Principles of Magic: Duality
“Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles.”
[Updated October 2025]
In Hermetic philosophy, the seventh principle is known as the Principle of Gender. In The Kybalion, it’s described as the interplay of masculine and feminine energies present in all things. But in modern witchcraft, the word “gender” can create confusion, since it’s often tied to biological or social identity.
That’s why I prefer to call it the Principle of Duality. This name highlights the real essence of the teaching: two complementary forces—receptive and projective, passive and active, lunar and solar—working together to create.
You’ll sometimes hear these energies referred to as the Divine Feminine and the Divine Masculine. While that language can be helpful in some contexts, in this post, I’ll be using the terms projective and receptive (or active and passive) to avoid unnecessary confusion and to emphasize that these forces exist within everyone and everything.
We see this principle echoed in magical tools, rituals, nature’s cycles, and even within ourselves. Duality teaches that wholeness arises from the harmonious weaving of complementary energies, rather than rigid separation. For witches, this principle is a reminder that balance and creativity arise when we honor both sides of energy’s dance.
What Is the Principle of Duality?
The Principle of Gender is one of the seven Hermetic laws. It states:
“Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles.”
Reframed in modern terms, this means that everything contains dual creative forces. Every being, every element of nature, every aspect of magic holds both receptive and projective qualities. These are not tied to gender identity but to archetypal energies that fuel creation.
In simple terms: creation needs balance.
Projective and receptive forces exist in all beings.
Active and passive energies dance together.
Wholeness is found in integration.
This principle shows up in magic as the balance between invoking and banishing, giving and receiving, manifesting and resting. When witches honor both aspects within themselves, their craft becomes more complete and creative.
Why Duality Matters for Modern Witches
In today’s culture, the term “gender” often implies rigid roles or categories. But Hermetic Gender—what I call Duality—points to energies that weave through everything, beyond identity or labels.
For witches, this principle is empowering because it means:
You carry both receptive and projective forces. You can channel intuition and action, as well as stillness and motion.
Magic is born from integration. Every spell is more powerful when both forces are present.
Social constructs don’t limit your practice. Regardless of identity, everyone can embody and work with both energies.
Instead of reinforcing binaries, the Principle of Duality invites us to move beyond them—into balance, fluidity, and wholeness.
How the Principle of Duality Shows Up in Witchcraft
This principle isn’t about human gender—it’s about universal polarity. Here are some ways it appears in magical practice:
Divine Archetypes
Many witches call on divine pairs—gods and goddesses, sun and moon, sky and earth—as representations of cosmic balance. These archetypes symbolize how creation flows from the union of opposites.Ritual Tools
The chalice (receptive) and the athame (projective) are classic symbols of duality. When joined in ritual, they represent the blending of forces that generate life and magic.Elemental Magic
The elements embody dual energies: water and earth are often receptive, while fire and air are projective. Spellwork that combines elements highlights their creative interplay.Inner Balance
Each of us has receptive (intuitive, nurturing, inward) and projective (active, assertive, outward) qualities. Magic becomes more effective when we harmonize both sides within ourselves.Natural Cycles
Nature is full of dual rhythms: the sun and moon, seed and soil, life and death. These cycles reveal that wholeness comes from the interplay of dual forces.
Working with Magical Duality
When you view magic through the lens of duality, you begin to see how balance creates transformation. Here are ways witches apply this principle:
Balance in Rituals ⚖️
Design rituals that honor both energies. Begin with meditation (receptive) and follow with spoken incantation (projective). This ensures that energy flows inward and outward in a balanced manner.
👉 I created a resource to help you with this. You can find it in the Blog Rewards Program.Elemental Pairings 🌊🔥🌍💨
Pair elements in spellwork—fire with water, air with earth. These complementary forces mirror active and receptive qualities, bringing harmony to your ritual.Inner Duality Meditation 🧘
Visualize your inner projective and receptive energies as two figures, symbols, or currents of light. Allow them to meet and collaborate. This practice balances action with openness in your life and magic.Deity Work ✨
Work with divine archetypes that reflect duality—like Isis and Osiris, Apollo and Artemis, or archetypes that blend both. Calling on them together reminds you that creation arises from integration.Creative and Rest Cycles 🌱🌙
Notice when you are in an active, outward phase (projective) versus a restful, inward phase (receptive). Both are sacred. True creation requires both momentum and stillness.Tool Pairings 🔮
Use ritual tools that embody duality, such as the athame (a projective tool) and the chalice (a receptive tool). Their union symbolizes the joining of forces to spark creation.
Why Duality Is Transformational
The Principle of Duality is not about restriction—it’s about expansion. When you understand active and receptive forces as archetypal energies rather than rigid categories, you gain new ways of seeing yourself and your craft.
Instead of asking, “Which side am I?” this principle asks: “How can I weave both?”
This mindset transforms magic. It becomes less about choosing between poles and more about blending them into dynamic wholeness. Your craft grows more flexible, balanced, and creative.
Common Misunderstandings
Because this principle is still often referred to as “Gender,” it’s easy to misunderstand. Let’s clear up a few myths:
It doesn’t mean literal gender roles. Projective and receptive are energies, not identities.
It isn’t strictly binary. Both forces exist in all beings and can be expressed in countless ways.
It’s not outdated. When understood symbolically, this principle celebrates creation and balance, not stereotypes.
Bringing It All Together
The Principle of Duality teaches us that creation flows from the interplay of energies. Receptive and projective, vessel and spark, lunar and solar—together they weave life and magic.
For witches, this principle is an invitation to honor both sides within ourselves and to work with them intentionally in our practice.
So the next time you cast a spell, ask: Where is the receptive energy? Where is the projective? And how can I bring them into harmony?
Because when you honor both—the seed and the soil, the vessel and the flame—you step into the fullness of your magic.
✨ Bring Your Energy Into Balance ✨
The Principle of Duality teaches that magic flows through both projective and receptive energy—action and stillness, sun and moon, giving and receiving. To help you explore this balance, I created a Balancing Duality Workbook with reflection prompts, energy assessments, and practical exercises to help you harmonize these forces within your craft.
You can download it for free inside the Blog Rewards Program, along with other exclusive witchy printables to support your magical journey.
Click the button below to get your Balancing Duality Workbook and start aligning your inner sun and moon today.
This post is the last piece in a series. Follow the entire Philosophy of Magic collection:
In magic, “gender” points to complementary creative currents (receptive/projective)—not identity. We blend them in ritual to imagine, gestate, act, and sustain results with care.