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THE TIKTOK TREND cycle can be exhausting, especially as a woman. Social commentators and influencers in pop culture selling seemingly different ideas of femininity, like weekly market products – traditional women! mafia women! rat girls! subdued! – both online and IRL is, simply put, a lot of. Every niche female genre doesn’t just come with an accompanying playbook indicating one’s tastes fashionfood and lifestyle, but positions itself as a kind of deviation from the last big thing. While some are sillier and more superficial than others – ahem “delulu“And “lucky girl syndrome” – at least the internet has has made us think about what it means to be a woman in 2024, for better or for worse. And while “brat summer” may have run its course, there’s now another trend giving feminine baddie vibes: “dark feminine energy.”
Before you roll your eyes and click, there’s actually a lot more to the concept than just that Wow Wow name suggests. Not only is it an ancient technique explored in Egyptian literature and mythology, but it also promotes female autonomy without the gimmicks. It’s safe to say this isn’t the average microtrend.
Below, we explore the internet’s latest obsession, “dark feminine energy” – delving into everything from celebrity muses to the differences between light feminine energy and dark feminine energy, and how to make it work to your advantage.
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INSTAGRAM | @CHARLI_XCX
What is dark feminine energy?
Although “dark feminine energy” (DFE) is ancient, practiced and noted in early Buddhism, Hinduism and Egyptian scriptures (goddesses such as Isis, Kali and Tara were considered inspirations), the concept has recently reached the TikTok world as a source of feminine energy. authority. Serve both beauty and lifestyle purposes, dark feminine energy is actually more of a mindset than an aesthetic. It represents the dark side of femininity, or in other words, the quirky and intuitive qualities that women have long had to suppress due to societal expectations.
“DFE is a concept that focuses on the opposite of what we typically think of as traditionally feminine characteristics, such as nurturing, gentleness and healing,” clinical psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman shares with BAZAAR Australia.
Dark feminine energy is about embracing your independence, reclaiming your power and trusting your primal instincts – ‘dark’ or otherwise. It’s all part of a dualistic spiritual view known as ‘the divine feminine’, which says that every human being has both a feminine and a masculine side, or in this case a light and a dark side. So why is dark feminine energy making waves online now? Well, it probably has a lot to do with some of the other concepts that have dominated the zeitgeist in recent history, in almost direct opposition to what DFE stands for, by which we refer to light feminine energy.
“It balances the trends of light feminine energy that have been prominent over the past year, from ‘clean girl’ to ‘coquette’ and ‘balletcore,’” says Dr. Zuckerman.
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Painting of the Buddhist goddess Green Tara by Prithvi Man Chitrakari in 1947 
Isis, wife of Osiris and queen of the Elysian fields via The Sacred Books and Early Literature of the East, vol. 2 by Charles Francis Horne
What are the properties of dark feminine energy?
Dark feminine energy is about reclaiming the narrative around traditional views of femininity, such as being gentle, submissive and forgiving. Those who channel DFE are in touch with their wild and untamed side, exhibiting strength, fearlessness, passion, seduction, mystery, self-confidence, and daring behavior.
As one TikTok user describes in a video with over 7.3 million views at the time of writing: “You know your worth, and you know what you are willing to tolerate in your life and what you are not willing to tolerate in your life.” She continues to build on the topic relationships while practicing DFE: “When you talk to someone, your goal is not to get someone to like you. Your goal is to be yourself, be authentic and make them respect you.”
What is the difference between light feminine energy and dark feminine energy?
Although both are feminine energies, ‘light feminine energy’ (LFE) is on the opposite end of the spectrum. It is often associated with qualities such as nurturing, warmth, radiance and calmness – more stereotypical ideas of femininity, which prioritize selflessness and caring.
Pop culture references that come to mind when comparing the two concepts include The Stepford WomanS. The 2004 film adaptation sees Nicole Kidman as Joanna Eberhart grows from a dynamic and fearless television executive, with a heavy rotation of dark ‘fits and power suits’ (DFE) – to a slick and polished Connecticut housewife, answering to her husband’s beck and call (LFE). As her husband Walter Kresby (Matthew Broderick) tells her about wearing more feminine clothes: “You heard me. Only powerful, neurotic, castrating, career bitches from Manhattan wear black. Is that what you want to become?”
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Nicole Kidman enters The Stepford Women | PARAMOUNT PHOTOS 
On the more femme fatale side of things there is Rosamund Snoek as the vengeful and calculating Amy Dunne Gone girlwho ends up in a vengeful spiral after pretending to be slightly feminine for too long. “’Cool girl.’ Men use that all the time, don’t they? As their defining compliment: “She’s a cool girl.” Cool girl is hot. Cool girl is a game. Cool girl is fun. Cool girl never gets mad at her man. She just laughs in a grumpy, loving way…’ Amy famously says.
However, it is important to note that one is not necessarily better than the other – and the examples above are largely extreme examples. To live a full life, a balance between LFE and DFE is recommended, but ultimately it is a person’s decision how he or she wants to express themselves.
“DFE emphasizes the need for women to lean in all aspects of their femininity without being apologetic. It’s about fully accepting yourself,” says clinical psychologist Dr. Jaime Zuckerman.
How to tap into your dark feminine energy
If you want to get in touch with your dark feminine energy, introspective activities are advised. Think meditation, diary writingcreative hobbies – and the time you spend in them naturefor grounding purposes, and prioritize rest dayssays Dr. Jaime Zuckerman.
It’s also important to practice setting boundaries. Something as simple as turning off after-hours work notifications says to yourself and the world: my personal time is importantS. Likewise, if a date or partner shows some unreliability – in other words, deviates from a date at the last minute – make alternate plans with another friend, or take yourself out on a date. solo date – why not?
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Sabrina Carpenter and Jenna Ortega behind the scenes of the “Taste” music video | INSTAGRAM / @SABRINACARPENTER
Which celebrities have dark feminine energy?
As mentioned, with most internet trends – whether fleeting as a micro-trend or something with age-old roots like dark feminine energy – there are unofficial dress codes and muses that help set the mood. Dark feminine energy is about strengthening your sharp and elusive side – think lofty gothic or rockstar chic – with grungy or sensual looks, often suitable for femme fatales.
Those on the DFE mood board include everyone from Winona RyderMonica Bellucci and Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (as well as their real selves), to Megan Fox in Jennifer’s body, Rooney Mara in Girl with the dragon tattoo And Kaya Scodelario as Effy Stonem in the British coming-of-age series Hides. As for real life inspiration, there is a singer Chappell Roan, Euphoria actor Alexa Demie, model Gabriellasinger Charli XCX, and the 90s to early 90s era Angelina Jolie.
Jolie is touted not only as a modern pioneer of dark feminine energy, but also as a prime example of someone who later learned to expertly balance DFE and LFE. Not only is she a mother and humanitarian, but she is someone who tells it like it is and is comfortable with her independence and sexuality.
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GETTY IMAGES 
INSTAGRAM / @MONICABELLUCCIOFFICIAL 
Effy Stonem (Kaya Scodelario). Hides | E4
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