The Feminine Universe

by Alice Lucy Trent

The Primordial Feminine Tradition To say that a book challenges all the assumptions of the current world is almost a waste of breath. Every other book published in the late 20th century makes claims of that sort- perpetual discord and dispute being the very fabric of a fragmented, ultra-patriarchal society. But, of course, all these 'challenges' and 'rebellions', feminist or otherwise, remain firmly within the mental economy of that society. Here is a book that really does challenge the whole system from the outside; from the standpoint of the original feminine wisdom that has not spoken for centuries. If you let it, it will turn your world upside-down or rather, turn it back the right way up. As the directionlessness of the modern world becomes increasingly apparent, more and more people are turning to traditional teachings such as Islam or Eastern religions. Yet to many women (and not only women) the strongly masculine or patriarchal orientation of these teachings can be a barrier. This book shows that all traditions are fundamentally dialects of a single Primordial Tradition which is ultimately feminine in form. Miss Trent expounds this Primordial Tradition. The words are hers, but the teaching is Eternal, for metaphysical writings made up of an authors original opinions are of no value for that very reason. Here is the first full and systematic digest of the timeless philosophy of Feminine Essentialism, including the application of true metaphysics to new circumstances, with which the ancients had no dealings. The application of the Hindu science of the three gunas in the analysis of modern cultural history, for example, is devastating. This is a book that not only clearly shows what is wrong with the current world, but also shows what we can do about it, to transform our own lives here and now, and ultimately to prepare the way for a regeneration of our unbalanced society.

Genres: Philosophy, Feminism, Nonfiction, Spirituality

127 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Sasha Wolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is both fascinating and highly frustrating. I have never read anything quite like it: an argument for Neoplatonism from the perspective of a gender-essentialist form of female separatism. I am oversimplifying here in order to avoid having to explain the whole history of the Madrian and Aristasian movements, but that is the spiritual and sub-cultural context from which the author writes.

The metaphysics intrigues the theologian in me, and there are some very valid points about society's devaluing of femininity. Some of its comments about mass media seem almost prophetic in the era of Trump and Brexit.

However, the book promotes a number of features of the Aristasian sub-culture and its offshoots that make me very uneasy: a romanticising of the pre-1960s past and of other, especially Asian, cultures; a rejection of evolution; and language about international elites of the kind that is elsewhere used as a dogwhistle for anti-Semitism. I don't think it is intended as such here, but the similarity makes me very wary.

I think this is a key text for anyone who is interested in Madrianism, Filianism, Aristasia, Chelouranya etc, simply because it has been so influential there and is referred to so often, either directly or by implication. There is also a lot of food for thought for anyone interested in a spirituality focused on the Divine Feminine and how that might be reflected in a more holistic society. However, I would not recommend taking it literally as the manifesto for a new world that it clearly wants to be.

[Erin Guinevere · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you open this book for the first time, please do so with an open mind.

Indeed, the first time I attempted it, I clung so desperately to the anarchist and modern liberal feminist theory I'd believed in heart and soul since my mid teenage years that I just felt angry with it. It wasn't until I went in to this with the perspective of a child yearning for a fairytale life, before all my misguided convictions about the 'real world' began to take root in my heart, that I was able to truly appreciate it.

I certainly do not agree with some of the ideas expressed in this book. But at its heart, it expresses what I think I have always believed in the deepest, most essential part of my soul, about civilization, society, and human nature.

The incredible thing about this particular work that makes it stand out from other traditionalist works is it approaches traditional cosmology from an eternal feminine perspective (as the title suggests). The book even goes in to this in some detail, stating how traditionalism is often harmful to women. But if one takes the evidence presented by Trent, the realization sets in that 'true' traditionalism is infact feminine, and not masculine, centred. Nothing in true traditionalism implies women are meerly the helpmeets of men or the secondary sex. Quite the opposite. The idea is presented, backed up with a lot of research and just plain common sense, that masculinized traditionalism exists because society has strayed so far from the primordial, feminine, traditional truth.

An eye opening read, even if I took issue with some of it.

[Annasophia Bernstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many people in todays world agree, that something is dreadfully wrong with our modern way of thinking and living and our society as a whole. Millions of books flood the market, whose authors claim to have found what is wrong and what should be done differently. Millions of people, many of them women, are willing to buy them, and give them a chance because they are desperate.

I was one of those people until three years ago.

Be it feminism, permaculture, neo-paganism or radical evangelicalism - no matter where I looked, the same picture presented itself to me: while there was some truth in the way the diagnosis of our societies malaise was made and even the solutions proposed, for every good and truthful point there were at least as many where things were muddled completely.
Always I was left with the impression that only one weed was identified and weeded from the garden or else, that only the leaves and stems of the pests were plucked of and the roots left in the ground to sprout again in slightly different form.
Never was a view of the world a truely coherent whole.
I was struggeling hard to patch together my own view from different, seemingly contradicting ideas of others, when by serendipity or the kindness of some higher creature, I stumbled upon "The Feminine Universe".

On the very first page of this book, I read:
"This is no ordinary book. It will either leave you wholly unmoved, or it will transform your life for ever.
In a fragmented world full of conflicting ideas and alternatives, this book puts forward the other point of view. The one that is other than all of them. The only real alternative there is."

It sounded preposterously boastful at the time, but now, after three years of having read the book again and again, and still discovering more every time, I can assure you, that it is quite simply the Truth. This REALLY is the book that knows all the weeds and pulls them out thoroughly by the root!

Read chronologically and with an open mind, so as to allow Miss Trent to take you by the hand and lead you through the labyrinth of modernity's history and meaning, this book really can change the entire way you perceive and feel about the world, femininity, society, religion and yourself, by giving you the key to the understanding of the set of mind which was normal everywhere and at all times until the cultural revolution of the 1960s in the West.
It refutes patriarchy, without abolishing femininity (an error ironically almost universal among feminists), takes position against the destruction of nature, without blaming civilisation and culture for it (an error made more or less obviously and intentionally by most "green", eco-conscious ideologies/groups) and condemns our present modern world, without any resignation or the rejection of, for example, modern technology.

If you too are one of those trying to find out what is wrong and what you can do to change it, please do give this book a chance - it is the most worthwhile book you are likely ever to read! I am certain, that you will not be disappointed!

[*Closed* · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I most definitely don't agree with everything Trent has to say about neither femininity nor the truth about the universe, she makes some great points that bear repeating in this day and age. Science is making claims in territories wherein it simply cannot credibly uphold its own standards (if we are to subscribe to the policied of the infamous Karl Popper and the rest of the motley crew). It advocates a world view not fit for the emotional life of the human animal, assuming that said animal is given to some amount of reflection on the consequences of base premises. The feminine universe restores a wisdom to our worldview that is sorely lacking in popular culture as well as in the often unashamedly sexist mythos our societies continue to abide by. A way into spirituality for those previously not inclined due to gender-skewed language and symbol (a very prominent problem in Hermetic writings, for instance). A refreshing take on matters, although I could've done without the rather bizarre spanking detour at the end :) If I remember correctly, it reads pretty well until the last quarter.

[Robina Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking sweep through philosophy and history, presenting the ultimate explanation for the way things are. I was especially struck with the use of the three Gunas of Hindu tradition to explain the different ways it is possible to interpret the world and act accordingly. It is a bonus for me that this book takes the feminine - and distinctly not feminist - view. If you think humans only got it right in the last few decades, you probably won't read this book, but if you do, prepare to be shaken to the core!

[Kelly J Applegate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Reads very much like most academic writing, so, therefore, was a little dry and very heady at times. Admittedly skimmed the last quarter. However, it presents a lot of really complex ideas in an understandable way, and I would recommend for anyone interested in essentialist goddess worship/belief.

[Andrea Liu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book weaves together rather lengthy and convoluted arguments that (1) modernity is wrong and that we live in a destructive time or the end times ("kali yuga"), and that (2) masculinity is a historical aberration and thus must be eradicated. Basically, the author ignores the material history of this world while presenting a fantasy version of world history in which female supremacy was the normal order of human society. (This idea was also peddled by biased feminist scholars such as Marija Gimbutas, especially through her "Kurgan hypothesis," which has since been widely debunked and criticized by respectable archeologists and historians.)

To offer a context, The Feminine Universe was originally published as a fundamental philosophical textbook of the "Aristasia" movement, which combined a Goddess-worship cult based on forged and plagiarized "scriptures" with a lesbian BDSM commune. The book was meant to be for the indoctrination of new members to Aristasia.

It proposes a "secession" from the modern world based on the traditionalism of Rene Guenon.

It is somewhat thought-provoking if you're into hearing heterodox ideas but for the most part, this was a very confusing read, and the twisting of history by the author is quite intellectually dishonest, so you must read it if you so choose with critical eyes.

[Linda · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Feminine Universe purports to be an an analysis of how a world that once enjoyed a benevolent matriarchy lost it's way. This is dense and unreadable. The author seems to be borrowing stuff from Hinduism and claims we are currently living in the least (and last) Age of human existence. Even odder is how she quotes C.S. Lewis to "prove" how civilization has gone wrong. She advocates succession from society for the benefit of some self-created ideal of feminine life rather than trying to reform the patriarchal laws or attitudes. Weirdly obsessional about style and fashion. And why does she keep referring to "maid" as in "maid did this" or "maid was affected by that?"
Descriptions of this book made it sound scholarly or, at least, intelligible, but it is just deranged.
I could not make myself finish this.

[Railynne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable nonsense. Got through about half and could not continue.

[Gelsey Goldenberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF Basically unreadable. Looked up some of the “facts”mentioned and they are more myth/rumor than fact.