From the book
The Kybalion
Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordGender is the seventh principle, interpreted as complementary initiating and generating functions in every kind of creation.
- In The KybalionII says that both principles are present in every person and that sex is a material manifestation of the wider principle.
- In this editionThe historical terms masculine and feminine are preserved and explained.
- A place to readII.24: “"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes."—The” …
Meaning
Gender is the seventh principle, interpreted as complementary initiating and generating functions in every kind of creation. The source distinguishes this broad use from bodily sex while naming its functions masculine and feminine.
Use in the book
II says that both principles are present in every person and that sex is a material manifestation of the wider principle. V applies the pair to cosmic mental creation, but denies a literally male and female ultimate God. XIII then treats physical generation, using charged particles as its main analogy.
XIV develops the mental application. The I directs and witnesses while the Me receives and generates. Sustained thought is said to require both functions, and the author uses the same model to interpret influence between persons.
Places to read
- II The Seven Hermetic Principles · Block 24“"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes."—The Kybalion.”
- II The Seven Hermetic Principles · Block 25“This Principle embodies the truth that there is GENDER manifested in everything—the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work. This is true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the” …
- V The Mental Universe · Block 11“The Principle of Gender (see Lesson I. and other lessons to follow) is manifested on all planes of life, material mental and spiritual. But, as we have said before, "Gender" does” …
- V The Mental Universe · Block 12… “is that THE ALL, in itself, is above Gender, as it is above every other Law, including those of Time and Space. It is the Law, from which the Laws proceed,” …
- XIII Gender · Block 3“The word "Gender" is derived from the Latin root meaning "to beget; to procreate; to generate; to create; to produce." A moment's consideration will show you that the word has a” …
- XIII Gender · Block 8“The part of the Masculine principle seems to be that of directing a certain inherent energy toward the Feminine principle, and thus starting into activity the creative processes. But the Feminine” …
In this edition
The historical terms masculine and feminine are preserved and explained. Gender is not silently replaced by sex or by a current social classification.
Reading the argument
The distinction from sex is important, but it does not make the symbolism neutral. The division of directing and receiving roles is built into the model. Its application to particles does not establish that physical entities have gender, and its application to people does not establish exclusive capacities for men or women.
Gender
“Gender” — 51 occurrences in 26 text blocks: II.3, 23–25; V.11–13; VIII.31; XIII.1–5, 7–10; XIV.2, 9–10, 12–13, 16–19.
Masculine
“Masculine” — 35 occurrences in 20 text blocks: II.24–25; V.12, 14; VIII.31; XIII.1–2, 5, 7–8, 10; XIV.2, 9–12, 14–16, 18.
Feminine
“Feminine” — 36 occurrences in 18 text blocks: II.24–25; V.12, 14; VIII.31; XIII.1–2, 5–8, 10; XIV.2, 10–12, 14, 18.
Sex
“Sex” — 8 occurrences in 5 text blocks: II.25; V.11; XIII.2–3, 9.