"The Hermetic Principle of Gender" Open Edition, 22x28" Premium Poster

Artwork Description and Symbolism

Gender expresses the Hermetic Principle in its most practical and psychologically precise form: Mental Gender exists within the human psyche as two complementary currents—the generative and the witnessing. This artwork reveals the architecture of thought itself: where ideas are born, and where they are observed, directed, and shaped.

At the center is a stylized brain divided into two hemispheres, visually mapping the dual structure of consciousness. The right hemisphere—vividly alive with vibrant, flowing rainbow color and labeled “the Me”—represents the feminine, generative principle of mind. This is the subconscious, passive, creative matrix where impressions become images, where emotions give rise to mental atmosphere, and where thoughts are produced before you consciously select them. It is intuitive, holistic, associative, compassionate, and imaginative. In Hermetic terms, it is the mental womb—the fertile field that generates the raw material of experience.

The left hemisphere—rendered in structured monochromatic plaid and labeled “the I”—represents the masculine, witnessing principle. This is the conscious, active, objective mind of will. It does not generate thoughts; it observes them. It discerns, selects, directs, affirms, rejects, and gives instruction. It is intellect, logic, analysis, science, mathematics, and disciplined focus. It is the mental authority that says, “This thought, not that one.” It is the director of attention and the arbiter of meaning.

The surrounding symbolism reinforces this dynamic. A bright yellow light bulb near the masculine side suggests conscious illumination—clarity brought through awareness. A magnet near the feminine side suggests attraction and receptivity—the subconscious drawing in impressions and generating internal imagery. The swirling electromagnetic background reminds us that these two principles are not static compartments; they are interacting currents within one unified mind.

Here is the essential Hermetic insight: the feminine principle generates thought; the masculine principle witnesses and directs thought. Psychological imbalance occurs when one current overwhelms the other. If the generative mind runs unchecked, a person becomes carried by mood, impulse, imagination, and internal narrative without discrimination. If the witnessing mind dominates excessively, life becomes rigid, over-controlled, and disconnected from creativity and emotional depth.

Mental health and creative power arise when the generative mind produces rich content, and the witnessing mind calmly observes, selects, and directs it. This internal harmony has nothing to do with identity politics or social constructs. It is about the structural mechanics of consciousness itself. And importantly, maintaining inner balance does not negate healthy outward polarity; many individuals thrive when rooted in their natural embodied orientation while still maintaining access to both inner faculties.

Gender makes this invisible process visible. It offers not ideology, but a blueprint: your life is shaped by which thoughts are generated—and by which thoughts are chosen.

For collectors who seek art as a mirror for self-mastery rather than decoration, Gender is a powerful daily reminder: you are not your thoughts—you are the one who witnesses them and decides which ones will shape your reality. Bring Gender into your space now as a declaration of conscious authorship.

Accompanying Inspirational Exercise: “Witness & Direct” Practice (10 minutes)

A practical application of Hermetic Mental Gender—focused on the generative and witnessing aspects of mind.

1) Observe the generative stream (3 minutes)

Sit quietly and let your thoughts arise naturally.
Do not try to control them.
Simply notice: thoughts appear on their own.

Write down three recurring thoughts that surface.

This is the feminine generative principle at work—producing content.

2) Activate the witnessing principle (3 minutes)

For each thought, ask:

• Is this objectively true?

• Is this useful?

• Does this align with the direction I want my life to move?

You are now functioning as the masculine witnessing mind.

3) Select and instruct (3 minutes)

Choose one thought to reinforce and one to dismiss.

Write:

• “I consciously choose to reinforce: ____.”

• “I consciously choose to withdraw attention from: ____.”

Repeat the chosen thought slowly for 60 seconds.

4) Direct one action (1 minute)

Take one small action that matches the thought you chose to reinforce.

This practice demonstrates the Hermetic law in motion:
Thought is generated.
Witness selects.
Will directs.
Reality follows.