Julius Evola

THE
MET APHYSICS
OF
SEX

INNER TRADITIONS INTERNATIONAL

New York

f\

Inner Traditions
377 Park Avenue S outh
New York, New York 10016
First U.S. edition 1983

INTRODUCTION

The Metaphysics of Sex was first published in Italian under the title
MetaflSica delSesso, by Edizioni Mediterranee Roma SRL.

I EROS AND SEXUAL LOVE

Copyright 1969 Edizioni Mediterranee

English translation copyright 1983 by Inner Traditions
International Ltd. All righ ts reser ved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopyi ng,
record ing or by an information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the Publisher. Inquiries should be
addressed to Inner Traditions .
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Evola, Julius, 1898-1974.
The metaphysics of sex.
Translation of: Metafisica del se sso.
Includes bibliographical references.
I. Sex. 2. Sexual ethics. 3. Love.
L Title.
HQ21.E9613 1983
82-11909
306.7
ISBN 0-89281-025-4
Edited by Deborah Forman and Claudine Fischer
Printed in the United States of America
Cover illustration: Leda and the Swan (flemish artist c. 1540. The
John G. Johnson l.otl('(tion. Phibdclphia Musell11l lIr AI'I.
t{eprint<.."(! hy permission.)

The Evolutionary Prejudice - Love and Sex - Eros and the

Instinct for Reproduction - The Myth and Genius of the
Species - Eros and the Tendency toward Pleasurc - Sensual
Pleasure - The Magnetic Theory of Lovc - The Degrees of
Sexual Development - Physical Sex and Inner Sex Conditional Nature and Forms of Erotic Attraction
II THE METAPHYSICS OF SEX
The Myth of the Hermaphrodite - Eros and the Various
Degrees of Intoxication with It - The Biological Treatment and
tbe Fa!! of Eros - Aph rodite Urania; Eros and Beauty - Lust
and the Myth of Poros and Penia - Appendix - Homosexuality
III PHENOMENA OF TRANSCENDENCY IN PROFANE
1.E
Sex and Human Values - "Ever lasti ng Love," Jealousy, and
S.:xua! Pride - Phenomena of Transcendency in Puberty 1.(Jve, the Heart, Dreams, and Death - The Love-Pain-Death

42

67

(:om plex - Sensual Pleasure and Suffering: The Masochist

Sadist Complex - Erotic Ecstasy and Mystic Ecstasy - The
Experience of Coitus - The Metaphysics of Modesty - The
Meaning of the Orgy - Appendix; Marquis de Sa de and the
"Way of the Left Hand" - Rasputin and the Sect of the Khlysti
IV GODS AND GODDESSES, MEN AND WOMEN
115
Mythulogy, Ontology, and Psychology - The Metaphysical
t )yad - Ikmeter Archetypes and Aphrodite Archetypes, the

V il').:in , :lIId Ultimate Nakedness - Typical Differentations of

M:mho",,l in My th -Man and Female in Manifestation - On the

I ):",,,,,,n;.- ill Ihe Feminine and the- Symbolism of Ihe Inverted

(:"iIUS - The Phallus and Mentruati(l n

Male and Female

I'web"t,,).:.'>' - \'(Ioillan as M01her allli Wo man a Lover - Pity,
s, 11:1til v. :111.1 ( :I'lwh v ill \'(10111:111 - Til. (las,ilIa 1 i,," ,,[, \'(1"111:111
_

and Activity and Passivity in Sexual Love - The Ethics of the

Sexes
V SACRED CEREMONIES AND EVOCATIONS
172
Wedlock as "Mys[ery" in the World of Tradition - Christianity
and Se,.;uality - Sacred Prostitution and Holy Marriages Incubus and Succubus; Fetishism and Evocatory Processes
Evocation Processes in the Chivalrous Love of the Middle Ages
- The Initiatory Experiences of the Worshippers of Love Appendix; The Meaning of the Sabbat and the Black Mass The Doctrine of the Hermaphrodite in the Chrhtian Mysticism

Introduction

VI SEX IN THE REALM OF INITIATONS AND MAGIC 216

Transmutations and the Commandment of Chastity - The
Thniques of Endogenous Transmutation in Kundalini-Yoga
and Taoism - Sex in the Kabbala and Eleusinian Mysteries
Tantrk Sexuallractices - Tantric 5e'xual l>ractices and Their
Sret Sexual Practices in Chineses Taoism - Arab
Dangers
5e'xual Practices and Hermetic Symbology - The Myriam and
the "Fire Magic" - The "Light of Sex" and the "Law of
_

Telema" - The Presuppositions of Operative Sexual M.agic

rhe term "metaphysics" in the title ofthis book needs to be defined,

lilr it will be used here with two distinct meanings. The first is
commonly employed in philosophy, where metaphysics is
understood as the search for first principles and fundamental
Illeanings. The metaphysics of sex wiJl therefore be the study of what
frum an absolute point of view i s signified by the sexes and their
irucraclion. There has been little precedence for this kind of
n:liCarch. After mentioning Ilato and leaving aside certain hints
limnd in mystical writings of the Renaissance-and also ignoring the
tiu.:ories of Boehme and some hcterodox mystics influenced by him,
lip to and induding Franz von Baader--Only with Schopennauer do

CONCLUSION

273

NOTES

277

INDEX

333

find a precursor. After him, we can only cite Weininger and, to

II certain extent, Berdyaev and Klages. In the modcm cra and above
1,11 in our own day, Sl\ldies of the problem o f the sexes from
IIl1thropoiogical, biological, sociological, eugenic, and psycho
l'I1:.lylic points of view have mUltiplied endemically; in fact, a
nl"tllogism, "sexology," has been created to label research of this
kind. BUl none of this has any relation to the metaphysics of sex. In
WI.'

this field, as in every other. our contemporaries have shown no

!merest in the search for ultimate meanings, or if they have, the
Sl.>1.rch has appeared inconclusive and uninteresting; rather, they
h,.vc thought to attain more imponant and serious knowledge by
kl.'Cping to an empirical and more strictly human level, whenever
their attention has not been focused on the pathological by-products
urscx.

'rhe same is mainly true of the writers, past and present, who have
llealt with love rather than specifically with sc,.; itself. For the most
p:,ft, they have kept to the field of psychology and, within that, to a

el1erJI analysis of feelings. Even the writings of such authors a s

Stmdhal, Bourget, Balzac. Solovieff, and D . H. Lawrence have little
h. du with the deepest meanings of sex. Moreover, references to
]"ve-in view of the general meaning of that word nowadays, and
lIiv," ,hc elHimcntal and romantic dis-intesration in the experiences
" I t h, ml,jurity <If 11I.1lpk--were hound to create ambiguities and to
lil1,i. ns,,a...;I. " , illiarnlW and rathcrl.,unmnllplaec field. Only here
n"d IIl<"n :md. "m migh! sav, 'II ",os, hv ,h:",,, 1".'1' mh writers

322

Notes

ntuate desire al the moment of ejaculation and think hard

abom lhe thing desired before, during, and after the act."
I 59. Ibid., pp. 76-78,81. A Hindu parallel may perhaps be indicated
in the Tan/rasara (translation Gnoii, Turin, 1%0,pp. 280-281),
where there is talk of the union of the vira with his companion in
coilUs "being substantiated by each other as they are, they c0operate reciprocally in lhe awakening of the power of Shiva, of
the first motion of energy until the creative emission."
160. Ibid., p. RO.
161. Ibid., pp. 86-89.
162. Ibid., p. 210. Here, however, there is reference mainly to the
practices with the "magical mirror."

Index
Activity, and passivity, in sexual
love, 162169
Adam and Eve, 138139
Albedo,257
Algolagnia, 87-88
Alpminne.187
Amoroli-mudra,237
Attango. Ranga,194

Belly dance, 95-96

Bhagavad-Gita, 109, 112
Biological final ism, 17
Bisexuals, 65
Black Mass, and Sabbat, 202
209

Black Opera, 257

Brahma, \08,1 \0
Brahmacharya, 218
Brothers of the Free Spirit, 46,
179,229,255

Anusllramere,228
Anasurma, 102,126
Aphrodite, 129, 133; archetypes,
Chakra, 268
127130
Chakrcshvara. 268
Aphrodite Pandemia, 62
Clumdali,242
Aphrodite Teleia, 175
Aphrodite Urania, 54-57,62
Chang-k'j chtn.-chu, 250
Ch'ang-shcng,246
Apollo, 134
Chastity, commandment, and
Apsar.lscs, 10<1transmutations, 216219
Arab
sexual
practices, and
hermetic symbology, 253258 Chinese Taoism. See Taoism
Ardvi,126
Chin kuan,224
Arkhai,125
Chil-Shakti.122
Christianity, and sexuality, 177
Aromal body, 29-30
Aropa, 231, 236,261,265
\81
Anamatldi,1819
Christian myslicism,
Anamo.lorta, 182,135
hennaphrodile in, 21()..215
Coagula,256
Artemis, 130
ASafta,223,270
Coitus: experience: of, 90-96;
Astaroth,209
inverted, symbolism, 140145
Coup de loudre, 37, 189, 191,
Astarte, 128,129
195,201
Astral light, and exaltation, 26Crowley,
Aleister, 46, 264-267
27
Atmatl,44,9I,151
Cruelty, in women, 16().162
Cybele, 130
Ayesha,138
Ayn el-qalb, 78
Daemonic, in feminine, 140-145
Bahirmukhi,123
Dakilli,230
Baqa, 255
Dakshinachara, Il l, 112
Dancing, and ecstasy, 90
Barakah,88,253-254
fk:aUly, and eros, 54-57
Death, and love, hean, and
Hq.:lmrds. 17'J, 229
dreams, 77-80

Decrctism, 269
Deianeira, 243
Demeter, archetypes, 125-127

Devadasi, 182
Devotio,129
Digambara,134
Digni/as mo/rimanii, 173
Dohakosha, 239
Dolores, 161
Dominicans of Saint Catherine,
Convent at Prato, 180
Dragon, and tiger, 248-249
Dreams: and love, heart, and
death, 7780; orgasm in, 20

Duhrah,124
Durga, 128, 129, 130, 164-165,
230

Dvondwlila,228
Ecstasy,erotic and mystic,89-90
Eleusinian mysteries, 79; sex in,

225228
Eliade, 104
Elisabeth of Genion, 89
Eros:
and
beauty,
54-57;
biological treatment and fall
of, 49-54; and instinct of
reproduction,
12-15;
intoxication with, 46-49; and
tendency toward pleasure,1819
Erotic attraction, and
conditional nature, 35-41
Erotic ecstasy, and mystic, 89-90
Ethics, of sexes, 169-171
Eulis Brotherhood, 268
Eunuchs, 35; sexual desire in,20
Evocation: in chivalrous love of
Middle Ages, 191-195; and
fetishism, 186-191
Exahation, and astral light, 26-

27

Excessus, 221

EXcessul mentis, 200, 241

Fana,255
Fallg-chong-tlu-fa, 247-248
F01ICpishu,79
Fal'hll-l-qalb,78
Female and male: in
manifestation,
135-140;
psychology, 150-156
Feminine, daemon!c in, 140-145
Fetishism, and evocation, 186191
Fina1ism, biological, 17
Fire magic, and Myriam, 258-

261
Frank,Jokob,46,226
Fravashi, 129
Ganga, 127

Geltullgslrieb,72
Genius, 173-174; myth of, 15-19

GrilladetxlIa, 174
Guna, 238
Halhayogapradipika,234
Hathor,79,85
Heart, love, dreams, and death,

77-80
Hebe, 133,243
Hebephrenia, 74,76, 242
Heracles, 133-134,243
Hermaphrodite: in Christian
mysticism, 210-215; myth of,
42-46
Hermetic

Brotherhood

of

Luxor, 268
Hermetic symbology, and Arab
sexual practices, 253-258
Heruka, 134

Hieros gamos,79, 175, 183

Holy Ghost, 124-125

Homosexuality, 62-66
Hormone intoxication, 21

Kundalini-yoga,
endogenous
transmutation in, 219-225

Hsitlg, 224
Havareno, 124

Lakshmi,I86

[allua ClJeti, 262

[Ching, 121,248
Iconic memory, 20 2-203
Ida,220,23 8
Incesl, 143,257

Latana,238
Lota-sadlu1I1a, I l l, 145,233
Lata-veslltitaka,145,233
LeC/us genwlis,173
Lesbians, 63
Light: astral, and exaltation,2627; and law of Tdema, 261-

Incubus,and succubus, 186-191

267
Initiates' mania, 47
Lillgam, 146, 184,221
Inner sex, and physical sex, 32- Love: chivalrous, and evocation,
lS
191-195; everlasting, and
Intoxication: wilh eros, 46-49;
jealousy and sexual pride, 70hormone, 21
73; and heart, dreams, and
77-80;
magnetic
death,
Ishtar, 128, 129
theory, 22-27; mania, 47; and
sex, 10-12; sexual,activity and
Jealously, everlasting love, and
passivity in, 162-169
sexual pride, 70-73
Love-pain-death complex, 80-83
Lust, and myth of Poros and
Kabbala,sex in, 225-228
Penia, 57-62
Kahna,234
Kali. 122,128, 12 9, 130
Mag,259
Kali Yuga,229
Magnetic theory, o(love, 22-27

Kama, 134,233
Kama-morga, 230
Kamarupitli,123
Kamf.lSutra,92, 144-145,183
Kamini, 156, 165
Khechari-mudra,234
Khlysti, 79,
180-181; and
Rasputin, 112-114
Krishna, 116, 237,240
Krishna kumori,129
Kuei,224
Kula, 229
Kundalini, 95, 220221, 236,
242-243,245

lHahasuklw,241,244,254
MahasuklllJ-koya,241
Maitumas, festival of Waters,

104
Male and female: in
135-140;
manifestation,
psychology, 150-156
A\alleus maieficarum, 163
A!mllJ, 117, 126,149, ISO, 238
Alanda/a,183
Manhood, differentiations In
myth ,13 2- 135
M.anias, favorable, 47
Mara, 241

Marriagts, holy, and

prostirution, 181-186

sacred

Masochist-sadist complex,83-89
Maya-shakti, 122-1 23, 162
Memory, iconic,202-203
Menstruation, and phallus, 145ISO
Metaphysical dyad, 117-125
Ming,224
Modesty, metaphysics of, 96
102
Morsjusli,266
Mors osculi,196
Mudro, 182,231,237,239,241,
270
Myriam, and fire magic,258-261
Myslerium conjrmClionis,131
Myslerillm tram/ormationis,183
Mystic ecstasy,and erotic, 89-90
Mysticism, Christian,
hermaphrodite in, 210-215
Mythology,
ontology,
and
psychology,115-117

Ontology,
mythology,
psychology,115-117
Opera, 256
Opus alchemicum,257
Opus Irallsjormationis,258

and

Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO),

265,266
Orestes, 134
Orgy,48; meaning of, 102-105
Ortlibians, 229
Osculum sub carlda,207
Os sacnun,208
Ovid,69
Padma,184,242
Pondiatattva, III
Parakiya,232
Parvati, 134
Parlifal, 46
Passivity, and activity,in sexual
love,162169
Pazzi,Maria Maddalena dei, 89
Pederasty,62-63, 65
Penia and Poros,myth of,57-62
Phallus, and menstruation, 145-

Naglowska,Maria de,261-263
ISO
Nahash,132
Nakedness,
ultimate,
and Physical sex, and inner sex, 32virgin,130-132
35
Naturalism,12-13
Pin,26
Nature, conditional, and erotic Pingala,220,238
attraction, 3541
Pity,in women, 160-162
Ncssus' cloak,243-244
Pleasure: eros and tendency and
Nigredo,257
toward, 18-19; sensual, 19.22;
Nivrifli-marga,110-111
and suffering, 83-89
Novalis,80,81,84,93,94,110
I'oetic mania, 47
Nllbkah,124
Poms and Penia,myth of,5762
Nut,143-144
Porta ennelica, 259
Nyasa, 231
Posism,269
Nyct'elia,79
Prajna, 241,242
Oias, 218, 219, 220

Prakriti,121-122,123,131,144,
175,230

Pnrorilli-marga, 110-111,135
Prophetic mania, 47
Prostitution, sacred, and holy
marriages, 181-186
Psychology: male and female,
mythology,
150-156;

Samadhi,241
SaltuJlljasa,233
Sama1o/O rati,232
Samara$a, 87, 236, 239
Samarlha,233
Sarmara, 141,241
ontology,and, 115117
Samskara,36,37,174
Puberty, transcendency in, 73 Sattva, 220
77
Scotus Eriugena,139-140,267
Pllrusha, 121-122, 175
Second wedding,rite oC,262
Prmuhamarra
samba"dhibhih, Sekhmet,129-130
141
Sensual pleasure, 19-22; and
Pyr, 259
suffering, 83-89
Sex: evolutionary prejudice, 9Radha, 116,237. 240
10; and human values, 67-70;
Rajas, 220, 236, 237, 238-239,
i n Kabbala and Eleusinian
240
mysteries, 225-228; light of,
Randolph, Pascal Beverly, 268261-267; and love, 10-12;
m
physical and inner, 3235; in
Raptlu,91
world today, 6-8
Rasalla,238
Sexes, ethics, of, 169-171
RasavadQlra,49
Sexual development, degree of,
Rasputin, and sect of Khlysti,
2732
112-114
Sexuality: and Christianity, 177Rebis, 256, 257
181; in woman,160-162
Opera,
200,
257
Red
Sexual
love,
acuvIty
and
ReprodUction, instinct,
and
passivity in,162169
eros, 1215
Sexual magic, operative, 267Rubedo, 257
m
Rumi,90
Sexual practices: Arab, and
hermetic symbology, 253-258;
Sabbat, and Black Mass, 202secret, i n Chinese Taoism,
209
245-253; Tantric, 228-234;
Sacrnm,126
Tantric, and dangers, 234-245
Sade, Marquis dc, and Way of Sexual pride, everlasting love,
the Left Hand, 105-112
and jealousy,7073
SadharQlri,233
Shakti, 116, 122,123, 136,144,
and
105112;
Sadism,
221,229,230, 237,241 ,242
masochism,83-89
Sheikh of the Mountain, 229
Sahaja,242,245
Shekhinah, 124, 137,258
....ahaja-svkha. 237,263
Shing-mu, 128

Shiva, 108, 111, 116, 122, 123. Theotokos, 258

.
Tiger, and dragon, 248-249
134,146,221,230,237,242
Tiroclerism,270
Shiva-rhakti,l22
Todeslneb,84
Shukra,236
Transmutations: and
Siddha,111,243
commandmem of chastity,
Siddha-vira,233
Sivananda Sarasvati, 218
Skoptzi, 113
Sky-Earth dyad, 120
Sophia, 125,137,211,212
SlIbhashita-samgrapha,234
Succubus, and incubus, 186-191
Suffering, and sensual pleasure,
83-89
Sukha,236
Sulfur, 256
Su-niu, ching, 250
Sura, 132
Sushumna, 221,222
Svaciharma,III
Sva/llyi grech,113
Svarupa,231
Svcehchhachari, III
Sybolism, in inverted coitus,
140-145
Sybology, hermetic, and Arab
sexual practices, 253-258
SymbofOll,31
T'ai-chi,135,224
Tantric sexual practices, 228234; and dangers, 234-245
Taoism: Chinese: secret sexual
practices
245-253.
in,
endogenous transmutation in,
219-225
Tasis,255
Tejar,239,252
Telema, law of, 261-267
Teule,47-48
Templars, 193

in
216-219;
endogenous,
kundalini-yoga and Taoism,
219-225
1nng,23,24
Trri,23
Upanishads, 91,249
Upaya,242
Urdhvarefas,218
Ursulines Convent at Loudun,
18'
Val'na, 174
Val'ra, 242,244, 269
Vajrayana, 229,234, 238, 241
Valkyrie, 129
Values, human, and sex, 67-70
Varna, III
Vamaehara,109, III
Vampirism, psychic, 249
Varunani, 131
Vasana,36
Veshya kumarika, 232
Viparita-mailhuna. 122,

Way of the LcCl Hand, 46, 109,

111.112, 136, 228;
and
Marquis de Sade, 105-112
Way of the Right Hand, III, 112
Wedding, second, rite of, 262
Wedlock, as mystery in world of
rradition, 173-177
While Opera, 257
Wirchcraft, 162-163
Woman: fascination of, 162; in
manifestation, 135-140; as
mother and as [over, 156-160;
pity, sexualiry, and cruelty in,
160-162; psychology of, 150156
Worshippers of love, 193-195;
initiatory experiences, 195202
WII, 163
Yakshilli,230
Yang an d yin,23, 29, 30,31,40,
49, 120-121, 136, 224, 246,
248-249,252
Yin-tao,247
Yogini, 230,231,236
Ya,Ii,184
Yanishlhana, 242
Yoshamagni,ldhyayilo,174

144-

145,168
Virgin: defloration, 88-89; and
ultimate nakedness, 130-132
Virya, 141, 146, 168, 219, 222,
225,234,238,271
Visheslla rali,231
Vishnu, 108,1I0-lll
Volande,269
Vn'slradhirudhaka,233
Waters. 103-104. 119, 126-12X

Zivugah kadishah, 124

Zohar, I 86