Feminist Difference

This chapter analyzes how contemporary esotericists conceptualize Babalon as a challenge to hegemonic perceptions of femininity. As highlighted in previous chapters, the 1990s onward has witnessed increasing gender-critical awareness in the esoteric milieu. Present-day esotericists connect Babalon to assertiveness, liberated sexuality, sexual aggression, and dominance, thus presenting her as a symbol that runs counter to normative ideas about femininity as nurturing, maternal, soft, and family-oriented. The chapter also explores how the Babalon discourse intersects with critiques of historical Western esotericism and Thelema as well as how esotericists today address perceived sexism in the writings of Crowley and other male occultists. A number of esoteric writers and practitioners posit Babalon as the epitome of the empowered woman magician. While some of these interpretations emphasize the link between femininity and biology, others stress femininity as something more flexible in ways that acknowledge genderqueer and transgendered experience.