There are words we overuse until they lose their magic, as if the flame within them dims until it extinguishes. In recent years, words like “sacred” and “spiritual” have lost their significance and spark.

And then there are words that suffer a different fate—words that never quite ignite because the dominant culture isn’t ready for, or doesn’t tend to, the consciousness they carry. I wish to resurrect one of these words—“medial”—because it is a gateway to knowing and honoring the mystical feminine.

In 1948, Toni Wolff, a Jungian analyst, designated “the medial woman” as one of four underlying archetypes of the female psyche. A key characteristic of the medial is her tendency to respond to that which is unspoken, unnamed, or as of yet unknown. The medial has her finger on the pulse of that which is trying to come into consciousness. Perhaps you have experienced this with a healer who says aloud something you have just begun to ponder in the quietest corner of your inner Self.

The word “medial” is defined as “the middle,” and its root meaning is “occupying a middle position, existing between two extremes.” The medial feminine stands with one foot in the linear, rational world and one foot in the invisible, subtle realms of being. She is deeply psychic and intuitive; she listens to dreams and hones her prayers; she is at home in the woods and at the edge of the sea; synchronicities find her through song lyrics, license plates, and castaway objects; she knows when death, displacement, and/or illness is on its way; she spots the hawk, the dolphin, and the snake before others do; she hungers for artistic expression and in-depth connection.

Sometimes the medial feminine has difficulty discerning what is hers and what belongs to the energies of others that have permeated her. Sometimes the thoughts and moods of others seep into her and take up residence. This is different from empathy; it is more like being a channel. I remember the first time I woke up to this phenomenon: I had just shared a meal with a male friend, and walking home afterward I was caught in a loop of thoughts that I suddenly realized were not my own—I recognized that they were his. This was different from pondering things he had said; it was like being inside his head and hearing his thoughts firsthand. It can be challenging for the medial to make sense of what she is receiving because the thoughts and emotions she is exposed to can seem to be her own, and yet they are not. The medial needs substantial alone time, especially in nature, so she can process all that she has received and be returned to clear knowing.

The natural tongue of the feminine psyche is symbol and metaphor. Since the medial feminine often soaks up that which is not yet conscious, it is vital that she be attuned to this dialect of the soul. In ancient times, priestesses were initiated to interpret the oracles and premonitions that were received at sacred sites. These women were revered for their ability to translate messages from the otherworld. Sadly, this art became devalued and nearly lost. Our impatient, technically dependent world promotes “googling” and dream dictionaries over the practices of developing “soft eyes,” “inner ears,” and “subtle knowing.” Making art is one way for the medial feminine to reclaim a connection to symbol and metaphor. Creative expression allows messages from the otherworld a vital avenue for revealing themselves. I often have to push my clients to draw. It is as if we have relegated art to “artists.” But cave drawings stand as testimony to the innate impulse within a human being to create. Whenever I encounter a drawing of mine or a client’s—whether it is a stick figure or a swirl of lines—I feel love shining forth. When I was a student in Jean Houston’s Mystery School, she used to warn us: “Don’t bore the gods.” When we engage in creative expression, we invoke the curiosity and interest of the gods. This is why I feel love emanating from the art of my clients—the blessing of the gods is present.

The medial feminine understands knowing can’t be rushed. Germination and incubation are innate to her process. I have had prophetic dreams that took seven years to come to fruition. Patience, receptivity, curiosity, and surrender become art forms along the path of the medial. The questions she asks herself are these: What is asked of me now? Where am I drawn? What is reaching for me?

Often what matters most is to be true to the practices that keep the medial attuned to the realms she is resonant with. Those practices can differ from person to person, but they involve prayer, stillness, nature immersions, rituals, and the creative arts. These touchstones are tethered to the eternal and thus serve to guide the medial home.

Subscribe now