Have you ever wondered why history focuses on what men have done and achieved, while the role played by women does not receive as much attention?
From ancient civilisations to contemporary society, women have played a role of at least equal importance in every chapter of history, although female influence is rarely highlighted in common historical accounts.
Within esoteric or initiatic schools too, the role of the woman has always been central. By understanding the interplay of the male and female and the nature of their complementary roles, we can discover the true nature and extent of the contribution of woman to spiritual development and mystical knowledge.
Women in history
The role of women in history is as diverse as the different cultures they have been part of. In some societies, women were central to passing on their heritage and educating the children. In contrast, in other cultures, such as ancient Greece, their roles were much more restricted, with little obvious participation in public and political life. Nevertheless, throughout history, we find women who attained positions of great power, such as Cleopatra in Egypt or Elizabeth I of Tudor England.
The study of ancient cultures understandably tends to focus on those that have left written accounts, leaving aside those cultures whose history was preserved through oral traditions or symbols. To learn about the role women played in these societies, we need to examine their symbols, religions, myths, legends, and personal narratives passed down from generation to generation.
Pre-Christian cultures were deeply interested in the mysteries of life and death, and woman, as the bearer of life, was venerated. The sacred power of motherhood was expressed in their artistic expression and creation myths, and the mother goddess is among humanity’s oldest deities. These goddesses embodied multiple feminine qualities and for that reason were depicted with multiple forms and names, such as Isis in Egypt, Astarte in the Middle East, Devi in India, and Aphrodite/Venus in the Greco-Roman world.
When studying woman in ancient times, we see that there seems to be a mystery around her power, a veil that we need to draw back in order to comprehend the truth of what she represents.
- Do you think that veil still exists today?
- Does the mystery of the woman depend on the prevailing view of the era in which she lives, or is it something that resides deep within her very being, waiting to be discovered even by herself?
From Mary Magdalene to Madame Blavatsky: women who shaped esotericism
The mystery surrounding woman throughout history is also apparent in the realm of esotericism, where her presence has been fundamental but often overlooked. Over the course of time, remarkable women have left their profound mark as mystics, prophets, and healers.
A famous, but little understood, example is Mary Magdalene, described by Master Samael Aun Weor as the incarnation of the divine feminine essence, identifying her with goddesses such as Salambo, Matra, Ishtar, Astarte, Aphrodite, and Venus. He tells us that the solar aura of the repentant Magdalene is composed of all the priestesses of the world.
In modern esotericism we find Helena Blavatsky (1831–1891), author of key esoteric works such as The Secret Doctrine and Isis Unveiled. Another important figure is Alice Bailey (1880–1949), an English writer who, in her book A Treatise on the Seven Rays and Their Associations, details how universal light is divided into seven conscious energies. These forces, or rays, are associated with the glands and chakras of the human body, as well as with colours, sounds and divine qualities.
Among other women who have been key figures in these esoteric movements are Annie Besant (1847-1933) and the surrealist artist Leonora Carrington (1917-2011).
Is the prominence of women cyclical? The influence of Uranus
The prominence of women throughout the course of history seems to be cyclical. There are periods dominated by male figures such as Julius Caesar. Alexander the Great or Napoleon Bonaparte, which receive a lot of attention and feature in our school curriculums. However, there is also evidence of matriarchies and female power at different times in history, such as that of the Amazons, and the Scythian and Sarmatian horsewomen of the ancient world.
Today we find it normal to see women active in all areas of society, reaching the highest positions of power. However, within all spheres of public life there has always been an ebb and flow of the masculine and feminine currents, and this is due to the influence of planetary forces.
Gnostic Astrology teaches that the planet Uranus, which has an orbital period of 84 years, rules the sex glands. As it turns on its axis orbiting the sun, its positive pole points towards the sun for 42 years and, during this time, it favours the male sex. During this period, masculine activity dominates on our planet. During the 42 years that its negative pole points towards the sun, feminine activity dominates, and women achieve prominence.
This brings us to a question: can we make wise use of these influences of Uranus? Not just to achieve worldly and material success, but to achieve a better world for everyone? Could these alternating masculine and feminine currents help us to develop spiritually?
Indeed, both masculine and feminine forces are needed for any creation, and understanding the often neglected role of the woman is essential to spiritual progress, if that’s what we seek.
The power of the feminine creative energy
Although their historical place in esoteric culture is often hidden, women have an equal right and capacity to reach the highest levels of spiritual development. And what is more, woman, by her very nature of being capable of bringing life into being, is well placed to do so through the highest power of all: the power of love.
Today’s world sees both men and women in a moral and spiritual crisis of decadence and degeneration, with disastrous consequences at a personal and societal level. However, women have the capacity to turn this around for themselves and their families and, by extension, for society as a whole. The home, which is the nucleus of a society, can become a vehicle for spiritual and material triumph, if the woman comprehends her role in this process.
The woman who comprehends the mysteries of sexuality can achieve a radical transformation within herself and can, in turn, also help to regenerate her husband. This process requires sincere self-knowledge, spiritual maturity and a deep veneration for the generative and regenerative powers of sexual energy. Gnosis teaches the keys to this transformation.
Key figures in the study of human psychology, such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, recognised the importance of sexual energy as the driver of all human action. Much further back in human history, knowledge of the transformative power of this energy, when wisely used, is found in ancient Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese texts. It is a force as fundamental as electricity or magnetism: invisible but immensely powerful.
This energy flows through everything that exists, and is the source of universal procreation. It is instantaneous, the fastest and most powerful force that exists, acting thousands of times faster than the mind can think, and we all hold it in our sexual organs. For this reason, knowing how to consciously manage it is fundamental since, while it has the power to create, it also has the power to destroy.
The feminine principle as a source of transformation
The mystery of woman is connected with her ability to manage this energy. When women allow themselves to be influenced by the mores and fads of modern society, they become disconnected from their true nature and lose their way spiritually, preventing them from receiving the inner guidance they need to guide themselves and their loved ones in the right direction.
Integration with Spirit is to connect with the source of life. As Life descends from Spirit to Matter, it first unfolds into Mother Kundalini, the Sacred Serpent of the ancient Hindu scriptures and, in turn, crystallises in woman herself. In ancient times, men received this power directly from their wives. This explains why women have such a crucial role in human spiritual development yet rarely feature in ancient texts. Their role was a sacred mystery which, if revealed, ran the risk of being profaned.
While her true importance remains hidden, the mysteries of woman are present throughout esotericism in symbols, such as the Holy Grail of the Arthurian legends which, in turn, comes from the sacred chalice that was present at the Last Supper of the Christ and his Apostles.
The time has now come for women to become aware of their great power. Through the power of love, they have the ability to transform their inner world and, by extension, the outer world. As VM Samael Aun Weor states: ‘Conscious will is represented by the sacred woman, Mary, Isis, who tramples on the descending serpent.’
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