Your Power of Power
What Are the Twelve Powers?
As we continue our series on the Twelve Powers, we are taking a look at the Power of Power. Just as a review, the Twelve Powers of Man is a concept that originated with one of the co-founders of Unity, Charles Fillmore. Fillmore identified twelve innate spiritual abilities or powers that exist in each person. These powers are symbolically represented by one of Jesus’ twelve disciples, and each power has a distinct location in the body. This is similar to the chakra system in other spiritual traditions.
Fillmore taught that these powers can be developed and aligned with our spiritual identity, which he called “the Christ,” so that each power follows the lead of our Christ nature—just as the disciples followed Jesus. As Fillmore said,
“Each of the twelve fundamental faculties of man has an ego that reflects, in a measure, the original man idea in God. In the body consciousness the twelve apostles, as egos, have twelve centers, or thrones, from which they exercise their power.”
Understanding the Power of Power
It may sound redundant to call this the “power of power,” but you could also think of it as our power of dominion, mastery, or control. This power represents our ability for self-mastery and personal empowerment. In the book Power Up: The Twelve Powers Revisited as Accelerated Abilities, Paul Hasselbeck and Cher Holton explain how these powers can be underdeveloped or overdeveloped, with the goal being to balance them so they align with our authentic spiritual nature. When the power of power is underdeveloped, a person may struggle to grasp new ideas or feel like life is out of control. If it’s overdeveloped, the individual might come off as domineering or controlling, placing unrealistic expectations on others.
Developing Spiritual Mastery
The goal is to bring each power into an elevated state of consciousness. For the power of power, this means becoming fully empowered through spiritual truths, principles, and divine ideas. Instead of using power to dominate, this kind of power is used in service to others and for personal growth. As Fillmore puts it,
“Do not fear to develop your power and mastery. They are not to be exercised on other people, but on yourself.”
The Role of the Voice
The location of this power center is at the back of the throat. It is where our voice comes from, and in Fillmore’s writings, it’s clear that our voice is our power.
“The power center in the throat controls all the vibratory energies of the organism. It is the open door between the formless and the formed worlds of vibrations pertaining to the expression of sound. Every word that goes forth receives its specific character from the power faculty.”
Our ability to speak up is our power because our words are creative. The Bible says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” (Proverbs 18:21) That’s a bold statement. Considering this, you could also say that the power of power rests in our ability to find and express our authentic voice—the voice of truth within.
Symbols of the Power of Power
The power of power is represented by the disciple Philip. The why behind Philip represents this innate ability seems to be because the name Philip means “a lover of horses,” and horses are often symbols of power and energy.
The color associated with this power is purple. A color often linked with royalty and spiritual authority. According to history.com, the color purple was associated with kings and royalty, because the cost of purple dye would be more than a year’s wages for most common people. The gospel of Mark (Mark 15:17-20) and the gospel of Luke (Luke 16:19) both indicate that when Jesus was about to be crucified he was clothed in purple. However, it is unlikely that this occurred since the purple dye was costly. We also see in Matthew 27:28 that the author of this gospel indicated that Jesus was clothed in scarlet and not purple. It is possible that this contributed to the color purple being associated with the power of power, because it was through the crucifixion that the Christ demonstrated power over death itself. So, it makes sense that this would be the color used to symbolize this innate ability.
Hasselbeck and Holten point point out in their book that three “P’s” are associated with this innate ability: Power, Purple, and Philip. They also added three more P’s that can help us develop this ability in our own lives and in the ways that we speak:
- Pay attention to the way you are speaking. Ask yourself, is what we are saying Positive?
- Center in on how you are saying it. Is it Passionate?
- Determine why you are saying it. What is the expectation we have of those words? Is it Proactive?
Using these three “P’s” can help us develop the power of our voice.
Power Represented in All Genders
As we’ve explored each of the powers, we’ve been looking at the different ways they show up in human experience. Charles Fillmore identified male disciples to represent each of the twelve powers. Leddy Hammock expanded this by identifying symbolic female figures to represent the feminine qualities of each power. We are also taking this further by exploring representations of power beyond the gender binary.
Mary Magdalene: Feminine Embodiment of Power
In The 12 Women of the Chalice, Leddy Hammock names Mary Magdalene as the spiritual archetype for the Power of Power. Mary Magdalene represents inner strength and our ability to claim authority, speak truth, and live from divine strength. Mary’s name is linked to Magadan—a word that evokes “tower,” “fortress,” and “greatness.” She symbolizes elevated consciousness and spiritual presence.
We find in the gospel stories that Mary Magdalene was an active participant in Jesus’ ministry. She was also an independent woman in a time where that was not common. She had her own wealth, her own voice, and the courage to follow Jesus independently, without dependence on a husband, parent, or child. She represents an empowered woman who stepped outside the limitations of patriarchal culture to follow her spiritual path.
It is said that she was healed by Jesus of seven demons, which can be seen symbolically as releasing deep emotional patterns or limiting beliefs. Mary Magdalene became one of Jesus’ most dedicated followers. Her story shows how true spiritual power is transformed by love. As Hammock puts it,
Mary represents “The new consciousness of love from carnal love redeemed.”
Mary was both present at the cross and was the first to witness Jesus’ resurrection. She stood firm and was the first to receive the divine commission: “Go to my brothers and tell them…” (John 20:17). In a time when a woman’s testimony held little weight, she became the first minister of the resurrection, the first to say, “I have seen the Lord.” (John 20:18)
Hegai: Power Beyond the Binary
To further deepen our understanding of the Power faculty, we can look to a biblical figure who lived beyond the traditional gender binary: Hegai, the royal eunuch in the book of Esther.
In ancient courts, eunuchs often held positions of trust and influence. Hegai was responsible for preparing the young women for presentation to the king, including Esther. He understood what was needed for her success. He used his voice and authority to guide Esther toward her purpose.
As a eunuch, Hegai represents the demonstration of power outside of a gender binary. He held an important and sacred role demonstrating a strategic, and relational power, the kind that uplifts others rather than seeking personal recognition.
Hegai used his influence to elevate Esther, helping her step into her role and ultimately save her people. His story shows that true spiritual power is not about control, but about alignment with purpose, guidance, and truth.
Claiming Your Power
Claiming your power of power means claiming your voice, speaking your truth, and knowing who you are as an expression of divine love.
At Folx with Faith, we believe that each person’s voice matters and that spiritual empowerment includes embracing the full spectrum of gender, identity, and experience. We are committed to creating inclusive spiritual spaces where LGBTQIA+ individuals can explore their divine identity, connect with supportive community, and grow in alignment with their own authentic path.
If you’re a queer person or ally looking for a space to grow, share, and explore spiritual truth, we invite you to join us. Together, we reclaim our voices, recognize our divine worth, and support one another on the journey of becoming who we truly are expressions of divine love in action.
Together, we rise—rooted in Spirit, strengthened by love, and guided by truth.
Join us as we continue to explore the Twelve Powers, affirming our divine nature and walking forward with clarity and purpose.
How You Can Support Our Mission?
You can help us fulfill our mission by donating to Folx with Faith or starting a local group. It is our mission to create safe spaces to explore and experience spiritual wholeness. Folx with Faith supports the queer community, fostering a celebration of our authentic beings and empowering us to make a difference in the world. If you would like to contribute to this mission or would like to start a local chapter, please let us know. You can contact us or use the links below.
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References & Additional Resources for The Strength of Your Spirit
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James Masters (they/them) is a member of Unity Church of Overland Park, where they actively teach classes and participate in community events. They are in the final stages of becoming a Licensed Unity Teacher (LUT) and have been deeply engaged in spiritual study since 1999, joining the New Thought movement in 2005.
James is a contributing author for the bestselling anthologies The Courageous Heart, Enduring Wisdom, and The Grateful Soul. They are a personal coach specializing in spiritual and relational development, guiding others toward deeper self-awareness and empowerment.
Beyond their work in spiritual education, James has a strong commitment to social justice and community service. They helped establish an all-genders shelter and regularly volunteer to support those experiencing housing and food insecurity. Their knowledge of technology and unwavering compassion for others make them a valuable force for positive change in their community.
