CHAPTER
II THE
SEVEN HERMETIC PRINCIPLES
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.
small> The Seven Hermetic
Principles, upon which the entire Hermetic
Philosophy is based, are as follows:
I.
THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM.
II. THE PRINCIPLE OF
CORRESPONDENCE.
III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION.
IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY.
V. THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM.
VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND
EFFECT.
VII. 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.
I.
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, easily 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.
II. 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.
III. 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.
IV. 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" begins! 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.
V. 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.
VI. 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.
VII. 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.
Next
Human
Mind
Page authored by
David West. Link to this page - we will back-link to you
- please see contact below.
|
