The Principle of Gender: Balance

The hermetic principle of gender. No, this isn’t a lecture on modern social norms or how to have a polite discussion about pronouns. This is Hermeticism, people. The principle of gender teaches us that gender is in everything. Not just in people, but in the very fabric of the universe. Yep, everything you see, touch, or even think about has both masculine and feminine energy. We’re not just talking about humans here—nature, the cosmos, magic, all of it. It’s like a cosmic dance where the feminine draws, the masculine releases, and the mind aims.

When I teach my coven—or any “baby witches” (yes, I’ve got a soft spot for the newbies)—I tell them to think of witchcraft like a bow. I know, I know, you’re wondering how a bow fits into all this. Stay with me. Here’s the deal: feminine energy is like drawing back the string, gathering power. You’re collecting and building up energy, holding it all in. Then, the masculine energy is the moment you release the arrow—bam! You’ve unleashed that power into the world. But here’s the kicker: the mind, that little mental wizardry we’ve all got, is what aims the damn arrow. It focuses the energy. Without the principle of gender, both masculine and feminine energy, that bow is utterly useless. Aim all you want, draw all the power you want, but if you don’t release it, what’s the point?

So, let’s get real here. Magic is all about balance. Feminine energy collects and gestates power, while masculine energy is the release. You need both to make your spells work, not just wish for things. You need to draw in the energy, focus it, and then release it. This cycle is always balancing energy out.

The Principle of Gender: Even Black Holes, Seriously

You didn’t think I was kidding when I said gender energy is in everything, did you? No, I’m not just talking about your internal yin and yang. I’m talking about how the principle of gender operates throughout the universe, whether you’re casting spells or staring up at the stars. Even black holes (yep, those mysterious cosmic voids) are perfect examples of the dance between feminine and masculine energies.

Here’s the deal: a black hole’s core draws in energy like a feminine force, sucking up everything in its vicinity. Light, matter, even time—it’s all pulled in, gestated, and collected by this cosmic force. That’s feminine energy at work. However, every once in a while, the black hole’s poles “burp” (yes, that’s the technical term) and unleash a massive amount of destructive energy. This is masculine energy in its most violent, all-out release. Then—just like the cycles in your magical practice—the whole thing starts again. The black hole draws in more power, stores it up, and then unleashes once more.

So, next time you’re stargazing or casually wondering how your life works, think about black holes. When it comes to the principle of gender, they’ve got it down: collect, gestate, release. Repeat. The same goes for your magical practice. You can’t just draw energy and sit on it, nor can you release energy without gathering it first. You need both. While one proceeds the other, in spellcraft, after initially drawing power, you’re both drawing and spending energy simultaneously. This is called channeling.

We’re not meant to hoard great power; we can easily overload. If we spend more than we draw, the effect is what we call spell-sickness or spell fatigue. Even in tarot readings, we can see this principle in the cards, this cycle.

The Dance of Masculine and Feminine in Magic

When it comes to witchcraft, I always remind people that magic requires the marriage of both masculine and feminine energies. That’s why we’re always talking about balance. Indeed, every man has some feminine energy, and every woman has some masculine energy. That’s the truth, whether you like it or not. We all have both within us. Sure, you might feel more “in tune” with one side, but recognizing and appreciating the energies of gender is critical to working magic effectively.

When we cast a spell, we do more than just throw words and ingredients together. We’re engaging with the flow of energy—balancing the masculine and feminine forces in the universe. Through the principle of gender, we draw power, we focus it, and we release it. Honestly, that’s where a lot of people get tripped up. They’re often too focused on one or the other. Some people love to sit in their circle and “meditate” for hours, collecting power. That’s great, but if you never release it, you’re basically hoarding energy like a magical squirrel. It’s utterly useless. On the flip side, some people are all about action—they cast their spells like they’re shooting arrows at random. It’s not enough to just unleash energy; you need to aim it. You must direct that power with intent.

By working with both masculine and feminine energies, you bring balance to your practice. Feminine energy is the receptive, the gestational, the magnetic force. It pulls things in and draws in potential. Masculine energy is the active, the expressive, the projective force. It’s what pushes things out into the world. Without the feminine drawing, the masculine has no power to release. Without the masculine’s release, the feminine energy stagnates.

Embracing Both Sides

As witches, we need to embrace both sides of the coin. Feminine and masculine energies are not just about gender—although, yes, society has done its best to box them into neat little categories. But gender energy is so much more than that. It’s the essence of how the universe operates. It’s the principle behind the sun and the moon, the earth and the sky, the rising tide and the crashing wave. Without both, nothing moves. That’s another one of the Seven Hermetic Principles; Nothing Rests, Everything Moves, Everything Vibrates.

So, next time you’re about to cast a spell, take a moment to think about it. Are you drawing enough power first? Are you aiming it? And are you ready to release it? Magic without balance is like a bow without a string—or worse, a string without an arrow. It’s pointless. It’s a conversation I often have at our metaphysical shop, come visit! Connect with us for more on Instagram, Facebook (Meta) or TikTok.

And by the way, ladies, gents, and anyone in between: just because we talk about masculine and feminine energies doesn’t mean you need to fit into some rigid gender role. We’re all a combination of both. Once you stop fighting it and start embracing the full spectrum, you’ll find that magic becomes much easier—and a lot more powerful.