Holistic Care: The Balance of Feminine and Masculine Energy in Healthcare

In this issue, I want to recognize that holistic care, at its core, is about the balance between feminine and masculine energy within healthcare systems. I was deeply moved by the passing of Dr. Gladys McGarey, often referred to as the mother of holistic medicine. Her legacy reflects not just scientific advancement, but a profound understanding of the human spirit. Dr. McGarey was humble, as every great scientist should be, and lived as the result of her own hypothesis. She believed that love, a key component of feminine energy, was tragically overlooked in modern medicine, to the detriment of human well-being.

In one of her podcasts, she spoke about hugging her patients, offering them not only her medical expertise but also her love and reassurance. That kind of care is now rare, and I believe today’s healthcare systems are paying the price for the lack of feminine energy within them.

Whether for-profit, nonprofit, or government-sponsored, healthcare should share a common goal: to care for the population. Yet, here in the United States, I am deeply disturbed by how ineffective our use of resources is. Just take a moment to look up the Google reviews of any major hospital system or healthcare facility in your area. You'll notice a troubling trend: low ratings, often below three stars. I don’t know about you, but I live by reviews.

I love to travel and enjoy food, and our family has learned from experience, that reviews are everything. Price or location does not always correlate with quality, but reviews tell the real story. I’d choose a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with thousands of 4.7-star reviews over a fancy, overpriced establishment with mediocre ratings any day. Yet, in healthcare, we’re lucky to find a facility with even 3.5 stars. It’s an absolute embarrassment, considering that healthcare is something we need—not a luxury, like a restaurant or a hotel.

Now, I know there are unreasonable patients out there, and not every low review reflects poor service. But if the community is dissatisfied, employees are unhappy, and healthcare systems are spending more on marketing just to bring people in, who will stop to examine the model? The reviews are a reflection of a system out of balance, heavily skewed toward masculine energy, where rules, regulations, and numbers dominate and the human element—the feminine energy—is neglected.

A healthcare system balanced with feminine energy would allocate resources in ways that make the community feel noticed, supported, and loved. I was once part of a team organizing a community event where many healthcare staff volunteered to help. People from every level—CNOs, providers—expressed interest in continuing these efforts. Yet, after the event, none of them followed through. The system’s focus was on the numbers, not the people.

At a healthcare marketing event I attended, a large system was manipulating social media to promote their services. To me, this reflects a masculine energy approach—focused on control, competition, and results. But systems that embrace feminine energy often use fewer resources and have a far greater impact.

Imagine a system that invests in getting to know its people—nurturing the staff who work there and spotlighting their contributions. These people belong to families, churches, and communities, and positive word-of-mouth can spread like wildfire, elevating the reputation of the facility. The feminine energy nurtures from within, building trust and relationships.

Think about the impact of recognizing a team member who is beloved in their community—not in some superficial way, but through genuine acts of service and kindness. That kind of recognition, that kind of authenticity, spreads. People feel seen, appreciated, and cared for. When employees and communities are listened to and supported, the entire organization's position becomes more positive.

Feminine energy is authentic and real—it doesn’t hide behind titles or positions. It transforms tense situations into moments of gratitude and appreciation. It fosters collaboration, not competition, and honors the power dynamics in teams, using each member's strengths to create collective satisfaction. Feminine energy isn’t about having your way or striving for identical outcomes; it’s about forging meaningful relationships that allow everyone to feel accomplished and fulfilled.

In my next article, I will discuss the fascinating parallels between feminine energy and money, and how nurses can harness that energy in their personal and professional lives.

Warmly, Kasey Pacheco