The Kybalion

1. The Ancient Wisdom of Hermes: A Master-Key to Occult Truths

“The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of understanding.”

Unveiling ancient truths. For millennia, the profound Hermetic Teachings, originating from ancient Egypt and attributed to the legendary Hermes Trismegistus, have served as the foundational source for countless philosophies and occult doctrines worldwide. Hermes, revered as the "Master of Masters" and "scribe of the gods," laid down fundamental truths that reconcile seemingly contradictory esoteric knowledge, offering a "Master-Key" to unlock the Temple of Mystery. These teachings, known as "The Kybalion," were traditionally passed "from lip to ear" among a select few initiates, ensuring their purity and preventing their corruption into rigid creeds or public misunderstanding.

Preserving sacred knowledge. The Hermetists deliberately veiled their wisdom in allegories, such as those found in alchemy and astrology, to protect it from persecution and misinterpretation by the unready. This policy of careful dissemination ensured that the profound insights were reserved for those prepared to comprehend and master them, rather than being "cast before swine." Unlike many ancient occult traditions that degenerated when mixed with theology, the Hermetic flame was kept alive by faithful initiates who understood the folly of forcing truth upon an unprepared world.

Beyond mere theory. The Kybalion is not merely a philosophical treatise but a practical guide to understanding and applying universal principles. It offers a framework for comprehending the underlying laws of the cosmos, enabling students to navigate life with greater wisdom and purpose. By providing these fundamental principles, the work empowers individuals to become masters of their own mental and spiritual states, rather than being passive subjects of external forces.

2. The Universe is Mental: All is Mind

“The All is Mind; The Universe is Mental.”

Mind is reality. The foundational Hermetic Principle of Mentalism asserts that "The All"—the ultimate, unknowable, substantial reality underlying all existence—is an Universal, Infinite, Living Mind, or Spirit. Consequently, the entire phenomenal universe, with all its manifestations of matter, energy, and life, is a mental creation existing within this Infinite Mind. This profound truth implies that everything we perceive, from the smallest particle to the vastest galaxy, is a thought in the Mind of The All, and we ourselves "live and move and have our being" within this cosmic consciousness.

Explaining phenomena. This principle provides a coherent explanation for all mental and psychic phenomena that often baffle conventional science. By understanding the mental nature of the universe, one can grasp the laws governing the mental realm and apply them for personal well-being and advancement. It reveals that what we call "matter" and "energy" are not independent entities but are subordinate to the mastery of mind, being merely lower forms of mental vibration.

Path to mastery. Recognizing that the universe is mental is the first crucial step on the path to mastery. Without this "Master-Key," the student remains locked out of deeper understanding, unable to intelligently apply the great mental laws. This principle transforms one's perception of reality, shifting from a material-centric view to a mind-centric one, where consciousness is the fundamental fabric of all that is.

3. As Above, So Below: The Principle of Correspondence

“As above, so below; as below, so above.”

Universal patterns. The Principle of Correspondence reveals that there is an inherent harmony and agreement between the laws and phenomena across all planes of being and life—physical, mental, and spiritual. This ancient axiom serves as a powerful mental instrument, allowing the wise to reason from the known to the unknown, understanding the macrocosm by observing the microcosm, and vice versa.

Unlocking mysteries. This principle is universally applicable, providing a means to solve many of nature's dark paradoxes and hidden secrets. Just as a geometrician can measure distant stars from an observatory, a Hermetic student can understand higher, unseen planes by observing the workings of their own. It suggests that the same patterns, laws, and structures repeat themselves at different scales throughout the universe.

Planes of existence. The Hermetic philosophy categorizes the universe into three great planes—Physical, Mental, and Spiritual—each further subdivided. These are not distinct places but ascending degrees of life manifestation, differing primarily in their rates of vibration. The Principle of Correspondence allows us to infer the nature of these higher planes by observing the familiar workings of the physical and mental realms, recognizing that the underlying principles remain consistent.

4. Everything Vibrates: The Dynamic Nature of Reality

“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”

Motion is universal. The Principle of Vibration asserts that everything in the universe is in constant motion, from the highest manifestation of Spirit to the densest forms of matter. Modern science, with its discoveries in atomic and subatomic physics, now corroborates this ancient Hermetic truth, recognizing that all matter and energy are merely "modes of vibratory motion."

Degrees of vibration. The differences between various manifestations of matter, energy, mind, and even spirit are solely due to their varying rates and modes of vibration. Spirit vibrates at an infinitely intense and rapid rate, appearing almost at rest, while gross matter vibrates at such a low rate that it also seems motionless. Between these two poles lie countless degrees of vibration, each corresponding to a different plane or form of existence.

Mastering vibrations. An understanding of this principle, coupled with specific Hermetic formulas, enables students to control their own mental vibrations and influence those of others. This is the underlying mechanism behind phenomena like telepathy and mental influence. Masters can even apply this principle to seemingly "conquer" natural phenomena by changing the vibratory rates of objects or energies, performing what appear to be "miracles" to the uninitiated.

5. All is Dual: 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.”

Opposites are one. The Principle of Polarity reveals that all manifested things possess two sides, two aspects, or two poles, with a spectrum of degrees between these extremes. What appear to be diametrically opposed concepts—like heat and cold, light and darkness, love and hate—are, in reality, merely the two poles of the same underlying thing, differing only in degree. There is no absolute boundary where one ends and the other begins; they are relative points on a continuous scale.

Reconciling paradoxes. This principle explains many ancient paradoxes and allows for the "universal reconciliation of opposites." It teaches that "thesis and antithesis are identical in nature, but different in degree." For instance, "good" and "evil" are not absolute but are poles of the same moral spectrum, with countless shades in between.

Mental transmutation. Crucially, Polarity enables mental transmutation. While things of different classes cannot be transmuted, things of the same class can have their polarity changed. A fearful person can raise their mental vibrations along the Fear-Courage scale to become courageous. This "Art of Polarization" is a key aspect of Hermetic Mental Alchemy, allowing one to shift their own mental states and even influence others by changing their mental polarity.

6. The Rhythm of Life: Ebb and Flow in All Things

“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.”

Universal oscillation. The Principle of Rhythm describes the measured, pendulum-like motion inherent in everything in the universe—an ebb and flow, a rise and fall, an action and reaction. This principle manifests in cosmic cycles, the seasons, the tides, the life and death of all things, and profoundly, in the mental states of humanity. Universes are created and destroyed, nations rise and fall, and individuals experience alternating moods of enthusiasm and depression, courage and fear.

The Law of Compensation. Rhythm is closely linked to the Law of Compensation, which states that the swing in one direction determines the swing in the opposite direction, balancing or counterbalancing. A long swing to the right will be compensated by a long swing to the left. This law applies to pleasure and pain: a great capacity for joy often implies a great capacity for suffering, and vice versa. The Hermetists view this across lifetimes, suggesting that current experiences may compensate for past ones.

Neutralizing the swing. While the Principle of Rhythm cannot be destroyed, Hermetic Masters have learned to "neutralize" its effects on themselves. By consciously polarizing their minds at a desired point and rising to a higher plane of consciousness (the Ego), they can allow the rhythmic pendulum to swing back on the unconscious plane, thus escaping its negative influence on their conscious state. This mastery allows them to maintain poise and mental firmness, rather than being swept away by the tides of moods and feelings.

7. No Chance, Only Law: 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.”

Law governs all. The Principle of Cause and Effect asserts that the universe is entirely governed by Law, and nothing happens by "chance." What appears as chance is merely an effect whose cause is unrecognized or unperceived. Every event is a link in an infinite chain of causes and effects, flowing from the creative energy of The All, demonstrating a continuous and unbroken sequence of phenomena.

Beyond mere happenings. No single "thing" creates another; rather, events are consequences of preceding events. Even a seemingly trivial occurrence, like a speck of soot passing by, has an intricate web of causes stretching back through time and will, in turn, contribute to future effects. This interconnectedness highlights the relativity of all things and the profound truth that "there is no great; there is no small; in the mind that causeth all."

Mastery over destiny. While the majority of people are carried along by heredity, environment, and the wills of others, acting as "pawns" on the chessboard of life, the Hermetic Masters understand how to rise above lower planes of causation. By aligning themselves with higher laws and consciously exercising their Will, they become "Movers" rather than effects. They do not escape causation entirely but operate within higher laws to master circumstances on lower planes, thus playing an active role in shaping their destiny.

8. Gender in Everything: Masculine and Feminine Principles

“Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.”

Universal generation. The Principle of Gender, distinct from physical sex, embodies the truth that Masculine and Feminine principles are ever-present and active in all phenomena, across physical, mental, and spiritual planes. Its fundamental purpose is "to beget, procreate, generate, create, or produce." This principle is essential for any form of creation, from the formation of atoms to the generation of universes.

Scientific corroboration. Even modern science, in its study of subatomic particles, offers glimpses of this principle. The formation of an atom, for instance, involves the clustering of "feminine" (negative) corpuscles around a "masculine" (positive) one, demonstrating an active creative impulse. The "cathode" (feminine pole) in electricity is the source of generation, producing new forms and energies, challenging the misconception of "negative" as weak or passive.

Interdependent forces. The Masculine principle directs inherent energy, initiating creative processes, while the Feminine principle performs the active creative work. Neither can operate effectively without the other; they are interdependent forces. This dynamic interplay is evident throughout the organic world, where both principles are present in every organism, and even in the subtle attractions and repulsions observed in inorganic matter and energy, including the very force of gravitation.

9. Mental Alchemy: Transmuting States of Mind

“Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted, from state to state; degree to degree; condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration. True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.”

The true alchemy. Hermetic philosophy reveals that the ancient art of alchemy was not primarily about transmuting base metals into gold, but rather about "Mental Transmutation"—the art of changing and transforming mental states, forms, and conditions into others. This is the "Art of Mental Chemistry," a practical mystic psychology that operates on the understanding that the universe itself is mental.

Controlling reality. If the universe is mental, then the ability to transmute mental conditions grants the master control over material conditions as well. While only advanced Mental Alchemists can influence gross physical phenomena, students and initiates can freely work on the mental plane, transmuting their own mental states and even influencing others. Modern "psychic phenomena," "mental influence," and "mental science" are all rudimentary applications of this ancient Hermetic Art.

Formulas for change. The various "treatments," "affirmations," and "denials" used in modern mental science are often imperfect formulas derived from Hermetic principles. True mental alchemy involves understanding and applying the Principles of Polarity and Vibration to consciously shift one's mental poles and raise or lower vibrations at will. This empowers individuals to become masters of their mental states, transforming undesirable conditions into worthy ones, and thus triumphing over perceived limitations.

10. Embracing the Divine Paradox: Mastery Through Understanding

“Mastery consists not in abnormal dreams, visions and fantastic imaginings or living, but in using the higher forces against the lower—escaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher. Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master.”

The Absolute and Relative. The Divine Paradox reconciles the seemingly contradictory truths that, from the Absolute viewpoint of The All, the Universe is an illusion or dream, yet from the Relative viewpoint of finite beings within it, the Universe is very real and must be treated as such. Half-wisdom leads to folly, causing individuals to deny the reality of universal laws and suffer the consequences. True wisdom lies in understanding both poles of truth.

Navigating reality. The wise recognize the mental nature of the universe but do not deny its relative reality or its "Iron Laws." Instead, they learn to "use Law against laws; the higher against the lower." This means applying higher principles to overcome the effects of lower ones, rather than presumptuously denying their existence. For example, one cannot deny the existence of matter while on the physical plane, but one can control it by applying higher mental forces.

The path of transmutation. Mastery is achieved not through escapism or denial, but through conscious transmutation. By vibrating on higher planes, one can escape the pains and limitations of lower ones. This involves actively working with the universal principles—Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender—to transform undesirable conditions and elevate one's state of being. The journey is an upward path, living up to the highest ideals and continuously progressing towards greater understanding and unity with The All.

Last updated: November 1, 2025