The 7 Hermetic Principles

The Kybalion was published anonymously in 1908. It is supposedly based on ancient knowledge. Is it just a modern-day fraud, or truly from a real source? I will leave that up to the reader to decide.

The Principle of Mentalism refers to the idea that everything must exist in a mental state, as a thought, before it can be translated into the material world. Manifestation from thought to reality.

My thoughts: This seems to be the basis for the Secret, i.e., the Law of Attraction. The Kybalion states that reality can be "changed or transmuted in accordance with the earnest desire".

I STRONGLY disagree with this mode of thought. I think it is fantasy and a dangerous break from reality. I strongly believe that people must take action in order for change to occur in their lives. In my opinion, the Law of Attraction is merely wishful thinking.

This is the Principle that embodies "As above, So below".

The Kybalion claims that there are three "planes", the spiritual, mental, and physical, and goes into great detail on the sub-divisions of these planes. But the basic idea is that there are correspondences among the different planes, in other words, things manifest in a corresponding way from one plane to the next. There is "harmony" between the planes.

My thoughts: I believe there are different planes of existence, and that yes, there are correspondences between the planes. I believe that "archetypes" in a formative plane translate to the physical plane.

This is the principle that everything vibrates, and everything is in motion. The higher you go up in the planes, the higher the vibration.

My thoughts: The only thing I find interesting about vibration is cymatics. Yes, we know everything vibrates. I find it interesting though, that sound, or physical vibration, can form shapes. This is shown in cymatics, where salt or water etc. is made to vibrate, and geometrical shapes form. I think there is something to vibration forming shape, and I think it should be studied further. Now it is no more than an interesting phenomenon.

The principle of polarity states that everything is dual in nature, everything is composed of opposites, and that everything is the same, only a matter of degree.

My thoughts: While I believe in polarity, and that things have their opposites, I am unsure if all opposites are the same, and only a matter of degree. For instance, I don't believe that love and hate are the same in any way, they are only opposites. I have to do much more thinking on this subject because I think it is an important one.

This principle states that there is always a swing from one pole to the other, in a rhythmic fashion. The swing in one direction counterbalances the other. It is compared to the swing of a pendulum.

My thoughts: One good example of rhythm is the Precession of the Equinoxes. Consciousness has highs and lows in a rhythmic cycle according to the Age. I am not sure if there is higher consciousness every 13,000 or 26,000 years. But I know there is a cycle of higher and lower consciousness that goes along with the Precession.

This principle states that there is no chance, and everything has a cause. It also states that both free will and determinism are partly right.

My thoughts: This I tend to agree with. I think some things are determined, and some things are choices. We are bound by certain laws and restrictions to our actions: free will doesn't come into play in all instances. Destiny or fate play some role, but not completely. Some things are set, some things are not. You have more free will with some things and less with others.

This principle basically states that masculine and feminine principles are found in everything, and they exist in all planes. Gender is not sex, it is the aspect of the creative principle. Sex on the material plane is just a manifestation of gender. Both genders are necessary to the creative process.

My thoughts: The masculine and feminine principles are found in each individual, regardless of actual physical sex. The masculine principle includes the active, and symbology includes the Sun. The feminine principle includes the receptive, and symbology includes the Moon.