What is the metaphysical significance of sex?

Question

both of child bearing and otherwise.
note the key' word in the question

Answer 1

To quote from Starhawk: "Sex is a sacrament, an outward sign of an inner grace. That grace is the deep connection and recognition of the wholeness of another person. In its essense, it is not limited to the physical act--it is an exchange of energy, of nourishment, between people.

Sexual desire is sacred, not only because it is the means by which life is procreated but because it is the means by which our own lives are most deeply and estatically realized"

And to this I say, Amen, sister!

Answer 2

The sex act is a metaphor for union with god (or goddess) and returning to a state of oneness. In ancient times, sexuality was sacralized and formed part of religious rites wherein men visited temple priestess/hierodules ("prostitutes") and the king had ritual sex with a priestess-hierdule at set times of the year (called "hiero gamos" or "sacred marriage"). The ritual also was meant to bring fertility to the land and society. The sex act was symbolic for the merging of polar energies, that coming together, reunited things and brought them back into original atonement. In alchemy and yoga metaphors are made between the union of the sun and moon (ie, complementary polarities), symbolized and also (in some cases) ritually enacted through the sex act or a ritual metaphor for the sex act.

Answer 3

Union of opposites/spirits. Continuance. And the quickest way to find bliss. In the opposite vein, the lack of sex is believed by some to be a necessity to find your soul, building up the energy that is dissipated through sex.