The Kybalion – The 7 Hermetic Principles of the Universe

Article Overview 🔎

• The Kybalion’s Origin
• The 7 Hermetic Principles of the Universe Explained
• The Kybalion and Summaries of its Teachings

The Kybalion’s Origin 🛕

Hermes Trismegistus is said to be the author of the Corpus Hermeticum and creator of hermeticism. From the teachings of Thoth of ancient Egypt (and Hermes himself of ancient Greece), the Hermetic Principles are described as the 7 natural laws of the Universe and the 7 ancient principles for self mastery.

Thoth is said to have reincarnated as Hermes Trismegistus or Hermes the Thrice-Great, as he reincarnated three times to continue rule and that he knew the three parts of the wisdom of the whole universe. The three parts of the wisdom are alchemy, astrology, and theurgy. A leader of ancient Egypt, he is often referred to as ‘a God’ and in ancient texts was said to have ruled for thousands of years. The image below shows Thoth (left) and Hermes Trismegistus (right).

The Kybalion was written from the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. Full title ‘The Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece’, it was published in 1908 by ‘Three Initiates’, often identified as the New Thought pioneer William Walker Atkinson (1862–1932).

The Hermetic Principles ‘open insight to the deeper nature of reality and once learned can be leveraged and applied’:

‘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 7 Hermetic Principles of the Universe Explained 🧿

Here are the 7 hermetic principles of the Universe/the 7 hermetic principles of natural law:

1. The Principle of Mentalism

2. Principle of Correspondence

3. The Principle of Vibration

4. The Principle of Polarity

5. The Principle of Rhythm

6. The Principle of Cause & Effect

7. The Principle of Gender

Below, these 7 principles are explained in more detail:

1. The Principle of Mentalism – The all is mind. The universe is mental. In essence, this law asserts that everything in the universe, from the tangible to the intangible, is a product of the mind. This links with the Holographic Universe/Simulation Theory that modern physicists believe is a valid theory (as discussed in openly in physicist conventions like World Science Festival). In summary, it implies that everything we experience through our 5 senses is just our brain decoding electric signals that fire that sense.

2. Principle of Correspondence – As above, so below. As within, so without.

As above so below – For example, the construct of a brain cell mimics the contract of the universe, likewise the birth of a cell and the death of a star, the eye to a nebula (shown in the images below). This also links to the Fibonacci Sequence/Golden Ratio (‘nature’s formula’); physicists explain the mathematical nature of the Universe with reference to this (also shown in the images below):

As within, so without – This can be interpreted from the image above showing a brain cell’s construct matching with the universe, but also another way. For example, the you think and feel, and in turn act directly influences your reality/daily life. “The world is a mirror, forever reflecting what you are doing, within yourself,” Neville Goddard. This is often referred to as the hermetic law of attraction.

3. The Principle of Vibration – Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates. This principle explains that “everything is in motion”, “everything vibrates” and “nothing is ever at rest”. These are facts which the science of quantum physics has now fully embraced and endorsed.

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. For example, hot and cold (both temperatures, but opposite in degree) or smooth and rough (both textures, but opposite in feel).

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.

6. The Principle of Cause & 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. Karma is a well known cause and effect terminology. As a general example, if you compliment somebody they are more likely to warm to you and reflect positivity back, and vice versa.

7. The Principle of Gender – Gender is in everything. Everything has its masculine and feminine principles. Gender manifests on all planes; divine masculine and divine feminine.

The Kybalion and Summaries of its Teachings 🧠

The full reading of The Kybalion can be listened to in the first video, or read here, or you can buy the book here. The following videos summarize it for an overview:

Here is an extended version of the talk from Mark Passio:

More can be read on The Kybalion via its category here and Hermetic Principles here.