CHAPTER I

The Universality of Sex

Every ancient secret society, esoteric organization, and school of thought agreed on one central point: the universality of sex. They realized that the principle of sex was manifest throughout the entire cosmos and was active across the whole universe. The Phallic Cross symbol original: "Phallic Cross"; this refers to ancient symbols like the Ankh or the equilateral cross that represent the union of masculine and feminine energies as the source of life. is found in use in nearly every occult organization or body. It signifies the teaching that the male and female principles are inherent in each and every form of nature's activities and manifestations.

In many older writings, you will notice that the term "gender" is used instead of "sex." This is because the primary idea of sex, as understood in occultism, is that of begetting, bringing forth, and procreating. The term "gender" is particularly meaningful and expressive of this idea. Occultists realize that the work of procreation is manifest on every plane—physical, mental, and spiritual—and that the principle of "gender" is active everywhere, at all times, and in all ways. However, in this short book, we will use the term "sex" instead of "gender" for several reasons. It should be understood, of course, that the term is used in its widest and most universal sense, rather than referring only to the specific biological sex of living things or the human race in particular.

The Arcane Teaching The "Arcane Teaching" is the name of the specific philosophical system presented by the author, William Walker Atkinson, which draws from Hermeticism and ancient esoteric traditions. embraces the well-established occult doctrine of the universality of sex. It holds that sex is apparent not only on the physical plane, but also on the mental and spiritual planes. Furthermore, the principle of sex is evident not only in living, organic forms, but also in so-called "lifeless" and inorganic matter. The principle of sex is fundamentally tied to the Law of Opposites term: Law of Opposites Also known as the Principle of Polarity, this law suggests that everything in the universe has two poles or opposites, like positive and negative, which are necessary for any kind of creation or movement., which we have discussed at length in our other works.