The Seven Hermetic Principals
"The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these,
understandingly, possesses the Magic Key before whose touch all the
Doors of the Temple fly open". -The Kybalion"
The Seven Hermetic Principles, upon which the entire Hermetic
Philosophy is based, are as follows:
1 The principle of mentalism.
2 The principle of correspondence
3 The principle of vibration
4 The principle of polarity
8 The principle of rhythm
6 The principle of cause and effect
7 The principle of gender
These Seven Principles will be discussed and explained as we proceed
with these lessons. A short explanation of each, however, may as well
be given at this point
1 The principle of mentalism
"The All is Mind; The Universe is Mental."-The Kybalion.
This Principle embodies the truth that "All is Mind." It explains that
The All (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward
manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of "The
Material Universe"; the "Phenomena of Life"; "Matter"; "Energy"; and,
in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is spirit which
in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered
and thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, Infinite, LIVING mind. It also
explains that all the phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental
Creation of The All, subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that
the universe, as a whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence
in the Mind of The All, in which Mind we "live and move and have our
being." This Principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the
Universe, easly explains all of the varied mental and psychic
phenomena that occupy such a large portion of the public attention,
and which, without such explanation, are non-understandable and defy
scientific treatment. An understanding of this great Hermetic
Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the
laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply the same to his well-being
and advancement. The Hermetic Student is enabled to apply
intelligently the great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a
haphazard manner. With the Master-Key in his possession, the student.
may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of
knowledge, and enter the same freely and intelligently. This Principle
explains the true nature of "Energy," "Power," and "Matter," and why
and how all these are subordinate to the Mastery of Mind. One of the
old Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago: "He who grasps the truth of
the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to
Mastery." And these words are as true to-day as at the time they were
first written. Without this Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and the
student knocks in vain at the many doors of The Temple.
2 The principle of correspondence
"As above, so below; as below, so above."-The Kybalion.
This Principle embodies the truth that there is always a
Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of
Being and Life. The old Hermetic axiom ran in these words: "As above,
so below; as below, so above." and the grasping of this Principle
gives one the means of solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret
of Nature. There are planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the
Principle of Correspondence to them we are able to understand much
that would otherwise be unknowable to us. This Principle is of
universal application and manifestation, on the various planes of the
material, mental, and spiritual universe-it is an Universal Law. The
ancient Hermetists considered this Principle as one of the most
important mental instruments by which man was able to pry aside the
obstacles which hid from view the Unknown. Its use even tore aside the
Veil of Isis to the extent that a glimpse of the face of the goddess
might be caught. Just as a knowledge of the Principles of Geometry
enables man to measure distant suns and their movements, while seated
in his observatory, so a knowledge of the Principle of Correspondence
enables Man to reason intelligently from the Known to the Unknown.
Studying the monad, he understands the archangel.
3 The principle of vibration
"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates." -The Kybalion.
This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is in motion";
"everything vibrates"; "nothing is at rest"; facts which Modern
Science endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to
verify. And yet this Hermetic Principle was enunciated thousands of
years ago, by the Masters of Ancient Egypt. This Principle explains
that the differences between different manifestations of Matter,
Energy, Mind, and even Spirit, result largely from varying rates of
Vibration. From The All, which is Pure Spirit, down to the grossest
form of Matter, all is in vibration-the higher the vibration, the
higher the position in the scale. The vibration of Spirit is at such
an infinite rate of intensity and rapidity that it is practically at
rest-just as a rapidly moving wheel seems to be motionless. And at the
other end of the scale, there are gross forms of matter whose
vibrations are so low as to seem at rest. Between these poles, there
are millions upon millions of varying degrees of vibration. From
corpuscle and electron, atom and molecule, to worlds and universes,
everything is in vibratory motion. This is also true on the planes of
energy and force (which are but varying degrees of vibration); and
also on the mental planes (whose states depend upon vibrations); and
even on to the spiritual planes. An understanding of this Principle,
with the appropriate formulas, enables Hermetic students to control
their own mental vibrations as well as those of others. The Masters
also apply this Principle to the conquering of Natural phenomena, in
various ways. "He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has
grasped the sceptre of power," says one of the old writers.
4 The principle of polarity
"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of
opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in
nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but
half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled."-The Kybalion.
This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is dual";
"everything has two poles"; "everything has its pair of opposites,"
all of which were old Hermetic axioms. It explains the old paradoxes,
that have perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows:
"Thesis and antithesis are identical in nature, but different in
degree"; "opposites are the same, differing only in degree"; "the
pairs of opposites may be reconciled"; "extremes meet"; "everything is
and isn't, at the same time"; "all truths are but half truths"; "every
truth is half-false"; "there are two sides to everything," etc., etc.,
etc. It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite
aspects, and that "opposites" are really only the two extremes of the
same thing, with many varying degrees between them. To illustrate:
Heat and Cold, although "opposites," are really the same thing, the
differences consisting merely of degrees of the same thing. Look at
your thermometer and see if you can discover where "heat" terminates
and "cold" beginsl There is no such thing as "absolute heat" or
"absolute cold"-the two terms "heat" and "cold" simply indicate
varying degrees of the same thing, and that 'same thing" which
manifests as "heat' and 'cold" is merely a form, variety, and rate of
Vibration. So "heat" and "cold" are simply the "two poles' of that
which we call "Heat"-and the phenomena attendant thereupon are
manifestations of the Principle of Polarity. The same Principle
manifests in the case of "Light and Darkness," which are the same
thing, the difference consisting of varying degrees between the two
poles of the phenomena. Where does "darkness" leave off, and "light"
begin? What is the difference between "Large and Small"? Between "Hard
and Soft"? Between "Black and White"? Between "Sharp and Dull"?
Between "Noise and Quiet"? Between "High and Low"? Between "Positive
and Negative"? The Principle of Polarity explains these paradoxes, and
no other Principle can supersede it. The same Principle operates on
the Mental Plane. Let us take a radical and extreme example-that of
"Love and Hate," two mental states apparently totally different. And
yet there are degrees of Hate and degrees of Love, and a middle point
in which we use the terms "Like or Dislike," which shade into each
other so gradually that sometimes we are at a loss to know whether we
"like" or "dislike" or "neither." And all are simply degrees of the
same thing, as you will see if you will but think a moment. And, more
than this (and considered of more importance by the Hermetists), it is
possible to change the vibrations of Hate to the vibrations of Love,
in one's own mind, and in the minds of others. Many of you, who read
these lines, have had personal experiences of the involuntary rapid
transition from Love to Hate, and the reverse, in your own case and
that of others. And you will therefore realize the possibility of this
being accomplished by the use of the Will, by means of the Hermetic
formulas. "Good and Evil" are but the poles of the same thing, and the
Hermetist understands the art of transmuting Evil into Good, by means
of an application of the Principle of Polarity. In short, the "Art of
Polarization becomes a phase of "Mental Alchemy" known and practiced
by the ancient and modern Hermetic Masters. An understanding of the
Principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as that
of others, if he will devote the time and study necessary to master
the art.
5 The principle of rhythm
"Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things
rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure
of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left;
rhythm compensates."-The Kybalion
This Principle embodies the truth that in everything there is
manifested a measured motion, to and fro; a flow and inflow; a swing
backward and forward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and
flow; a high-tide and low-tide; between the two poles which exist in
accordance with the Principle of Polarity described a moment ago.
There is always an action and a reaction; an advance and a retreat; a
rising and a sinking. This is in the affairs of the Universe, suns,
worlds, men, animals, mind, energy, and matter. This law is manifest
in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of
nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the mental states
of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists find the
understanding of the Principle most important). The Hermetists have
grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have
also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by
the use of the appropriate formulas and methods. They apply the Mental
Law of Neutralization. They cannot annul the Principle, or cause it to
cease its operation, but they have learned how to escape its effects
upon themselves to a certain degree depending upon the Mastery of the
Principle. They have learned how to USE it, instead of being USED BY
it. In this and similar methods, consist the Art of the Hermetists.
The Master of Hermetics polarizes himself at the point at which he
desires to rest, and then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of the
pendulum which would tend to carry him to the other pole. All
individuals who have attained any degree of Self-Mastery do this to a
certain degree, more or less unconsciously, but the Master does this
consciously, and by the use of his Will, and attains a degree of Poise
and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of the
masses who are swung backward and forward like a pendulum. This
Principle and that of Polarity have been closely studied by the
Hermetists, and the methods of counteracting, neutralizing, and USING
them form an important part of the Hermetic Mental Alchemy
6 The principle of cause and effect
"Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; everything
happens according to Law; Chance is but a name for Law not recognized;
there are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law."-The
Kybalion
This Principle embodies the fact that there is a Cause for every
Effect; an Effect from every Cause. It explains that: "Everything
Happens according to Law"; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that
there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes
of Cause and Effect, the higher dominating- the lower planes, still
nothing ever entirely escapes the Law. The Hermetists understand the
art and methods of rising above the ordinary plane of Cause and
Effect, to a certain degree, and by mentally rising to a higher plane
they become Causers instead of Effects. The masses of people are
carried along, obedient to environment; the wills and desires of
others stronger than themselves; heredity; suggestion; and other
outward causes moving them about like pawns on the Chessboard of Life.
But the Masters, rising to the plane above, dominate their moods,
characters, qualities, and powers, as well as the environment
surrounding them, and become Movers instead of pawns. They help to
play The Game of Life, instead of being played and moved about by
other wills and environment. They use the Principle instead of being
its tools. The Masters obey the Causation of the higher planes, but
they help to rule on their own plane. In this statement there is
condensed a wealth of Hermetic knowledge-let him read who can.
7 The principle of gender
"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine
Principles; Gender manifests on all planes." -The Kybalion.
This Principle embodies the truth that there is gender manifested in
everything-the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work. This is
true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the Mental and even the
Spiritual Planes. On the Physical Plane, the Principle manifests as
sex, on the higher planes it takes higher forms, but the Principle is
ever the same. No creation, physical, mental or spiritual, is possible
without this Principle. An understanding of its laws will throw light
on many a subject that has perplexed the minds of men. The Principle
of Gender works ever in the direction of generation, regeneration, and
creation. Everything, and every person, contains the two Elements or
Principles, or this great Principle, within it, him or her. Every Male
thing has the Female Element also; every Female contains also the Male
Principle. If you would understand the philosophy of Mental and
Spiritual Creation, Generation, and Re-generation, you must understand
and study this Hermetic Principle. It contains the solution of many
mysteries of Life. We caution you that this Principle has no reference
to the many base, pernicious and degrading lustful theories, teachings
and practices, which are taught under fanciful titles, and which are a
prostitution of the great natural principle of Gender. Such base
revivals of the ancient infamous forms of Phallicism tend to ruin
mind, body and soul, and the Hermetic Philosophy has ever sounded the
warning note against these degraded teachings which tend toward lust,
licentiousness, and perversion of Nature's principles. If you seek
such teachings, you must go elsewhere for them-Hermeticism contains
nothing for you along these lines. To the pure, all things are pure;
to the base, all things are base.
interesting post by Bluedigits of Purple forumwise
