Androgeny
Once our writer’s group was given the subject matter (Androgyny) for our next Communications issue, one memory leapt to the forefront of my mind. It wasn’t a memory I forgot then today remembered. It had such an impression on me, I have never forgotten. In my 20s, the Rolling Stones hit America. When I laid eyes on Mick Jagger, I was immediately fascinated. His features were ugly but he was beautiful. I couldn’t understand how he was so beautiful and fascinating to me when everyone talked about his big lips and coarse features. Years later, I had reason to remember him again. I had joined The Prosperos and learned about androgyny.
In conversation with my good friend, Mara Pennell, she mentioned David Bowie. Again, he had been a personage of deep fascination for me, also. But the crowning achievement – the crème de la was when it dawned on me that’s the fascination with Mona Lisa. Google has this to say, “Widely known for her mysterious smile and everlasting beauty”. Really?? Beauty? If that is your idea of beauty, you are forbidden to pick my next girlfriend. The one thing I’ve always noticed about her face is how masculine it looks. And then the light came on—THAT is why she is beautiful, for the same reason I saw beauty in Mick Jagger. They are both androgynes. That would also explain her staying power, her universality. To me, if it is not a picture of androgyny, then it would be too prosaic to garner such universal appeal.
True androgynes are very creative. In fact, art that represents androgeny is symbolic of the creative act. That is why is is beautiful, not because the symbol, itself, is beautiful. Gay men seem to excel in fields of high creativity—fashion, hair styling, drama. The same for lesbians, although their creativity is more in the practical sides of life—scientists, engineers, mechanics, sports, standup comedians. I believe gay people naturally develop one side of themselves—the one they are born with, of course, either girl or boy. Then due to their proclivities, they are lead to develop their other side. Thane once said, “If there were no gay people, there would be no culture.”
This, of course, does not exclude straight people. At one time, it was just harder for straight people to break out of their prescribed roles in order to develop their under-developed side. Just being gay automatically destroys prescribed roles. From that point on, there’s no reason to hold back. But all this never happens without the male/female aspects combining to produce their unique children.
In The Prosperos, we are taught to “probe” then “listen”. It’s a matter of combining “activity” with “receptivity”, of "doing" with "watching and waiting". The male aspect goes out into the world and brings back the necessities of mental and emotional life, wherein the female aspect cleans and prepares it for consumption. First the male aspect “conquers” and then the female aspect “prepares” and together they wait for the birth of children.
In spite of all that appears wrong in the world today, there is so much progressive improvement in the lives of so many. I was born way before women’s lib, gay rights, civil rights or the recognition of the rights of children. And believe me, our understanding of what constitutes “humaneness” today is so vastly superior to when I entered this world, and I account for this with the rise in creativity of all factions of humanity. Straight people are little held back by prescribed roles today. They too have been liberated to be more than just good little boys and girls. The status quo is having a very hard time with all this creativity. You just never know what’s going to shoot out sideways. The status quo is deeply afraid of what can’t be controlled. And to be honest, sometimes I am too. But then, that’s why I’m here—50 years ago, and again today—in The Prosperos—Translating—RHS’g— “probing” and “waiting”, “probing” and “waiting”.