I honor your sovereignty.

Full stop. If no one has ever said that to you, let me say it again.

I honor and respect your sacred sovereignty.  

 

This message came forward inside of me, strong and powerful! It’s become the context in which I hold both other women and myself, a place of deep acceptance that makes space for both of us to be more of who we are.

At first, sovereignty felt like a swirling mix of both freedom and resistance. There was freedom to push back against all the unfair constraints I perceived. And there was also resistance to the implication that I would have power over others.

Both of these were very wise responses!

Sovereignty is often used in the context of power-over, referring to those who have reigned over others—kings, queens, and royals with titles and authority. This was where I felt resistance because, historically, this context could imply meeting one’s desires at the expense of others who have less power (inner or outer). Stepping into that as an identity wasn’t aligned with what I was feeling.

But I was curious, and when I looked further into the meaning of sovereignty, I understood why it was showing up for me, especially with women. Here’s what I discovered.

By definition, sovereign nations have supreme authority inwardly and outwardly. They have independent authority to govern themselves. They negotiate and enter into relationships with other nations in the form of treaties and agreements. They have authority to make choices on their own behalf that are beneficial for them in the larger world.

Autonomous organizations and nations also have freedom to rule themselves. Their members or citizens decide what standards to live by, and they have control over laws that affect their daily lives. However this autonomy is legally granted to them by another authority. A source outside of the organization or nation, usually a sovereign nation, effectively gives them permission to self-govern.

They have permission to be autonomous.

Can you feel this in your body?

As women, how often do we, consciously or unconsciously, look for permission before we move forward? Before we change our mind? Before we say what we want to say? Before we start a new hobby, or career? It might be a friend whose permission we subtly seek in one situation, our partner in another, and a leader we trust in another.

By midlife, there are likely areas where you have well-developed skills, where you feel clarity and confidence and no longer want permission. This is a great reference point for what it feels like to be in sacred sovereignty.

To clarify… checking in with people you love to try and understand how you can work together for the best outcome for everyone involved is a healthy practice of respect. It honors the sovereignty of both people. Checking in becomes unhealthy when it leads to denying a true need if permission isn’t received or perceived.

Self sovereignty is sacred. It’s between you and Source, and it is always loving and nourishing for you. No one else has access to it. So no one can validate it. It is power-within, and it is the foundation of power-with-others. Power-over is completely out of integrity in this system.

So my integrity compels me to honor your sacred sovereignty, along with my own.

 

Reflection Questions:

As always, there are no right answers here. Trust that what comes forward is for your growth.

I honor and respect your sacred sovereignty.

• What do you feel when you hear this?
• What does this mean to you? Or mean for you? (“for” meaning in your favor)
• When you sense into honoring your sovereignty, what might be different?  And what might be the same?
• When you honor another’s sovereignty, what could be different?
• When women come together honoring both their own and each other’s sovereignty, what would be different?

Note: I honor sovereignty for all humans. And there is a unique way that women, almost across the board, have been conditioned to seek permission outside of themselves, even for the smallest things. This article is written to speak to that.     

 

If you’re interested in exploring what it’s like to honor your sacred sovereignty, schedule your free clarity call with me here. FREE Clarity Call

 

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