The Principle of Gender: Masculine & Feminine Energy
BY NICOLE LAU
The Principle of Gender: Masculine & Feminine Energy
"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes."
This is the seventh and final of the Seven Hermetic Principles. It reveals that creation requires the union of two complementary forces: masculine (active, projective) and feminine (receptive, nurturing).
This is NOT about biological sex or gender identity. This is about universal creative principles that exist in all things - atoms, planets, thoughts, and you.
This is your complete guide to the Principle of Gender.
What Gender Actually Means (Hermetically)
Not About Biological Sex
The Hermetic Principle of Gender has nothing to do with:
- Male vs. female bodies
- Gender identity or expression
- Sexual orientation
- Social gender roles
It's about two universal creative principles that exist in ALL things, regardless of physical form.
The Two Principles
Masculine Principle (Yang):
- Active, projective, giving
- Initiating, directing, penetrating
- Logical, analytical, structured
- Doing, action, movement
- Sun energy, fire, electric
Feminine Principle (Yin):
- Receptive, nurturing, receiving
- Allowing, flowing, containing
- Intuitive, feeling, creative
- Being, stillness, presence
- Moon energy, water, magnetic
Both are necessary. Both are powerful. Neither is superior.
Creation Requires Both
Nothing is created without the union of masculine and feminine:
- Seed (masculine) + Soil (feminine) = Plant
- Sperm (masculine) + Egg (feminine) = Life
- Intention (masculine) + Allowing (feminine) = Manifestation
- Action (masculine) + Receptivity (feminine) = Success
One without the other is sterile. Together, they create.
Gender on All Planes
Physical Plane: Matter and Energy
- Atoms: Protons (masculine/positive) + Electrons (feminine/negative) = Stable atom
- Electricity: Positive pole (masculine) + Negative pole (feminine) = Current flows
- Magnetism: North pole (masculine) + South pole (feminine) = Magnetic field
- Biology: Sperm (masculine) + Egg (feminine) = New life
Mental Plane: Thought and Creation
- Conscious mind (masculine): Logical, analytical, directive
- Subconscious mind (feminine): Receptive, creative, generative
- Idea (masculine): The seed thought
- Imagination (feminine): The womb that develops the idea
Spiritual Plane: Divine Union
- Spirit (masculine): Active, descending, impregnating
- Soul (feminine): Receptive, ascending, birthing
- The sacred marriage: Union of spirit and soul = Enlightenment
You Contain Both Energies
Regardless of your biological sex or gender identity, you contain both masculine and feminine energies:
- Everyone has a conscious mind (masculine) and subconscious mind (feminine)
- Everyone has times to act (masculine) and times to receive (feminine)
- Everyone has logic (masculine) and intuition (feminine)
- Everyone has yang and yin
The goal is balance, not dominance of one over the other.
Masculine and Feminine in Balance
Balanced Masculine Energy
- Clear direction and purpose
- Healthy boundaries and structure
- Decisive action and leadership
- Logical thinking and problem-solving
- Protection and provision
- Confidence and assertiveness
Imbalanced Masculine Energy
Excessive (toxic masculine):
- Aggression, domination, control
- Rigidity, inflexibility
- Disconnection from emotions
- Forcing, pushing, never resting
Deficient (weak masculine):
- Lack of direction or purpose
- Inability to take action
- Weak boundaries
- Passive, indecisive
Balanced Feminine Energy
- Receptivity and openness
- Intuition and inner knowing
- Creativity and imagination
- Nurturing and compassion
- Flow and adaptability
- Emotional intelligence
Imbalanced Feminine Energy
Excessive (toxic feminine):
- Over-nurturing to depletion
- Manipulation through emotion
- Chaos, lack of structure
- Passive-aggressive behavior
Deficient (weak feminine):
- Inability to receive or rest
- Disconnection from intuition
- Lack of creativity
- Emotional numbness
How to Use the Principle of Gender
1. Assess Your Current Balance
Ask yourself:
- Am I too much in masculine energy? (All action, no rest; all logic, no intuition)
- Am I too much in feminine energy? (All receiving, no initiating; all feeling, no thinking)
- Where do I need more balance?
2. Cultivate the Deficient Energy
If you're too masculine (overactive):
- Practice receptivity - allow things to come to you
- Rest and restore - honor the feminine need for stillness
- Feel your emotions - reconnect with your inner world
- Trust intuition - not everything needs logic
If you're too feminine (overpassive):
- Take action - initiate, don't just wait
- Set boundaries - protect your energy
- Make decisions - use your masculine clarity
- Create structure - give form to your creativity
3. Use Both for Manifestation
For Hermetic manifestation, you need both energies:
Masculine:
- Set clear intention (directive)
- Make a plan (structure)
- Take action (doing)
- Stay focused (discipline)
Feminine:
- Allow it to unfold (receptivity)
- Trust the process (faith)
- Be open to how it comes (flexibility)
- Receive the manifestation (allowing)
Masculine without feminine = forcing, burnout, resistance
Feminine without masculine = passivity, no results, waiting forever
Both together = effortless manifestation
Gender in Relationships
Polarity Creates Attraction
- Romantic attraction often involves polarity (one more masculine, one more feminine in the dynamic)
- This has nothing to do with biological sex - it's about energetic polarity
- Healthy relationships allow both partners to access both energies
- Rigid roles ("men must be masculine, women must be feminine") miss the point
The Dance of Energies
In healthy relationships:
- Partners can switch energies as needed
- One leads (masculine), the other follows (feminine), then they switch
- Both energies are honored and valued
- Neither partner is stuck in one energy
Gender in Creativity
The Creative Process Requires Both
- Masculine: The idea, the vision, the intention (seed)
- Feminine: Gestation, development, nurturing (womb)
- Masculine: Execution, structure, bringing into form (birth)
- Feminine: Refinement, intuitive adjustments (nurturing)
- Masculine: Completion, release into world (cutting cord)
Artists who only use masculine energy create rigid, lifeless work.
Artists who only use feminine energy never finish or share their work.
Both energies create masterpieces.
Gender and the Other Principles
- Mentalism: Conscious mind (masculine) + Subconscious mind (feminine) = Mental creation
- Correspondence: Inner masculine/feminine balance corresponds to outer relationships
- Vibration: Masculine and feminine are different vibrational qualities
- Polarity: Masculine and feminine are poles of the creative force
- Rhythm: Life alternates between masculine (action) and feminine (rest) phases
- Cause and Effect: Masculine initiates causes, feminine receives and births effects
The Sacred Marriage (Alchemical Union)
In alchemy and mysticism, the ultimate goal is the sacred marriage - the union of masculine and feminine within:
- King (masculine) + Queen (feminine) = Philosopher's Stone
- Sun (masculine) + Moon (feminine) = Enlightenment
- Spirit (masculine) + Soul (feminine) = Wholeness
This is not about finding your "other half" externally. It's about integrating both energies within yourself.
When you marry your inner masculine and feminine, you become whole. You become the creator.
Gender Practice: Daily Balance
Track in your Hermetic Principles Journal:
- Morning: What energy do I need today? Masculine action or feminine receptivity?
- Throughout day: Am I balanced or stuck in one energy?
- Evening: Did I honor both energies today?
Common Gender Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing Hermetic Gender with Biological Sex
"I'm a man, so I should only use masculine energy."
Truth: Everyone needs both energies. Biological sex is irrelevant to energetic balance.
Mistake 2: Devaluing One Energy
"Masculine energy is better/stronger" or "Feminine energy is superior/more spiritual."
Truth: Both are equally necessary and powerful. Neither is superior.
Mistake 3: All Masculine, No Feminine (or Vice Versa)
"I'll just push harder, work more, never rest." (All masculine)
"I'll just wait, receive, never initiate." (All feminine)
Truth: Imbalance creates suffering. You need both.
The Union Creates Everything
Look around you. Everything that exists was created through the union of masculine and feminine:
- Every human was created by sperm + egg
- Every plant was created by pollen + ovule
- Every idea manifested was created by intention + allowing
- Every atom is stable because of positive + negative charges
This is the law. Gender is in everything. Creation requires both.
You Are the Sacred Marriage
You are not just masculine or just feminine. You are both.
You are the sun and the moon. The king and the queen. The seed and the soil.
When you integrate both energies within yourself, you become whole. You become the creator of your reality.
Gender is in everything. You contain both. Balance them, and you become unstoppable.
Master all Seven Hermetic Principles with our Hermetic Principles Journal and Seven Hermetic Principles Tapestry.
Related Articles
Hermetic Magic vs Chaos Magic: What's the Difference?
Complete comparison of Hermetic Magic and Chaos Magic - philosophies, practices, differences, similarities, and which...
Read More →
The Principle of Polarity: Opposites are One
Complete guide to the Principle of Polarity - opposites are one, mental transmutation, shifting between poles, and us...
Read More →
The Principle of Rhythm: Life's Natural Flow
Complete guide to the Principle of Rhythm - life's natural cycles, pendulum swings, flowing with seasons, and working...
Read More →
The Principle of Cause and Effect: Karma Explained
Complete guide to the Principle of Cause and Effect - karma explained, becoming a cause instead of effect, and using ...
Read More →
The Principle of Correspondence: Patterns Everywhere
Complete guide to the Principle of Correspondence - patterns repeating at every scale, inner-outer mirroring, and pra...
Read More →
The Principle of Mentalism: All is Mind
Complete guide to the Principle of Mentalism - "All is Mind," the first Hermetic Principle, consciousness as primary ...
Read More →