This work investigates how the figure of the goddess Babalon functions as a focal point for the construction and negotiation of gender identities within Western esoteric traditions. Manon Hedenborg White, a scholar of Western esotericism, utilizes historical analysis and gender theory to examine how occult practitioners have interpreted and embodied the archetype of Babalon. The book argues that these interpretations are not static but evolve in response to broader cultural shifts regarding femininity, sexuality, and power.

Scholars in the field of Western esotericism recognize this text as a rigorous contribution to the study of gender within occult movements. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose and the depth of the archival research presented.