Bending the Binary: Polarity Magic in a Nonbinary World

Wicca teacher Lipp (The Beginner’s Guide to the Occult) reimagines polarity magic in this insightful offering. Polarity magic—magic based in “contrasting energies, forces, or conditions that attract one another”—has, Lipp suggests, long been constrained by the “heterosexual and gender normative” world, which reinforces dualities like male-female or winter-summer. Here, Lipp redefines that narrative for a queer audience, first clarifying that in magic, poles are relative, not absolute, and that polarities need not symbolize “essentialist gender concepts.” After a brief history of polarity magic’s roots in alchemy and the Kabbalah, Lipp explores six essential polarities that can grow one’s magical practice, including “self/other” (“We are both alone and not alone... self and other is a space of longing”) and “night/day” (“Day brings brightness, sunlight... night brings secrecy and mystery”). For each set, a third pole (for night/day, it’s twilight or dawn) encourages flexibility. She also lays out rituals in detail and includes journal prompts. This is best suited for experienced practitioners who will appreciate Lipp’s thoughtful conceptual analysis and historical grounding. Those seeking a 21st-century take on this magical principle won’t be disappointed. (Feb.)