Not sure where exactly the divine fem and masc thing being controversial came from but I figured I’d share my perspective on this as a trans and intersex person who does recognize the divine masc and fem as real alchemical and spiritual concepts.
So, for one, the terms “divine feminine” and “divine masculine” may as well be misnomers. Because while there certainly are genuine gender and biological aspects to the concept, (regardless of your opinion on bio essentialism- yes- biology and anatomy are absolutely significant to metaphysics) the actual idea of these two polar energies has very little to do with our understanding of sex and gender.
In this context fem does not mean alike a “woman” (or female), and masc does not mean alike a “man” (or male). That’s actually reverse engineering. The divine masc is not masc because it describes what men are. Men display traits associated with divine masculinity, because divine masculinity is where the qualities associated with men originate from.
The divine masculine and feminine could be reconsidered from the perspective of magnetism and physics as opposed to gender identities. They are the two natal polarities used to uphold matter and life.
Within western esotericism and demonolatry (I’m doing a lot of paraphrasing bear with me) the feminine is the seed of potential, the endless void of infinite matter. It is our yang to our ying, the thing that holds the endless waters of being.
The feminine is the feminine because it is negative. Not negative as in bad or lesser than, but as in charge, negatively charged. Negatively charged particles attract and repel other particles dynamically.
And likewise the masculine is positively charged. The feminine receives the masculine, not because of vaginas (although that is still symbolically significant) but because it is the shell. She forms the physical structure of reality that is then transformed by the introduction of the masculine. In the same manner that darkness is the womb of light, light only exists in contrast to her, and without either, we can’t really see or do… anything.
The feminine is not “passive” because women should be meek. The feminine is *receptive* because she is waiting for change, she is brimming with potential. And the masculine is penetrative because he has no structure without her. Together they make something stable.
Every person has both divine masculine and femininity within them. Everyone. It has nothing to do with your gender or body and everything to do with the alchemy of your soul. Ideally, these energies are balanced. Being in line with the divine masculine doesn’t mean you’re a big strong man. It means your creative power has the ability to transform and rearrange matter. It means you inspire people to pay attention and be present. It has nothing to do with testosterone or how big your balls are.
People seem to think that the concept of divine masculinity and femininity are inherently contradictory to the existence of trans, non-binary and intersex people. Without fully comprehending that these polarities are the grounds that allow for the immense diversity within gender identity. It is arguably the mother(and father) of the gender spectrum itself. Just as it is responsible for other energy spectrums.
Exploring our relationships with power, submission, to give and receive both care and pleasure, that has everything to do with these polarities. It is in fact the endless dance between them. Being trans doesn’t impact your connection to the divine in any reductive way. And being a trad wife doesn’t mean you’re in tune with your divine feminine any more than the butch down the street.
There is absolutely real metaphysical significance to biology and anatomy beyond “feminine and masculinity”. There is real genuine and specific energy and power that is generated during a menstrual cycle, regardless of the gender identity of the person it occurs on. There are absolutely specific energies that pertain to the male gonads and the penis- and those energies can certainly be accessed by anyone of any gender- if they have the equipment.
I as a trans man really don’t care for when people try to pretend I’m indistinguishable from a cis man. No I am no less man, but I don’t have to be the same as cis men to be a man. Having a vagina and other female anatomy does not invalidate my manhood, it only makes it more specific. And yes, there are definitely energies and experiences I have access to as a trans man that cis men simply do not have and vice versa. This doesn’t mean to say that “if you have dick you can only do this magic and if you have pussy you can only do this”, that’s ridiculous.
I more so mean to say, there are a million nuances here. My energetic signature is distinct, not entirely due to, but yes, in part due to my unique body. It actually even has less to do with gender and sex, because it’s not how male or female I am. It’s body to body, person to person. Every person, regardless of their equipment, is different energetically. Two women are not the same just because they both have vaginas, and likewise, two people with very different bodies can be very energetically similar.
The tldr is: people don’t really know what these terms mean. And not just us on Tumblr, the larger metaphysical community has completely lost the meanings of these terms. Especially in the wake of the rise of conservative and “traditional values”.
No, soaking your pussy in lemon juice under the moon won’t align you with the divine fem nor will pinching your balls at sunrise make you the next Apollon. Be receptive and introspective, be creative and audacious, then you will be closer to the divine, regardless of what skin you’re wearing.
