The Kybalion & The 7 Hermetic Principles

The Kybalion is an occult classic that artfully distills the timeless principles of Hermeticism into an accessible guide. An enduring work of immense esoteric significance, this sacred text has prompted generations to reevaluate what we may have long accepted as immutable "truth."

Jump to:

• What Is Hermeticism?
• The Kybalion's Impact on Esoteric Traditions
• The 7 Hermetic Principles
• Philosophical and Spiritual Implications Of The Kybalion
• Final Thoughts
• Frequently Asked Questions
• More Food For The Soul
• You Might Also Enjoy These Posts
• Comments

The Kybalion is a book that outlines the principles that encapsulate the essence of the ancient occult Hermetic tradition.

The true origins of The Kybalion remain shrouded in mystery. It was published in 1908 under the book author name "The Three Initiates." Strong speculation suggests it was written by William Walker Atkinson, a prominent New Thought author of that era. However, he never publicly acknowledged creating it.

Despite this uncertain genesis, The Kybalion soon captivated esoteric circles. Its alluring synthesis of ancient wisdom and mental principles also significantly furthered the then-burgeoning New Thought movement in America. The cryptic book proved powerfully influential, whoever first set its teachings to paper.

Exploring every detail of the Kybalion's teachings is beyond the scope of a single article. My aim is to pique your interest by highlighting the key principles. While fully grasping the significance of any occult text requires direct study, my goal here is not complete understanding, but inspiration. I hope this article prompts you to embark on your own exploration of the profound truths concealed within the Kybalion's pages that have inspired seekers from all walks of life.

What Is Hermeticism?

Fundamentally, hermeticism teaches that there are spiritual truths hidden within the physical world for those with the wisdom to perceive them. This occult knowledge was passed down in the secret writings of a purported Hellenic figure named Hermes Trismegistus .

Hermes Trismegisus was associated with 2 Gods from two different spiritual traditions - Hermes, the Greek god known as a messenger who guides mystics, and Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom. The myths and spiritual teachings connected to each deity laid foundations that informed Hermeticism’s synthesis of Western and Egyptian esoteric traditions. Early adherents aimed to discover hidden knowledge about reality through studying and unraveling their combined occult mysteries.

Hermetic texts and teachings delve into esoteric fields like astrology, alchemy, divination, and sacred geometry in order to understand the patterns and principles governing reality.

Core topics in Hermetic thought also include theurgy (ritual magic to connect with the divine) as well as philosophical musings about consciousness and existence. Hermeticism ultimately aimed to elevate spiritual awareness and harness latent mental abilities via the dedicated study of these occult subjects.

It is out of this mystical tradition spanning millennia that the Kybalion emerges. The Kybalion distills the teachings of Hermeticism into 7 Hermetic principles in order to reveal the keys to mastering oneself and one's reality. So while far-reaching in its totality, classical Hermeticism may be summed up as the search for cosmic truths and enlightened power through magic, ritual, and realization of the mental forces underlying the universe.

The Kybalion's Impact on Esoteric Traditions

While its precise origins may remain contested, The Kybalion has left an enduring mark. This enigmatic text, distilling centuries of Hermetic wisdom into seven principles, offers a straightforward way for everyday people to grasp complex esoteric concepts.

For over a century, it has profoundly influenced New Age movements and Western mystical schools. The Kybalion's ideas about universal laws and mental forces have become integral to modern magic and occult practices. The wisdom of the Kybalion is found in everything from positive thinking literature to the arcane symbolism of the tarot.

The Kybalion's seven "Principles" map out the laws of the mental and spiritual universes. They range from broad conceptual laws like the Principle of Mentalism (“All is Mind”) and the Principle of Correspondence (“As above, so below”), to principles explaining polarity, rhythm, vibration and gender. The Kybalion explores concepts like alchemy, spirituality, the nature of reality, and the mysterious power of the mind.

Let's take a look at the 7 Hermetic Principles, the foundational principles of The Kybalion.

The 7 Hermetic Principles

The Principle Of Mentalism

The Principle of Mentalism states that "All is Mind" - that the entire universe is mental in nature, with consciousness being one of the most fundamental building blocks of reality. This principle theorizes that thoughts, ideas, beliefs and emotions are not simply byproducts of matter. But rather, that mental/psychic forces shape what we perceive as the physical world.

Here are some examples to illustrate this principle:

• Ones expectations or emotions around an experience can directly impact how it manifests and how that person perceives it. Such as someone dreading giving a speech and imagining negative outcomes vs visualizing success.
• On a societal level, significant portions of culture and institutions are based on collectively held thoughts and beliefs. For instance, concepts of justice, political constitutions, religions and even the value of money essentially stem from shared ideas held in the collective psyche rather than having inherent tangible existence.
• Quantum physics experiments demonstrate that objective reality breaks down at subatomic scales, with consciousness and observation directly influencing fundamental building blocks like the behavior of electrons and photons. Suggesting that matter emerges from something mental or energetic.

In short, the Principle of Mentalism speculates that the universe itself arose from thought or idea - some kind of cosmic consciousness or intelligence. Rather than physical reality shaping mind, it theorizes that what we perceive consciously is only a mental projection.

The Principle of Correspondence

Also phrased as "As above, so below; as below, so above". This is the concept that there are repeating patterns across different planes of existence that mirror each other in some way.

For instance:

• Astrology elucidates the maxim "as above, so below." The patterns in the movement of planets and stars above mirror events in the human world below.
• Think of sacred geometry as a way patterns repeat. Shapes like fractals, spirals, and Platonic solids show up from the tiniest to the biggest scales. For example, the Fibonacci sequence, a mathematical pattern, shows up in small things like mollusk shells and large structures like galaxies. See my post Sacred Geometry Symbols ~The Mystic Shapes for more information on this concept.
• Consider dreams and waking life. The principle suggests that what happens in one, like emotions or symbols, can carry over into the other. It's like picking up cues from one level of reality and using them creatively in another.

In simple terms, "As above, so below; as below, so above" points to the idea that patterns in one realm can mirror patterns in another, connecting different levels of existence.

The Principle of Vibration

The Kybalion sets up this principle stating: “Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” This means that all matter and energy is in constant motion and vibrates at specific frequencies.

Some examples that reflect this principle of vibration:

• Light and sound both operate as wave vibrations through their media at varying wavelengths, carrying energy through alternating electric and magnetic fields. From radio waves to gamma rays light encapsulates a spectrum of vibration.
• Beyond the physical realm, the Principle of Vibration extends to thoughts and consciousness. The Kybalion states that thoughts vibrate energetically and have the potential to manifest into reality. In this abstract sense, the principle suggests a profound connection between mental vibrations and the tangible world.
• Musically all instruments rely on sympathetic vibration, from plucked string instruments like guitars to woodwinds. The Kybalion notes figuratively how mystical knowledge likewise plays upon “an instrument of many strings” relating concepts through “harmonies and discords” across disciplines.

In summary, the Principle of Vibration theorizes that all energetic and physical phenomena operate through some periodic motion or oscillation. These vibrational frequencies organize the fabric of existence - no matter how solid and static their appearance may seem.

The Principle of Polarity

This principle encapsulates duality: the idea that everything contains opposing states, forces, or extremes like light/dark, positive/negative, male/female. Crucially, polarity states that opposites are identical in nature yet different in degree. They are opposite ends of the same string.

Some examples of The Law Of Polarity include:

• Night and day cycle from light to dark across the span of 24 hours
• Hot and cold temperatures from a tap, shower, bath or weather
• Loudest possible noise compared to absolute silence
• Sweet compared to sour on the taste palette
• Numbers oscillating between positive and negative on a number line
• Inhaling and exhaling of breath
• Being awake versus sound asleep
• An energized feeling contrasted by tiredness and fatigue

The common thread is experiences and states we recognize as opposites or extremes in everyday life. While seeming dualistic, the Principle of Polarity holds that they all derive from the same essential substances - like oscillations between fast and slow molecular vibrations manifesting as hot or cold. The polarized extremes depend upon each other, spectrum-like, in perpetual ebb and flow, always seeking equilibrium rhythmically.

The Principle of Rhythm

This principle expresses the cyclical nature of reality and phenomena in the universe between pairs of opposites. In other words, everything has its tides and seasons. It rises, reaches its peak, then falls again in perpetual succession.

Here are three clear examples illustrating the Principle of Rhythm:

1. Day and night - The most observable rhythm guided by the rotation of Earth as we cycle from light to darkness across ~24 hours. The Kybalion notes "the rise and fall of the Sun-tides" exhibits this universal swing through opposing extremes.
2. Seasonal cycles - Annually we move through the four seasons marked by shifts in weather and sunlight. In many cultures various spiritual holidays and farming activities revolved around these rhythmic seasonal phases. From Spring growth to Winter dormancy and back again. For more information on honoring the seasonal cycles, see Pagan Holidays ~ Exploring The 8 Major Festivals.
3. Breathing and heartbeat - Inhalation and exhalation keeps oxygen flowing steadily. Our heart pumps to a beat rhythmically contracting to circulate blood. The periodic nature exemplifies vibrations constantly oscillating between energetic peaks and valleys.

These examples depict activities and states that cycle between opposing phases, like a pendulum’s swing. The patterns pulse between contrasts, switching from one pole to its opposite rhythmically.

Rhythms permeate existence through natural cycles spanning hours or seasons. We also actively participate in rhythms via breath and movement. The Principle articulates how this intrinsic oscillation between extremes drives change and renewal across all scales and domains.

The Principle of Cause and Effect

Also known as Causality, this principle refers to the law of causation which states that all effects have definite causes rooted in the physical, mental or spiritual realms.

1. Flicking on a light switch (cause) leads to the light turning on (effect). The physical cause results in an observable effect adhering to this law of causality.
2. Eating spicy foods (cause) subsequently leads to a burning sensation on the tongue (effect). The spicy capsaicin compounds trigger nerves to perceive heat and pain.
3. Studying rigorously over months (cause) enables someone to pass final exams (effect). The consistent effort and preparation done in advance allows for achievement of the desired grades demonstrating direct cause and effect.

The Principle of Cause and Effect articulates the link between actions and their consequences. Namely, how every effect traces reliably back to an originating cause. We perceive this directly in "before → after" sequences that dominate physical phenomena.

More broadly, karma theory and ethics also fall under this principle's description. Causes trigger effects downstream even if they aren't immediate. While physical domains clearly reflect causality, this principle suggests reliable causation operating behind intangible realms too. As the Kybalion states - "every Natural Effect has had its Natural Cause" woven intrinsically across existence.

The Principle of Gender

This principle conceptualizes the dichotomy of masculine and feminine properties and energies found everywhere in existence at all levels of life and reality. It links gender to essential universal principles.

While easily conflated with biological gender, this metaphysical Principle more broadly connotes polarized qualities and traits manifesting in tandem across existence. The Kybalion cites “the masculine principle as reaching out” via activity and will to catalyze potentiality while “the feminine principle attracts, draws, acts from within outward” energizing and bearing new life through magnetic pull. In essence, duality enables genesis.

Some examples of law of gender include:

• Creative works often develop by blending masculine traits of direction, focus and persistence married to feminine traits like imagination, collaboration and beauty. The interplay of these yin-yang essences births art, design and innovation.
• Geometry showcases gender attributes through symbolic associations, with upright structures such as pyramids and obelisks carrying a phallic connotation, in contrast to the womb-evoking shapes of circles, ovals, and downward-pointing triangles. Sacred architecture draws inspiration from nature, embodying flowing water, curves, and arches (feminine) in harmony with stabilizing edges and pillars (masculine). The interwoven designs seamlessly create complete interior spaces.

Philosophical and Spiritual Implications Of The Kybalion

The seven Hermetic principles have resonated with various philosophical and spiritual schools of thought:

• The Mentalist principle of "All is Mind" accords with ideas in Buddhism, Hinduism, Transcendentalism about the primacy of mind over matter. It echoes Buddhist concepts of impermanence and the Mental projections shaping reality.
• Hermeticism's pantheistic thread of the divine integrated across all of nature aligns with pagan/Wiccan worldviews, pan-psychism as well as some strains of quantum mysticism.
• The polarity principle's dance of contrary forces fitting together mirrors central yin-yang theories in Daoism. The rhythm of alternating between extremes also appears in cyclical Hindu cosmology.
• The correspondence concept of "As above, so below" helped motivate paradigms like astrology, Kabbalah and sacred geometry which decode isomorphic patterns spanning from microcosm to macrocosm.

Practical Applications

Modern readers apply The Kybalion's esoteric principles to life through:

• Manifestation techniques focused on the creative potential of focused imagination, willpower and mental imagery to transform reality.
• Affirmations and visualization that reprogram negative psychological patterns according to the self-fulfilling prophecy effects of Mentalist thought.
• Divination tools like tarot and astrology predicated on the Correspondence system of universal archetypes reflected across realms.
• Magic rituals harnessing Polarity, Gender dynamics and Vibration resonance to drive change according to mystical Causation.
• Theories of psychology, medicine and physiology building on vibrational frequency models, such as forms of sound/music therapy.
• Personal growth approaches emphasizing self-actualized transcendence of inner dualities and limitations fueled by embracing life's innate Rhythm.

Final Thoughts

The enduring fascination with The Kybalion arises from the clever way its unknown authors condensed complex esoteric principles into a slim yet powerful book of occult wisdom.

Despite the mystery surrounding its origins, the impact of this book far surpasses its modest size. By blending ancient Hermetic ideas with early New Thought concepts, it triggered a spiritual awakening that resonated with seekers throughout the 20th century.

Today, over a century later, this mysterious text continues to provoke profound shifts in consciousness for both devoted occult enthusiasts and those exploring metaphysics casually.

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