Embracing Spiritual Friendships: The Power of Supporting Women
- oakunderthemoon
- Jan 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 18
In a world focused on personal success and achievement, the value of supportive friendships for women is paramount. These relationships, rooted in trust and understanding, offer connection, empathy, and nurturing. While society often praises independence, true spiritual friendships thrive on mutual support, compassion, and growth.
The Origins of Feminine and Masculine Energy in Human Evolution
Anthropologically, masculine and feminine energies evolved to fulfill distinct roles within early human societies. Masculine energy, which thrives on competition and conquest, developed as a means of survival—driving individuals to compete for resources, status, and mates. This competitive drive aligns with masculine energy traits of achievement and dominance, qualities that served men as protectors and hunters in ancient societies.
In contrast, feminine energy found its strength in community, nurturing, and collective survival. Early human communities depended on the bonding of women, who would often share resources, raise children together, and provide mutual support. This primal, nurturing energy fostered a collective agreement, where women supported and uplifted one another. Living closely together, women’s rhythms even synchronized, creating a shared cycle that deepened their intuitive bonds and cultivated a compassionate, connected energy.
Today, when competitive energy permeates female friendships, it disrupts this natural rhythm of feminine connection, replacing harmony with rivalry. While masculine qualities like competition can be valuable in certain contexts, when they dominate female friendships, they create disharmony and can even be toxic, eroding the trust and mutual support that are essential to heart -centered, healthy relationships.
Related: The Law of Divine Oneness
What Is a Spiritual or Healthy Friendship?
A spiritual friendship is a relationship rooted in mutual growth, compassion, and sensitivity to each other’s hearts. In spiritual friendships, both people prioritize each other’s growth and well-being, fostering an environment of support and love. These friendships go beyond superficial exchanges and involve a genuine interest in one another’s journey. They are marked by:
Growth Mindset: Each person is committed to personal evolution and supports the other in their journey.
Sensitivity and Compassion: Spiritual friends are mindful of each other’s feelings, acting with care and sensitivity to uplift rather than harm.
Reciprocal Support: There’s a balance of give and take, where both friends offer and receive support equally.
Honesty with Love: Sometimes, spiritual friendships involve having honest conversations that may be challenging but are delivered with kindness and care.
Rooting for You and Having Your Back: A true spiritual friend genuinely wants what’s best for you. They’re rooting for you, thinking about how their actions impact you, and striving to show up with a “we” mentality rather than “me.”
Non Attachment: Spiritual friends allow for independence, understanding that each person is on their unique path. They're supportive without clinging, knowing that true connection comes from freedom rather than dependency.
Space for Vulnerability: In a spiritual friendship, there's room to process emotions, face insecurities, and work through traumas without fear of judgment. It's a safe space for vulnerability, where both friends can explore parts of themselves they may hide fom others.
Meaningful Conversations: Spiritual friends can discuss topics like purpose, intuition, healing, and personal challenges without hesitation. They explore life's mysteries and complexities together.
Spiritual friendships are a powerful source of encouragement and alignment. When rooted in these qualities, they become a foundation for personal and spiritual growth, creating an environment where each friend can feel safe, seen, and genuinely supported.
Related: Rationality vs. Emotion
Related: How to Practice Healthy Detachment
Signs of a Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendship
In today’s world, where competitive mindsets can easily bleed into relationships, it’s important to recognize the qualities that make a friendship either nourishing or draining. Here are some signs to look for:
Competitive Behavior: A friendship shouldn’t feel like a contest. If interactions are often about comparison or one-upmanship, it may indicate a lack of authenticity and mutual support.
Jealousy and Comparison: Constantly comparing achievements, appearances, or relationships in a way that fosters jealousy rather than celebrating each other's success.
Critical Attitude: A friend who is often critical, focusing on flaws rather than strengths, can create a negative environment. This criticism may even extend to superficial judgments, undermining self-esteem rather than building it.
One-Sided Interactions: In a reciprocal friendship, both people’s needs and experiences are valued. If you notice the friendship constantly centers on the other person’s issues or achievements, leaving little room for your own experiences, it may be time to assess whether the friendship is genuinely mutual.
Lack of Empathy: Dismissing, Invalidating, or ignoring your emotions or experiences.
Emotional Drain: Leaving you feeling emotionally exhausted or anxious more often than not after spending time together. This may show up in your body before your mind understands it with feelings like nervousness, lack of peace, adrenaline, or jitters.
Manipulation or Control: Subtle or overt attempts to control your choices. action, time, or what you choose to share with them.
Self-Centeredness: Rarely taking an interest in your life, goals, or struggles, making every interaction revolve around them.
Some things may seem obvious but can be deceiving. Our perception is influenced by our desire for love and connection, leading us to overlook reality. These factors can gradually have a subtle negative impact over time, like a million paper cuts.
The Science of Close Friendships
Interestingly, research suggests that humans can only maintain a limited number of close friendships at a time. Anthropologist Robin Dunbar, known for “Dunbar’s Number,” posits that humans are generally capable of maintaining about five close, meaningful relationships. This includes family, close friends, and partners. As social beings, our cognitive and emotional resources can only stretch so far, making it challenging to sustain numerous intimate connections.
If you notice signs of imbalance in a friendship, consider redirecting your energy. By letting go of friendships that no longer serve your well-being, you make space for new connections that align with your values, energy, and needs.
Conclusion: The Essential Role of Supporting Women Through Female Friendships
In a world that sometimes encourages rivalry, embracing spiritual friendships allows us to reconnect with our innate, nurturing energy. These friendships are a powerful source of strength, reflection, and affirmation, helping us see ourselves more clearly through the loving mirror of trusted friends. They are spaces for emotional release, self-reflection, and the affirmation of our worth, values, and unique journeys.
Women thrive in supportive communities. While masculine energy is more geared toward independence, feminine energy flourishes in connection and collective support. True friendships affirm our self-concept, self-worth, and self-love. When we have friends who root for us, celebrate our successes, and consider what’s best for us, we are lifted into a deeper sense of self-belief and confidence.
Let’s choose to cultivate friendships that honor this deep, ancient bond between women— These friendships remind us that we are not alone on our journey and that together, we can reach our fullest potential.
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