The Bene Gesserit

You Bene Gesserit call your activity of the Panoplia Prophetica a "Science of Religion." Very well. I, a seeker after another kind of scientist, find this an appropriate definition. You do, indeed, build your own myths, but so do all societies. You I must warn, however. You are behaving as so many other misguided scientists have behaved. Your actions reveal that you wish to take something out of [away from] life. It is time you were reminded of that which you so often profess: One cannot have a single thing without its opposite.

The Preacher at Arrakeen: A Message to the Sisterhood

The Bene Gesserit were established 4,000 years ago as a school of mental and physical training for females.

Bene Gesserit's have total control over their bodies. Each muscle can be consciously controlled by a properly trained Sister. They have the ability to manipulate body temperature, breathing rate, pulse, heartrate, and even brainwave activity. Bene Gesserit's have enhanced senses of hearing, touch, taste, sight, and smell. They have been taught to pay attention to detail. It is very hard to fool a Bene Gesserit Sister. Even harder to fool a Reverend Mother.

Perhaps more astounding than their self-control is their ability to manipulate others. Bene Gesserit's have developed, over the millenia, incredible persuasion tools. Each Sister has been taught how to control speech. Bene Gesserit Sisters are known for their ability to manipulate words. They also have a tool known as the Voice. It is a vocal persuasion tool that grabs the subconscious of the victim and forces he or she to do as instructed.

Some Bene Gesserit take the Water of Life, the spice drug. Those who do not die become Reverend Mothers. The Water of Life gives a Reverend Mother the ability to look back into the feminine avenues of her past. It also gives the added advantage of being immune to any poisons. The Water of Life is the ultimate poison. A Sister who survives it has the ability to alter any chemical that enters her body.

The Bene Gesserit saw that if a man could drink the spice drug and live, he could look back into the masculine and feminine pasts. This man was the goal of the Bene Gesserit breeding program. They sought the Kwisatz Haderach, the male Bene Gesserit.

Muad'Dib's mother, Jessica, was a Sister of the Bene Gesserit.