Mystery of Sex Polarity - 7. THE PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF SEX - William Walker Atkinson

The Mystery of Sex; or, Sex Polarity - 7. THE PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF SEX - William Walker AtkinsonThe chapter "The Physical Function of Sex," the seventh in William Walker Atkinson's 1909 work *The Mystery of Sex; or, Sex Polarity*, serves as a pivotal grounding point in the book's exploration of sex as a cosmic, universal principle. Building on earlier chapters that establish the **universality of sex**, the **law of love**, the **evolution of sex**, and its manifestations across planes of existence, Atkinson shifts focus here to the tangible, biological role of sex in the physical world. He approaches the topic with the detached, philosophical rigor characteristic of his New Thought and occult writings, urging readers to strip away societal prejudices, religious dogmas, and hedonistic distortions to perceive sex's true purpose as revealed in nature itself.Atkinson begins by inviting the student (his term for the earnest seeker) to cast aside preconceived notions and inherited biases. When one observes the "great book of creation" — the natural world unfiltered by human interpretations — the function of sex becomes unmistakable. Throughout nature, from the lowest organisms to the highest forms of life, sex operates not as an end in itself but as the mechanism for **procreation and reproduction of the species**. The male and female principles unite to generate new life, perpetuating the race and ensuring continuity. This is the sole, unambiguous physical purpose of sex: creation of offspring. Any other use, particularly indulgence for mere sensual pleasure, represents a deviation from nature's intent.This perspective aligns with Atkinson's broader Arcane Teaching philosophy, where sex polarity reflects the cosmic law of opposites — positive and negative poles whose interaction generates energy and form. On the physical plane, this manifests in the complementary roles of male and female organs and energies. The chapter emphasizes that nature provides pleasure in the sexual act primarily as an incentive or lure to ensure the reproductive process occurs. The intense sensation accompanying union is secondary — a bait, not the goal. When humanity inverts this order, prioritizing gratification over generation, it perverts the function and invites imbalance, degeneration, and loss of vital force.Atkinson draws on observations from biology and natural history to reinforce his argument. In the animal kingdom, sex manifests seasonally or cyclically, activated chiefly during periods conducive to offspring survival. Mating behaviors serve reproduction; excess or non-procreative activity is rare or absent in most species. Even in plants, the pollination process — the union of male and female elements — exists purely for seed production. Human beings, however, have "acquired the habit" of employing the physical function of sex for sensual gratification alone, detaching it from its creative aim. This habit, Atkinson asserts, stems from civilization's artificial conditions, unchecked desires, and ignorance of higher laws. It leads to what he terms a "prostitution of the creative function," wasting the potent life-energy that sex represents.A key theme in the chapter is the conservation of vital energy. Atkinson views the reproductive force as a concentrated form of the universal life principle — akin to prana or vital magnetism in other traditions. When expended solely for pleasure, especially excessively or wastefully, it depletes the individual's overall vitality, leading to physical weakness, mental dullness, and spiritual stagnation. Conversely, when aligned with its natural purpose (procreation within harmonious unions), it serves regeneration and health. He hints at the transmutation potential explored in later chapters, where sex energy can be redirected upward for higher development, but here he keeps the lens firmly on the physical.The discussion critiques cultural attitudes toward sex. Atkinson notes that prudish suppression on one extreme and licentious excess on the other both distort the truth. True understanding requires balance: reverence for sex as sacred creation, not shame or indulgence. He warns against "satyrism" (a term he uses later but foreshadows here) — the animalistic overindulgence that turns humans into slaves of passion — and contrasts it with the disciplined, purposeful use of sex in service to life's continuation.Throughout, Atkinson's prose remains measured and instructive, avoiding sensationalism. He employs analogies from nature — the pollen and pistil, the spawning of fish, the mating rituals of birds — to illustrate that sex's physical function is consistent and purposeful across scales. In humanity, this function should elevate rather than degrade: marriage and family become vehicles for conscious creation, where partners recognize each other as polar complements in the great work of manifestation.The chapter bridges the book's metaphysical foundations and its ...