PART IV
THE UNIVERSAL ANDROGYNE
In the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians, we find the following Third Aphorism:
The Third Aphorism
III. The One became Two. The Neuter became Bi-Sexual. Male and Female the Two in One evolved from the Neuter. And the work of Generation began.
In this Third Aphorism of Creation the Rosicrucian is directed to apply his attention to the conception of the World Soul the First Manifestation of the Eternal Parent as a Bi-sexual Universal Being. This Bi-Sexual. Universal Being, combining within itself the elements and principles of both Masculinity and Femininity, is known in the Rosicrucian Teachings as “The Universal Hermaphrodite,” and “The Universal Androgyne.”
The term “Hermaphrodite” is defined as: “An individual which has the attributes of both Male and Female.” The term is derived by joining together the two names, viz., Hermes and Aphrodite. The term came into ancient use through the legend of Hermaphroditus, son of Hermes and Aphrodite, who, while bathing, became joined in one body with the nymph Salmacis. The term “Androgyne” is defined as: “An individual possessing the attributes of both Male and Female; a Hermaphrodite.” The term is derived from the combination of two Greek words, viz., “Andros,” meaning “a man,” and “Gyne,” meaning “a woman.” The conception of the Bi-Sexuality in the Universal Manifestation, or Universal Being, is one met with on all sides in the ancient esoteric and occult philosophies in all lands. In ancient Greece, in Ancient India, and in Ancient Atlantis, Persia, and Chaldea the doctrine formed an important part of the Inner Teachings. In its highest forms, this teaching lay at the very heart of the Ancient Mysteries, and resulted in the very highest and noblest conception of the dignity and worthiness of Sex. But prostituted by the vulgar popular mind, encouraged by a debased priesthood, the same teachings were inverted and made to serve as the basis of the various degenerate phase of Phallic Worship, the traces of which are found on every page of ancient philosophical or religious history. The Rosicrucians have never countenanced even the slight descent into Phallicism, but, on the contrary have kept alive the Flame of the True Teaching, and have used its particular symbol as the distinctive symbolic name and emblem of the Order. In order to understand the symbology of the Universal Androgyne, it is necessary to first become familiar with the two ancient symbols of Sex. In all the ancient philosophies and religions, we find that the “Cross” (+) is the symbol of the Male; and the “Circle” (O) the symbol of the Female.
In representing the Bisexual, the Hermaphrodite, the Androgyne, the two symbols, i.e. the Cross and the Circle are combined in one of several ways. The original way was that of placing the Cross within the circumference of the Circle; but later usage preferred the various forms of the so-called “Phallic Cross,” which consists of the Circle, or Oval, sustaining the Cross which depends downward from it. (See illustrations.) Sometimes the Cross is represented as the letter “T”, and the Circle as the letter “O”. The well-known esoteric symbol, the “Swastica” (see illustration) consists of a modified Cross, conceived as a “whirling wheel” (something like the familiar spinning “pin wheel” of the boys’ fireworks.) The whirling Cross of the Swastica, when seen in rapid motion, presents the appearance of a Circle enclosing a Cross. This symbol of the “Circle enclosing the Cross” is one particularly sacred to the Rosicrucians, since to them it represents the Universal Activity and Universal Creation, symbolizing the Great Mystery of Occult Generation on all planes of Life. In the fanciful symbology of the ancient Rosicrucian Brotherhoods, the Circle was transformed into the Rose, and the Cross sometimes transformed into the Sword with its Cross-like handle. The sign, then, of the Cross (or Sword) combined with the Circle (or Rose), symbolized the Mystic Union of the Rose and the Cross, from whence arose the name of the Order, i.e. Rosi-Crucian, meaning “Rose-Cross.”
The Third Aphorism states: “The One became Two. The Neuter became Bi-Sexual. Male and Female the Two in One evolved from the Neuter. And the Work of Creation began.”
In this Aphorism there is given the “hint” at the very important teaching of the Rosicrucians concerning the Universal Sex Principles in Nature the presence and activity of the Sexual Pairs of Opposites, Male and Female, which constitute the Secret of Creation. According to the Secret Doctrine of the Rosicrucians, there are present in All-Creation the activities of a Male Principle and a Female Principle, both Universal in Nature, Character and Extent both Opposing Aspects of the World Soul which act and react, one upon the other, and thus produce all Creative Activity and the “Cosmic Becoming” or Universal Activity and Change. And the teachings also are that these Two Sex Principles operate and manifest upon every plane of Life, from the Sub-Mineral, on to the Mineral, on to the Plant, on to the Animal, on to the Human, or to the Super-Human, on to the Angelic or God-like. And, likewise, that in every Thing in Creation there is present and manifest the activity of Sex. The above statement of the Universality of Sex may seem somewhat surprising to the person who has not acquainted himself, or herself, with the Ancient Wisdom of the Esoteric Schools; or who is not familiar with the daring conceptions of advanced modern science. But to that one who has mastered the ancient wisdom-teachings, and who has likewise become acquainted with the best of modern advanced scientific thought, there will seem nothing strange about these statements.
The ancient teachings taught positively that there was present and active Sex in all manifested Creation; and Modern Science is beginning to teach that the evidence of the presence of Sex in every Thing is conclusive. The ancient teachings, which were later embodied in the early Rosicrucian teachings, held that in order that there might be Becoming, Change, or Creation, there must be Re-action following Action the play of one force on another.
And the best teachings of the ancients were that these two opposing forces in Nature were Masculine, and Feminine, respectively dual aspects of the Universal Being. And Modern Science is fast coming to recognize and teach the same great truth. The best teachings of modern science is that there is a stimulating or fertilizing activity in nature which acts upon a generative force, the latter reacting upon the former. And, at the other end of the material scale, we find the teaching that the atom (once supposed to be the ultimate form of matter) is now discovered to be composed of a multitude of electrons, corpuscles, or ions (different names for the same thing) revolving around each other at a tremendous rate of motion. It was formerly supposed that the electrons simply revolved one around another, and that all were alike in character and nature; but the later discoveries show that the formation of the atom is due rather to the action of numerous circling positive (or “male”) electrons around a central negative (or “female”) electron, the positive (or “male”) electrons seemingly exerting a peculiar effect upon the negative (or “female”) electron, causing her to put forth certain energies which result in the “generation” of the atomic structure. This is in perfect accordance with the old Rosicrucian doctrine that the “positive” pole of magnetism and electricity (for both were well known to the ancient alchemists) was “masculine,” and that the “negative” pole of the same was “feminine.”
But, unfortunately, the terms “positive” and “negative,” respectively are used with the wrong implication and much confusion results therefrom. For instance, the term “positive” is used to indicate strength and reality, as opposed to weaknesses and unreality of the “negative.” But the real facts of physical science show us the falsity of such an interpretation of these terms. The so-called “negative” pole of the battery is really the pole of generation or the production of new forms and energies the best authorities now prefer to use the term “the cathode pole” in place of “the negative;” the word “cathode” being derived from the Greek word meaning “descent; the path of generation,” etc. From the “cathode” pole of the battery emerge the great swarms of electrons, ions, or corpuscles; and from the same pole also emerge the wonderful “rays” which have played such an important part in modern physics. The “cathode” pole of the battery is the Mother of all that strange brood of new forms of matter which have appeared to confute the old materialistic theories, and to destroy the old conceptions of science. The “cathode” pole should, in reality and truth, be called the “female” pole; and the “positive” the “male,” for such terms truly represent their true respective offices. Modern science also teaches that the electrons which are “composed of negative (female) electricity,” frequently becomes detached from its male companion corpuscles, and starts on an independent career.
It seeks a union with a masculine corpuscle, and gaining it a new set of creative activity is begun. When the female corpuscle unites with the new masculine one a strange phenomenon occurs; the corpuscles began vibrating and circling around each other, and the result is the birth of a new atom in which is combined the masculine and feminine energies in some particular proportion. The atom, thus formed, does not manifest the properties of free electricity but manifests an entirely new set of properties. The process of detachment of the feminine electrons is called “ionization;” and arising from such detachments and the formation of new unions result the varied phenomena of heat, light, electricity, magnetism, etc. In the same way, the varied phenomena of “chemical attraction” and “chemical affinity” arise from the manifestation of Sex on the atomic plane, though science has not as yet perceived this to be the truth. Science teaches that there are “marriages, divorces, and re-marriages” among the atoms, but it hesitates to go further and assert that this is a part of the universal Sex manifestation but this announcement must come in time for the evidence is overwhelmingly convincing.
The explosive properties of certain substances really result from a “divorce” of the atomic and molecular parties the detachment of the male and female particles under the influence of a stronger attraction; and the formation of the different substances result from the attractive unions of certain male and female elements of matter. Alchemy has always known this to be a fact; it remains for modern science to corroborate and reaffirm the “vagaries” of the old alchemists regarding this important fact of nature. It has always been admitted by science that there was Sex manifest in plant-life as well as by animal-life, but the mineral-life was not given the benefit of the manifestation of the universal principle of Sex. But recent discoveries have forced upon scientists the fact that in the crystallization of minerals there is an unmistakable evidence of the presence and activity of Sex, and in the near future it will be found that all the other changes in minerals are the result of Sex-attraction or repulsion. And, as we shall see in a subsequent chapter of this book, there is present the activity of Sex on the mental planes of life. In short, on each and every plane of Life, physical, mental, or spiritual there is found present and active the Universal Principle of Sex, in some of its phases and forms. Sex cannot be escaped in Nature the Universe is Bi-Sexual, and all Creation, on every plane, is caused by Sex and Sex only.
A full understanding of this important fact would revolutionize the conceptions of modern science, and render practicable many important ideas which now exist merely as dreams in the minds of the advanced scientists. To those who cannot see this plainly, we would say: It is admitted that all physical and mental phenomena depend for activity upon the Law of Attraction. When it is discovered that the law of Attraction proceeds along the lines of Sex, and Sex alone, then it is seen that all activity is Sex-Activity. Had the World-Soul remained Neuter, there would have been no Universal Manifestation or Creation. It was necessary that the Principle of Sex should appear, in order that Creation should begin. It is only by the constant and continuous action and reaction of the Two Sex Principles in Nature that Creation, Process, Becoming, and Change is possible and as all Things are but the products of Change, Process, Becoming, and Creation, it follows that without Sex there would have been to Things in the Universe and in that even the World Soul would have abided apart, alone, and single until the end of its days. With the introduction of Sex came the beginning of Generation and Creation, under which the One became the Many and Sameness became Variety and Diversity. The ancient teachings furnish the only logical explanation of Creation. The One becomes the Two, and from the Two proceed the Many.