Hermeticism: Wisdom for Understanding the Invisible Order

“As above, so below.” This sentence, which anyone even slightly interested in mysticism and Western philosophy has probably heard, contains the essence of Hermeticism. Known as the teachings of ‘Hermes Trismegistus,’ a synthesis of the Egyptian god of wisdom Thoth and the Greek Hermes, this philosophy presents seven core laws that move the universe.

Let’s look at these great laws, which are being re-examined in modern quantum physics and psychology.

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The 7 Universal Laws (The Kybalion)

1. The Principle of Mentalism: “The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.” The source of all existence is a vast, invisible mind, and our thoughts are the seeds that create reality.
2. The Principle of Correspondence: “As above, so below; as below, so above.” The order of the macrocosm matches the order within the human microcosm. When our inner self changes, the outer world responds accordingly.
3. The Principle of Vibration: “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” Differences in the frequency of vibration create the differences between matter and spirit. We can change the quality of our lives by adjusting our own frequency.
4. The Principle of Polarity: “Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites.” Hot and cold, love and hate are in fact different degrees on the same spectrum. We can move our consciousness from one extreme to another.
5. The Principle of Rhythm: “Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides.” Like the vibration of a pendulum, every phenomenon has an ebb and flow. A sage understands this rhythm and maintains tranquility without being swept away in moments of crisis.
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect: “Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause.” Chance is but a name for law not recognized. We should focus on planting the right causes rather than obsessing over effects.
7. The Principle of Gender: “Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles.” This is a principle of creation beyond biological sex. Only when the power of planting the seed (masculine) and the power of nurturing it (feminine) harmonize is fruit finally borne.

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Conclusion: You are a Co-creator of the Universe

The greatest insight Hermeticism gives us is that we are not passive beings swayed by fate. When we understand the laws of the universe and align ourselves with that flow, we can become ‘Masters’ who proactively shape our own lives.

Look at your mind (mentalism) first before trying to change the world. The moment the vibration within you changes, the landscape of the universe surrounding you will also begin to change gradually according to the ‘Principle of Correspondence.’ For you are the universe, and the universe is you.