What Are the Seven Hermetic Principles and How Can They Unlock Deeper Self-Awareness?
Artwork by Jake Baddeley
The teachings of Hermeticism—rooted in ancient Egypt and Greece and linked to the enigmatic figure of Hermes Trismegistus—claim to hold a master key to the unlocking the prima principium of reality or does it?
Contained in a compact yet profound text, The Kybalion, lists Seven Hermetic Principles offering a timeless map to understanding the layers of reality, the mind, and the bridge between the two.
These basic yet primary principles have influenced thinkers from the Renaissance alchemists to twentieth century psychologists like Carl Gustav Jung, and they continue to echo today in the realms of self-development and pop spirituality, from new age mysticism to popular movies like The Secret (Byrne, 2006).
These feel good marketing narratives promote the pseudo “Law of Attraction” as a secret universal law. This gobly gook continues to be recycled today by internet gurus like entrepreneur Gary Brecka who cite Constructive Interference as validation for the law of attraction. Resonance amplification is not proof of a mysterious metaphyscial attraction magnet.
However, unlike the popularized “manifestation” teachings, Hermeticism proposes a balanced, grounded approach to self-mastery, one that integrates philosophical and psychological insights.
The Seven Principles are more than abstract ideas—they offer a universal personal philosophy, a meta-psychological framework through which one can better navigate life’s twists, turns, and unseen dimensions.
I propose that by adopting these principles as a guiding framework, individuals can develop a practical philosophy for life, synthesizing an understanding of the mind and the universe.
For anyone seeking an introduction to both Hermeticism and some key foundations of Depth Psychology, I recommend The Kybalion as an invaluable text, one that reveals the source of many modern spiritual teachings and provides a gateway into deeper self-awareness.
Hermeticism: An Ancient Tradition of Mystical Wisdom
Hermeticism, as a body of knowledge, traces its roots to the ancient wisdom traditions of Egypt and Greece. Named after Hermes Trismegistus—a legendary figure considered a blend of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth—Hermeticism is a philosophy that intertwines metaphysical and spiritual understanding with practical guidance for human conduct.
The principles taught by Hermes Trismegistus were preserved in texts like the Corpus Hermeticum, and later, in 1908, were summarized in The Kybalion, written by an anonymous author under the pseudonym “The Three Initiates.” The author is believed to be William Walker Atkinson. He was an attorney, merchant, publisher and pioneer of the popular New Thought Movement.
The Coprpus Hermeticum form the foundation of Hermetic thought, proposing that the universe is a unified whole and that the nature of the divine can be known through direct insight and self-inquiry (Yates, 1964).
Throughout history, Hermeticism has influenced Western thought significantly. It re-emerged during the Renaissance when scholars like Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno saw it as a pathway to unlocking divine and cosmic truths (Yates, 1964).
The principles of Hermeticism also wove their way into the esoteric practices of alchemy and Gnosticism, laying the groundwork for many modern psychological and philosophical ideas.
Even in contemporary popular culture, Hermetic themes appear in self-help and manifestation movements, with watered-down versions seen in works like The Secret, which focuses narrowly on the power of positive thinking as a way to shape reality (Byrne, 2006).
However, Hermeticism goes far beyond materialistic desires. It calls us to align with universal laws, cultivating balance and understanding within ourselves as reflections of the cosmos. In this sense, the Seven Hermetic Principles are not just tools for success but a lens for perceiving and navigating the interconnections of all things while navigating life’s success and failures.
The Seven Hermetic Principles: Universal Laws of Mind and Reality
Each of the Seven Hermetic Principles provides a key to a map. When understood together, they form a system of understanding that extends from the structure of the cosmos to the depths of the individual psyche. For each excerpt from the book I provide an anecdote and a quote from scholarly source to help validate these axioms.
1. The Principle of Mentalism
“The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 5)
Mentalism asserts that the universe itself is of a mental or spiritual nature—that everything that exists is a product of a vast, universal consciousness. I recall a period of deep personal upheaval when I found myself confronting seemingly insurmountable challenges.
In that moment, I realized that my perception of the situation—my own mental framework—was shaping my reality far more than the external circumstances themselves.
By shifting my perception (my angle of viewing “it” into a new perspective, (a new or multiple angles of viewing “it.”) I could change my experience into a response instead of reaction to the world around me.
“The only reality is mind and observations, but observations are not of things. To see the Universe as it really is, we must abandon our tendency to conceptualize observations as things. The Universe is immaterial — mental and spiritual. Live and enjoy.”
—Richard Conn Henry, Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, known for his influential work in astrophysics and his article on the “mental universe” in Nature (Henry, 2005, p. 29).
2. The Principle of Correspondence
“As above, so below; as below, so above.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 6)
This principle speaks to the parallel structures between different levels of existence: the cosmic and the personal, the macro and the micro.
I am often struck by the resemblance between the web of interdependence in a forest and the intricate web of human relationships. Just as each element in an ecosystem affects the whole, each part of the psyche affects our conscious experience.
Carl Jung drew heavily on this idea, suggesting that archetypes and symbols within the personal unconscious reflect universal human patterns (Jung, 1968).
“The more we study the major problems of our time, the more we come to realize that they cannot be understood in isolation. They are systemic problems… interconnected and interdependent.”
— Fritjof Capra, Ph.D., Physicist and Systems Theorist, best known for The Tao of Physics, a bestseller that bridges physics and Eastern mysticism (Capra, 1982, p. 268).
3. The Principle of Vibration
“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 9)
This principle reminds us that everything in the universe, including our own thoughts and feelings, exists in constant motion.
There was a time when I felt trapped in a stagnant relationship, but upon realizing the underlying energies at play, I began to perceive the subtle shifts in our dynamic.
Understanding the Principle of Vibration taught me to adapt rather than resist, to embrace life’s flow and move with it rather than against it.
In psychological terms, this mirrors the dynamic process of adaptation, an essential skill for navigating life’s constant changes (Piaget, 1977).
“Everything changes, nothing remains without change.”
— Heraclitus, Ancient Greek Philosopher, considered one of the founders of Western philosophy and known for the doctrine of flux and the saying “You cannot step into the same river twice” (c. 500 BCE, Fragment 125).
4. The Principle of Polarity
“Everything is Dual; everything has poles.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 10)
Polarity emphasizes the existence of opposites in all things: love and hate, light and dark, positive and negative, black and white, back and front, penis and vagina, left and right, up and down, pleasure and pain, joy and sadness, birth and death.
In my own journey, I have often felt the tension between these opposites, especially in intimate relationships, where love can swiftly become resentment. Yet, it was only by accepting both ends of this spectrum that I could understand the true depth of love in it’s yielding yet unyielding totality.
Jung’s concept of the shadow reflects this principle—by confronting and integrating our darker aspects, we find a deeper sense of wholeness (Jung, 1961).
“We formulate a general theory of wave-particle duality for many-body quantum states, which quantifies how wavelike and particle like properties balance each other.”
— Christoph Dittel, Physicist and Quantum Researcher, alongside colleagues Guillaume Dufour, Gregor Weihs, and Andreas Buchleitner, renowned for their contributions to quantum mechanics in Physical Review X (Dittel, Dufour, Weihs, & Buchleitner, 2021, p. 1).
5. The Principle of Rhythm
“Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 11)
This principle of ebb and flow reminds us that life moves in cycles, both on grand cosmic scales and within our personal experiences.
I’ve found that when hardship arises, it is most often followed by a period of growth. Recognizing this rhythm helps one maintain perspective through life’s challenges, fostering resilience over victimhood and scapegoating onto someone or some circumstance.
It also reflects the seasonal shifts of the psyche, as we move through phases of growth and introspection.
“The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.”
— Alan Watts, British Writer and Philosopher, notable for popularizing Eastern philosophy in the West and best known for The Way of Zen (Watts, 1971, p. 102).
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect
“Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 12)
Cause and Effect implies that every action generates a reaction. It emphasizes the consequences of our choices, even those made unconsciously. Micro lies like micro cheats, hidden porn, slandering an ex or gossiping negatively about your spouses does not go without a consequence.
The choices I’ve made in relationships, for example, have often led to unforeseen ripple effects. For example, I may have entered a relationship with someone knowing they wanted a long term commitment but I did not.
Instead of directly communicating I was ambivalent leading to discomfort and sudden split.
Later, someone split on me who I desired a long term commitment. Maybe this is universal cause and effect correcting and bringing balance to an imbalance.
This principle aligns with the idea of karma, though more broadly, it encourages mindfulness in action, showing us the interconnected nature of all decisions.
“Every action has its pleasures and its price.”
— Socrates, Ancient Greek Philosopher, one of the founders of Western philosophy, quoted by Plato in Phaedo (Plato, trans. 1961, p. 57).
7. The Principle of Gender
“Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles.” (Three Initiates, 1908, p. 13)
The Principle of Gender speaks to the universal interplay of masculine and feminine energies, not as literal genders but as creative and receptive forces.
The masculine being pro-generative, assertive, direct, rational in nature (Logos) and the feminine being nutritive, open, receptive, sensual in nature (Eros).
Within myself, I have learned and still learning to balance these energies, harnessing logical assertiveness when necessary and receptive openness at other times.
By integrating these principles, we achieve harmony within, much like Jung’s concept of integrating the anima or animus.
“Anima and animus are in a sense the hidden contrasexual elements in each individual, a reflection of the complementary opposite forces at work within the psyche.”
— Carl Jung, Swiss Psychiatrist and Psychoanalyst, founder of Analytical Psychology, (Jung, 1968, p. 123).
Why The Kybalion?
The Kybalion is easy to understand and offers a short, simple and grounded synthesis of bedrock teachings modern pop-psychology and self-help gurus often lack.
The book is a easy to understand approach that helps one have a broader understanding of the larger forces at play that not only influenced but integrates with Depth Psychology and resonates with Jung’s insights into the unconscious and the collective psyche as well as modern physics.
For anyone interested in getting the meat of this valuable philosophy that has informed and influenced Western thought The Kybalion serves as a valuable starting point—a tool for aligning the mind with timeless principles and understanding the psychological forces—as above and so below.
Another short read is the actual hermetic texts. I recommend, The Way of Hermes: New Translations of the The Corpus Hermeticum and The Definitions of Hermes Trismegistus to Asclepius. Translated by Clement Salaman, Dorine van Ovin Willaim D. Wharton, and Jean-Purre Mahé.
For an even deeper dive I recommend The Hermetic Link: From Secret Tradition to Modern Thought by Jacob Slavenburg Ph.D.
References
The Kybalion: Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece. (1908). The Yogi Publication Society.
Byrne, R. (2006). The secret. Atria Books.
Piaget, J. (1977). The development of thought: Equilibration of cognitive structures. Viking Press.
Yates, F. (1964). Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition. University of Chicago Press.
Capra, F. (1982). The turning point: Science, society, and the rising culture. Simon & Schuster.
Dittel, C., Dufour, G., Weihs, G., & Buchleitner, A. (2021). Wave-Particle Duality of Many-Body Quantum States. Physical Review X, 11(3), 031041. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevX.11.031041
Henry, R. C. (2005). The mental universe. Nature, 436, 29. https://doi.org/10.1038/436029a
Heisenberg, W. (1958). Physics and philosophy: The revolution in modern science. Harper & Row.
Heraclitus. (c. 500 BCE). Fragments. (D. Sider & J. Primavesi, Eds., 1999). Cambridge University Press.
Jung, C. G. (1961). Memories, dreams, reflections. Pantheon Books.
Jung, C. G. (1968). Psychology and alchemy (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press.
Plato. (1961). Phaedo (E. Hamilton & H. Cairns, Eds.; H. Tredennick, Trans.). Princeton University Press.
Watts, A. (1971). The book: On the taboo against knowing who you are. Vintage Books.
