Bending the Binary

DEBORAH LIPP (Jersey City, NJ) has been teaching Wicca, magic, and the occult for nearly forty years and has been featured in many Pagan publications. She has lectured on three continents and appeared in various media, including Coast-to-Coast radio, the A&E documentary Ancient Mysteries: Witchcraft in America, and The New York Times. Deborah is the author of several books, including Tarot Interactions (9780738745206) and The Elements of Ritual (9780738703015). www.deborahlipp.com

"Lipp reimagines polarity magic in this insightful offering...Those seeking a 21st-century take on this magical principle won't be disappointed."—Publishers Weekly"Anyone who works with polarity as a magical principle will find something of value in Bending the Binary. Deborah Lipp dismantles the notion of magical polarity, shows how it works, and then puts it back together again, all to build a richer, more powerful, more inclusive approach to magic."—Jack Chanek, author of Qabalah for Wiccans"Deborah Lipp provides a much-needed guide to navigating the multifaceted concept of polarity in the 21st century. In this very thorough work, the author examines how polarity has all too often been reduced to an overly simplified gender binary and offers deeper insight which can be used to unlock a world of possibilities. Covering aspects of the Kabbalah, alchemy, Wicca, and more, this book not only includes philosophy but also gives practical rituals and handy tables of correspondence, making this an invaluable resource toward understanding a more complete vision of many forms of magical polarity and the gender spectrum."—Michael Furie, author of The Witch's Book of Potions"This book made me think and take time to unpack my feelings on various topics. Deborah Lipp's tone is sometimes that of a seasoned teacher and scholar of witchcraft and at other times it is her personal voice describing her journey as a queer woman. This book is a collection of observations, insights, and suggestions on ritual practices on the topic of polarity in magick...Bending the Binary will spark many conversations and that is an excellent thing."—Ivo Dominguez Jr., author of The Elements of the Wise"Deborah Lipp has articulated the essential insight that polarity is not synonymous with gender. The clarity of her thinking is breathtaking. The tension between opposites which is resolved in their ultimate union is central to many magical traditions, but linking this to gender has imprisoned those of us who do not fit rigid definitions. We've needed the binary to flex without destroying that kind of magic altogether. Bending the Binary accomplishes that feat. It's a long overdue exploration of polarity in its rich diversity, creating an inclusive approach to magic...This is one of those groundbreaking books that will change the way we think and practice, essential on every bookshelf."—Brandy Williams, author of Practical Magic for Beginners and The Woman Magician

• ContentsList of Figures xviiList of Charts xviiAcknowledgments xixIntroduction: Who Cares about Polarity Anyway? 1SECTION ONE: POLARITY AND THE BINARYChapter One: Defining Polarity 11Chapter Two: One, Two, Three 31Chapter Three: Polarity and Sexuality 43Chapter Four: Where Polarity Stands Today 55Chapter Five: How We Got Here, Part 1: From Antiquity to the Renaissance 67Chapter Six: How We Got Here, Part 2: From the Western Magical Tradition to Today 83SECTION TWO: POLARITIES AND BINARIESChapter Seven: Force and Form 107Chapter Eight: Self and Other 117Chapter Nine: Passive and Active 133Chapter Ten: Dominance and Submission 147Chapter Eleven: Night and Day 165Chapter Twelve: Gender Polarities 183SECTION THREE: WHAT’S NEXT?Chapter Thirteen: Polarity Magic 209Chapter Fourteen: Occult Groups 223In Conclusion 227Appendix A: Polarity on the Tree of Life 229Appendix B: Polarities Charts 231References 235Index 243