power-hunger, and spiritual emptiness. These traits have become deeply ingrained within our societal systems and leadership models, manifesting in certain leaders and woven into the fabric of our systems and society.

But there are bright spots amidst this. People like my cousin Anu and her friend Laura are making a difference. They started Introspective Spaces, a place for women in the healthcare sector to rest and heal. They observed how healthcare systems were burdening healthcare workers, causing them significant moral distress as they grappled with heavy decisions regarding their own well-being and that of their patients. These burdens stemmed from the glaring gaps present within the healthcare infrastructure and the unhealthy manifestations of masculine leadership.

In response, Anu and Laura have created a sanctuary for women to convene and find solace amidst the burdens imposed by these larger systems. Introspective Spaces demonstrates Shakti leadership in action. They acknowledge the fundamental goals of healthcare workers – to provide care under often limiting circumstances, reflecting masculine leadership traits – but also foster opportunities for rest, reflection, and imaginative solutions, embodying the compassionate and creative aspects of feminine leadership. In doing so, they beautifully demonstrate the harmonious integration of these two leadership qualities.

When we embrace Shakti leadership, we tackle life’s challenges holistically. We embrace both goal achievement and compassionate care for others. Let’s remember the Native American prophecy. It teaches us to achieve balance – striving for success while nurturing the well-being of both ourselves and those around us.