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  • The Kybalion

    Enviado por

    Djehwti Khepra Awsar-El
    2K visualizações70 páginas
    The Kybalion resides in the public domain. This re-issue includes images and is published by KHEMWEST during the Ra cycle 6255 in the age of Hapi Aquarius born of the Ancient Calender of the forefathers of the Khemwwr of the western hemisphere on the continent of Amexem formerly North Western Ta Meri otherwise said North America. transforming into Kemet West via the evolution of the society's culture and social values of a higher nature.

    Título original

    THE KYBALION

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    The Kybalion resides in the public domain. This re-issue includes images and is published by KHEMWEST during the Ra cycle 6255 in the age of Hapi Aquarius born of the Ancient Calender of the forefathers of the Khemwwr of the western hemisphere on the continent of Amexem formerly North Western Ta Meri otherwise said North America. transforming into Kemet West via the evolution of the society's culture and social values of a higher nature.

    Direitos autorais:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Baixe no formato PDF, TXT ou leia online no Scribd
    Sinalizar o conteúdo como inadequado
    2K visualizações70 páginas

    The Kybalion

    Enviado por

    Djehwti Khepra Awsar-El
    The Kybalion resides in the public domain. This re-issue includes images and is published by KHEMWEST during the Ra cycle 6255 in the age of Hapi Aquarius born of the Ancient Calender of the forefathers of the Khemwwr of the western hemisphere on the continent of Amexem formerly North Western Ta Meri otherwise said North America. transforming into Kemet West via the evolution of the society's culture and social values of a higher nature.

    Direitos autorais:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Baixe no formato PDF, TXT ou leia online no Scribd
    Sinalizar o conteúdo como inadequado
    de 70

    "THEMECHANICSOFCHANGINGYOURREALITY"

    'Letitbeonearthasitisinheaven'ismoorlikeamechanicfunctionthannot.Thismechanicalfunctionalso
    existinthewords'Asabovesobelow'.
    Intoday'sknowledgeweknowthisprinciplefunctionisfractalinitsnature.Fractalmeansthatnature(ntr)
    manifestsintophysicalityfromoneblueprintoranotherandthatblueprint/geometricdesignisthen
    repeatedintoinfinity,
    Thismeansthatifwewanttoknowhowthebiggeststuffworks,yousendoutyourqueryridingthecosmic
    arkcalledintent(Thepurertheark,thebetteryourmanifestation)intothecreationofallthingsanditwill
    realizeforyou.Thishappensbecausealleventsandexperiencesareinexistencerightnowwithinone
    universeoranothervibratingtoonefrequencyoranotherduetoitsphysicalnature.
    Thisishowtousethisfunctiontocreateyourreality.

    Knowthattheplanetisamagnetandyouareamagnetaswell.

    Knowthatallthingsthatare.were&everwillbedwellwithinthe
    realmofprobabilityandpossibility.Thisrealmiswhatwenowcall
    thequantumworld.ThisisalsothedwellingplaceofAmun,theprimordial
    waters.

    Knowthatthisrealityisanillusionmeaningthatitsmalleableorchangeable
    fromonestatetoanother.

    Nowinsertyourdesirewiththepurestintentintotheasabove,sobelowconverterdevice

    Keepexpectationslowinordertoletcreationmanifestyourintentwiththehighestvibrationallevel

    Lastbutmostimportantisthatyoumustbereadytoactwhenyourrealitybeginstomanifestforyou.Keep
    youreyesandearsopenbecauseeveryoneinyourrealityisnowworkingonyourbehalftohelpyou
    manifestyourreality.Theywillcomeintheformoffriends,family,enemies,delays,disasters,gooddays
    andbaddays.Allyouhavetodoisrememberthatalloftheseexperiencesorthingshappeningtoyouare
    gettingyouclosertotherealitythatyouarecreating.Welcomethem,embracethemandusethemtotheir
    highestpotentialtomanifestyourhighestpotential

    DjehwtiKhepraAwsarEl

    THE
    KYBALION
    ASTUDYOF

    THEHERMETICPHILOSOPHYOF
    ANCIENTEGYPTAND
    GREECE
    BY
    THREEINITIATES
    THELIPSOFWISDOMARECLOSED,EXCEPTTOTHE
    EARSOFUNDERSTANDING

    THEUNIFIEDSOCIETYOFKHEMWEST

    TO

    HERMESTRISMEGISTUS
    otherwisesaid

    DJEHWTITEHWTIZEHWTI
    otherwisesaid

    THOTHTHEATLANTEAN

    KNOWNBYTHEANCIENT
    KHEMWWRAS

    DJEHWTI,
    THEGREATGREAT
    AND

    MASTEROFMASTERS

    THISLITTLEVOLUMEOFHERMETICTEACHINGS
    ISREVERENTLYDEDICATED


    CONTENTS
    CHAPTER.PAGE.
    INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................4

    CHAPTERI...............................................................................................................6

    CHAPTERII..............................................................................................................9

    CHAPTERIII...........................................................................................................14

    CHAPTERIV...........................................................................................................16

    CHAPTERV............................................................................................................19

    CHAPTERVI...........................................................................................................22

    CHAPTERVII..........................................................................................................26

    CHAPTERVIII.........................................................................................................30

    CHAPTERIX...........................................................................................................36

    CHAPTERX............................................................................................................39

    CHAPTERXI...........................................................................................................42

    CHAPTERXII..........................................................................................................45

    CHAPTERXIII.........................................................................................................48

    CHAPTERXIV.........................................................................................................51

    CHAPTERXV..........................................................................................................56

    INTRODUCTION.

    Wetakegreatpleasureinpresentingtotheattentionofstudentsandinvestigatorsofthe
    SecretDoctrinesthislittleworkbasedupontheworldoldHermeticTeachings.Therehas
    beensolittlewrittenuponthissubject,notwithstandingthecountlessreferencestothe
    Teachingsinthemanyworksuponoccultism,thatthemanyearnestsearchersafterthe
    ArcaneTruthswilldoubtlesswelcometheappearanceofthepresentvolume.
    Thepurposeofthisworkisnottheenunciationofanyspecialphilosophyordoctrine,but
    ratheristogivetothestudentsastatementoftheTruththatwillservetoreconcilethemany
    bitsofoccultknowledgethattheymayhaveacquired,butwhichareapparentlyopposedto
    eachotherandwhichoftenservetodiscourageanddisgustthebeginnerinthestudy.Our
    intentisnottoerectanewTempleofKnowledge,butrathertoplaceinthehandsofthe
    studentaMasterKeywithwhichhemayopenthemanyinnerdoorsintheTempleof
    Mysterythroughthemainportalshehasalreadyentered.
    Thereisnoportionoftheoccultteachingspossessedbytheworldwhichhavebeenso
    closelyguardedasthefragmentsoftheHermeticTeachingswhichhavecomedowntous
    overthetensofcenturieswhichhaveelapsedsincethelifetimeofitsgreatfounder,Hermes
    Trismegistus,thescribeofthegods,whodweltinoldEgyptinthedayswhenthepresent
    raceofmenwasinitsinfancy.ContemporarywithAbraham,and,ifthelegendsbetrue,an
    instructorofthatvenerablesage,Hermeswas,andis,theGreatCentralSunofOccultism,
    whoserayshaveservedtoilluminethecountlessteachingswhichhavebeenpromulgated
    sincehistime.Allthefundamentalandbasicteachingsembeddedintheesotericteachings
    ofeveryracemaybetracedbacktoHermes.EventhemostancientteachingsofIndia
    undoubtedlyhavetheirrootsintheoriginalHermeticTeachings.
    FromthelandoftheGangesmanyadvancedoccultistswanderedtothelandofEgypt,
    andsatatthefeetoftheMaster.FromhimtheyobtainedtheMasterKeywhichexplained
    andreconciledtheirdivergentviews,andthustheSecretDoctrinewasfirmlyestablished.
    Fromotherlandsalsocamethelearnedones,allofwhomregardedHermesastheMaster
    ofMasters,andhisinfluencewassogreatthatinspiteofthemanywanderingsfromthe
    pathonthepartofthecenturiesofteachersinthesedifferentlands,theremaystillbefound
    acertainbasicresemblanceandcorrespondencewhichunderliesthemanyandoftenquite
    divergenttheoriesentertainedandtaughtbytheoccultistsofthesedifferentlandstoday.The
    studentofComparativeReligionswillbeabletoperceivetheinfluenceoftheHermetic

    Teachingsineveryreligionworthyofthename,nowknowntoman,whetheritbeadead
    religionoroneinfullvigorinourowntimes.Thereisalwaysacertaincorrespondencein
    spiteofthecontradictoryfeatures,andtheHermeticTeachingsactastheGreatReconciler.
    ThelifeworkofHermesseemstohavebeeninthedirectionofplantingthegreatSeed
    Truthwhichhasgrownandblossomedinsomanystrangeforms,ratherthantoestablisha
    schoolofphilosophywhichwoulddominatetheworld'sthought.But,nevertheless,the
    originaltruthstaughtbyhimhavebeenkeptintactintheiroriginalpuritybyafewmenin
    eachage,who,refusinggreatnumbersofhalfdevelopedstudentsandfollowers,followed
    theHermeticcustomandreservedtheirtruthforthefewwhowerereadytocomprehendand
    masterit.Fromliptoearthetruthhasbeenhandeddownamongthefew.
    TherehavealwaysbeenafewInitiatesineachgeneration,inthevariouslandsoftheearth,
    whokeptalivethesacredflameoftheHermeticTeachings,andsuchhavealwaysbeen
    willingtousetheirlampstorelightthelesserlampsoftheoutsideworld,whenthelightoftruth
    grewdim,andcloudedbyreasonofneglect,andwhenthewicksbecamecloggedwithforeignmatter.
    TherewerealwaysafewtotendfaithfullythealtaroftheTruth,uponwhichwaskeptalight
    thePerpetualLampofWisdom.Thesemendevotedtheirlivestothelaboroflovewhichthe
    poethassowellstatedinhislines:
    0,letnottheflamedieout!Cherishedageafterageinitsdarkcaverninitsholytemples
    cherished.Fedbypureministersofloveletnottheflamedieout!
    Thesemenhaveneversoughtpopularapproval,nornumbersoffollowers.Theyare
    indifferenttothesethings,fortheyknowhowfewthereareineachgenerationwhoareready
    forthetruth,orwhowouldrecognizeitifitwerepresentedtothem.Theyreservethestrong
    meatformen,whileothersfurnishthemilkforbabes.Theyreservetheirpearlsofwisdom
    forthefewelect,whorecognizetheirvalueandwhowearthemintheircrowns,insteadof
    castingthembeforethematerialisticvulgarswine,whowouldtrampletheminthemudand
    mixthemwiththeirdisgustingmentalfood.Butstillthesemenhaveneverforgottenor
    overlookedtheoriginalteachingsofHermes,regardingthepassingonofthewordsoftruth
    tothosereadytoreceiveit,whichteachingisstatedinTheKybalionasfollows:Wherefall
    thefootstepsoftheMaster,theearsofthosereadyforhisTeachingopenwide.Andagain:
    Whentheearsofthestudentarereadytohear,thencomeththelipstofillthemwith
    wisdom.Buttheircustomaryattitudehasalwaysbeenstrictlyinaccordancewiththeother
    Hermeticaphorism,alsoinTheKybalion:ThelipsofWisdomareclosed,excepttotheears
    ofUnderstanding.
    TherearethosewhohavecriticisedthisattitudeoftheHermetists,andwhohaveclaimed
    thattheydidnotmanifesttheproperspiritintheirpolicyofseclusionandreticence.Buta
    moment'sglancebackoverthepagesofhistorywillshowthewisdomoftheMasters,who
    knewthefollyofattemptingtoteachtotheworldthatwhichitwasneitherreadyorwillingto
    receive.TheHermetistshaveneversoughttobemartyrs,andhave,instead,satsilently
    asidewithapityingsmileontheirclosedlips,whiletheheathenragednoisilyaboutthemin
    theircustomaryamusementofputtingtodeathandtorturethehonestbutmisguided
    enthusiastswhoimaginedthattheycouldforceuponaraceofbarbariansthetruthcapable
    ofbeingunderstoodonlybytheelectwhohadadvancedalongThePath.
    Andthespiritofpersecutionhasnotasyetdiedoutintheland.Therearecertain
    HermeticTeachings,which,ifpubliclypromulgated,wouldbringdownupontheteachersa
    greatcryofscornandrevilementfromthemultitude,whowouldagainraisethecryof
    Crucify!Crucify.
    Inthislittleworkwehaveendeavoredtogiveyouanideaofthefundamentalteachingsof
    TheKybalion,strivingtogiveyoutheworkingPrinciples,leavingyoutoapplythem

    yourselves,ratherthanattemptingtoworkouttheteachingindetail.Ifyouareatrue
    student,youwillbeabletoworkoutandapplythesePrinciplesifnot,thenyoumust
    developyourselfintoone,forotherwisetheHermeticTeachingswillbeaswords,words,
    wordstoyou.

    THETHREEINITIATES.

    CHAPTERI
    T
    HE
    H
    ERMETIC
    P
    HILOSOPHY
    .
    Thelipsofwisdomareclosed,excepttotheearsofUnderstanding.
    TheKybalion.

    FromoldEgypthavecomethefundamentalesotericandoccultteachingswhichhaveso
    stronglyinfluencedthephilosophiesofallraces,nationsandpeoples,forseveralthousand
    years.Egypt,thehomeofthePyramidsandtheSphinx,wasthebirthplaceoftheHidden
    WisdomandMysticTeachings.FromherSecretDoctrineallnationshaveborrowed.India,
    Persia,Chaldea,Medea,China,Japan,Assyria,ancientGreeceandRome,andother
    ancientcountriespartookliberallyatthefeastofknowledgewhichtheHierophantsand
    MastersoftheLandofIsissofreelyprovidedforthosewhocamepreparedtopartakeofthe
    greatstoreofMysticandOccultLorewhichthemastermindsofthatancientlandhad
    gatheredtogether.
    InancientEgyptdweltthegreatAdeptsandMasterswhohaveneverbeensurpassed,
    andwhoseldomhavebeenequaled,duringthecenturiesthathavetakentheirprocessional
    flightsincethedaysoftheGreatHermes.InEgyptwaslocatedtheGreatLodgeofLodges
    oftheMystics.AtthedoorsofherTemplesenteredtheNeophyteswhoafterward,as
    Hierophants,Adepts,andMasters,traveledtothefourcornersoftheearth,carryingwith
    themthepreciousknowledgewhichtheywereready,anxious,andwillingtopassonto
    thosewhowerereadytoreceivethesame.AllstudentsoftheOccultrecognizethedebtthat
    theyowetothesevenerableMastersofthatancientland.
    ButamongthesegreatMastersofAncientEgyptthereoncedweltoneofwhomMasters
    hailedasTheMasterofMasters.Thisman,ifmanindeedhewas,dweltinEgyptinthe
    earliestdays.HewasknownasHermesTrismegistus.HewasthefatheroftheOccult
    WisdomthefounderofAstrologythediscovererofAlchemy.Thedetailsofhislifestoryare
    losttohistory,owingtothelapseoftheyears,thoughseveraloftheancientcountries
    disputedwitheachotherintheirclaimstothehonorofhavingfurnishedhisbirthplaceand
    thisthousandsofyearsago.ThedateofhissojourninEgypt,inthathislastincarnationon
    thisplanet,isnotnowknown,butithasbeenfixedattheearlydaysoftheoldestdynasties
    ofEgyptlongbeforethedaysofMoses.Thebestauthoritiesregardhimasacontemporary
    ofAbraham,andsomeoftheJewishtraditionsgosofarastoclaimthatAbrahamacquireda
    portionofhismysticknowledgefromHermeshimself.
    Astheyearsrolledbyafterhispassingfromthisplaneoflife(traditionrecordingthathe

    livedthreehundredyearsintheflesh),theEgyptiansdeifiedHermes,andmadehimoneof
    theirgods,underthenameofThoth.Yearsafter,thepeopleofAncientGreecealsomade
    himoneoftheirmanygodscallinghimHermes,thegodofWisdom.TheEgyptians
    reveredhismemoryformanycenturiesyes,tensofcenturies.callinghimtheScribeofthe
    Gods,andbestowinguponhim,distinctively,hisancienttitle,Trismegistus,whichmeans
    ''thethricegreatthegreatgreatthegreatestgreatetc.Inalltheancientlands,the
    nameofHermesTrismegistuswasrevered,thenamebeingsynonymouswiththeFountof
    Wisdom.
    Eventothisday,weusethetermhermeticinthesenseofsecretsealedsothat
    nothingcanescapeetc.,andthisbyreasonofthefactthatthefollowersofHermesalways
    observedtheprincipleofsecrecyintheirteachings.Theydidnotbelieveincastingpearls
    beforeswine,butratherheldtotheteachingmilkforbabesmeatforstrongmen,bothof
    whichmaximsarefamiliartoreadersoftheChristianscriptures,butbothofwhichhadbeen
    usedbytheEgyptiansforcenturiesbeforetheChristianera.
    Andthispolicyofcarefuldisseminationofthetruthhasalwayscharacterizedthe
    Hermetics,evenuntothepresentday.TheHermeticTeachingsaretobefoundinalllands,
    amongallreligions,butneveridentifiedwithanyparticularcountry,norwithanyparticular
    religioussect.Thisbecauseofthewarningoftheancientteachersagainstallowingthe
    SecretDoctrinetobecomecrystallizedintoacreed.Thewisdomofthiscautionisapparent
    toallstudentsofhistory.TheancientoccultismofIndiaandPersiadegenerated,andwas
    largelylost,owingtothefactthattheteachersbecamepriests,andsomixedtheologywith
    thephilosophy,theresultbeingthattheoccultismofIndiaandPersiahasbeengradually
    lostamidstthemassofreligioussuperstition,cults,creedsandgods.Soitwaswith
    AncientGreeceandRome.SoitwaswiththeHermeticTeachingsoftheGnosticsandEarly
    Christians,whichwerelostatthetimeofConstantine,whoseironhandsmothered
    philosophywiththeblanketoftheology,losingtotheChristianChurchthatwhichwasits
    veryessenceandspirit,andcausingittogropethroughoutseveralcenturiesbeforeitfound
    thewaybacktoitsancientfaith,theindicationsapparenttoallcarefulobserversinthis
    TwentiethCenturybeingthattheChurchisnowstrugglingtogetbacktoitsancientmystic
    teachings.
    ButtherewerealwaysafewfaithfulsoulswhokeptalivetheFlame,tendingitcarefully,
    andnotallowingitslighttobecomeextinguished.Andthankstothesestaunchhearts,and
    fearlessminds,wehavethetruthstillwithus.Butitisnotfoundinbooks,toanygreat
    extent.IthasbeenpassedalongfromMastertoStudentfromInitiatetoHierophantfromlip
    toear.Whenitwaswrittendownatall,itsmeaningwasveiledintermsofalchemyand
    astrology,sothatonlythosepossessingthekeycouldreaditaright.Thiswasmade
    necessaryinordertoavoidthepersecutionsofthetheologiansoftheMiddleAges,who
    foughttheSecretDoctrinewithfireandswordstake,gibbetandcross.Eventothisday
    therewillbefoundbutfewreliablebooksontheHermeticPhilosophy,althoughthereare
    countlessreferencestoitinmanybookswrittenonvariousphasesofOccultism.Andyet,
    theHermeticPhilosophyistheonlyMasterKeywhichwillopenallthedoorsoftheOccult
    Teachings!
    Intheearlydays,therewasacompilationofcertainBasicHermeticDoctrines,passedon
    fromteachertostudent,whichwasknownasTHEKYBALION,theexactsignificanceand
    meaningofthetermhavingbeenlostforseveralcenturies.Thisteaching,however,isknown
    tomanytowhomithasdescended,frommouthtoear,onandonthroughoutthecenturies.
    Itspreceptshaveneverbeenwrittendown,orprinted,sofarasweknow.Itwasmerelya
    collectionofmaxims,axioms,andprecepts,whichwerenonunderstandabletooutsiders,

    butwhichwerereadilyunderstoodbystudents,aftertheaxioms,maxims,andpreceptshad
    beenexplainedandexemplifiedbytheHermeticInitiatestotheirNeophytes.These
    teachingsreallyconstitutedthebasicprinciplesofTheArtofHermeticAlchemy,which,
    contrarytothegeneralbelief,dealtinthemasteryofMentalForces,ratherthanMaterial
    ElementstheTransmutationofonekindofMentalVibrationsintoothers.insteadofthe
    changingofonekindofmetalintoanother.ThelegendsofthePhilosopher'sStonewhich
    wouldturnbasemetalintoGold,wasanallegoryrelatingtoHermeticPhilosophy,readily
    understoodbyallstudentsoftrueHermeticism.
    Inthislittlebook,ofwhichthisistheFirstLesson,weinviteourstudentstoexamineinto
    theHermeticTeachings,assetforthinTHEKYBALION,andasexplainedbyourselves,
    humblestudentsoftheTeachings,who,whilebearingthetitleofInitiates,arestillstudents
    atthefeetofHERMES,theMaster.Wehereingiveyoumanyofthemaxims,axiomsand
    preceptsofTHEKYBALION,accompaniedbyexplanationsandillustrationswhichwedeem
    likelytorendertheteachingsmoreeasilycomprehendedbythemodernstudent,particularly
    astheoriginaltextispurposelyveiledinobscureterms.
    Theoriginalmaxims,axioms,andpreceptsofTHEKYBALIDNareprintedherein,in
    quotationmarks,thepropercreditbeinggiven.Ourownworkisprintedintheregularway,in
    thebodyofthework.Wetrustthatthemanystudentstowhomwenowofferthislittlework
    willderiveasmuchbenefitfromthestudyofitspagesashavethemanywhohavegoneon
    before,treadingthesamePathtoMasterythroughoutthecenturiesthathavepassedsince
    thetimesofHERMESTRISMEGISTUStheMasterofMasterstheGreatGreat.Inthe
    wordsofTHEKYBALION:

    WherefallthefootstepsoftheMaster,theearsofthosereadyforhisTeachingopenwide.
    TheKybalion.
    Whentheearsofthestudentarereadytohear,thencomeththelipstofillthemwithWisdom.The
    K
    ybalion.
    SothataccordingtotheTeachings,thepassageofthisbooktothosereadyforthe
    instructionwillattracttheattentionofsuchasarepreparedtoreceivetheTeaching.And,
    likewise,whenthepupilisreadytoreceivethetruth,thenwillthislittlebookcometohim,or
    her.SuchisTheLaw.TheHermeticPrincipleofCauseandEffect,initsaspectofTheLaw
    ofAttraction,willbringlipsandeartogetherpupilandbookincompany.Somoteitbe!

    CHAPTERII.
    T
    HE
    S
    EVEN
    H
    ERMETIC
    P
    RINCIPLES
    .
    ThePrinciplesofTruthareSevenhewhoknowsthese,understandingly,possessestheMagicKeybefore
    whosetouchalltheDoorsoftheTempleflyopen.
    TheKybalion.

    TheSevenHermeticPrinciples,uponwhichtheentireHermeticPhilosophyisbased,are
    asfollows:

    I.THEPRINCIPLEOFMENTALISM.

    II.THEPRINCIPLEOFCORRESPONDENCE.

    III.THEPRINCIPLEOFVIBRATION.

    IV.THEPRINCIPLEOFPOLARITY.

    V.THEPRINCIPLEOFRHYTHM.

    VI.THEPRINCIPLEOFCAUSEANDEFFECT.

    VII.THEPRINCIPLEOFGENDER.

    TheseSevenPrincipleswillbediscussedandexplainedasweproceedwiththese
    lessons.Ashortexplanationofeach,however,mayaswellbegivenatthispoint.

    I.
    THEPRINCIPLEOFMENTALISM.

    THEALLisMINDTheUniverseisMental.
    TheKybalion.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththatAllisMind.ItexplainsthatTHEALL(whichisthe
    SubstantialRealityunderlyingalltheoutwardmanifestationsandappearanceswhichwe
    knowunderthetermsofTheMaterialUniversethePhenomenaofLifeMatter
    Energyandinshort,allthatisapparenttoourmaterialsenses)isSPIRIT,whichinitselfis
    UNKNOWABLEandUNDEFINABLE,butwhichmaybeconsideredandthoughtofasAN
    UNIVERSAL,INFINITE,LIVINGMIND.Italsoexplainsthatallthephenomenalworldor
    universeissimplyaMentalCreationofTHEALL,subjecttotheLawsofCreatedThings,
    andthattheuniverse,asawhole,andinitspartsorunits,hasitsexistenceintheMindof
    THEALL,inwhichMindweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.ThisPrinciple,by
    establishingtheMentalNatureoftheUniverse,easilyexplainsallofthevariedmentaland
    psychicphenomenathatoccupysuchalargeportionofthepublicattention,andwhich,
    withoutsuchexplanation,arenonunderstandableanddefyscientifictreatment.An
    understandingofthisgreatHermeticPrincipleofMentalismenablestheindividualtoreadily
    graspthelawsoftheMentalUniverse,andtoapplythesametohiswellbeingand
    advancement.TheHermeticStudentisenabledtoapplyintelligentlythegreatMentalLaws,
    insteadofusingtheminahaphazardmanner.WiththeMasterKeyinhispossession,the
    studentmayunlockthemanydoorsofthementalandpsychictempleofknowledge,and
    enterthesamefreelyandintelligently.ThisPrincipleexplainsthetruenatureofEnergy,
    Power,andMatter,andwhyandhowallthesearesubordinatetotheMasteryofMind.
    OneoftheoldHermeticMasterswrote,longagesago:Hewhograspsthetruthofthe
    MentalNatureoftheUniverseiswelladvancedonThePathtoMastery.Andthesewords
    areastruetodayasatthetimetheywerefirstwritten.WithoutthisMasterKey,Masteryis
    impossible,andthestudentknocksinvainatthemanydoorsofTheTemple.

    II.THEPRINCIPLEOFCORRESPONDENCE.

    Asabove,sobelowasbelow,soabove.
    TheKybalion

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththatthereisalwaysaCorrespondencebetweenthe
    lawsandphenomenaofthevariousplanesofBeingandLife.TheoldHermeticaxiomranin
    thesewords:Asabove,sobelowasbelow,soabove.AndthegraspingofthisPrinciple
    givesonethemeansofsolvingmanyadarkparadox,andhiddensecretofNature.There
    areplanesbeyondourknowing,butwhenweapplythePrincipleofCorrespondencetothem
    weareabletounderstandmuchthatwouldotherwisebeunknowabletous.ThisPrincipleis
    ofuniversalapplicationandmanifestation,onthevariousplanesofthematerial,mental,and
    spiritualuniverseitisanUniversalLaw.TheancientHermetistsconsideredthisPrincipleas
    oneofthemostimportantmentalinstrumentsbywhichmanwasabletopryasidethe
    obstacleswhichhidfromviewtheUnknown.ItsuseeventoreasidetheVeilofIsistothe
    extentthataglimpseofthefaceofthegoddessmightbecaught.Justasaknowledgeofthe
    PrinciplesofGeometryenablesmantomeasuredistantsunsandtheirmovements,while
    seatedinhisobservatory,soaknowledgeofthePrincipleofCorrespondenceenablesMan
    toreasonintelligentlyfromtheKnowntotheUnknown.Studyingthemonad,heunderstands
    thearchangel.

    III.THEPRINCIPLEOFVIBRATION.
    Nothingrestseverythingmoveseverythingvibrates.
    TheKybalion.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththateverythingisinmotioneverythingvibrates
    nothingisatrestfactswhichModernScienceendorses,andwhicheachnewscientific
    discoverytendstoverify.AndyetthisHermeticPrinciplewasenunciatedthousandsofyears
    ago,bytheMastersofAncientEgypt.ThisPrincipleexplainsthatthedifferencesbetween
    differentmanifestationsofMatter,Energy,Mind,andevenSpirit,resultlargelyfromvarying
    ratesofVibration.FromTHEALL,whichisPureSpirit,downtothegrossestformofMatter,
    allisinvibrationthehigherthevibration,thehigherthepositioninthescale.Thevibrationof
    Spiritisatsuchaninfiniterateofintensityandrapiditythatitispracticallyatrestjustasa
    rapidlymovingwheelseemstobemotionless.Andattheotherendofthescale,thereare
    grossformsofmatterwhosevibrationsaresolowastoseematrest.Betweenthesepoles,
    therearemillionsuponmillionsofvaryingdegreesofvibration.Fromcorpuscleandelectron,
    atomandmolecule,toworldsanduniverses,everythingisinvibratorymotion.Thisisalso
    trueontheplanesofenergyandforce(whicharebutvaryingdegreesofvibration)andalso
    onthementalplanes(whosestatesdependuponvibrations)andevenontothespiritual
    planes.AnunderstandingofthisPrinciple,withtheappropriateformulas,enablesHermetic
    studentstocontroltheirownmentalvibrationsaswellasthoseofothers.TheMastersalso
    applythisPrincipletotheconqueringofNaturalphenomena,invariousways.Hewho
    understandsthePrincipleofVibration,hasgraspedthesceptreofpower,saysoneoftheoldwriters.

    IV.THEPRINCIPLEOFPOLARITY.
    EverythingisDualeverythinghaspoleseverythinghasitspairofoppositeslikeandunlikearethesame
    oppositesareidenticalinnature,butdifferentindegreeextremesmeetalltruthsarebuthalftruthsall
    paradoxesmaybereconciled.
    TheKybalion.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththateverythingisdualeverythinghastwopoles
    everythinghasitspairofopposites,allofwhichwereoldHermeticaxioms.Itexplainsthe
    oldparadoxes,thathaveperplexedsomany,whichhavebeenstatedasfollows:Thesis
    andantithesisareidenticalinnature,butdifferentindegreeoppositesarethesame,
    differingonlyindegreethepairsofoppositesmaybereconciledextremesmeet
    everythingisandisn't,atthesametimealltruthsarebuthalftruthseverytruthishalfThefalsethere
    aretwosidestoeverything,etc.,etc.,etc.Itexplainsthatineverythingthere
    aretwopoles,oroppositeaspects,andthatoppositesarereallyonlythetwoextremesof
    thesamething,withmanyvaryingdegreesbetweenthemToillustrate:HeatandCold,
    althoughopposites,arereallythesamething,thedifferencesconsistingmerelyofdegrees
    ofthesamething.Lookatyourthermometerandseeifyoucandiscoverwhereheat
    terminatesandcoldbegins!Thereisnosuchthingasabsoluteheatorabsolutecold
    thetwotermsheatandcoldsimplyindicatevaryingdegreesofthesamething,andthat
    samethingwhichmanifestsasheatandcoldismerelyaform,variety,andrateof
    Vibration.SoheatandcoldaresimplythetwopolesofthatwhichwecallHeatand
    thephenomenaattendantthereuponaremanifestationsofthePrincipleofPolarity.The
    sameprinciplemanifestsinthecaseofLightandDarkness,whicharethesamething,the
    differenceconsistingofvaryingdegreesbetweenthetwopolesofthephenomena.Where
    doesdarknessleaveoff,andlightbegin?WhatisthedifferencebetweenLargeand
    Small?BetweenHardandSoft?BetweenBlackandWhite?BetweenSharpandDull?
    BetweenNoiseandQuiet?BetweenHighandLow?BetweenPositiveandNegative?
    ThePrincipleofPolarityexplainstheseparadoxes,andnootherPrinciplecansupersedeit.
    ThesamePrincipleoperatesontheMentalPlane.Letustakearadicalandextreme
    examplethatofLoveandHate,twomentalstatesapparentlytotallydifferent.Andyetthere
    aredegreesofHateanddegreesofLove,andamiddlepointinwhichweusetheterms
    LikeorDislike,whichshadeintoeachothersograduallythatsometimesweareatalossto

    knowwhetherwelikeordislikeorneither.Andallaresimplydegreesofthesamething,
    asyouwillseeifyouwillbutthinkamoment.And,morethanthis(andconsideredofmore
    importancebytheHermetists),itispossibletochangethevibrationsofHatetothe
    vibrationsofLove,inone'sownmind,andinthemindsofothers.Manyofyou,whoread
    theselines,havehadpersonalexperiencesoftheinvoluntaryrapidtransitionfromLoveto
    Hate,andthereverse,inyourowncaseandthatofothers.Andyouwillthereforerealizethe
    possibilityofthisbeingaccomplishedbytheuseoftheWill,bymeansoftheHermetic
    formulas.GoodandEvilarebutthepolesofthesamething,andtheHermetist
    understandstheartoftransmutingEvilintoGood,bymeansofanapplicationofthe
    PrincipleofPolarity.Inshort,theArtofPolarizationbecomesaphaseofMentalAlchemy
    knownandpracticedbytheancientandmodernHermeticMasters.Anunderstandingofthe
    PrinciplewillenableonetochangehisownPolarity,aswellasthatofothers,ifhewill
    devotethetimeandstudynecessarytomastertheart

    V.THEPRINCIPLEOFRHYTHM.
    Everythingflows,outandineverythinghasitstidesallthingsriseandfallthependulumswingmanifestsin
    everythingthemeasureoftheswingtotherightisthemeasureoftheswingtotheleftrhythmcompensates.
    TheKybalion.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththatineverythingthereismanifestedameasured
    motion,toandfroaflowandinflowaswingbackwardandforwardapendulumlike
    movementatidelikeebbandflowahightideandlowtidebetweenthetwopoleswhich
    existinaccordancewiththePrincipleofPolaritydescribedamomentago.Thereisalways
    anactionandareactionanadvanceandaretreatarisingandasinking.Thisisinthe
    affairsoftheUniverse,suns,worlds,men,animals,mind,energy,andmatter.Thislawis
    manifestinthecreationanddestructionofworldsintheriseandfallofnationsinthelifeof
    allthingsandfinallyinthementalstatesofMan(anditiswiththislatterthattheHermetists
    findtheunderstandingofthePrinciplemostimportant).TheHermetistshavegraspedthis
    Principle,findingitsuniversalapplication,andhavealsodiscoveredcertainmeansto
    overcomeitseffectsinthemselvesbytheuseoftheappropriateformulasandmethods.
    TheyapplytheMentalLawofNeutralization.TheycannotannulthePrinciple,orcauseitto
    ceaseitsoperation,buttheyhavelearnedhowtoescapeitseffectsuponthemselvestoa
    certaindegreedependingupontheMasteryofthePrinciple.TheyhavelearnedhowtoUSE
    it,insteadofbeingUSEDBYit.Inthisandsimilarmethods,consisttheArtoftheHermetists.
    TheMasterofHermeticspolarizeshimselfatthepointatwhichhedesirestorest,andthen
    neutralizestheRhythmicswingofthependulumwhichwouldtendtocarryhimtotheother
    pole.AllindividualswhohaveattainedanydegreeofSelfMasterydothistoacertain
    degree,moreorlessunconsciously,buttheMasterdoesthisconsciously,andbytheuseof
    hisWill,andattainsadegreeofPoiseandMentalFirmnessalmostimpossibleofbeliefon
    thepartofthemasseswhoareswungbackwardandforwardlikeapendulum.ThisPrinciple
    andthatofPolarityhavebeencloselystudiedbytheHermetists,andthemethodsof
    counteracting,neutralizing,andUSINGthemformanimportantpartoftheHermeticMental
    Alchemy.

    VI.THEPRINCIPLEOFCAUSEANDEFFECT.
    EveryCausehasitsEffecteveryEffecthasitsCauseeverythinghappensaccordingtoLawChanceisbut
    anameforLawnotrecognizedtherearemanyplanesofcausation,butnothingescapestheLaw.
    The
    Kybalion.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthefactthatthereisaCauseforeveryEffectanEffectfrom
    everyCause.Itexplainsthat:EverythingHappensaccordingtoLawthatnothingever
    merelyhappensthatthereisnosuchthingasChancethatwhiletherearevariousplanes
    ofCauseandEffect,thehigherdominatingthelowerplanes,stillnothingeverentirely
    escapestheLaw.TheHermetistsunderstandtheartandmethodsofrisingabovethe
    ordinaryplaneofCauseandEffect,toacertaindegree,andbymentallyrisingtoahigher
    planetheybecomeCausersinsteadofEffects.Themassesofpeoplearecarriedalong,
    obedienttoenvironmentthewillsanddesiresofothersstrongerthanthemselvesheredity
    suggestionandotheroutwardcausesmovingthemaboutlikepawnsontheChessboardof
    Life.ButtheMasters,risingtotheplaneabove,dominatetheirmoods,characters,qualities,
    andpowers,aswellastheenvironmentsurroundingthem,andbecomeMoversinsteadof
    pawns.TheyhelptoPLAYTHEGAMEOFLIFE,insteadofbeingplayedandmovedabout
    byotherwillsandenvironment.TheyUSEthePrincipleinsteadofbeingitstools.The
    MastersobeytheCausationofthehigherplanes,buttheyhelptoRULEontheirownplane.
    InthisstatementthereiscondensedawealthofHermeticknowledgelethimreadwhocan.

    VII.THEPRINCIPLEOFGENDER.

    ThisPrincipleembodiesthetruththatthereisGENDERmanifestedineverythingthe
    MasculineandFemininePrincipleseveratwork.ThisistruenotonlyofthePhysicalPlane,
    butoftheMentalandeventheSpiritualPlanes.OnthePhysicalPlane,thePrinciple
    manifestsasSEX,onthehigherplanesittakeshigherforms,butthePrincipleiseverthe
    same.Nocreation,physical,mentalorspiritual,ispossiblewithoutthisPrinciple.An
    understandingofitslawswillthrowlightonmanyasubjectthathasperplexedthemindsof
    men.ThePrincipleofGenderworkseverinthedirectionofgeneration,regeneration,and
    creation.Everything,andeveryperson,containsthetwoElementsorPrinciples,orthisgreat
    Principle,withinit,himorher.EveryMalethinghastheFemaleElementalsoeveryFemale
    containsalsotheMalePrinciple.IfyouwouldunderstandthephilosophyofMentaland
    SpiritualCreation,Generation,andRegeneration,youmustunderstandandstudythis
    HermeticPrinciple.ItcontainsthesolutionofmanymysteriesofLife.Wecautionyouthat
    thisPrinciplehasnoreferencetothemanybase,perniciousanddegradinglustfultheories,
    teachingsandpractices,whicharetaughtunderfancifultitles,andwhichareaprostitutionof
    thegreatnaturalprincipleofGender.Suchbaserevivalsoftheancientinfamousformsof
    Phallicismtendtoruinmind,bodyandsoul,andtheHermeticPhilosophyhaseversounded
    thewarningnoteagainstthesedegradedteachingswhichtendtowardlust,licentiousness,
    andperversionofNature'sprinciples.ifyouseeksuchteachings,youmustgoelsewherefor
    themHermeticismcontainsnothingforyoualongtheselines.Tothepure,allthingsare
    puretothebase,allthingsarebase.

    CHAPTERIII.
    M
    ENTAL
    T
    RANSMUTATION
    .
    Mind(aswellasmetalsandelements)maybetransmuted,fromstatetostatedegreetodegreecondition
    toconditionpoletopolevibrationtovibration.TrueHermeticTransmutationisaMentalArt.
    TheKybalion.

    Aswehavestated,theHermetistsweretheoriginalalchemists,astrologers,and
    psychologists,Hermeshavingbeenthefounderoftheseschoolsofthought.Fromastrology
    basgrownmodernastronomyfromalchemyhasgrownmodernchemistryfromthemystic
    psychologyhasgrownthemodernpsychologyoftheschools.Butitmustnotbesupposed
    thattheancientswereignorantofthatwhichthemodernschoolssupposetobetheir
    exclusiveandspecialproperty.TherecordsengravedonthestonesofAncientEgyptshow
    conclusivelythattheancientshadafullcomprehensiveknowledgeofastronomy,thevery
    buildingofthePyramidsshowingtheconnectionbetweentheirdesignandthestudyof
    astronomicalscience.NorweretheyignorantofChemistry,forthefragmentsoftheancient
    writingsshowthattheywereacquaintedwiththechemicalpropertiesofthingsinfact,the
    ancienttheoriesregardingphysicsarebeingslowlyverifiedbythelatestdiscoveriesof
    modernscience,notablythoserelatingtotheconstitutionofmatter.Normustitbesupposed
    thattheywereignorantofthesocalledmoderndiscoveriesinpsychologyonthecontrary,
    theEgyptianswereespeciallyskilledinthescienceofPsychology,particularlyinthe
    branchesthatthemodernschoolsignore,butwhich,nevertheless,arebeinguncovered
    underthenameofpsychicsciencewhichisperplexingthepsychologistsoftoday,and
    makingthemreluctantlyadmitthattheremaybesomethinginitafterall.
    Thetruthis,thatbeneaththematerialchemistry,astronomyandpsychology(thatis,the
    psychologyinitsphaseofbrainaction),theancientspossessedaknowledgeof
    transcendentalastronomy,calledastrologyoftranscendentalchemistry,calledalchemyof
    transcendentalpsychology,calledmysticpsychology.TheypossessedtheInnerKnowledge
    aswellastheOuterKnowledge,thelatteralonebeingpossessedbymodernscientists.
    AmongthemanysecretbranchesofknowledgepossessedbytheHermetists,wasthat
    knownasMentalTransmutation,whichformsthesubjectmatterofthislesson.
    Transmutationisatermusuallyemployedtodesignatetheancientartofthe
    transmutationofmetalsparticularlyofthebasemetalsintogold.ThewordTransmute
    meanstochangefromonenature,form,orsubstance,intoanothertotransform

    (Webster).Andaccordingly,MentalTransmutationmeanstheartofchangingand
    transformingmentalstates,forms,andconditions,intoothers.SoyoumayseethatMental
    TransmutationistheArtofMentalChemistry,ifyoulikethetermaformofpracticalMystic
    Psychology.
    Butthismeansfarmorethanappearsonthesurface.Transmutation,Alchemy,or
    Chemistry,ontheMentalPlaneisimportantenoughinitseffects,tobesure,andiftheart
    stoppedthereitwouldstillbeoneofthemostimportantbranchesofstudyknowntoman.
    Butthisisonlythebeginning.Letusseewhy!
    ThefirstoftheSevenHermeticPrinciplesisthePrincipleofMentalism,theaxiomof
    whichisTHEALLisMindtheUniverseisMental,whichmeansthattheUnderlyingReality
    oftheUniverseisMindandtheUniverseitselfisMentalthatis,existingintheMindofTHE
    ALL.WeshallconsiderthisPrincipleinsucceedinglessons,butletusseetheeffectofthe
    principleifitbeassumedtobetrue.
    IftheUniversalisMentalinitsnature,thenMentalTransmutationmustbetheartof
    CHANGINGTHECONDITIONSOFTHEUNIVERSE,alongthelinesofMatter,Forceand
    Mind.Soyousee,therefore,thatMentalTransmutationisreallytheMagicofwhichthe
    ancientwritershadsomuchtosayintheirmysticalworks,andaboutwhichtheygaveso
    fewpracticalinstructions.IfAllbeMental,thentheartwhichenablesonetotransmute
    mentalconditionsmustrendertheMasterthecontrollerofmaterialconditionsaswellas
    thoseordinarilycalledmental.
    Asamatteroffact,nonebutadvancedMentalAlchemistshavebeenabletoattainthe
    degreeofpowernecessarytocontrolthegrosserphysicalconditions,suchasthecontrolof
    theelementsofNaturetheproductionorcessationoftempeststheproductionand
    cessationofearthquakesandothergreatphysicalphenomena.Butthatsuchmenhave
    existed,anddoexisttoday,isamatterofearnestbelieftoalladvancedoccultistsofall
    schools.ThattheMastersexist,andhavethesepowers,thebestteachersassuretheir
    students,havinghadexperienceswhichjustifytheminsuchbeliefandstatements.These
    Mastersdonotmakepublicexhibitionsoftheirpowers,butseekseclusionfromthecrowds
    ofmen,inordertobetterworktheirwayalongthePathofAttainment.Wementiontheir
    existence,atthispoint,merelytocallyourattentiontothefactthattheirpowerisentirely
    Mental,andoperatesalongthelinesofthehigherMentalTransmutation,undertheHermetic
    PrincipleofMentalism.TheUniverseisMentalTheKybalion.
    ButstudentsandHermetistsoflesserdegreethanMasterstheInitiatesandTeachers
    areabletofreelyworkalongtheMentalPlane,inMentalTransmutation.Infactallthatwe
    callpsychicphenomenamentalinfluencementalsciencenewthoughtphenomena,
    etc.,operatesalongthesamegenerallines,forthereisbutoneprincipleinvolved,nomatter
    bywhatnamethephenomenabecalled.
    ThestudentandpractitionerofMentalTransmutationworksamongtheMentalPlane,
    transmutingmentalconditions,states,etc.,intoothers,accordingtovariousformulas,more
    orlessefficacious.Thevarioustreatments,affirmations,denials,etc.,oftheschoolsof
    mentalsciencearebutformulas,oftenquiteimperfectandunscientific,ofTheHermeticArt.
    Themajorityofmodernpractitionersarequiteignorantcomparedtotheancientmasters,for
    theylackthefundamentalknowledgeuponwhichtheworkisbased.
    Notonlymaythementalstates,etc.,ofone'sselfbechangedortransmutedbyHermetic
    Methodsbutalsothestatesofothersmaybe,andare,constantlytransmutedinthesame
    way,usuallyunconsciously,butoftenconsciouslybysomeunderstandingthelawsand
    principles,incaseswherethepeopleaffectedarenotinformedoftheprinciplesofselfprotection.
    Andmorethanthis,asmanystudentsandpractitionersofmodernmental

    scienceknow,everymaterialconditiondependinguponthemindsofotherpeoplemaybe
    changedortransmutedinaccordancewiththeearnestdesire,will,andtreatmentsof
    persondesiringchangedconditionsoflife.Thepublicaresogenerallyinformedregarding
    thesethingsatpresent,thatwedonotdeemitnecessarytomentionthesameatlength,our
    purposeatthispointbeingmerelytoshowtheHermeticPrincipleandArtunderlyingallof
    thesevariousformsofpractice,goodandevil,fortheforcecanbeusedinopposite
    directionsaccordingtotheHermeticPrinciplesofPolarity.
    InthislittlebookweshallstatethebasicprinciplesofMentalTransmutation,thatallwho
    readmaygrasptheUnderlyingPrinciples,andthuspossesstheMasterKeythatwillunlock
    themanydoorsofthePrincipleofPolarity.
    WeshallnowproceedtoaconsiderationofthefirstoftheHermeticSevenPrinciplesthe
    PrincipleofMentalism,inwhichisexplainedthetruththatTHEALLisMindtheUniverseis
    Mental,inthewordsofTheKybalion.Weaskthecloseattention,andcarefulstudyofthis
    greatPrinciple,onthepartofourstudents,foritisreallytheBasicPrincipleofthewhole
    HermeticPhilosophy,andoftheHermeticArtofMentalTransmutation.

    CHAPTERIV.
    T
    HE
    A
    LL
    .
    Under,andbackof,theUniverseofTime,SpaceandChange,isevertobefoundTheSubstantialReality
    theFundamentalTruth.
    TheKybalion.

    Substancemeans:thatwhichunderliesalloutwardmanifestationstheessencethe
    essentialrealitythethinginitself,etc.Substantialmeans:actuallyexistingbeingthe
    essentialelementbeingreal,etc.Realitymeans:thestateofbeingrealtrue,enduring
    validfixedpermanentactual,etc.
    Underandbehindalloutwardappearancesormanifestations,theremustalwaysbea
    SubstantialReality.ThisistheLaw.ManconsideringtheUniverse,ofwhichheisaunit,
    seesnothingbutchangeinmatter,forces,andmentalstates.HeseesthatnothingreallyIS,
    butthateverythingisBECOMINGandCHANGING.Nothingstandsstilleverythingisbeing
    born,growing,dyingtheveryinstantathingreachesitsheight,itbeginstodeclinethelaw
    ofrhythmisinconstantoperationthereisnoreality,enduringquality,fixity,orsubstantiality
    inanythingnothingispermanentbutChange.Heseesallthingsevolvingfromotherthings,
    andresolvingintootherthingsaconstantactionandreactioninflowandoutflowbuilding
    upandtearingdowncreationanddestructionbirth,growthanddeath.Nothingenduresbut
    Change.Andifhebeathinkingman,herealizesthatallofthesechangingthingsmustbe
    butoutwardappearancesormanifestationsofsomeUnderlyingPowersomesubstantial
    Reality.
    Allthinkers,inalllandsandinalltimes,haveassumedthenecessityforpostulatingthe
    existenceofthisSubstantialReality.Allphilosophiesworthyofthenamehavebeenbased
    uponthisthought.MenhavegiventothisSubstantialRealitymanynamessomehave
    calleditbythetermofDeity(undermanytitles)othershavecalleditTheInfiniteand
    EternalEnergyothershavetriedtocallitMatterbutallhaveacknowledgeditsexistence.
    Itisselfevidentitneedsnoargument.
    Intheselessonswehavefollowedtheexampleofsomeoftheworld'sgreatestthinkers,
    bothancientandmoderntheHermeticMastersandhavecalledthisUnderlyingPowerthis
    SubstantialRealitybytheHermeticnameofTHEALL,whichtermweconsiderthemost
    comprehensiveofthemanytermsappliedbyMantoTHATwhichtranscendsnamesandterms.

    WeacceptandteachtheviewofthegreatHermeticthinkersofalltimes,aswellasof
    thoseilluminedsoulswhohavereachedhigherplanesofbeing,bothofwhomassertthatthe
    innernatureofTHEALLisUNKNOWABLE.Thismustbeso,fornaughtbyTHEALLitself
    cancomprehenditsownnatureandbeing.
    TheHermetistsbelieveandteachthatTHEALL,initself,isandmusteverbe
    UNKNOWABLE.Theyregardallthetheories,guessesandspeculationsofthetheologians
    andmetaphysiciansregardingtheinnernatureofTHEALL,asbutthechildisheffortsof
    mortalmindstograspthesecretoftheInfinite.Sucheffortshavealwaysfailedandwill
    alwaysfail,fromtheverynatureofthetask.Onepursuingsuchinquiriestravelsaroundand
    aroundinthelabyrinthofthought,untilheislosttoallsanereasoning,actionorconduct,
    andisutterlyunfittedfortheworkoflife.Heislikethesquirrelwhichfranticallyrunsaround
    andaroundthecirclingtreadmillwheelofhiscage,travellingeverandyetreaching
    nowhereattheendaprisonerstill,andstandingjustwherehestarted.
    AndstillmorepresumptuousarethosewhoattempttoascribetoTHEALLthe
    personality,qualities,properties,characteristicsandattributesofthemselves,ascribingto
    THEALLthehumanemotions,feelings,andcharacteristics,evendowntothepettiest
    qualitiesormankind,suchasjealousy,susceptibilitytoflatteryandpraise,desirefor
    offeringsandworship,andalltheothersurvivalsfromthedaysofthechildhoodoftherace.
    Suchideasarenotworthyofgrownmenandwomen,andarerapidlybeingdiscarded.
    (Atthispoint,itmaybeproperformetostatethatwemakeadistinctionbetween
    ReligionandTheologybetweenPhilosophyandMetaphysics.Religion,tous,meansthat
    intuitionalrealizationoftheexistenceofTHEALL,andone'srelationshiptoitwhile
    Theologymeanstheattemptsofmentoascribepersonality,qualities,andcharacteristicsto
    ittheirtheoriesregardingitsaffairs,will,desires,plans,anddesignsandtheirassumption
    oftheofficeofmiddlemenbetweenTHEALLandthepeople.Philosophy,tous,means
    theinquiryafterknowledgeofthingsknowableandthinkablewhileMetaphysicsmeansthe
    attempttocarrytheinquiryoverandbeyondtheboundariesandintoregionsunknowable
    andunthinkable,andwiththesametendencyasthatofTheology.Andconsequently,both
    ReligionandPhilosophymeantousthingshavingrootsinReality,whileTheologyand
    Metaphysicsseemlikebrokenreeds,rootedinthequicksandsofignorance,andaffording
    naughtbutthemostinsecuresupportforthemindorsoulofMan.Wedonotinsistuponour
    studentsacceptingthesedefinitionswementionthemmerelytoshowourposition.Atany
    rate,youshallhearverylittleaboutTheologyandMetaphysicsintheselessons.)
    ButwhiletheessentialnatureofTHEALLisUnknowable,therearecertaintruths
    connectedwithitsexistencewhichthehumanmindfindsitselfcompelledtoaccept.Andin
    examinationofthesereportsformapropersubjectofinquiry,particularlyastheyagreewith
    thereportsoftheIlluminedonhigherplanes.Andtothisinquirywenowinviteyou.
    THATwhichistheFundamentalTruththeSubstantialRealityisbeyondtruenaming,buttheWiseMen
    call
    itTHEALL.
    TheKybalion.
    InitsEssence,THEALLisUNKNOWABLE.
    TheKybalion.
    But,thereportofReasonmustbehospitablyreceived,andtreatedwithrespect.
    TheKybalion.
    Thehumanreason,whosereportswemustacceptsolongaswethinkatall,informsus
    asfollowsregardingTHEALL,andthatwithoutattemptingtoremovetheveilofthe
    Unknowable:
    1.THEALLmustbeALLthatREALLYIS.TherecanbenothingexistingoutsideofTHE
    ALL,elseTHEALLwouldnotbeTHEALL.
    2.THEALLmustbeINFINITE,forisnothingelsetodefine,confine,bound,limitor

    restrictTHEALLItmustbeInfiniteinTime,orETERNAL,itmusthavealwayscontinuously
    existed,forthereisnothingelsetohaveevercreatedit,andsomethingcanneverevolve
    fromnothing,andifithadevernotbeen,evenforamoment,itwouldnotbenow,itmust
    continuouslyexistforever,forthereisnothingtodestroyit,anditcannevernotbe,even
    foramoment,becausesomethingcanneverbecomenothing.ItmustbeInfiniteinSpaceit
    mustbeEverywhere,forthereisnoplaceoutsideofTHEALLitcannotbeotherwisethan
    continuousinSpace,withoutbreak,cessation,separation,orinterruption,forthereis
    nothingtobreak,separate,orinterruptitscontinuity,andnothingwithwhichtofillinthe
    gaps.ItmustbeInfiniteinPower,orAbsolute,forthereisnothingtolimit,restrict,restrain,
    confine,disturborconditionititissubjecttonootherPower,forthereisnootherPower.
    3.THEALLmustbeIMMUTABLE,ornotsubjecttochangeinitsrealnature,forthereis
    nothingtoworkchangesuponitnothingintowhichitcouldchange,norfromwhichitcould
    havechanged.Itcannotbeaddedtonorsubtractedfromincreasednordiminishednor
    becomegreaterorlesserinanyrespectwhatsoever.Itmusthavealwaysbeen,andmust
    alwaysremain,justwhatitisnowTHEALLtherehasneverbeen,isnotnow,andnever
    willbe,anythingelseintowhichitcanchange.
    THEALLbeingInfinite,Absolute,EternalandUnchangeableitmustfollowthatanything
    finite,changeable,fleeting,andconditionedcannotbeTHEALL.AndasthereisNothing
    outsideofTHEALL,inReality,thenanyandallsuchfinitethingsmustbeasNothingin
    Reality.Nowdonotbecomebefogged,norfrightenedwearenottryingtoleadyouintothe
    ChristianSciencefieldundercoverofHermeticPhilosophy.ThereisaReconciliationofthis
    apparentlycontradictorystateofaffairs.Bepatient,wewillreachitintime.
    WeseearoundusthatwhichiscalledMatter,whichformsthephysicalfoundationforall
    forms.IsTHEALLmerelyMatter?Notatall!MattercannotmanifestLifeorMind,andasLife
    andMindaremanifestedintheUniverse,THEALLcannotbeMatter,fornothingrises
    higherthanitsownsourcenothingisevermanifestedinaneffectthatisnotinthecause
    nothingisevolvedasaconsequentthatisnotinvolvedasanantecedent.AndthenModern
    ScienceinformsusthatthereisreallynosuchthingasMatterthatwhatwecallMatteris
    merelyinterruptedenergyorforce,thatis,energyorforceatalowrateofvibration.Asa
    recentwriterhassaidMatterhasmeltedintoMystery.EvenMaterialSciencehas
    abandonedthetheoryofMatter,andnowrestsonthebasisofEnergy.
    ThenisTHEALLmereEnergyorForce?NotEnergyorForceasthematerialistsusethe
    terms,fortheirenergyandforceareblind,mechanicalthings,devoidofLifeorMind.Life
    andMindcanneverevolvefromblindEnergyorForce,forthereasongivenamomentago:
    Nothingcanrisehigherthanitssourcenothingisevolvedunlessitisinvolvednothing
    manifestsintheeffect,unlessitisinthecause.AndsoTHEALLcannotbemereEnergyor
    Force,for,ifitwere,thentherewouldbenosuchthingsasLifeandMindinexistence,and
    weknowbetterthanthat,forweareAliveandusingMindtoconsiderthisveryquestion,and
    soarethosewhoclaimthatEnergyorForceisEverything.
    WhatistherethenhigherthanMatterorEnergythatweknowtobeexistentinthe
    Universe?LIFEANDMIND!LifeandMindinalltheirvaryingdegreesofunfoldment!Then,
    youask,doyoumeantotellusthatTHEALLisLIFEandMIND?Yes!andNo!isour
    answer.IfyoumeanLifeandMindaswepoorpettymortalsknowthem,wesayNo!THE
    ALLisnotthat!ButwhatkindofLifeandMinddoyoumean?youask.
    TheanswerisLIVINGMIND,asfarabovethatwhichmortalsknowbythosewords,as
    LifeandMindarehigherthanmechanicalforces,ormatterINFINITELIVINGMINDas
    comparedtofiniteLifeandMind.Wemeanthatwhichtheilluminedsoulsmeanwhenthey
    reverentlypronouncetheword:SPIRIT!THEALLisInfiniteLivingMindtheIlluminedcallitSPIRIT!

    CHAPTERV.
    T
    HE
    M
    ENTAL
    U
    NIVERSE
    .
    TheUniverseisMentalheldintheMindofTHEALL.
    TheKybalion.

    THEALLisSPIRIT!ButwhatisSpirit?Thisquestioncannotbeanswered,forthereason
    thatitsdefinitionispracticallythatofTHEALL,whichcannotbeexplainedordefined.Spirit
    issimplyanamethatmengivetothehighestconceptionofInfiniteLivingMinditmeans
    theRealEssenceitmeansLivingMind,asmuchsuperiortoLifeandMindasweknow
    them,asthelatteraresuperiortomechanicalEnergyandMatter.Spirittranscendsour
    understanding,andweusethetermmerelythatwemaythinkorspeakofTHEALL.Forthe
    purposesofthoughtandunderstanding,wearejustifiedinthinkingofSpiritasInfiniteLiving
    Mind,atthesametimeacknowledgingthatwecannotfullyunderstandit.Wemusteitherdo
    thisorstopthinkingofthematteratall.
    LetusnowproceedtoaconsiderationofthenatureoftheUniverse,asawholeandinits
    parts.WhatistheUniverse?WehaveseenthattherecanbenothingoutsideofTHEALL.
    ThenistheUniverseTHEALL?No,thiscannotbe,becausetheUniverseseemstobe
    madeupofMANY,andisconstantlychanging,andinotherwaysitdoesnotmeasureupto
    theideasthatwearecompelledtoacceptregardingTHEALL,asstatedinourlastlesson.
    TheniftheUniversebenotTHEALL,thenitmustbeNothingsuchistheinevitable
    conclusionofthemindatfirstthought.Butthiswillnotsatisfythequestion,forweare
    sensibleoftheexistenceoftheUniverse.TheniftheUniverseisneitherTHEALL,nor
    Nothing,whatcanitbe!Letusexaminethisquestion.
    IftheUniverseexistsatall,orseemstoexist,itmustproceedinsomewayfromTHE
    ALLItmustbeacreationofTHEALL.Butassomethingcannevercomefromnothing,from
    whatcouldTHEALLhavecreatedit?Somephilosophershaveansweredthisquestionby
    sayingthatTHEALLcreatedtheUniversefromITSELFthatis,fromthebeingand
    substanceofTHEALL.Butthiswillnotdo,forTHEALLcannotbesubtractedfrom,nor
    divided,aswehaveseen,andthenagainifthisbeso,wouldnoteachparticleinthe
    UniversebeawareofitsbeingTHEALLTHEALLcouldnotloseitsknowledgeofitself,nor
    actuallyBECOMEanatom,orblindforce,orlowlylivingthing.Somemen,indeed,realizing

    thatTHEALLisindeedALL,andalsorecognizingthatthey,themen,existed,havejumped
    totheconclusionthattheyandTHEALLwereidentical,andtheyhavefilledtheairwith
    shoutsofIAMGOD,totheamusementofthemultitudeandthesorrowofsages.The
    claimofthecorpusclethat:IamMan!wouldbemodestincomparison.
    But,whatindeedistheUniverse,ifitbenotTHEALL,notyetcreatedbyTHEALLhaving
    separateditselfintofragments?Whatelsecanitbeofwhatelsecanitbemade?Thisisthe
    greatquestion.Letusexamineitcarefully.WefindherethatthePrincipleof
    Correspondence(seeLessonI.)comestoouraidhere.TheoldHermeticaxiom,Asabove
    sobelow,maybepressedintoserviceatthispoint.Letusendeavortogetaglimpseofthe
    workingsonhigherplanesbyexaminingthoseonourown.ThePrincipleofCorrespondence
    mustapplytothisaswellastootherproblems.
    Letussee!Onhisownplaneofbeing,howdoesMancreate?Well,first,hemaycreate
    bymakingsomethingoutofoutsidematerials.Butthiswillnotdo,fortherearenomaterials
    outsideofTHEALLwithwhichitmaycreate.Well,then,secondly,Manprocreatesor
    reproduceshiskindbytheprocessofbegetting,whichisselfmultiplicationaccomplishedby
    transferringaportionofhissubstancetohisoffspring.Butthiswillnotdo,becauseTHEALL
    cannottransferorsubtractaportionofitself,norcanitreproduceormultiplyitselfinthefirst
    placetherewouldbeatakingaway,andinthesecondcaseamultiplicationoradditionto
    THEALL,boththoughtsbeinganabsurdity.IstherenothirdwayinwhichMANcreates!
    Yes,thereisheCREATESMENTALLY!Andinsodoingheusesnooutsidematerials,nor
    doeshereproducehimself,andyethisSpiritpervadestheMentalCreation.
    FollowingthePrincipleofCorrespondence,wearejustifiedinconsideringthatTHEALL
    createstheUniverseMENTALLY,inamannerakintotheprocesswherebyMancreates
    MentalImages.And,hereiswherethereportofReasontalliespreciselywiththereportof
    theIllumined,asshownbytheirteachingsandwritings.SucharetheteachingsoftheWise
    Men.SuchwastheTeachingofHermes.
    THEALLcancreateinnootherwayexceptmentally,withouteitherusingmaterial(and
    thereisnonetouse),orelsereproducingitself(whichisalsoimpossible).Thereisno
    escapefromthisconclusionoftheReason,which,aswehavesaid,agreeswiththehighest
    teachingsoftheIllumined.Justasyou,student,maycreateaUniverseofyourowninyour
    mentality,sodoesTHEALLcreateUniversesinitsownMentality.ButyourUniverseisthe
    mentalcreationofaFiniteMind,whereasthatofTHEALListhecreationofanInfinite.The
    twoaresimilarinkind,butinfinitelydifferentindegree.Weshallexaminemorecloselyinto
    theprocessofcreationandmanifestation,asweproceed.Butthisisthepointtofixinyour
    mindsatthisstage:THEUNIVERSE,ANDALLITCONTAINS,ISAMENTALCREATION
    OFTHEALL.Verily,indeed,ALLISMIND!
    THEALLcreatesinitsInfiniteMindcountlessUniverses,whichexistforaeonsofTimeandyet,toTHE
    ALL,
    thecreation,development,declineanddeathofamillionUniversesisasthetimeofthetwinklingofan
    eye.
    The
    Kybalion.
    '
    TheInfiniteMindofTHEALListhewombofUniverses.
    TheKybalion.
    ThePrincipleofGender(seeLessonI.andotherlessonstofollow)ismanifestedonall
    planesoflife,material,mentalandspiritual.But,aswehavesaidbefore,Genderdoesnot
    meanSexsexismerelyamaterialmanifestationofgender.Gendermeansrelatingto
    generationorcreation.Andwhereveranythingisgeneratedorcreated,onanyplane,the
    PrincipleofGendermustbemanifested.AndthisistrueeveninthecreationofUniverses.
    Nowdonotjumptotheconclusionthatweareteachingthatthereisamaleandfemale

    God,orCreator.Thatideaismerelyadistortionoftheancientteachingsonthesubject.The
    trueteachingisthatTHEALL,initself,isaboveGender,asitisaboveeveryotherLaw,
    includingthoseofTimeandSpace.ItistheLaw,fromwhichtheLawsproceed,anditisnot
    subjecttothem.ButwhenTHEALLmanifestsontheplaneofgenerationorcreation,thenit
    actsaccordingtoLawandPrinciple,foritismovingonalowerplaneofBeing.And
    consequentlyitmanifeststhePrincipleofGender,initsMasculineandFeminineaspects,on
    theMentalPlane,ofcourse.
    Thisideamayseemstartlingtosomeofyouwhohearitforthefirsttime,butyouhaveall
    reallypassivelyaccepteditinyoureverydayconceptions.YouspeakoftheFatherhoodof
    God,andtheMotherhoodofNatureofGod,theDivineFather,andNaturetheUniversal
    MotherandhavethusinstinctivelyacknowledgedthePrincipleofGenderintheUniverse.Is
    thisnotsol
    But,theHermeticteachingdoesnotimplyarealdualityTHEALLisONEtheTwo
    Aspectsaremerelyaspectsofmanifestation.TheteachingisthatTheMasculinePrinciple
    manifestedbyTHEALLstands,inaway,apartfromtheactualmentalcreationofthe
    Universe.ItprojectsitsWilltowardtheFemininePrinciple(whichmaybecalledNature)
    whereuponthelatterbeginstheactualworkoftheevolutionoftheUniverse,fromsimple
    centresofactivityontoman,andthenonandonstillhigher,allaccordingtowellestablished
    andfirmlyenforcedLawsofNature.Ifyouprefertheoldfiguresofthought,you
    maythinkoftheMasculinePrincipleasGOD,theFather,andoftheFemininePrincipleas
    NATURE,theUniversalMother,fromwhosewomballthingshavebeenborn.Thisismore
    thanamerepoeticfigureofspeechitisanideaoftheactualprocessofthecreationofthe
    Universe.Butalwaysremember,thatTHEALLisbutOne,andthatinitsInfiniteMindthe
    Universeisgenerated,createdandexists.
    Itmayhelpyoutogettheproperidea,ifyouwillapplytheLawofCorrespondenceto
    yourself,andyourownmind.YouknowthatthepartofYouwhichyoucallI,inasense,
    standsapartandwitnessesthecreationofMentalImagesinyourownmind.Thepartofyour
    mindinwhichthementalgenerationisaccomplishedmaybecalledtheMeindistinction
    fromtheIwhichstandsapartandwitnessesandexaminesthethoughts,ideasandimages
    oftheMe.Asabove,sobelow,remember,andthephenomenaofoneplanemaybe
    employedtosolvetheriddlesofhigherorlowerplanes.
    IsitanywonderthatYou,thechild,feelthatinstinctivereverenceforTHEALL,which
    feelingwecallreligionthatrespect,andreverenceforTHEFATHERMIND?Isitany
    wonderthat,whenyouconsidertheworksandwondersofNature,youareovercomewitha
    mightyfeelingwhichhasitsrootsawaydowninyourinmostbeing?ItistheMOTHERMIND
    thatyouarepressingcloseupto,likeababetothebreast.
    DonotmakethemistakeofsupposingthatthelittleworldyouseearoundyoutheEarth,
    whichisameregrainofdustintheUniverseistheUniverseitself.Therearemillionsupon
    millionsofsuchworlds,andgreater.AndtherearemillionsofmillionsofsuchUniversesin
    existencewithintheInfiniteMindofTHEALL.Andeveninourownlittlesolarsystemthere
    areregionsandplanesoflifefarhigherthanours,andbeingscomparedtowhichweearthbound
    mortalsareastheslimylifeformsthatdwellontheocean'sbedwhencomparedto
    Man.TherearebeingswithpowersandattributeshigherthanManhaseverdreamedofthe
    gods'possessing.Andyetthesebeingswereonceasyou,andstilllowerandyouwillbe
    evenasthey,andstillhigher,intime,forsuchistheDestinyofManasreportedbythe
    Illumined.
    AndDeathisnotreal,evenintheRelativesenseitisbutBirthtoanewlifeandYou
    shallgoon,andon,andon,tohigherandstillhigherplanesoflife,foraeonsuponaeonsof

    time.TheUniverseisyourhome,andyoushallexploreitsfarthestrecessesbeforetheend
    ofTime.YouaredwellingintheInfiniteMindofTHEALL,andyourpossibilitiesand
    opportunitiesareinfinite,bothintimeandspace.AndattheendoftheGrandCycleof
    Aeons,whenTHEALLshalldrawbackintoitselfallofitscreationsyouwillgogladly,for
    youwillthenbeabletoknowtheWholeTruthofbeingAtOnewithTHEALL.Suchisthe
    reportoftheIlluminedthosewhohaveadvancedwellalongThePath.
    And,inthemeantime,restcalmand,sereneyouaresafeandprotectedbytheInfinite
    PoweroftheFATHERMOTHERMIND.

    WithintheFatherMotherMind,mortalchildrenareathome.
    TheKybalion
    .
    ThereisnotonewhoisFatherless,norMotherlessintheUniverse
    TheKybalion.

    CHAPTERVI.
    T
    HE
    D
    IVINE
    P
    ARADOX
    .
    Thehalfwise,recognizingthecomparativeunrealityoftheUniverse,imaginethattheymaydefyitsLaws
    sucharevainandpresumptuousfools,andtheyarebrokenagainsttherocksandtornasunderbytheelements
    byreasonoftheirfolly.Thetrulywise,knowingthenatureoftheUniverse,useLawagainstlawsthehigher
    againstthelowerandbytheArtofAlchemytransmutethatwhichisundesirableintothatwhichisworthy,and
    thustriumph.Masteryconsistsnotinabnormaldreams,visionsandfantasticimaginingsorliving,butinusingthe
    higherforcesagainstthelowerescapingthepainsofthelowerplanesbyvibratingonthehigher.Transmutation,
    notpresumptuousdenial,istheweaponoftheMaster.
    TheKybalion.

    ThisistheParadoxoftheUniverse,resultingfromthePrincipleofPolaritywhich
    manifestswhenTHEALLbeginstoCreatehearkentoitforitpointsthedifferencebetween
    halfwisdomandwisdom.WhiletoTHEINFINITEALL,theUniverse,itsLaws,itsPowers,its
    Life,itsPhenomena,areasthingswitnessedinthestateofMeditationorDreamyettoall
    thatisFinite,theUniversemustbetreatedasReal,andlife,andaction,andthought,must
    bebasedthereupon,accordingly,althoughwithaneverunderstandingoftheHigherTruth.
    EachaccordingtoitsownPlaneandLaws.WereTHEALLtoimaginethattheUniverse
    wereindeedReality,thenwoetotheUniverse,fortherewouldbethennoescapefromlower
    tohigher,divinewardthenwouldtheUniversebecomeafixityandprogresswouldbecome
    impossible.AndifMan,owingtohalfwisdom,actsandlivesandthinksoftheUniverseas
    merelyadream(akintohisownfinitedreams)thenindeeddoesitsobecomeforhim,and
    likeasleepwalkerhestumbleseveraroundandaroundinacircle,makingnoprogress,and
    beingforcedintoanawakeningatlastbyhisfallingbruisedandbleedingovertheNatural
    Lawswhichheignored.KeepyourmindeverontheStar,butletyoureyeswatchoveryour
    footsteps,lestyoufallintothemirebyreasonofyourupwardgaze.RemembertheDivine
    Paradox,thatwhiletheUniverseISNOT,stillITIS.RememberevertheTwoPolesofTruth
    theAbsoluteandtheRelative.BewareofHalfTruths.
    WhatHermetistsknowastheLawofParadoxisanaspectofthePrincipleofPolarity.
    TheHermeticwritingsarefilledwithreferencestotheappearanceoftheParadoxinthe
    considerationoftheproblemsofLifeandBeing.TheTeachersareconstantlywarningtheir
    studentsagainsttheerrorofomittingtheothersideofanyquestion.Andtheirwarningsare

    particularlydirectedtotheproblemsoftheAbsoluteandtheRelative,whichperplexall
    studentsofphilosophy,andwhichcausesomanytothinkandactcontrarytowhatis
    generallyknownascommonsense.Andwecautionallstudentstobesuretograspthe
    DivineParadoxoftheAbsoluteandRelative,lesttheybecomeentangledinthemireofthe
    HalfTruth.Withthisinviewthisparticularlessonhasbeenwritten.Readitcarefully!
    Thefirstthoughtthatcomestothethinkingmanafterherealizesthetruththatthe
    UniverseisaMentalCreationofTHEALL,isthattheUniverseandallthatitcontainsisa
    mereillusionanunrealityagainstwhichideahisinstinctsrevolt.Butthis,likeallothergreat
    truths,mustbeconsideredbothfromtheAbsoluteandtheRelativepointsofview.Fromthe
    Absoluteviewpoint,ofcourse,theUniverseisinthenatureofanillusion,adream,a
    phantasmagoria,ascomparedtoTHEALLinitself.Werecognizethiseveninourordinary
    view,forwespeakoftheworldasafleetingshowthatcomesandgoes,isbornanddies
    fortheelementofimpermanenceandchange,finitenessandunsubstantiality,musteverbe
    connectedwiththeideaofacreatedUniversewhenitiscontrastedwiththeideaofTHE
    ALL,nomatterwhatmaybeourbeliefsconcerningthenatureofboth.Philosopher,
    metaphysician,scientistandtheologianallagreeuponthisidea,andthethoughtisfoundin
    allformsofphilosophicalthoughtandreligiousconceptions,aswellasinthetheoriesofthe
    respectiveschoolsofmetaphysicsandtheology.
    So,theHermeticTeachingsdonotpreachtheunsubstantialityoftheUniverseinany
    strongertermsthanthosemorefamiliartoyou,althoughtheirpresentationofthesubject
    mayseemsomewhatmorestartling.Anythingthathasabeginningandanendingmustbe,
    inasense,unrealanduntrue,andtheUniversecomesundertherule,inallschoolsof
    thought.FromtheAbsolutepointofview,thereisnothingRealexceptTHEALL,nomatter
    whattermswemayuseinthinkingof,ordiscussingthesubject.WhethertheUniversebe
    createdofMatter,orwhetheritbeaMentalCreationintheMindofTHEALLitis
    unsubstantial,nonenduring,athingoftime,spaceandchange.Wewantyoutorealizethis
    factthoroughly,beforeyoupassjudgmentontheHermeticconceptionoftheMentalnature
    oftheUniverse.Thinkoveranyandalloftheotherconceptions,andseewhetherthisbenot
    trueofthem.
    ButtheAbsolutepointofviewshowsmerelyonesideofthepicturetheothersideisthe
    Relativeone.AbsoluteTruthhasbeendefinedasThingsasthemindofGodknowsthem,
    whileRelativeTruthisThingsasthehighestreasonofManunderstandsthem.Andso
    whiletoTHEALLtheUniversemustbeunrealandillusionary,ameredreamorresultof
    meditationnevertheless,tothefinitemindsformingapartofthatUniverse,andviewingit
    throughmortalfaculties,theUniverseisveryrealindeed,andmustbesoconsidered.In
    recognizingtheAbsoluteview,wemustnotmakethemistakeofignoringordenyingthe
    factsandphenomenaoftheUniverseastheypresentthemselvestoourmortalfacultieswe
    arenotTHEALL,remember.
    Totakefamiliarillustrations,weallrecognizethefactthatMatterexiststooursenses
    wewillfarebadlyifwedonot.Andyet,evenourfinitemindsunderstandthescientificdictum
    thatthereisnosuchthingasMatterfromascientificpointofviewthatwhichwecallMatter
    isheldtobemerelyanaggregationofatoms,whichatomsthemselvesaremerelya
    groupingofunitsofforce,calledelectronsorions,vibratingandinconstantcircularmotion.
    Wekickastoneandwefeeltheimpactitseemstobereal,notwithstandingthatweknowit
    tobemerelywhatwehavestatedabove.Butrememberthatourfoot,whichfeelstheimpact
    bymeansofourbrains,islikewiseMatter,soconstitutedofelectrons,andforthatmatterso
    areourbrains.And,atthebest,ifitwerenotbyreasonofourMind,wewouldnotknowthe
    footorstoneatall.


    Thenagain,theidealoftheartistorsculptor,whichheisendeavoringtoreproducein
    stoneoroncanvas,seemsveryrealtohim.Sodothecharactersinthemindoftheauthor,
    ordramatist,whichheseekstoexpresssothatothersmayrecognizethem.Andifthisbe
    trueinthecaseofourfiniteminds,whatmustbethedegreeofRealityintheMentalImages
    createdintheMindoftheInfinite?Oh,friends,tomortalsthisUniverseofMentalityisvery
    realindeeditistheonlyonewecaneverknow,thoughwerisefromplanetoplane,higher
    andhigherinit.Toknowitotherwise,byactualexperience,wemustbeTHEALLitself.Itis
    truethatthehigherweriseinthescalethenearertothemindoftheFatherwereachthe
    moreapparentbecomestheillusorynatureoffinitethings,butnotuntilTHEALLfinally
    withdrawsusintoitselfdoesthevisionactuallyvanish.
    So,weneednotdwelluponthefeatureofillusion.Ratherletus,recognizingthereal
    natureoftheUniverse,seektounderstanditsmentallaws,andendeavortousethemtothe
    besteffectinourupwardprogressthroughlife,aswetravelfromplanetoplaneofbeing.
    TheLawsoftheUniversearenonethelessIronLawsbecauseofthementalnature.All,
    exceptTHEALL,areboundbythem.WhatisINTHEINFINITEMINDOFTHEALLisREAL
    inadegreesecondonlytothatRealityitselfwhichisvestedinthenatureofTHEALL
    So,donotfeelinsecureorafraidweareallHELDFIRMLYINTHEINFINITEMINDOF
    THEALL,andthereisnaughttohurtusorforustofear.ThereisnoPoweroutsideofTHE
    ALLtoaffectus.Sowemayrestcalmandsecure.Thereisaworldofcomfortandsecurity
    inthisrealizationwhenonceattained.Thencalmandpeacefuldowesleep,rockedinthe
    CradleoftheDeeprestingsafelyonthebosomoftheOceanofInfiniteMind,whichisTHE
    ALL.InTHEALL,indeed,doweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing.
    MatterisnonethelessMattertous,whilewedwellontheplaneofMatter,althoughwe
    knowittobemerelyanaggregationofelectrons,orparticlesofForce,vibratingrapidlyand
    gyratingaroundeachotherintheformationsofatomstheatomsinturnvibratingand
    gyrating,formingmolecules,whichlatterinturnformlargermassesofMatter.Nordoes
    MatterbecomelessMatter,whenwefollowtheinquiry.stillfurther,andlearnfromthe
    HermeticTeachings,thattheForceofwhichtheelectronsarebutunitsismerelya
    manifestationoftheMindofTHEALL,andlikeallelseintheUniverseispurelyMentalinits
    nature.WhileonthePlaneofMatter,wemustrecognizeitsphenomenawemaycontrol
    Matter(asallMastersofhigherorlesserdegreedo),butwedosobyapplyingthehigher
    forces.WecommitafollywhenweattempttodenytheexistenceofMatterintherelative
    aspect.Wemaydenyitsmasteryoverusandrightlysobutweshouldnotattempttoignore
    itinitsrelativeaspect,atleastsolongaswedwelluponitsplane.
    NordotheLawsofNaturebecomelessconstantoreffective,whenweknowthem,
    likewise,tobemerelymentalcreations.Theyareinfulleffectonthevariousplanes.We
    overcomethelowerlaws,byapplyingstillhigheronesandinthiswayonly.
    ButwecannotescapeLaworriseaboveitentirely.NothingbutTHEALLcanescape
    LawandthatbecauseTHEALLisLAWitself,fromwhichallLawsemerge.Themost
    advancedMastersmayacquirethepowersusuallyattributedtothegodsofmenandthere
    arecountlessranksofbeing,inthegreathierarchyoflife,whosebeingandpower
    transcendseventhatofthehighestMastersamongmentoadegreeunthinkablebymortals,
    buteventhehighestMaster,andthehighestBeing,mustbowtotheLaw,andbeasNothing
    intheeyeofTHEALL.SothatifeventhesehighestBeings,whosepowersexceedeven
    thoseattributedbymentotheirgodsifeventheseareboundbyandaresubservientto
    Law,thenimaginethepresumptionofmortalman,ofourraceandgrade,whenhedaresto
    considertheLawsofNatureasunreal,visionaryandillusory,becausehehappenstobe

    abletograspthetruththattheLawsareMentalinnature,andsimplyMentalCreationsof
    THEALL.ThoseLawswhichTHEALLintendstobegoverningLawsarenottobedefiedor
    arguedaway.SolongastheUniverseendures,willtheyendurefortheUniverseexistsby
    virtueoftheseLawswhichformitsframeworkandwhichholdittogether.
    TheHermeticPrincipleofMentalism,whileexplainingthetruenatureoftheUniverse
    upontheprinciplethatallisMental,doesnotchangethescientificconceptionsofthe
    Universe,Life,orEvolution.Infact,sciencemerelycorroboratestheHermeticTeachings.
    ThelattermerelyteachesthatthenatureoftheUniverseisMental,whilemodernscience
    hastaughtthatitisMaterialor(oflate)thatitisEnergyatthelastanalysis.TheHermetic
    TeachingshavenofaulttofindwithHerbertSpencersbasicprinciplewhichpostulatesthe
    existenceofanInfiniteandEternalEnergy,fromwhichallthingsproceed.Infact,the
    HermeticsrecognizeinSpencersphilosophythehighestoutsidestatementoftheworkings
    oftheNaturalLawsthathaveeverbeenpromulgated,andtheybelieveSpencertohave
    beenareincarnationofanancientphilosopherwhodweltinancientEgyptthousandsof
    yearsago,andwholaterincarnatedasHeraclitus,theGrecianphilosopherwholivedB.C.
    500.AndtheyregardhisstatementoftheInfiniteandEternalEnergyasdirectlyintheline
    oftheHermeticTeachings,alwayswiththeadditionoftheirowndoctrinethathisEnergyis
    theEnergyoftheMindofTHEALL.WiththeMasterKeyoftheHermeticPhilosophy,the
    studentofSpencerwillbeabletounlockmanydoorsoftheinnerphilosophicalconceptions
    ofthegreatEnglishphilosopher,whoseworkshowstheresultsofthepreparationofhis
    previousincarnations.HisteachingsregardingEvolutionandRhythmareinalmostperfect
    agreementwiththeHermeticTeachingsregardingthePrincipleofRhythm.
    So,thestudentofHermeticsneednotlayasideanyofhischerishedscientificviews
    regardingtheUniverse.AllheisaskedtodoistograsptheunderlyingprincipleofTHEALL
    isMindtheUniverseisMentalheldintheMindofTHEALL.Hewillfindthattheothersix
    oftheSevenPrincipleswillfitintohisscientificknowledge,andwillservetobringout
    obscurepointsandtothrowlightindarkcorners.Thisisnottobewonderedat,whenwe
    realizetheinfluenceoftheHermeticthoughtontheearlyphilosophersofGreece,upon
    whosefoundationsofthoughtthetheoriesofmodernsciencelargelyrest.Theacceptanceof
    theFirstHermeticPrinciple(Mentalism)istheonlygreatpointofdifferencebetweenModern
    ScienceandHermeticstudents,andScienceisgraduallymovingtowardtheHermetic
    positioninitsgropinginthedarkforawayoutoftheLabyrinthintowhichithaswanderedin
    itssearchforReality.
    Thepurposeofthislessonistoimpressuponthemindsofourstudentsthefactthat,to
    allintentsandpurposes,theUniverseanditslaws,anditsphenomena,arejustasREAL,so
    farasManisconcerned,astheywouldbeunderthehypothesesofMaterialismor
    Energism.UnderanyhypothesistheUniverseinitsouteraspectischanging,everflowing,
    andtransitoryandthereforedevoidofsubstantialityandreality.But(notetheotherpoleof
    thetruth)underanyofthesamehypotheses,wearecompelledtoACTANDLIVEasifthe
    fleetingthingswererealandsubstantial.Withthisdifference,always,betweenthevarious
    hypothesesthatundertheoldviewsMentalPowerwasignoredasaNaturalForce,while
    underMentalismitbecomestheGreatestNaturalForce.Andthisonedifference
    revolutionizesLife,tothosewhounderstandthePrincipleanditsresultinglawsandpractice.
    So,finally,studentsall,grasptheadvantageofMentalism,andlearntoknow,useand
    applythelawsresultingtherefrom.Butdonotyieldtothetemptationwhich,asTheKybalion
    states,overcomesthehalfwiseandwhichcausesthemtobehypnotizedbytheapparent
    unrealityofthings,theconsequencebeingthattheywanderaboutlikedreampeople
    dwellinginaworldofdreams,ignoringthepracticalworkandlifeofman,theendbeingthat

    theyarebrokenagainsttherocksandtornasunderbytheelements,byreasonoftheir
    folly.Ratherfollowtheexampleofthewise,whichthesameauthoritystates,useLaw
    againstLawsthehigheragainstthelowerandbytheArtofAlchemytransmutethatwhich
    isundesirableintothatwhichisworthy,andthustriumph.Followingtheauthority,letus
    avoidthehalfwisdom(whichisfolly)whichignoresthetruththat:Masteryconsistsnotin
    abnormaldreams,visions,andfantasticimaginingsorliving,butinusingthehigherforces
    againstthelowerescapingthepainsofthelowerplanesbyvibratingonthehigher.
    Rememberalways,student,thatTransmutation,notpresumptuousdenial,istheweaponof
    theMaster.TheabovequotationsarefromTheKybalion,andareworthyofbeing
    committedtomemorybythestudent
    Wedonotliveinaworldofdreams,butinanUniversewhich,whilerelative,isrealsofar
    asourlivesandactionsareconcerned.OurbusinessintheUniverseisnottodenyits
    existence,buttoLIVE,usingtheLawstorisefromlowertohigherlivingon,doingthebest
    thatwecanunderthecircumstancesarisingeachday,andliving,sofarasispossible,to
    ourhighestideasandideals.ThetrueMeaningofLifeisnotknowntomenonthisplaneif,
    indeed,toanybutthehighestauthorities,andourownintuitions,teachusthatwewillmake
    nomistakeinlivinguptothebestthatisinus,sofarasispossible,andrealizingthe
    Universaltendencyinthesamedirectioninspiteofapparentevidencestothecontrary.We
    areallonThePathandtheroadleadsupwardever,withfrequentrestingplaces.
    ReadtheMessageofTheKybalionandfollowtheexampleofthewiseavoidingthe
    mistakeofthehalfwisewhoperishbyreasonoftheirfolly.

    CHAPTERVII.
    T
    HE
    A
    LL
    I
    N
    A
    LL
    .
    WhileAllisinTHEALL,itisequallytruethatTHEALLisinAll.Tohimwhotrulyunderstandsthistruthhath
    comegreatknowledge.
    TheKybalion.

    HowoftenhavethemajorityofpeopleheardrepeatedthestatementthattheirDeity
    (calledbymanynames)wasAllinAll,andhowlittlehavetheysuspectedtheinneroccult
    truthconcealedbythesecarelesslyutteredwords?Thecommonlyusedexpressionisa
    survivaloftheancientHermeticMaximquotedabove.AstheKybalionsays:Tohimwho
    trulyunderstandsthistruth,hathcomegreatknowledge.And,thisbeingso,letusseekthis
    truth,theunderstandingofwhichmeanssomuch.InthisstatementoftruththisHermetic
    Maximisconcealedoneofthegreatestphilosophical,scientificandreligioustruths.
    WehavegivenyoutheHermeticTeachingregardingtheMentalNatureoftheUniverse
    thetruththattheUniverseisMentalheldintheMindofTHEALL.AstheKybalionsays,in
    thepassagequotedabove:AllisinTHEALL.Butnotealsothecorelatedstatement,that:
    ItisequallytruethatTHEALLisinALL.Thisapparentlycontradictorystatementis
    reconcilableundertheLawofParadox.Itis,moreover,anexactHermeticstatementofthe
    relationsexistingbetweenTHEALLanditsMentalUniverse.WehaveseenhowAllisin
    THEALLnowletusexaminetheotheraspectofthesubject.
    TheHermeticTeachingsaretotheeffectthatTHEALLisImminentin(remainingwithin
    inherentabidingwithin)itsUniverse,andineverypart,particle,unit,orcombination,within
    theUniverse.ThisstatementisusuallyillustratedbytheTeachersbyareferencetothe
    PrincipleofCorrespondence.TheTeacherinstructsthestudenttoformamentalImageof
    something,aperson,anidea,somethinghavingamentalform,thefavoriteexamplebeing
    thatoftheauthorordramatistforminganideaofhischaractersorapainterorsculptor
    forminganimageofanidealthathewishestoexpressbyhisart.Ineachcase,thestudent
    willfindthatwhiletheimagehasitsexistence,andbeing,solelywithinhisownmind,yethe,
    thestudent,author,dramatist,painter,orsculptor,is,inasense,immanentinremaining
    withinorabidingwithin,thementalimagealso.Inotherwords,theentirevirtue,life,spirit,of
    realityinthementalimageisderivedfromtheimmanentmindofthethinker.Considerthis
    foramoment,untiltheideaisgrasped.
    Totakeamodernexample,letussaythatOthello,Iago,Hamlet,Lear,RichardIII,existed
    merelyinthemindofShakespeare,atthetimeoftheirconceptionorcreation.Andyet,

    Shakespearealsoexistedwithineachofthesecharacters,givingthemtheirvitality,spirit,
    andaction.WhoseisthespiritofthecharactersthatweknowasMicawber,OliverTwist
    UriahHeepisitDickens,orhaveeachofthesecharactersapersonalspirit,independentof
    theircreator?HavetheVenusofMedici,theSistineMadonna,theAppolloBelvidere,spirits
    andrealityoftheirown,ordotheyrepresentthespiritualandmentalpoweroftheircreators?
    TheLawofParadoxexplainsthatbothpropositionsaretrue,viewedfromtheproper
    viewpoints.MicawberisbothMicawber,andyetDickens.And,again,whileMicawbermay
    besaidtobeDickens,yetDickensisnotidenticalwithMicawber.Man,likeMicawber,may
    exclaim:TheSpiritofmyCreatorisinherentwithinmeandyetIamnotHE!Howdifferent
    thisfromtheshockinghalftruthsovociferouslyannouncedbycertainofthehalfwise,who
    filltheairwiththeirraucouscriesof:IAmGod!ImaginepoorMicawber,orthesneaky
    UriahHeep,crying:IAmDickensorsomeofthelowlyclodsinoneofShakespeare's
    plays,grandiloquentlyannouncingthat:IAmShakespeare!THEALLisintheearthworm,
    andyettheearthwormisfarfrombeingTHEALL.Andstillthewonderremains,thatthough
    theearthwormexistsmerelyasalowlything,createdandhavingitsbeingsolelywithinthe
    MindofTHEALLyetTHEALLisimmanentintheearthworm,andintheparticlesthatgoto
    makeuptheearthworm.CantherebeanygreatermysterythanthisofAllinTHEALLand
    THEALLinAll?
    Thestudentwill,ofcourse,realizethattheillustrationsgivenabovearenecessarily
    imperfectandinadequate,fortheyrepresentthecreationofmentalimagesinfiniteminds,
    whiletheUniverseisacreationofInfiniteMindandthedifferencebetweenthetwopoles
    separatesthem.AndyetitismerelyamatterofdegreethesamePrincipleisinoperationthe
    PrincipleofCorrespondencemanifestsineachAsabove,soBelowasBelow,so
    above.
    And,inthedegreethatManrealizestheexistenceoftheIndwellingSpiritimmanent
    withinhisbeing,sowillheriseinthespiritualscaleoflife.Thisiswhatspiritualdevelopment
    meanstherecognition,realization,andmanifestationoftheSpiritwithinus.Tryto
    rememberthislastdefinitionthatofspiritualdevelopment.ItcontainstheTruthofTrue
    Religion.
    TherearemanyplanesofBeingmanysubplanesofLifemanydegreesofexistencein
    theUniverse.Andalldependupontheadvancementofbeingsinthescale,ofwhichscale
    thelowestpointisthegrossestmatter,thehighestbeingseparatedonlybythethinnest
    divisionfromtheSPIRITofTHEALL.And,upwardandonwardalongthisScaleofLife,
    everythingismoving.AllareonthePath,whoseendisTHEALL.AllprogressisaReturning
    Home.AllisUpwardandOnward,inspiteofallseeminglycontradictoryappearances.Such
    istheMessageoftheIllumined.
    TheHermeticTeachingsconcerningtheprocessoftheMentalCreationoftheUniverse,
    arethatatthebeginningoftheCreativeCycle,THEALL,initsaspectofBeing,projectsits
    WilltowarditsaspectofBecoming,andtheprocessofcreationbegins.Itistaughtthatthe
    processconsistsoftheloweringofVibrationuntilaverylowdegreeofvibratoryenergyis
    reached,atwhichpointthegrossestpossibleformofMatterismanifested.Thisprocessis
    calledthestageofInvolution,inwhichTHEALLbecomesinvolved,orwrappedup,inits
    creation.ThisprocessisbelievedbytheHermetiststohaveaCorrespondencetothemental
    processofanartist,writer,orinventor,whobecomessowrappedupinhismentalcreation
    astoalmostforgethisownexistenceandwho,forthetimebeing,almostlivesinhis
    creation.Ifinsteadofwrappedweusethewordrapt,perhapswewillgiveabetteridea
    ofwhatismeant.
    ThisInvoluntarystageofCreationissometimescalledtheOutpouringoftheDivine

    Energy,justastheEvolutionarystateiscalledtheIndrawing.Theextremepoleofthe
    CreativeprocessisconsideredtobethefurthestremovedfromTHEALL,whilethe
    beginningoftheEvolutionarystageisregardedasthebeginningofthereturnswingofthe
    pendulumofRhythmacominghomeideabeingheldinalloftheHermeticTeachings.
    TheTeachingsarethatduringtheOutpouring,thevibrationsbecomelowerandlower
    untilfinallytheurgeceases,andthereturnswingbegins.Butthereisthisdifference,that
    whileintheOutpouringthecreativeforcesmanifestcompactlyandasawhole,yetfromthe
    beginningoftheEvolutionaryorIndrawingstage,thereismanifestedtheLawof
    Individualizationthatis,thetendencytoseparateintoUnitsofForce,sothatfinallythat
    whichleftTHEALLasunindividualizedenergyreturnstoitssourceascountlesshighly
    developedUnitsofLife,havingrisenhigherandhigherinthescalebymeansofPhysical,
    MentalandSpiritualEvolution.
    TheancientHermetistsusethewordMeditation,indescribingtheprocessofthemental
    creationoftheUniverseintheMindofTHEALL,thewordContemplationalsobeing
    frequentlyemployed.ButtheideaintendedseemstobethatoftheemploymentoftheDivine
    Attention.AttentionisawordderivedfromtheLatinroot,meaningtoreachouttostretch
    out,andsotheactofAttentionisreallyamentalreachingoutextensionofmentalenergy,
    sothattheunderlyingideaisreadilyunderstoodwhenweexamineintotherealmeaningof

    Attention.
    TheHermeticTeachingsregardingtheprocessofEvolutionarethat,THEALL,having
    meditateduponthebeginningoftheCreationhavingthusestablishedthematerial
    foundationsoftheUniversehavingthoughtitintoexistencethengraduallyawakensor
    rousesfromitsMeditationandinsodoingstartsintomanifestationtheprocessofEvolution,
    onthematerial,mentalandspiritualplanes,successivelyandinorder.Thustheupward
    movementbeginsandallbeginstomoveSpiritward.MatterbecomeslessgrosstheUnits
    springintobeingthecombinationsbegintoformLifeappearsandmanifestsinhigherand
    higherformsandMindbecomesmoreandmoreinevidencethevibrationsconstantly
    becominghigher.Inshort,theentireprocessofEvolution,inallofitsphases,begins,and
    proceedsaccordingtotheestablishedLawsoftheIndrawingprocess.Allofthisoccupies
    onsupononsofMan'stime,eachoncontainingcountlessmillionsofyears,butyetthe
    Illuminedinformusthattheentirecreation,includingInvolutionandEvolution,ofan
    Universe,isbutasthetwinkleoftheeyetoTHEALL.Attheendofcountlesscyclesof
    onsoftime,THEALLwithdrawsitsAttentionitsContemplationandMeditationofthe
    Universe,fortheGreatWorkisfinishedandAlliswithdrawnintoTHEALLfromwhichit
    emerged.ButMysteryofMysteriestheSpiritofeachsoulisnotannihilated,butisinfinitely
    expandedtheCreatedandtheCreatoraremerged.SuchisthereportoftheIllumined!
    Theaboveillustrationofthemeditation,andsubsequentawakeningfrommeditation,
    ofTHEALL,isofcoursebutanattemptoftheTeacherstodescribetheInfiniteprocessbya
    finiteexample.And,yet:AsBelow,soAbove.Thedifferenceismerelyindegree.Andjust
    asTHEALLarousesitselffromthemeditationupontheUniverse,sodoesMan(intime)
    ceasefrommanifestingupontheMaterialPlane,andwithdrawshimselfmoreandmoreinto
    theIndwellingSpirit,whichisindeedTheDivineEgo.
    Thereisonemorematterofwhichwedesiretospeakinthislesson,andthatcomesvery
    neartoaninvasionoftheMetaphysicalfieldofspeculation,althoughourpurposeismerely
    toshowthefutilityofsuchspeculation.Wealludetothequestionwhichinevitablycomesto
    themindofallthinkerswhohaveventuredtoseektheTruth.Thequestionis:WHYdoes
    THEALLcreateUniverses?Thequestionmaybeaskedindifferentforms,buttheaboveis

    thegistoftheinquiry.
    Menhavestrivenhardtoanswerthisquestion,butstillthereisnoanswerworthyofthe
    name.SomehaveimaginedthatTHEALLhadsomethingtogainbyit,butthisisabsurd,for
    whatcouldTHEALLgainthatitdidnotalreadypossess?Othershavesoughttheanswerin
    theideathatTHEALLwishedsomethingtoloveandothersthatitcreatedforpleasure,or
    amusementorbecauseitwaslonelyortomanifestitspowerallpuerileexplanationsand
    ideas,belongingtothechildishperiodofthought.
    OthershavesoughttoexplainthemysterybyassumingthatTHEALLfounditself
    compelledtocreate,byreasonofitsowninternalnatureitscreativeinstinct.Thisidea
    isinadvanceoftheothers,butitsweakpointliesintheideaofTHEALLbeingcompelled
    byanything,internalorexternal.Ifits''internalnature,or''creativeinstinct,compelleditto
    doanything,thentheinternalnatureorcreativeinstinctwouldbetheAbsolute,insteadof
    THEALL,andsoaccordinglythatpartofthepropositionfalls.And,yet,THEALLdoes
    createandmanifest,andseemstofindsomekindofsatisfactioninsodoing.Anditis
    difficulttoescapetheconclusionthatinsomeinfinitedegreeitmusthavewhatwould
    correspondtoaninnernature,orcreativeinstinctinman,withcorrespondinglyinfinite
    DesireandWill.ItcouldnotactunlessitWilledtoActanditwouldnotWilltoAct,unlessit
    DesiredtoActanditwouldnotDesiretoActunlessitobtainedsomeSatisfactionthereby.
    AndallofthesethingswouldbelongtoanInnerNature,andmightbepostulatedas
    existingaccordingtotheLawofCorrespondence.But,still,weprefertothinkofTHEALLas
    actingentirelyFREEfromanyinfluence,internalaswellasexternal.Thatistheproblem
    whichliesattherootofdifficultyandthedifficultythatliesattherootoftheproblem.
    Strictlyspeaking,therecannotbesaidtobeanyReasonwhatsoeverforTHEALLto
    act,forareasonimpliesacause.andTHEALLisaboveCauseandEffect,exceptwhen
    itWillstobecomeaCause,atwhichtimethePrincipleissetintomotion.So,yousee,the
    matterisUnthinkable,justasTHEALLisUnknowable.JustaswesayTHEALLmerely
    ISsowearecompelledtosaythatTHEALLACTSBECAUSEITACTS.Atthelast,THE
    ALLisAllReasoninItselfAllLawinItselfAllActioninItselfanditmaybesaid,truthfully,
    thatTHEALLisItsOwnReasonitsownLawitsownActorstillfurther,thatTHEALLIts
    ReasonItsActitsLawareONE,allbeingnamesforthesamething.Intheopinionof
    thosewhoaregivingyouthesepresentlessons,theanswerislockedupinINNERSELFof
    THEALL,alongwithitsSecretofBeing.TheLawofCorrespondence,inouropinion,
    reachesonlytothataspectofTHEALL,whichmaybespokenofasTheAspectof
    BECOMING.BackofthatAspectisTheAspectofBEING,inwhichallLawsarelostin
    LAWallPrinciplesmergeintoPRINCIPLEandTHEALLPRINCIPLEandBEINGare
    IDENTICAL,ONEANDTHESAME.Therefore,Metaphysicalspeculationonthispointis
    futile.Wegointothematterhere,merelytoshowthatwerecognizethequestion,andalso
    theabsurdityoftheordinaryanswersofmetaphysicsandtheology.
    Inconclusion,itmaybeofinteresttoourstudentstolearnthatwhilesomeoftheancient,
    andmodern,HermeticTeachershaveratherinclinedinthedirectionofapplyingthePrinciple
    ofCorrespondencetothequestion,withtheresultoftheInnerNatureconclusion,stillthe
    legendshaveitthatHERMES,theGreat,whenaskedthisquestionbyhisadvanced
    students,answeredthembyPRESSINGHISLIPSTIGHTLYTOGETHERandsayingnota
    word,indicatingthatthereWASNOANSWER.But,then,hemayhaveintendedtoapplythe
    axiomofhisphilosophy,that:ThelipsofWisdomareclosed,excepttotheearsof
    Understanding,believingthatevenhisadvancedstudentsdidnotpossessthe
    UnderstandingwhichentitledthemtotheTeaching.Atanyrate,ifHermespossessedthe
    Secret,hefailedtoimpartit,andsofarastheworldisconcernedTHELIPSOFHERMES

    ARECLOSEDregardingit.AndwheretheGreatHermeshesitatedtospeak,whatmortal
    maydaretoteach?
    But,remember,thatwhateverbetheanswertothisproblem,ifindeedtherebean
    answerthetruthremainsthat:WhileAllisinTHEALL,itisequallytruethatTHEALLisin
    All.TheTeachingonthispointisemphatic.And,wemayaddtheconcludingwordsofthe
    quotation:Tohimwhotrulyunderstandsthistruth,hathcomegreatknowledge.

    CHAPTERVIII.
    T
    HE
    P
    LANES
    O
    F
    C
    ORRESPONDENCE
    .
    Asabove,sobelowasbelow,soabove
    TheKybalion
    .

    ThegreatSecondHermeticPrincipleembodiesthetruththatthereisaharmony,
    agreement,andcorrespondencebetweentheseveralplanesofManifestation,Lifeand
    Being.ThistruthisatruthbecauseallthatisincludedintheUniverseemanatesfromthe
    samesource,andthesamelaws,principles,andcharacteristicsapplytoeachunit,or
    combinationofunitsofactivity,aseachmanifestsitsownphenomenauponitsownplane.
    Forthepurposeofconvenienceofthoughtandstudy,theHermeticPhilosophyconsiders
    thattheUniversemaybedividedintothreegreatclassesofphenomena,knownasthe
    ThreeGreatPlanes,namely:
    I.TheGreatPhysicalPlane.
    II.TheGreatMentalPlane.
    III.TheGreatSpiritualPlane.
    Thesedivisionsaremoreorlessartificialandarbitrary,forthetruthisthatallofthethree
    divisionsarebutascendingdegreesofthegreatscaleofLife,thelowestpointofwhichis
    undifferentiatedMatter,andthehighestpointthatofSpirit.And,moreover,thedifferent
    Planesshadeintoeachother,sothatnohardandfastdivisionmaybemadebetweenthe
    higherphenomenaofthePhysicalandtheloweroftheMentalorbetweenthehigherofthe
    MentalandthelowerofthePhysical.
    Inshort,theThreeGreatPlanesmayberegardedasthreegreatgroupsofdegreesof
    LifeManifestation.Whilethepurposesofthislittlebookdonotallowustoenterintoan
    extendeddiscussionof,orexplanationof,thesubjectofthesedifferentplanes,stillwethink
    itwelltogiveageneraldescriptionofthesameatthispoint.
    Atthebeginningwemayaswellconsiderthequestionsooftenaskedbytheneophyte,
    whodesirestobeinformedregardingthemeaningofthewordPlane,whichtermhasbeen
    veryfreelyused,andverypoorlyexplained,inmanyrecentworksuponthesubjectof
    occultism,Thequestionisgenerallyaboutasfellows:IsaPlaneaplacehavingdimensions,
    orisitmerelyaconditionorstate?Weanswer:No,notaplace,norordinarydimensionof
    spaceandyetmorethanastateorcondition.itmaybeconsideredasastateorcondition,
    andyetthestateorconditionisadegreeofdimension,inascalesubjecttomeasurement.

    Somewhatparadoxical,isitnot?Butletusexaminethematter.Adimension,youknow,is
    ameasureinastraightline,relatingtomeasure,etc.Theordinarydimensionsofspace
    arelength,breadth,andheight,orperhapslength,breadth,height,thicknessor
    circumference.Butthereisanotherdimensionofcreatedthings,ormeasureinastraight
    line,knowntooccultists,andtoscientistsaswell,althoughthelatterhavenotasyetapplied
    thetermdimensiontoitandthisnewdimension,which,bytheway,isthemuch
    speculatedaboutFourthDimension,isthestandardusedindeterminingthedegreesor
    planes.
    ThisFourthDimensionmaybecalledtheDimensionofVibration.Itisafactwellknown
    tomodernscience,aswellastotheHermetistswhohaveembodiedthetruthintheirThird
    HermeticPrinciple,thateverythingisinmotioneverythingvibratesnothingisatrest.
    Fromthehighestmanifestation,tothelowest,everythingandallthingsVibrate.Notonlydo
    theyvibrateatdifferentratesofmotion,butasindifferentdirectionsandinadifferent
    manner.Thedegreesoftherateofvibrationsconstitutethedegreesofmeasurementon
    theScaleofVibrationsinotherwordsthedegreesoftheFourthDimension.Andthese
    degreesformwhatoccultistscallPlanes.Thehigherthedegreeofrateofvibration,the
    highertheplane,andthehigherthemanifestationofLifeoccupyingthatplane.Sothatwhile
    aplaneisnotaplace,noryetastateorcondition,yetitpossessesqualitiescommonto
    both.WeshallhavemoretosayregardingthesubjectofthescaleofVibrationsinournext
    lessons,inwhichweshallconsidertheHermeticPrincipleofVibration.
    Youwillkindlyremember,however,thattheThreeGreatPlanesarenotactualdivisions
    ofthephenomenaoftheUniverse,butmerelyarbitrarytermsusedbytheHermetistsin
    ordertoaidinthethoughtandstudyofthevariousdegreesandformsofuniversalactivity
    andlife.Theatomofmatter,theunitofforce,themindofman,andthebeingofthearchangel
    areallbutdegreesinonescale,andallfundamentallythesame,thedifference
    betweensolelyamatterofdegree,andrateofvibrationallarecreationsofTHEALL,and
    havetheirexistencesolelywithintheInfiniteMindofTHEALL.
    TheHermetistssubdivideeachoftheThreeGreatPlanesintoSevenMinorPlanes,and
    eachoftheselatterarealsosubdividedintosevensubplanes,alldivisionsbeingmoreor
    lessarbitrary,shadingintoeachother,andadoptedmerelyforconvenienceofscientific
    studyandthought.
    TheGreatPhysicalPlane,anditsSevenMinorPlanes,isthatdivisionofthephenomena
    oftheUniversewhichincludesallthatrelatestophysics,ormaterialthings,forces,and
    manifestations.ItincludesallformsofthatwhichwecallMatter,andallformsofthatwhich
    wecallEnergyorForce.ButyoumustrememberthattheHermeticPhilosophydoesnot
    recognizeMatterasathinginitself,orashavingaseparateexistenceevenintheMindof
    THEALL.TheTeachingsarethatMatterisbutaformofEnergythatis,Energyatalowrate
    ofvibrationsofacertainkind.AndaccordinglytheHermetistsclassifyMatterunderthehead
    ofEnergy,andgivetoitthreeoftheSevenMinorPlanesoftheGreatPhysicalPlane.
    TheseSevenMinorPhysicalPlanesareasfollows:
    I.ThePlaneofMatter(A).
    II.ThePlaneofMatter(B).
    III.ThePlaneofMatter(C).
    IV.ThePlaneofEtherealSubstance.
    V.ThePlaneofEnergy(A).
    VI.ThePlaneofEnergy(B).
    VII.ThePlaneofEnergy(C).
    ThePlaneofMatter(A)comprisestheformsofMatterinitsformofsolids,liquids,and

    gases,asgenerallyrecognizedbythetextbooksonphysics.ThePlaneofMatter(B)
    comprisescertainhigherandmoresubtleformsofMatteroftheexistenceofwhichmodern
    scienceisbutnowrecognizing,thephenomenaofRadiantMatter,initsphasesofradium,
    etc.,belongingtothelowersubdivisionofthisMinorPlane.ThePlaneofMatter(C)
    comprisesformsofthemostsubtleandtenuousMatter,theexistenceofwhichisnot
    suspectedbyordinaryscientists.ThePlaneofEtherealSubstancecomprisesthatwhich
    sciencespeaksofasTheEther,asubstanceofextremetenuityandelasticity,pervading
    allUniversalSpace,andactingasamediumforthetransmissionofwavesofenergy,such
    aslight,heat,electricity,etc.ThisEtherealSubstanceformsaconnectinglinkbetween
    Matter(socalled)andEnergy,andpartakesofthenatureofeach.TheHermeticTeachings,
    however,instructthatthisplanehassevensubdivisions(ashavealloftheMinorPlanes),
    andthatinfacttherearesevenethers,insteadofbutone.
    NextabovethePlaneofEtherealSubstancecomesthePlaneofEnergy(A),which
    comprisestheordinaryformsofEnergyknowntoscience,itssevensubplanesbeing,
    respectively,HeatLightMagnetismElectricity,andAttraction(includingGravitation,
    Cohesion,ChemicalAffinity,etc.)andseveralotherformsofenergyindicatedbyscientific
    experimentsbutnotasyetnamedorclassified.ThePlaneofEnergy(B)comprisesseven
    subplanesofhigherformsofenergynotasyetdiscoveredbyscience,butwhichhavebeen
    calledNature'sFinerForcesandwhicharecalledintooperationinmanifestationsof
    certainformsofmentalphenomena,andbywhichsuchphenomenabecomespossible.The
    PlaneofEnergy(C)comprisessevensubplanesofenergysohighlyorganizedthatitbears
    manyofthecharacteristicsoflife,butwhichisnotrecognizedbythemindsofmenonthe
    ordinaryplaneofdevelopment,beingavailablefortheuseonbeingsoftheSpiritualPlane
    alonesuchenergyisunthinkabletoordinaryman,andmaybeconsideredalmostasthe
    divinepower.Thebeingsemployingthesameareasgodscomparedeventothehighest
    humantypesknowntous.
    TheGreatMentalPlanecomprisesthoseformsoflivingthingsknowntousinordinary
    life,aswellascertainotherformsnotsowellknownexcepttotheoccultist.The
    classificationoftheSevenMinorMentalPlanesismoreorlesssatisfactoryandarbitrary
    (unlessaccompaniedbyelaborateexplanationswhichareforeigntothepurposeofthis
    particularwork),butwemayaswellmentionthem.Theyareasfollows:
    I.ThePlaneofMineralMind.
    II.ThePlaneofElementalMind(A).
    III.ThePlaneofPlantMind.
    IV.ThePlaneofElementalMind(B)
    V.ThePlaneofAnimalMind.
    VI.ThePlaneofElementalMind(C).
    VII.ThePlaneofHumanMind.
    ThePlaneofMineralMindcomprisesthestatesorconditionsoftheunitsorentities,or
    groupsandcombinationsofthesame,whichanimatetheformsknowntousasminerals,
    chemicals,etc.Theseentitiesmustnotbeconfoundedwiththemolecules,atomsand
    corpusclesthemselves,thelatterbeingmerelythematerialbodiesorformsoftheseentities,
    justasaman'sbodyisbuthismaterialformandnothimself.Theseentitiesmaybecalled
    soulsinonesense,andarelivingbeingsofalowdegreeofdevelopment,life,andmind
    justalittlemorethantheunitsoflivingenergywhichcomprisethehighersubdivisionsof
    thehighestPhysicalPlane.Theaverageminddoesnotgenerallyattributethepossessionof
    mind,soul,orlife,totheMineralkingdom,butalloccultistsrecognizetheexistenceofthe
    same,andmodernscienceisrapidlymovingforwardtothepointofviewoftheHermetic,in

    thisrespect.Themolecules,atomsandcorpuscleshavetheirlovesandhateslikesand
    dislikesattractionsandrepulsionsaffinitiesandnonaffinities,etc.,andsomeofthe
    moredaringofmodernscientificmindshaveexpressedtheopinionthatthedesireandwill,
    emotionsandfeelings,oftheatomsdifferonlyindegreefromthoseofmen.Wehaveno
    timeorspacetoarguethismatterhere.Alloccultistsknowittobeafact,andothersare
    referredtosomeofthemorerecentscientificworksforoutsidecorroboration.Therearethe
    usualsevensubdivisionstothisplane.
    ThePlaneofElementalMind(A)comprisesthestateorcondition,anddegreeofmental
    andvitaldevelopmentofaclassofentitiesunknowntotheaverageman,butrecognizedto
    occultists.Theyareinvisibletotheordinarysensesofman,but,nevertheless,existandplay
    theirpartoftheDramaoftheUniverse.Theirdegreeofintelligenceisbetweenthatofthe
    mineralandchemicalentitiesontheonehand,andoftheentitiesoftheplantkingdomon
    theother.Therearesevensubdivisionstothisplane,also.
    ThePlaneofPlantMind,initssevensubdivisions,comprisesthestatesorconditionsof
    theentitiescomprisingthekingdomsofthePlantWorld,thevitalandmentalphenomenaof
    whichisfairlywellunderstoodbytheaverageintelligentperson,manynewandinteresting
    scientificworksregardingMindandLifeinPlantshavingbeenpublishedduringthelast
    TheKybalionPage33
    decade.Plantshavelife,mindandsouls,aswellashavetheanimals,man,andsuperman.
    ThePlaneofElementalMind(B),initssevensubdivisions,comprisesthestatesand
    conditionsofahigherformofelementalorunseenentities,playingtheirpartinthegeneral
    workoftheUniverse,themindandlifeofwhichformapartofthescalebetweenthePlane
    ofPlantMindandthePlaneofAnimalMind,theentitiespartakingofthenatureofboth.
    ThePlaneofAnimalMind,initssevensubdivisions,comprisesthestatesandconditions
    oftheentities,beings,orsouls,animatingtheanimalformsoflife,familiartousall.Itisnot
    necessarytogointodetailsregardingthiskingdomorplaneoflife,fortheanimalworldisas
    familiartousasisourown.
    ThePlaneofElementalMind(C),initssevensubdivisions,comprisesthoseentitiesor
    beings,invisibleasareallsuchelementalforms,whichpartakeofthenatureofbothanimal
    andhumanlifeinadegreeandincertaincombinations.Thehighestformsaresemihuman
    inintelligence.
    ThePlaneofHumanMind,initssevensubdivisions,comprisesthosemanifestationsof
    lifeandmentalitywhicharecommontoMan,inhisvariousgrades,degrees,anddivision.In
    thisconnection,wewishtopointoutthefactthattheaveragemanoftodayoccupiesbutthe
    fourthsubdivisionofthePlaneofHumanMind,andonlythemostintelligenthavecrossed
    thebordersoftheFifthSubDivision.Ithastakentheracemillionsofyearstoreachthis
    stage,anditwilltakemanymoreyearsfortheracetomoveontothesixthandseventhsubdivisions,
    andbeyond.But,remember,thattherehavebeenracesbeforeuswhichhave
    passedthroughthesedegrees,andthenontohigherplanes.Ourownraceisthefifth(with
    stragglersfromthefourth)whichhassetfootuponThePath.And,thenthereareafew
    advancedsoulsofourownracewhohaveoutstrippedthemasses,andwhohavepassedon
    tothesixthandseventhsubdivision,andsomefewbeingstillfurtheron.Themanofthe
    SixthSubDivisionwillbeTheSuperManheoftheSeventhwillbeTheOverMan.
    InourconsiderationoftheSevenMinorMentalPlanes,wehavemerelyreferredtothe
    ThreeElementaryPlanesinageneralway.Wedonotwishtogointothissubjectindetailin
    thiswork,foritdoesnotbelongtothispartofthegeneralphilosophyandteachings.Butwe
    maysaythismuch,inordertogiveyoualittleclearerideaoftherelationsoftheseplanesto
    themorefamiliaronestheElementaryPlanesbearthesamerelationtothePlanesof

    Mineral,Plant,AnimalandHumanMentalityandLife,thattheblackkeysonthepianodoto
    thewhitekeys.Thewhitekeysaresufficienttoproducemusic,buttherearecertainscales,
    melodies,andharmonies,inwhichtheblackkeysplaytheirpart,andinwhichtheirpresence
    isnecessary.Theyarealsonecessaryasconnectinglinksofsoulconditionentitystates,
    etc.,betweentheseveralotherplanes,certainformsofdevelopmentbeingattainedtherein
    thislastfactgivingtothereaderwhocanreadbetweenthelinesanewlightuponthe
    processesofEvolution,andanewkeytothesecretdooroftheleapsoflifebetween
    kingdomandkingdom.ThegreatkingdomsofElementalsarefullyrecognizedbyall
    occultists,andtheesotericwritingsarefullofmentionofthem.ThereadersofBulwer's
    Zanoni''andsimilartaleswillrecognizetheentitiesinhabitingtheseplanesoflife.
    PassingonfromtheGreatMentalPlanetotheGreatSpiritualPlane,whatshallwesay?
    HowcanweexplainthesehigherstatesofBeing,LifeandMind,tomindsasyetunableto
    graspandunderstandthehighersubdivisionsofthePlaneofHumanMind?Thetaskis
    impossible.Wecanspeakonlyinthemostgeneralterms.HowmayLightbedescribedtoa
    manbornblindhowsugar,toamanwhohasnevertastedanythingsweethowharmony,to
    oneborndeaf?
    AllthatwecansayisthattheSevenMinorPlanesoftheGreatSpiritualPlane(each
    MinorPlanehavingitssevensubdivisions)compriseBeingspossessingLife,Mindand
    FormasfarabovethatofManoftodayasthelatterisabovetheearthworm,mineralor
    evencertainformsofEnergyorMatter.TheLifeoftheseBeingssofartranscendsours,that
    TheKybalionPage34
    wecannoteventhinkofthedetailsofthesametheirMindssofartranscendours,thatto
    themwescarcelyseemtothink,andourmentalprocessesseemalmostakintomaterial
    processestheMatterofwhichtheirformsarecomposedisofthehighestPlanesofMatter,
    nay,someareevensaidtobeclothedinPureEnergy.WhatmaybesaidofsuchBeings?
    OntheSevenMinorPlanesoftheGreatSpiritualPlaneexistBeingsofwhomwemay
    speakasAngelsArchangelsDemiGods.OnthelowerMinorPlanesdwellthosegreat
    soulswhomwecallMastersandAdepts.AbovethemcometheGreatHierarchiesofthe
    AngelicHosts,unthinkabletomanandabovethosecomethosewhomaywithout
    irreverencebecalled'TheGods,sohighinthescaleofBeingarethey,theirbeing,
    intelligenceandpowerbeingakintothoseattributedbytheracesofmentotheir
    conceptionsofDeity.TheseBeingsarebeyondeventhehighestflightsofthehuman
    imagination,thewordDivinebeingtheonlyoneapplicabletothem.ManyoftheseBeings,
    aswellastheAngelicHost,takethegreatestinterestintheaffairsoftheUniverseandplay
    animportantpartinitsaffairs.TheseUnseenDivinitiesandAngelicHelpersextendtheir
    influencefreelyandpowerfully,intheprocessofEvolution,andCosmicProgress.Their
    occasionalinterventionandassistanceinhumanaffairshaveledtothemanylegends,
    beliefs,religionsandtraditionsoftherace,pastandpresent.Theyhavesuperimposedtheir
    knowledgeandpowerupontheworld,againandagain,allundertheLawofTHEALL,of
    course.
    But,yet,eventhehighestoftheseadvancedBeingsexistmerelyascreationsof,andin,
    theMindofTHEALL,andaresubjecttotheCosmicProcessesandUniversalLaws.They
    arestillMortal.Wemaycallthemgodsifwelike,butstilltheyarebuttheElderBrethrenof
    theRace,theadvancedsoulswhohaveoutstrippedtheirbrethren,andwhohaveforegone
    theecstacyofAbsorptionbyTHEALL,inordertohelptheraceonitsupwardjourneyalong
    ThePath.But,theybelongtotheUniverse,andaresubjecttoitsconditionstheyare
    mortalandtheirplaneisbelowthatofAbsoluteSpirit.
    OnlythemostadvancedHermetistsareabletograsptheInnerTeachingsregardingthe

    stateofexistence,andthepowersmanifestedontheSpiritualPlanes.Thephenomenaisso
    muchhigherthanthatoftheMentalPlanesthataconfusionofideaswouldsurelyresultfrom
    anattempttodescribethesame.Onlythosewhosemindshavebeencarefullytrainedalong
    thelinesoftheHermeticPhilosophyforyearsyes,thosewhohavebroughtwiththemfrom
    otherincarnationstheknowledgeacquiredpreviouslycancomprehendjustwhatismeant
    bytheTeachingregardingtheseSpiritualPlanes.AndmuchoftheseinnerTeachingsisheld
    bytheHermetistsasbeingtoosacred,importantandevendangerousforgeneralpublic
    dissemination.Theintelligentstudentmayrecognizewhatwemeanbythiswhenwestate
    thatthemeaningofSpiritasusedbytheHermetistsisakintoLivingPowerAnimated
    ForceInnerEssenceEssenceofLife,etc.,whichmeaningmustnotbeconfoundedwith
    thatusuallyandcommonlyemployedinconnectionwiththeterm,i.e.,religious
    ecclesiasticalspirituelleetherealholy,etc.,etc.TooccultiststhewordSpiritisusedin
    thesenseofTheAnimatingPrinciple,carryingwithittheideaofPower,LivingEnergy,
    MysticForce,etc.AndoccultistsknowthatthatwhichisknowntothemasSpiritualPower
    maybeemployedforevilaswellasgoodends(inaccordancewiththePrincipleofPolarity),
    afactwhichhasbeenrecognizedbythemajorityofreligionsintheirconceptionsofSatan,
    Beelzebub,theDevil,Lucifer,FallenAngels,etc.Andsotheknowledgeregardingthese
    PlaneshasbeenkeptintheHolyofHoliesinallEsotericFraternitiesandOccultOrders,in
    theSecretChamberoftheTemple.Butthismaybesaidhere,thatthosewhohaveattained
    highspiritualpowersandhavemisusedthem,haveaterriblefateinstoreforthem,andthe
    swingofthependulumofRhythmwillinevitablyswingthembacktothefurthestextremeof
    Materialexistence,fromwhichpointtheymustretracetheirstepsSpiritward,alongthe
    wearyroundsofThePath,butalwayswiththeaddedtortureofhavingalwayswiththema
    lingeringmemoryoftheheightsfromwhichtheyfellowingtotheirevilactions.Thelegends
    oftheFallenAngelshaveabasisinactualfacts,asalladvancedoccultistsknow.The
    strivingforselfishpowerontheSpiritualPlanesinevitablyresultsintheselfishsoullosingits
    spiritualbalanceandfallingbackasfarasithadpreviouslyrisen.Buttoevensuchasoul,
    theopportunityofareturnisgivenandsuchsoulsmakethereturnjourney,payingthe
    terriblepenaltyaccordingtotheinvariableLaw.
    InconclusionwewouldagainremindyouthataccordingtothePrincipleof
    Correspondence,whichembodiesthetruth:AsAbovesoBelowasBelow,soAbove,allof
    theSevenHermeticPrinciplesareinfulloperationonallofthemanyplanes,Physical,
    MentalandSpiritual.ThePrincipleofMentalSubstanceofcourseappliestoalltheplanes,
    forallareheldintheMindofTHEALL.ThePrincipleofCorrespondencemanifestsinall,for
    thereisacorrespondence,harmonyandagreementbetweentheseveralplanes.The
    PrincipleofVibrationmanifestsonallplanes,infacttheverydifferencesthatgotomakethe
    planesarisefromVibration,aswehaveexplained.ThePrincipleofPolaritymanifestson
    eachplane,theextremesofthePolesbeingapparentlyoppositeandcontradictory.The
    PrincipleofRhythmmanifestsoneachPlane,themovementofthephenomenahavingits
    ebbandflow,riseandflow,incomingandoutgoing.ThePrincipleofCauseandEffect
    manifestsoneachPlane,everyEffecthavingitsCauseandeveryCausehavingitseffect.
    ThePrincipleofGendermanifestsoneachPlane,theCreativeEnergybeingalways
    manifest,andoperatingalongthelinesofitsMasculineandFeminineAspects.
    AsAbovesoBelowasBelow,soAbove.ThiscenturiesoldHermeticaxiomembodies
    oneofthegreatPrinciplesofUniversalPhenomena.Asweproceedwithourconsideration
    oftheremainingPrinciples,wewillseeevenmoreclearlythetruthoftheuniversalnatureof
    thisgreatPrincipleofCorrespondence.

    CHAPTERIX
    V
    IBRATION
    .
    Nothingrestseverythingmoveseverythingvibrates.
    TheKybalion.

    ThegreatThirdHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofVibrationembodiesthetruththat
    MotionismanifestineverythingintheUniversethatnothingisatrestthateverything
    moves,vibrates,andcircles.ThisHermeticPrinciplewasrecognizedbysomeoftheearly
    Greekphilosopherswhoembodieditintheirsystems.But,then,forcenturiesitwaslost
    sightofbythethinkersoutsideoftheHermeticranks.ButintheNineteenthCenturyphysical
    sciencerediscoveredthetruthandtheTwentiethCenturyscientificdiscoverieshaveadded
    additionalproofofthecorrectnessandtruthofthiscenturiesoldHermeticdoctrine.
    TheHermeticTeachingsarethatnotonlyiseverythinginconstantmovementand
    vibration,butthatthedifferencesbetweenthevariousmanifestationsoftheuniversal
    poweraredueentirelytothevaryingrateandmodeofvibrations.Notonlythis,butthateven
    THEALL,initself,manifestsaconstantvibrationofsuchaninfinitedegreeofintensityand
    rapidmotionthatitmaybepracticallyconsideredasatrest,theteachersdirectingthe
    attentionofthestudentstothefactthatevenonthephysicalplanearapidlymovingobject
    (suchasarevolvingwheel)seemstobeatrest.TheTeachingsaretotheeffectthatSpiritis
    atoneendofthePoleofVibration,theotherPolebeingcertainextremelygrossformsof
    Matter.Betweenthesetwopolesaremillionsuponmillionsofdifferentratesandmodesof
    vibration.
    ModernSciencehasproventhatallthatwecallMatterandEnergyarebutmodesof
    vibratorymotion,andsomeofthemoreadvancedscientistsarerapidlymovingtowardthe
    positionsoftheoccultistswhoholdthatthephenomenaofMindarelikewisemodesof
    vibrationormotion.Letusseewhatsciencehastosayregardingthequestionofvibrations
    inmatterandenergy.
    Inthefirstplace,scienceteachesthatallmattermanifests,insomedegree,thevibrations
    arisingfromtemperatureorheat.Beanobjectcoldorhotbothbeingbutdegreesofthe
    samethingsitmanifestscertainheatvibrations,andinthatsenseisinmotionandvibration.
    ThenallparticlesofMatterareincircularmovement,fromcorpuscletosuns.Theplanets
    revolvearoundsuns,andmanyofthemturnontheiraxes.Thesunsmovearoundgreater
    centralpoints,andthesearebelievedtomovearoundstillgreater,andsoon,adinfinitum.

    ThemoleculesofwhichtheparticularkindsofMatterarecomposedareinastateof
    constantvibrationandmovementaroundeachotherandagainsteachother.Themolecules
    arecomposedofAtoms,which,likewise,areinastateofconstantmovementandvibration.
    TheatomsarecomposedofCorpuscles,sometimescalledelectrons,ions,etc.,which
    alsoareinastateofrapidmotion,revolvingaroundeachother,andwhichmanifestavery
    rapidstateandmodeofvibration.And,soweseethatallformsofMattermanifestVibration,
    inaccordancewiththeHermeticPrincipleofVibration.
    AndsoitiswiththevariousformsofEnergy.ScienceteachesthatLight,Heat,
    MagnetismandElectricityarebutformsofvibratorymotionconnectedinsomewaywith,
    andprobablyemanatingfromtheEther.Sciencedoesnotasyetattempttoexplainthe
    natureofthephenomenaknownasCohesion,whichistheprincipleofMolecularAttraction
    norChemicalAffinity,whichistheprincipleofAtomicAttractionnorGravitation(thegreatest
    mysteryofthethree),whichistheprincipleofattractionbywhicheveryparticleormassof
    Matterisboundtoeveryotherparticleormass.ThesethreeformsofEnergyarenotasyet
    understoodbyscience,yetthewritersinclinetotheopinionthatthesetooaremanifestations
    ofsomeformofvibratoryenergy,afactwhichtheHermetistshaveheldandtaughtforages
    past.
    TheUniversalEther,whichispostulatedbysciencewithoutitsnaturebeingunderstood
    clearly,isheldbytheHermetiststobebutahighermanifestationofthatwhichis
    erroneouslycalledmatterthatistosay,Matteratahigherdegreeofvibrationandiscalled
    bythemTheEtherealSubstance.TheHermetiststeachthatthisEtherealSubstanceisof
    extremetenuityandelasticity,andpervadesuniversalspace,servingasamediumof
    transmissionofwavesofvibratoryenergy,suchasheat,light,electricity,magnetism,etc.
    TheTeachingsarethatTheEtherealSubstanceisaconnectinglinkbetweentheformsof
    vibratoryenergyknownasMatterontheonehand,andEnergyorForceontheother
    andalsothatitmanifestsadegreeofvibration,inrateandmode,entirelyitsown.
    Scientistshaveofferedtheillustrationofarapidlymovingwheel,top,orcylinder,toshow
    theeffectsofincreasingratesofvibration.Theillustrationsupposesawheel,top,or
    revolvingcylinder,runningatalowrateofspeedwewillcallthisrevolvingthingtheobject
    infollowingouttheillustration.Letussupposetheobjectmovingslowly.Itmaybeseen
    readily,butnosoundofitsmovementreachestheear.Thespeedisgraduallyincreased.In
    afewmomentsitsmovementbecomessorapidthatadeepgrowlorlownotemaybeheard.
    Thenastherateisincreasedthenoterisesoneinthemusicalscale.Then,themotionbeing
    stillfurtherincreased,thenexthighestnoteisdistinguished.Then,oneafteranother,allthe
    notesofthemusicalscaleappear,risinghigherandhigherasthemotionisincreased.
    Finallywhenthemotionshavereachedacertainratethefinalnoteperceptibletohuman
    earsisreachedandtheshrill,piercingshriekdiesaway,andsilencefollows.Nosoundis
    heardfromtherevolvingobject,therateofmotionbeingsohighthatthehumanearcannot
    registerthevibrations.ThencomestheperceptionofrisingdegreesofHeat.Thenafterquite
    atimetheeyecatchesaglimpseoftheobjectbecomingadulldarkreddishcolor.Asthe
    rateincreases,theredbecomesbrighter.Thenasthespeedisincreased,theredmeltsinto
    anorange.Thentheorangemeltsintoayellow.Thenfollow,successively,theshadesof
    green,blue,indigo,andfinallyviolet,astherateofspeedincreases.Thenthevioletshades
    away,andallcolordisappears,thehumaneyenotbeingabletoregisterthem.Butthereare
    invisibleraysemanatingfromtherevolvingobject,theraysthatareusedinphotographing,
    andothersubtleraysoflight.ThenbegintomanifestthepeculiarraysknownastheX
    Rays,etc.,astheconstitutionoftheobjectchanges.ElectricityandMagnetismareemitted
    whentheappropriaterateofvibrationisattained.

    Whentheobjectreachesacertainrateofvibrationitsmoleculesdisintegrate,andresolve
    themselvesintotheoriginalelementsoratoms.Thentheatoms,followingthePrincipleof
    Vibration,areseparatedintothecountlesscorpusclesofwhichtheyarecomposed.And
    finally,eventhecorpusclesdisappearandtheobjectmaybesaidtobecomposedofThe
    EtherealSubstance.Sciencedoesnotdaretofollowtheillustrationfurther,butthe
    Hermetiststeachthatifthevibrationsbecontinuallyincreasedtheobjectwouldmountup
    thesuccessivestatesofmanifestationandwouldinturnmanifestthevariousmentalstages,
    andthenonSpiritward,untilitwouldfinallyreenterTHEALL,whichisAbsoluteSpirit.The
    object,however,wouldhaveceasedtobeanobjectlongbeforethestageofEthereal
    Substancewasreached,butotherwisetheillustrationiscorrectinasmuchasitshowsthe
    effectofconstantlyincreasedratesandmodesofvibration.Itmustberemembered,inthe
    aboveillustration,thatatthestagesatwhichtheobjectthrowsoffvibrationsoflight,heat,
    etc.,itisnotactuallyresolvedintothoseformsofenergy(whicharemuchhigherinthe
    scale),butsimplythatitreachesadegreeofvibrationinwhichthoseformsofenergyare
    liberated,inadegree,fromtheconfininginfluencesofitsmolecules,atomsandcorpuscles,
    asthecasemaybe.Theseformsofenergy,althoughmuchhigherinthescalethanmatter,
    areimprisonedandconfinedinthematerialcombinations,byreasonoftheenergies
    manifestingthrough,andusingmaterialforms,butthusbecomingentangledandconfinedin
    theircreationsofmaterialforms,which,toanextent,istrueofallcreations,thecreating
    forcebecominginvolvedinitscreation.
    TheKybalionPage38
    ButtheHermeticTeachingsgomuchfurtherthandothoseofmodernscience.They
    teachthatallmanifestationofthought,emotion,reason,willordesire,oranymentalstateor
    condition,areaccompaniedbyvibrations,aportionofwhicharethrownoffandwhichtendto
    affectthemindsofotherpersonsbyinduction.Thisistheprinciplewhichproducesthe
    phenomenaoftelepathymentalinfluence,andotherformsoftheactionandpowerofmind
    overmind,withwhichthegeneralpublicisrapidlybecomingacquainted,owingtothewide
    disseminationofoccultknowledgebythevariousschools,cultsandteachersalongthese
    linesatthistime.
    Everythought,emotionormentalstatehasitscorrespondingrateandmodeofvibration.
    Andbyaneffortofthewilloftheperson,orofotherpersons,thesementalstatesmaybe
    reproduced,justasamusicaltonemaybereproducedbycausinganinstrumenttovibrateat
    acertainratejustascolormaybereproducedinthesameway.Byaknowledgeofthe
    PrincipleofVibration,asappliedtoMentalPhenomena,onemaypolarizehismindatany
    degreehewishes,thusgainingaperfectcontroloverhismentalstates,moods,etc.Inthe
    samewayhemayaffectthemindsofothers,producingthedesiredmentalstatesinthem.In
    short,bemaybeabletoproduceontheMentalPlanethatwhichscienceproducesonthe
    PhysicalPlanenamely,VibrationsatWill.Thispowerofcoursemaybeacquiredonlyby
    theproperinstruction,exercises,practice,etc.,thesciencebeingthatofMental
    Transmutation,oneofthebranchesoftheHermeticArt.
    AlittlereflectiononwhatwehavesaidwillshowthestudentthatthePrincipleofVibration
    underliesthewonderfulphenomenaofthepowermanifestedbytheMastersandAdepts,
    whoareabletoapparentlysetasidetheLawsofNature,butwho,inreality,aresimplyusing
    onelawagainstanotheroneprincipleagainstothersandwhoaccomplishtheirresultsby
    changingthevibrationsofmaterialobjects,orformsofenergy,andthusperformwhatare
    commonlycalledmiracles.
    AsoneoftheoldHermeticwritershastrulysaid:HewhounderstandsthePrincipleof
    Vibration,hasgraspedthesceptreofPower.

    CHAPTERX.
    P
    OLARITY
    .
    EverythingisdualeverythinghaspoleseverythinghasItspairofoppositeslikeandunlikearethesame
    oppositesareidenticalinnature,butdifferentindegreeextremesmeetalltruthsarebuthalftruthsall
    paradoxesmaybereconciled.
    TheKybalion.

    ThegreatFourthHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofPolarityembodiesthetruththatall
    manifestedthingshavetwosidestwoaspectstwopolesapairofopposites,with
    manifolddegreesbetweenthetwoextremes.Theoldparadoxes,whichhaveeverperplexed
    themindofmen,areexplainedbyanunderstandingofthisPrinciple.Manhasalways
    recognizedsomethingakintothisPrinciple,andhasendeavoredtoexpressitbysuch
    sayings,maximsandaphorismsasthefollowing:Everythingisandisn't,atthesametime
    alltruthsarebuthalftruthseverytruthishalffalse''therearetwosidestoeverything
    thereisareversesidetoeveryshield,etc.,etc.
    TheHermeticTeachingsaretotheeffectthatthedifferencebetweenthingsseemingly
    diametricallyopposedtoeachotherismerelyamatterofdegree.Itteachesthatthepairsof
    oppositesmaybereconciled,andthatthesisandantithesisareidenticalinnature,but
    differentindegreeandthattheuniversalreconciliationofoppositesiseffectedbya
    recognitionofthisPrincipleofPolarity.TheteachersclaimthatillustrationsofthisPrinciple
    maybehadoneveryhand,andfromanexaminationintotherealnatureofanything.They
    beginbyshowingthatSpiritandMatterarebutthetwopolesofthesamething,the
    intermediateplanesbeingmerelydegreesofvibration.TheyshowthatTHEALLandThe
    Manyarethesame,thedifferencebeingmerelyamatterofdegreeofMentalManifestation.
    ThustheLAWandLawsarethetwooppositepolesofonething.Likewise,PRINCIPLEand
    Principles.InfiniteMindandfiniteminds.
    ThenpassingontothePhysicalPlane,theyillustratethePrinciplebyshowingthatHeat
    andColdareidenticalinnature,thedifferencesbeingmerelyamatterofdegrees.The
    thermometershowsmanydegreesoftemperature,thelowestpolebeingcalledcold,and
    thehighestheat.Betweenthesetwopolesaremanydegreesofheatorcold,callthem

    eitherandyouareequallycorrect.Thehigheroftwodegreesisalwayswarmer,whilethe
    lowerisalwayscolder.Thereisnoabsolutestandardallisamatterofdegree.Thereisno
    placeonthethermometerwhereheatceasesandcoldbegins.Itisallamatterofhigheror
    lowervibrations.Theverytermshighandlow,whichwearecompelledtouse,arebut
    polesofthesamethingthetermsarerelative.SowithEastandWesttravelaroundthe
    worldinaneastwarddirection,andyoureachapointwhichiscalledwestatyourstarting
    point,andyoureturnfromthatwestwardpoint.TravelfarenoughNorth,andyouwillfind
    yourselftravelingSouth,orviceversa.
    LightandDarknessarepolesofthesamething,withmanydegreesbetweenthem.The
    musicalscaleisthesamestartingwithCyoumoveupwarduntilyoureachanotherC,
    andsoon,thedifferencesbetweenthetwoendsoftheboardbeingthesame,withmany
    degreesbetweenthetwoextremes.Thescaleofcoloristhesamehigherandlower
    vibrationsbeingtheonlydifferencebetweenhighvioletandlowred.LargeandSmallare
    relative.SoareNoiseandQuietHardandSoftfollowtherule.LikewiseSharpandDull.
    PositiveandNegativearetwopolesofthesamething,withcountlessdegreesbetween
    them.
    GoodandBadarenotabsolutewecalloneendofthescaleGoodandtheotherBad,or
    oneendGoodandtheotherEvil,accordingtotheuseoftheterms.Athingislessgood
    thanthethinghigherinthescalebutthatlessgoodthing,inturn,ismoregoodthanthe
    thingnextbelowitandsoon,themoreorlessbeingregulatedbythepositiononthe
    scale.
    AndsoitisontheMentalPlane.LoveandHatearegenerallyregardedasbeingthings
    diametricallyopposedtoeachotherentirelydifferentunreconcilable.Butweapplythe
    PrincipleofPolaritywefindthatthereisnosuchthingasAbsoluteLoveorAbsoluteHate,
    asdistinguishedfromeachother.Thetwoaremerelytermsappliedtothetwopolesofthe
    samething.Beginningatanypointofthescalewefindmorelove,orlesshate,aswe
    ascendthescaleandmorehateorlessloveaswedescendthisbeingtruenomatter
    fromwhatpoint,highorlow,wemaystart.TherearedegreesofLoveandHate,andthereis
    amiddlepointwhereLikeandDislikebecomesofaintthatitisdifficulttodistinguish
    betweenthem.CourageandFearcomeunderthesamerule.ThePairsofOppositesexist
    everywhere.Whereyoufindonethingyoufinditsoppositethetwopoles.
    AnditisthisfactthatenablestheHermetisttotransmuteonementalstateintoanother,
    alongthelinesofPolarization.Thingsbelongingtodifferentclassescannotbetransmuted
    intoeachother,butthingsofthesameclassmaybechanged,thatis,mayhavetheir
    polaritychanged.ThusLoveneverbecomesEastorWest,orRedorVioletbutitmayand
    oftendoesturnintoHateandlikewiseHatemaybetransformedintoLove,bychangingits
    polarity.CouragemaybetransmutedintoFear,andthereverse.Hardthingsmaybe
    renderedSoft.DullthingsbecomeSharp.HotthingsbecomeCold.Andsoon,the
    transmutationalwaysbeingbetweenthingsofthesamekindofdifferentdegrees.Takethe
    caseofaFearfulman.ByraisinghismentalvibrationsalongthelineofFearCourage,he
    canbefilledwiththehighestdegreeofCourageandFearlessness.And,likewise,the
    SlothfulmanmaychangehimselfintoanActive,Energeticindividual,simplybypolarizing
    alongthelinesofthedesiredquality
    ThestudentwhoisfamiliarwiththeprocessesbywhichthevariousschoolsofMental
    Science,etc.,producechangesinthementalstatesofthosefollowingtheirteachings,may
    notreadilyunderstandtheprincipleunderlyingmanyofthesechanges.When,however,the
    PrincipleofPolarityisoncegrasped,anditisseenthatthementalchangesareoccasioned
    byachangeofpolarityaslidingalongthesamescalethematterismorereadily

    understood.Thechangeisnotinthenatureofatransmutationofonethingintoanother
    thingentirelydifferentbutismerelyachangeofdegreeinthesamethings,avastly
    importantdifference.Forinstance,borrowingananalogyfromthePhysicalPlane,itis
    impossibletochangeHeatintoSharpness,Loudness,Highness,etc.,butHeatmayreadily
    betransmutedintoCold,simplybyloweringthevibrations.InthesamewayHateandLove
    aremutuallytransmutablesoareFearandCourage.ButFearcannotbetransformedinto
    Love,norcanCouragebetransmutedintoHate.Thementalstatesbelongtoinnumerable
    classes,eachclassofwhichhasitsoppositepoles,alongwhichtransmutationispossible.
    Thestudentwillreadilyrecognizethatinthementalstates,aswellasinthephenomena
    ofthePhysicalPlane,thetwopolesmaybeclassifiedasPositiveandNegative,
    respectively.ThusLoveisPositivetoHateCouragetoFearActivitytoNonActivity,etc.,
    etc.AnditwillalsobenoticedthateventothoseunfamiliarwiththePrincipleofVibration,
    thePositivepoleseemstobeofahigherdegreethantheNegative,andreadilydominatesit.
    ThetendencyofNatureisinthedirectionofthedominantactivityofthePositivepole.
    Inadditiontothechangingofthepolesofone'sownmentalstatesbytheoperationofthe
    artofPolarization,thephenomenaofMentalInfluence,initsmanifoldphases,showsusthat
    theprinciplemaybeextendedsoastoembracethephenomenaoftheinfluenceofone
    mindoverthatofanother,ofwhichsomuchhasbeenwrittenandtaughtoflateyears.When
    itisunderstoodthatMentalInductionispossible,thatisthatmentalstatesmaybeproduced
    byinductionfromothers,thenwecanreadilyseehowacertainrateofvibration,or
    polarizationofacertainmentalstate,maybecommunicatedtoanotherperson,andhis
    polarityinthatclassofmentalstatesthuschanged.Itisalongthisprinciplethattheresultsof
    manyofthementaltreatmentsareobtained.Forinstance,apersonisblue,melancholy
    andfulloffear.Amentalscientistbringinghisownminduptothedesiredvibrationbyhis
    trainedwill,andthusobtainingthedesiredpolarizationinhisowncase,thenproducesa
    similarmentalstateintheotherbyinduction,theresultbeingthatthevibrationsareraised
    andthepersonpolarizestowardthePositiveendofthescaleinsteadtowardtheNegative,
    andhisFearandothernegativeemotionsaretransmutedtoCourageandsimilarpositive
    mentalstates.Alittlestudywillshowyouthatthesementalchangesarenearlyallalongthe
    lineofPolarization,thechangebeingoneofdegreeratherthanofkind.
    AknowledgeoftheexistenceofthisgreatHermeticPrinciplewillenablethestudentto
    betterunderstandhisownmentalstates,andthoseofotherpeople.Hewillseethatthese
    statesareallmattersofdegree,andseeingthus,hewillbeabletoraiseorlowerthe
    vibrationatwilltochangehismentalpoles,andthusbeMasterofhismentalstates,instead
    ofbeingtheirservantandslave.Andbyhisknowledgehewillbeabletoaidhisfellows
    intelligently,andbytheappropriatemethodschangethepolaritywhenthesameisdesirable.
    WeadviseallstudentstofamiliarizethemselveswiththisPrincipleofPolarity,foracorrect
    understandingofthesamewillthrowlightonmanydifficultsubjects.

    CHAPTERXI.
    RHYTHM.
    Everythingflowsoutandineverythinghasitstidesallthingsriseandfallthependulumswingmanifestsin
    everythingthemeasureoftheswingtotheright,isthemeasureoftheswingtotheleftrhythmcompensates.
    TheKybalion.

    ThegreatFifthHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofRhythmembodiesthetruththatin
    everythingthereismanifestedameasuredmotionatoandfrommovementaflowand
    inflowaswingforwardandbackwardapendulumlikemovementatidelikeebbandflowa
    hightideandalowtidebetweenthetwopolesmanifestonthephysical,mentalorspiritual
    planes.ThePrincipleofRhythmiscloselyconnectedwiththePrincipleofPolaritydescribed
    intheprecedingchapter.Rhythmmanifestsbetweenthetwopolesestablishedbythe
    PrincipleofPolarity.Thisdoesnotmean,however,thatthependulumofRhythmswingsto
    theextremepoles,forthisrarelyhappensinfact,itisdifficulttoestablishtheextremepolar
    oppositesinthemajorityofcases.Buttheswingisevertowardfirstonepoleandthenthe
    other.
    Thereisalwaysanactionandreactionanadvanceandaretreatarisingandasinking
    manifestedinalloftheairsandphenomenaoftheUniverse.Suns,worlds,men,animals,
    plants,minerals,forces,energy,mindandmatter,yes,evenSpirit,manifeststhisPrinciple.
    ThePrinciplemanifestsinthecreationanddestructionofworldsintheriseandfallof
    nationsinthelifehistoryofallthingsandfinallyinthementalstatesofMan.
    BeginningwiththemanifestationsofSpiritofTHEALLitwillbenoticedthatthereisever
    theOutpouringandtheIndrawingtheOutbreathingandInbreathingofBrahm,asthe
    Brahmanswordit.Universesarecreatedreachtheirextremelowpointofmaterialityand
    thenbegintheirupwardswing.Sunsspringintobeing,andthentheirheightofpowerbeing
    reached,theprocessofretrogressionbegins,andafteronstheybecomedeadmassesof
    matter,awaitinganotherimpulsewhichstartsagaintheirinnerenergiesintoactivityanda
    newsolarlifecycleisbegun.Andthusitiswithalltheworldstheyareborn,growanddie
    onlytobereborn.Andthusitiswithallthethingsofshapeandformtheyswingfromaction
    toreactionfrombirthtodeathfromactivitytoinactivityandthenbackagain.Thusitiswith
    alllivingthingstheyareborn,grow,anddieandthenarereborn.Soitiswithallgreat
    movements,philosophies,creeds,fashions,governments,nations,andallelsebirth,
    growth,maturity,decadence,deathandthennewbirth.Theswingofthependulumiseverin

    evidence.
    Nightfollowsdayanddaynight.ThependulumswingsfromSummertoWinter,andthen
    backagain.Thecorpuscles,atoms,molecules,andallmassesofmatter,swingaroundthe
    circleoftheirnature.Thereisnosuchthingasabsoluterest,orcessationfrommovement,
    andallmovementpartakesofRhythm.Theprincipleisofuniversalapplication.Itmaybe
    appliedtoanyquestion,orphenomenaofanyofthemanyplanesoflife.Itmaybeappliedto
    allphasesofhumanactivity.ThereisalwaystheRhythmicswingfromonepoletotheother.
    TheUniversalPendulumiseverinmotion.TheTidesofLifeflowinandout,accordingto
    Law.
    ThePrincipleofRhythmiswellunderstoodbymodernscience,andisconsidereda
    universallawasappliedtomaterialthings.ButtheHermetistscarrytheprinciplemuch
    further,andknowthatitsmanifestationsandinfluenceextendtothementalactivitiesofMan,
    andthatitaccountsforthebewilderingsuccessionofmoods,feelingsandotherannoying
    andperplexingchangesthatwenoticeinourselves.ButtheHermetistsbystudyingthe
    operationsofthisPrinciplehavelearnedtoescapesomeofitsactivitiesbyTransmutation.
    TheHermeticMasterslongsincediscoveredthatwhilethePrincipleofRhythmwas
    invariable,andeverinevidenceinmentalphenomena,stillthereweretwoplanesofits
    manifestationsofarasmentalphenomenaareconcerned.Theydiscoveredthattherewere
    twogeneralplanesofConsciousness,theLowerandtheHigher,theunderstandingofwhich
    factenabledthemtorisetothehigherplaneandthusescapetheswingoftheRhythmic
    pendulumwhichmanifestedonthelowerplane.Inotherwords,theswingofthependulum
    occurredontheUnconsciousPlane,andtheConsciousnesswasnotaffected.Thistheycall
    theLawofNeutralization.ItsoperationsconsistintheraisingoftheEgoabovethevibrations
    oftheUnconsciousPlaneofmentalactivity,sothatthenegativeswingofthependulumis
    notmanifestedinconsciousness,andthereforetheyarenotaffected.Itisakintorising
    aboveathingandlettingitpassbeneathyou.TheHermeticMaster,oradvancedstudent,
    polarizeshimselfatthedesiredpole,andbyaprocessakintorefusingtoparticipateinthe
    backwardswing,or,ifyouprefer,adenialofitsinfluenceoverhim,hestandsfirminhis
    polarizedposition,andallowsthementalpendulumtoswingbackalongtheunconscious
    plane.Allindividualswhohaveattainedanydegreeofselfmastery,accomplishthis,moreor
    lessunknowingly,andbyrefusingtoallowtheirmoodsandnegativementalstatestoaffect
    them,theyapplytheLawofNeutralization.TheMaster,however,carriesthistoamuch
    higherdegreeofproficiency,andbytheuseofhisWillheattainsadegreeofPoiseand
    MentalFirmnessalmostimpossibleofbeliefonthepartofthosewhoallowthemselvestobe
    swungbackwardandforwardbythementalpendulumofmoodsandfeelings.
    Theimportanceofthiswillbeappreciatedbyanythinkingpersonwhorealizeswhat
    creaturesofmoods,feelingsandemotionthemajorityofpeopleare,andhowlittlemastery
    ofthemselvestheymanifest.Ifyouwillstopandconsideramoment,youwillrealizehow
    muchtheseswingsofRhythmhaveaffectedyouinyourlifehowaperiodofEnthusiasm
    hasbeeninvariablyfollowedbyanoppositefeelingandmoodofDepression.Likewise,your
    moodsandperiodsofCouragehavebeensucceededbyequalmoodsofFear.Andsoithas
    everbeenwiththemajorityofpersonstidesoffeelinghaveeverrisenandfallenwiththem,
    buttheyhaveneversuspectedthecauseorreasonofthementalphenomena.An
    understandingoftheworkingsofthisPrinciplewillgiveonethekeytotheMasteryofthese
    rhythmicswingsoffeeling,andwillenablehimtoknowhimselfbetterandtoavoidbeing
    carriedawaybytheseinflowsandoutflows.TheWillissuperiortotheconscious
    manifestationofthisPrinciple,althoughthePrincipleitselfcanneverbedestroyed.Wemay
    escapeitseffects,butthePrincipleoperates,nevertheless.Thependulumeverswings,

    althoughwemayescapebeingcarriedalongwithit.
    ThereareotherfeaturesoftheoperationofthisPrincipleofRhythmofwhichwewishto
    speakatthispoint.TherecomesintoitsoperationsthatwhichisknownastheLawof
    Compensation.OneofthedefinitionsormeaningsofthewordCompensateis,to
    counterbalance,whichisthesenseinwhichtheHermetistsusetheterm.ItisthisLawof
    CompensationtowhichtheKybalionreferswhenitsays:Themeasureoftheswingtothe
    rightisthemeasureoftheswingtotheleftrhythmcompensates.
    TheLawofCompensationisthattheswinginonedirectiondeterminestheswinginthe
    oppositedirection,ortotheoppositepoletheonebalances,orcounterbalances,theother.
    OnthePhysicalPlaneweseemanyexamplesofthisLaw.Thependulumoftheclock
    swingsacertaindistancetotheright,andthenanequaldistancetotheleft.Theseasons
    balanceeachotherinthesameway.ThetidesfollowthesameLaw.AndthesameLawis
    manifestedinallthephenomenaofRhythm.Thependulum,withashortswinginone
    direction,hasbutashortswingintheotherwhilethelongswingtotherightinvariably
    meansthelongswingtotheleft.Anobjecthurledupwardtoacertainheighthasanequal
    distancetotraverseonitsreturn.Theforcewithwhichaprojectileissentupwardamileis
    reproducedwhentheprojectilereturnstotheearthonitsreturnjourney.ThisLawis
    constantonthePhysicalPlane,asreferencetothestandardauthoritieswillshowyou.
    ButtheHermetistscarryitstillfurther.Theyteachthataman'smentalstatesaresubject
    tothesameLaw.Themanwhoenjoyskeenly,issubjecttokeensufferingwhilehewho
    TheKybalionPage44
    feelsbutlittlepainiscapableoffeelingbutlittlejoy.Thepigsuffersbutlittlementally,and
    enjoysbutlittleheiscompensated.Andontheotherhand,thereareotheranimalswho
    enjoykeenly,butwhosenervousorganismandtemperamentcausethemtosufferexquisite
    degreesofpain.AndsoitiswithMan.Therearetemperamentswhichpermitofbutlow
    degreesofenjoyment,andequallylowdegreesofsufferingwhilethereareotherswhich
    permitthemostintenseenjoyment,butalsothemostintensesuffering.Theruleisthatthe
    capacityforpainandpleasure,ineachindividual,arebalanced.TheLawofCompensation
    isinfulloperationhere.
    ButtheHermetistsgostillfurtherinthismatter.Theyteachthatbeforeoneisableto
    enjoyacertaindegreeofpleasure,hemusthaveswungasfar,proportionately,towardthe
    otherpoleoffeeling.Theyhold,however,thattheNegativeisprecedenttothePositivein
    thismatter,thatistosaythatinexperiencingacertaindegreeofpleasureitdoesnotfollow
    thathewillhavetopayupforitwithacorrespondingdegreeofpainonthecontrary,the
    pleasureistheRhythmicswing,accordingtotheLawofCompensation,foradegreeofpain
    previouslyexperiencedeitherinthepresentlife,orinapreviousincarnation.Thisthrowsa
    newlightontheProblemofPain.
    TheHermetistsregardthechainoflivesascontinuous,andasformingapartofonelife
    oftheindividual,sothatinconsequencetherhythmicswingisunderstoodinthisway,while
    itwouldbewithoutmeaningunlessthetruthofreincarnationisadmitted.
    ButtheHermetistsclaimthattheMasteroradvancedstudentisable,toagreatdegree,
    toescapetheswingtowardPain,bytheprocessofNeutralizationbeforementioned.By
    risingontothehigherplaneoftheEgo,muchoftheexperiencethatcomestothosedwelling
    onthelowerplaneisavoidedandescaped.
    TheLawofCompensationplaysanimportantpartinthelivesofmenandwomen.Itwill
    henoticedthatonegenerallypaysthepriceofanythinghepossessesorlacks.Ifhehas
    onething,helacksanotherthebalanceisstruck.Noonecankeephispennyandhavethe
    bitofcakeatthesametime.Everythinghasitspleasantandunpleasantsides.Thethings

    thatonegainsarealwayspaidforbythethingsthatoneloses.Therichpossessmuchthat
    thepoorlack,whilethepooroftenpossessthingsthatarebeyondthereachoftherich.The
    millionairemayhavetheinclinationtowardfeasting,andthewealthwherewithtosecureall
    thedaintiesandluxuriesofthetable,whilehelackstheappetitetoenjoythesamehe
    enviestheappetiteanddigestionofthelaborer,wholacksthewealthandinclinationsofthe
    millionaire,andwhogetsmorepleasurefromhisplainfoodthanthemillionairecouldobtain
    evenifhisappetitewerenotjaded,norhisdigestionruined,forthewants,habitsand
    inclinationsdiffer.Andsoitisthroughlife.TheLawofCompensationiseverinoperation,
    strivingtobalanceandcounterbalance,andalwayssucceedingintime,eventhough
    severallivesmayberequiredforthereturnswingofthePendulumofRhythm.

    CHAPTERXII.
    CAUSATION.
    EveryCausehasitsEffecteveryEffecthasitscauseeverythinghappensaccordingtoLawChanceisbut
    anameforLawnotrecognizedtherearemanyplanesofcausation,butnothingescapestheLaw.
    The
    Kybalion.

    ThegreatSixthHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofCauseandEffectembodiesthetruth
    thatLawpervadestheUniversethatnothinghappensbyChancethatChanceismerelya
    termindicatingcauseexistingbutnotrecognizedorperceivedthatphenomenais
    continuous,withoutbreakorexception.
    ThePrincipleofCauseandEffectunderliesallscientificthought,ancientandmodern,
    andwasenunciatedbytheHermeticTeachersintheearliestdays.Whilemanyandvaried
    disputesbetweenthemanyschoolsofthoughthavesincearisen,thesedisputeshavebeen
    principallyuponthedetailsoftheoperationsofthePrinciple,andstillmoreoftenuponthe
    meaningofcertainwords.TheunderlyingPrincipleofCauseandEffecthasbeenaccepted
    ascorrectbypracticallyallthethinkersoftheworldworthyofthename.Tothinkotherwise
    wouldbetotakethephenomenaoftheuniversefromthedomainofLawandOrder,andto
    relegateittothecontroloftheimaginarysomethingwhichmenhavecalledChance.
    Alittleconsiderationwillshowanyonethatthereisinrealitynosuchthingaspure
    Chance.Websterdefinestheword'Chanceasfollows:Asupposedagentormodeof
    activityotherthanaforce,laworpurposetheoperationoractivityofsuchagentthe
    supposedeffectofsuchanagentahappeningfortuitycasualty,etc.Butalittle
    considerationwillshowyouthattherecanbenosuchagentasChance,inthesenseof
    somethingoutsideofLawsomethingoutsideofCauseandEffect.Howcouldtherebea
    somethingactinginthephenomenaluniverse,independentofthelaws,order,andcontinuity
    ofthelatter?Suchasomethingwouldbeentirelyindependentoftheorderlytrendofthe
    universe,andthereforesuperiortoit.WecanimaginenothingoutsideofTHEALLbeing
    outsideoftheLaw,andthatonlybecauseTHEALListheLAWinitself.Thereisnoroomin
    theuniverseforasomethingoutsideofandindependentofLaw.Theexistenceofsucha
    SomethingwouldrenderallNaturalLawsineffective,andwouldplungetheuniverseinto
    chaoticdisorderandlawlessness.
    AcarefulexaminationwillshowthatwhatwecallChanceismerelyanexpression
    relatingtoobscurecausescausesthatwecannotperceivecausesthatwecannot

    understand.ThewordChanceisderivedfromawordmeaningtofall(asthefallingof
    dice),theideabeingthatthefallofthedice(andmanyotherhappenings)aremerelya
    happeningunrelatedtoanycause.Andthisisthesenseinwhichthetermisgenerally
    employed.Butwhenthematteriscloselyexamined,itisseenthatthereisnochance
    whatsoeveraboutthefallofthedice.Eachtimeadiefalls,anddisplaysacertainnumber,it
    obeysalawasinfallibleasthatwhichgovernstherevolutionoftheplanetsaroundthesun.
    Backofthefallofthediearecauses,orchainsofcauses,runningbackfurtherthanthe
    mindcanfollow.Thepositionofthedieintheboxtheamountofmuscularenergyexpended
    inthethrowtheconditionofthetable,etc.,etc.,allarecauses,theeffectofwhichmaybe
    seen.Butbackoftheseseencausestherearechainsofunseenprecedingcauses,allof
    whichhadabearinguponthenumberofthediewhichfelluppermost.
    Ifadiebecastagreatnumberoftimes,itwillbefoundthatthenumbersshownwillbe
    aboutequal,thatis,therewillbeanequalnumberofonespot,twospot,etc.,coming
    uppermost.Tossapennyintheair,anditmaycomedowneitherheadsortailsbutmake
    asufficientnumberoftosses,andtheheadsandtailswillaboutevenup.Thisisthe
    operationofthelawofaverage.Butboththeaverageandthesingletosscomeunderthe
    LawofCauseandEffect,andifwewereabletoexamineintotheprecedingcauses,itwould
    TheKybalionPage46
    beclearlyseenthatitwassimplyimpossibleforthedietofallotherthanitdid,underthe
    samecircumstancesandatthesametime.Giventhesamecauses,thesameresultswill
    follow.Thereisalwaysacauseandabecausetoeveryevent.Nothingeverhappens
    withoutacause,orratherachainofcauses.
    SomeconfusionhasariseninthemindsofpersonsconsideringthisPrinciple,fromthe
    factthattheywereunabletoexplainhowonethingcouldcauseanotherthingthatis,bethe
    creatorofthesecondthing.Asamatteroffact,nothingevercausesorcreatesanother
    thing.CauseandEffectdealsmerelywithevents.Aneventisthatwhichcomes,arrives
    orhappens,asaresultorconsequentofsomeprecedingevent.Noeventcreatesanother
    event,butismerelyaprecedinglinkinthegreatorderlychainofeventsflowingfromthe
    creativeenergyofTHEALL.Thereisacontinuitybetweenalleventsprecedent,consequent
    andsubsequent.Thereisarelationexistingbetweeneverythingthathasgonebefore,and
    everythingthatfollows.Astoneisdislodgedfromamountainsideandcrashesthrougha
    roofofacottageinthevalleybelow.Atfirstsightweregardthisasachanceeffect,butwhen
    weexaminethematterwefindagreatchainofcausesbehindit.Inthefirstplacetherewas
    therainwhichsoftenedtheearthsupportingthestoneandwhichallowedittofallthenback
    ofthatwastheinfluenceofthesun,otherrains,etc.,whichgraduallydisintegratedthepiece
    ofrockfromalargerpiecethentherewerethecauseswhichledtotheformationofthe
    mountain,anditsupheavalbyconvulsionsofnature,andsoonadinfinitum.Thenwemight
    followupthecausesbehindtherain,etc.Thenwemightconsidertheexistenceoftheroof.
    Inshort,wewouldsoonfindourselvesinvolvedinameshofcauseandeffect,fromwhich
    wewouldsoonstrivetoextricateourselves.
    Justasamanhastwoparents,andfourgrandparents,andeightgreatgrandparents,and
    sixteengreatgreatgrandparents,andsoonuntilwhen,say,fortygenerationsarecalculated
    thenumbersofancestorsrunintomanymillionssoitiswiththenumberofcausesbehind
    eventhemosttriflingeventorphenomena,suchasthepassageofatinyspeckofsoot
    beforeyoureye.Itisnotaneasymattertotracethebitofsootbacktotheearlyperiodofthe
    world'shistorywhenitformedapartofamassivetreetrunk,whichwasafterwardconverted
    intocoal,andsoon,untilasthespeckofsootitnowpassesbeforeyourvisiononitswayto
    otheradventures.Andamightychainofevents,causesandeffects,broughtittoitspresent

    condition,andthelatterisbutoneofthechainofeventswhichwillgotoproduceother
    eventshundredsofyearsfromnow.Oneoftheseriesofeventsarisingfromthetinybitof
    sootwasthewritingoftheselines,whichcausedthetypesettertoperformcertainworkthe
    proofreadertodolikewiseandwhichwillarousecertainthoughtsinyourmind,andthatof
    others,whichinturnwillaffectothers,andsoon,andon,andon,beyondtheabilityofman
    tothinkfurtherandallfromthepassageofatinybitofsoot,allofwhichshowstherelativity
    andassociationofthings,andthefurtherfactthatthereisnogreatthereisnosmallinthe
    mindthatcausethall.
    Stoptothinkamoment.Ifacertainmanhadnotmetacertainmaid,awaybackinthe
    dimperiodoftheStoneAgeyouwhoarenowreadingtheselineswouldnotnowbehere.
    Andif,perhaps,thesamecouplehadfailedtomeet,wewhonowwritetheselineswouldnot
    nowbehere.Andtheveryactofwriting,onourpart,andtheactofreading,onyours,will
    affectnotonlytherespectivelivesofyourselfandourselves,butwillalsohaveadirect,or
    indirect,affectuponmanyotherpeoplenowlivingandwhowillliveintheagestocome.
    Everythoughtwethink,everyactweperform,hasitsdirectandindirectresultswhichfitinto
    thegreatchainofCauseandEffect.
    WedonotwishtoenterintoaconsiderationofFreeWill,orDeterminism,inthiswork,for
    variousreasons.Amongthemanyreasons,istheprincipalonethatneithersideofthe
    controversyisentirelyrightinfact,bothsidesarepartiallyright,accordingtotheHermetic
    Teachings.ThePrincipleofPolarityshowsthatbotharebutHalfTruthstheopposingpoles
    ofTruth.TheTeachingsarethatamanmaybebothFreeandyetboundbyNecessity,
    TheKybalionPage47
    dependinguponthemeaningoftheterms,andtheheightofTruthfromwhichthematteris
    examined.Theancientwritersexpressthematterthus:Thefurtherthecreationisfromthe
    Centre,themoreitisboundthenearertheCentreitreaches,thenearerFreeisit.
    Themajorityofpeoplearemoreorlesstheslavesofheredity,environment,etc.,and
    manifestverylittleFreedom.Theyareswayedbytheopinions,customsandthoughtsofthe
    outsideworld,andalsobytheiremotions,feelings,moods,etc.TheymanifestnoMastery,
    worthyofthename.Theyindignantlyrepudiatethisassertion,saying,Why,Icertainlyam
    freetoactanddoasIpleaseIdojustwhatIwanttodo,buttheyfailtoexplainwhence
    arisethewanttoandasIplease.Whatmakesthemwanttodoonethinginpreference
    toanotherwhatmakesthempleasetodothis,andnotdothat?Istherenobecauseto
    theirpleasingandwanting?TheMastercanchangethesepleasesandwantsinto
    othersattheoppositeendofthementalpole.HeisabletoWilltowill,insteadoftowill
    becausesomefeeling,mood,emotion,orenvironmentalsuggestionarousesatendencyor
    desirewithinhimsotodo.
    Themajorityofpeoplearecarriedalonglikethefallingstone,obedienttoenvironment,
    outsideinfluencesandinternalmoods,desires,etc.,nottospeakofthedesiresandwillsof
    othersstrongerthanthemselves,heredity,environment,andsuggestion,carryingthem
    alongwithoutresistenceontheirpart,ortheexerciseoftheWill.Movedlikethepawnson
    thecheckerboardoflife,theyplaytheirpartsandarelaidasideafterthegameisover.But
    theMasters,knowingtherulesofthegame,riseabovetheplaneofmateriallife,andplacing
    themselvesintouchwiththehigherpowersoftheirnature,dominatetheirownmoods,
    characters,qualities,andpolarity,aswellastheenvironmentsurroundingthemandthus
    becomeMoversinthegame,insteadofPawnsCausesinsteadofEffects.TheMastersdo
    notescapetheCausationofthehigherplanes,butfallinwiththehigherlaws,andthus
    mastercircumstancesonthelowerplane.TheythusformaconsciouspartoftheLaw,
    insteadofbeingmereblindinstruments.WhiletheyServeontheHigherPlanes,theyRule

    ontheMaterialPlane.
    But,onhigherandonlower,theLawisalwaysinoperation.Thereisnosuchthingsas
    Chance.TheblindgoddesshasbeenabolishedbyReason.Weareabletoseenow,with
    eyesmadeclearbyknowledge,thateverythingisgovernedbyUniversalLawthatthe
    infinitenumberoflawsarebutmanifestationsoftheOneGreatLawtheLAWwhichisTHE
    ALL.ItistrueindeedthatnotasparrowdropsunnoticedbytheMindofTHEALLthateven
    thehairsonourheadarenumberedasthescriptureshavesaid.Thereisnothingoutsideof
    Lawnothingthathappenscontrarytoit.Andyet,donotmakethemistakeofsupposingthat
    Manisbutablindautomatonfarfromthat.TheHermeticTeachingsarethatManmayuse
    Lawtoovercomelaws,andthatthehigherwillalwaysprevailagainstthelower,untilatlast
    hehasreachedthestageinwhichheseeksrefugeintheLAWitself,andlaughsthe
    phenomenallawstoscorn.Areyouabletograsptheinnermeaningofthis?

    CHAPTERXIII.
    GENDER.
    GenderisineverythingeverythinghasitsMasculineandFemininePrinciplesGendermanifestson
    planes.
    TheKybalion.

    ThegreatSeventhHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofGenderembodiesthetruththat
    thereisGendermanifestedineverythingthattheMasculineandFeminineprinciplesare
    everpresentandactiveinallphasesofphenomena,oneachandeveryplaneoflife.Atthis
    pointwethinkitwelltocallyourattentiontothefactthatGender,initsHermeticsense,and
    Sexintheordinarilyaccepteduseoftheterm,arenotthesame.
    ThewordGenderisderivedfromtheLatinrootmeaningtobegettoprocreateto
    generatetocreatetoproduce.
    Amomentsconsiderationwillshowyouthatthewordhasamuchbroaderandmore
    generalmeaningthanthetermSex,thelatterreferringtothephysicaldistinctionsbetween
    maleandfemalelivingthings.SexismerelyamanifestationofGenderonacertainplaneof
    theGreatPhysicalPlanetheplaneoforganiclife.Wewishtoimpressthisdistinctionupon
    yourminds,forthereasonthatcertainwriters,whohaveacquiredasmatteringofthe
    HermeticPhilosophy,havesoughttoidentifythisSeventhHermeticPrinciplewithwildand
    fanciful,andoftenreprehensible,theoriesandteachingsregardingSex.
    TheofficeofGenderissolelythatofcreating,producing,generating,etc.,andits
    manifestationsarevisibleoneveryplaneofphenomena.Itissomewhatdifficulttoproduce
    proofsofthisalongscientificlines,forthereasonthatsciencehasnotasyetrecognizedthis
    Principleasofuniversalapplication.Butstillsomeproofsareforthcomingfromscientific
    sources.Inthefirstplace,wefindadistinctmanifestationofthePrincipleofGenderamong
    thecorpuscles,ions,orelectrons,whichconstitutethebasisofMatterassciencenowknows
    thelatter,andwhichbyformingcertaincombinationsformtheAtom,whichuntillatelywas
    regardedasfinalandindivisible.
    Thelatestwordofscienceisthattheatomiscomposedofamultitudeofcorpuscles,
    electrons,orions(thevariousnamesbeingappliedbydifferentauthorities)revolvingaround
    eachotherandvibratingatahighdegreeandintensity.Buttheaccompanyingstatementis
    madethattheformationoftheatomisreallyduetotheclusteringofnegativecorpuscles
    aroundapositiveonethepositivecorpusclesseemingtoexertacertaininfluenceuponthe
    negativecorpuscles,causingthelattertoassumecertaincombinationsandthuscreateor

    generateanatom.ThisisinlinewiththemostancientHermeticTeachings,whichhave
    alwaysidentifiedtheMasculineprincipleofGenderwiththePositive,andtheFemininewith
    theNegativePolesofElectricity(socalled).
    Nowawordatthispointregardingthisidentification.Thepublicmindhasformedan
    entirelyerroneousimpressionregardingthequalitiesofthesocalled'Negativepoleof
    electrifiedormagnetizedMatter.ThetermsPositiveandNegativeareverywronglyapplied
    tothisphenomenonbyscience.ThewordPositivemeanssomethingrealandstrong,as
    comparedwithaNegativeunrealityorweakness.Nothingisfurtherfromtherealfactsof
    electricalphenomena.ThesocalledNegativepoleofthebatteryisreallythepoleinandby
    whichthegenerationorproductionofnewformsandenergiesismanifested.Thereis
    nothingnegativeaboutit.ThebestscientificauthoritiesnowusethewordCathodein
    placeofNegative,thewordCathodecomingfromtheGreekrootmeaningdescentthe
    pathofgeneration,etc.FromtheCathodepoleemergetheswarmofelectronsor
    corpusclesfromthesamepoleemergethosewonderfulrayswhichhaverevolutionized
    scientificconceptionsduringthepastdecade.TheCathodepoleistheMotherofallofthe
    strangephenomenawhichhaverendereduselesstheoldtextbooks,andwhichhave
    causedmanylongacceptedtheoriestoberelegatedtothescrappileofscientific
    speculation.TheCathode,orNegativePole,istheMotherPrincipleofElectrical
    Phenomena,andofthefinestformsofmatterasyetknowntoscience.Soyouseeweare
    justifiedinrefusingtousethetermNegativeinourconsiderationofthesubject,andin
    insistinguponsubstitutingthewordFemininefortheoldterm.Thefactsofthecasebear
    usoutinthis,withouttakingtheHermeticTeachingsintoconsideration.Andsoweshalluse
    thewordFeminineintheplaceofNegativeinspeakingofthatpoleofactivity.
    ThelatestscientificteachingsarethatthecreativecorpusclesorelectronsareFeminine
    (sciencesaystheyarecomposedofnegativeelectricitywesaytheyarecomposedof
    Feminineenergy).
    AFemininecorpusclebecomesdetachedfrom,orratherleaves,aMasculinecorpuscle,
    andstartsonanewcareer.ItactivelyseeksaunionwithaMasculinecorpuscle,being
    urgedtheretobythenaturalimpulsetocreatenewformsofMatterorEnergy.Onewriter
    goessofarastousethetermitatonceseeks,ofitsownvolition,aunion,etc.This
    detachmentandunitingformthebasisofthegreaterpartoftheactivitiesofthechemical
    world.WhentheFemininecorpuscleuniteswithaMasculinecorpuscle,acertainprocessis
    begun.TheFeminineparticlesvibraterapidlyundertheinfluenceoftheMasculineenergy,
    andcirclerapidlyaroundthelatter.Theresultisthebirthofanewatom.Thisnewatomis
    reallycomposedofaunionoftheMasculineandFeminineelectrons,orcorpuscles,but
    whentheunionisformedtheatomisaseparatething,havingcertainproperties,butno
    longermanifestingthepropertyoffreeelectricity.Theprocessofdetachmentorseparation
    oftheFeminineelectronsiscalledionization.Theseelectrons,orcorpuscles,arethemost
    activeworkersinNature'sfield.Arisingfromtheirunions,orcombinations,manifestthe
    variedphenomenaoflight,heat,electricity,magnetism,attraction,repulsion,chemical
    affinityandthereverse,andsimilarphenomena.Andallthisarisesfromtheoperationofthe
    PrincipleofGenderontheplaneofEnergy.
    ThepartoftheMasculineprincipleseemstobethatofdirectingacertaininherentenergy
    towardtheFeminineprinciple,andthusstartingintoactivitythecreativeprocesses.Butthe
    Feminineprincipleistheonealwaysdoingtheactivecreativeworkandthisissoonall
    planes.Andyet,eachprincipleisincapableofoperativeenergywithouttheassistanceofthe
    other.Insomeoftheformsoflife,thetwoprinciplesarecombinedinoneorganism.Forthat
    matter,everythingintheorganicworldmanifestsbothgendersthereisalwaysthe

    MasculinepresentintheFeminineform,andtheFeminineform.TheHermeticTeachings
    includemuchregardingtheoperationofthetwoprinciplesofGenderintheproductionand
    manifestationofvariousformsofenergy,etc.,butwedonotdeemitexpedienttogointo
    detailregardingthesameatthispoint,becauseweareunabletobackupthesamewith
    scientificproof,forthereasonthatsciencehasnotasyetprogressedthusfar.Butthe
    examplewehavegivenyouofthephenomenaoftheelectronsorcorpuscleswillshowyou
    thatscienceisontherightpath,andwillalsogiveyouageneralideaoftheunderlying
    principles.
    Someleadingscientificinvestigatorshaveannouncedtheirbeliefthatintheformationof
    crystalstherewastobefoundsomethingthatcorrespondedtosexactivity,whichis
    anotherstrawshowingthedirectionthescientificwindsareblowing.Andeachyearwillbring
    otherfactstocorroboratethecorrectnessoftheHermeticPrincipleofGender.Itwillbe
    foundthatGenderisinconstantoperationandmanifestationinthefieldofinorganicmatter,
    andinthefieldofEnergyorForce.ElectricityisnowgenerallyregardedastheSomething
    intowhichallotherformsofenergyseemtomeltordissolve.TheElectricalTheoryofthe
    Universeisthelatestscientificdoctrine,andisgrowingrapidlyinpopularityandgeneral
    acceptance.Anditthusfollowsthatifweareabletodiscoverinthephenomenaof
    electricityevenattheveryrootandsourceofitsmanifestationsaclearandunmistakable
    evidenceofthepresenceofGenderanditsactivities,wearejustifiedinaskingyouto
    TheKybalionPage50
    believethatscienceatlasthasofferedproofsoftheexistenceinalluniversalphenomenaof
    thatgreatHermeticPrinciplethePrincipleofGender.
    Itisnotnecessarytotakeupyourtimewiththewellknownphenomenaoftheattraction
    andrepulsionoftheatomschemicalaffinitythelovesandhatesoftheatomicparticles
    theattractionorcohesionbetweenthemoleculesofmatter.Thesefactsaretoowellknown
    toneedextendedcommentfromus.But,haveyoueverconsideredthatallofthesethings
    aremanifestationsoftheGenderPrinciple?
    Canyounotseethatthephenomenaisonallfourswiththatofthecorpusclesor
    electrons?Andmorethanthis,canyounotseethereasonablenessoftheHermetic
    TeachingswhichassertthattheveryLawofGravitationthatstrangeattractionbyreasonof
    whichallparticlesandbodiesofmatterintheuniversetendtowardeachotherisbut
    anothermanifestationofthePrincipleofGender,whichoperatesinthedirectionofattracting
    theMasculinetotheFeminineenergies,andviceversa?Wecannotofferyouscientificproof
    ofthisatthistimebutexaminethephenomenainthelightoftheHermeticTeachingsonthe
    subject,andseeifyouhavenotabetterworkinghypothesisthananyofferedbyphysical
    science.Submitallphysicalphenomenatothetest,andyouwilldiscernthePrincipleof
    Gendereverinevidence.
    LetusnowpassontoaconsiderationoftheoperationofthePrincipleontheMental
    Plane.Manyinterestingfeaturesarethereawaitingexamination.

    CHAPTERXIV.
    MENTALGENDER.

    Studentsofpsychologywhohavefollowedthemoderntrendofthoughtalongthelinesof
    mentalphenomenaarestruckbythepersistenceofthedualmindideawhichhas
    manifesteditselfsostronglyduringthepasttenorfifteenyears,andwhichhasgivenriseto
    anumberofplausibletheoriesregardingthenatureandconstitutionofthesetwominds.
    ThelateThomsonJ.Hudsonattainedgreatpopularityin1893byadvancinghiswellknown
    theoryoftheobjectiveandsubjectivemindswhichheheldexistedineveryindividual.
    Otherwritershaveattractedalmostequalattentionbythetheoriesregardingtheconscious
    andsubconsciousmindsthevoluntaryandinvoluntarymindstheactiveandpassive
    minds,etc.,etc.Thetheoriesofthevariouswritersdifferfromeachother,butthereremains
    theunderlyingprincipleofthedualityofmind.
    ThestudentoftheHermeticPhilosophyistemptedtosmilewhenhereadsandhearsof
    thesemanynewtheoriesregardingthedualityofmind,eachschooladheringtenaciously
    toitsownpettheories,andeachclaimingtohavediscoveredthetruth.Thestudentturns
    backthepagesofocculthistory,andawaybackinthedimbeginningsofoccultteachingshe
    findsreferencestotheancientHermeticdoctrineofthePrincipleofGenderontheMental
    PlanethemanifestationofMentalGender.Andexaminingfurtherhefindsthattheancient
    philosophytookcognizanceofthephenomenonofthedualmind,andaccountedforitby
    thetheoryofMentalGender.ThisideaofMentalGendermaybeexplainedinafewwordsto
    studentswhoarefamiliarwiththemoderntheoriesjustalludedto.TheMasculinePrinciple
    ofMindcorrespondstothesocalledObjectiveMindConsciousMindVoluntaryMind
    ActiveMind,etc.AndtheFemininePrincipleofMindcorrespondstothesocalledSubjective
    MindSubconsciousMindInvoluntaryMindPassiveMind,etc.OfcoursetheHermetic
    Teachingsdonotagreewiththemanymoderntheoriesregardingthenatureofthetwo
    phasesofmind,nordoesitadmitmanyofthefactsclaimedforthetworespectiveaspects
    someofthesaidtheoriesandclaimsbeingveryfarfetchedandincapableofstandingthe
    testofexperimentanddemonstration.Wepointtothephasesofagreementmerelyforthe
    purposeofhelpingthestudenttoassimilatehispreviouslyacquiredknowledgewiththe
    teachingsoftheHermeticPhilosophy.StudentsofHudsonwillnoticethestatementatthe
    beginningofhissecondchapterofTheLawofPsychicPhenomena,that:Themystic

    jargonoftheHermeticphilosophersdisclosesthesamegeneralideai.e.,thedualityof
    mind.IfDr.Hudsonhadtakenthetimeandtroubletodecipheralittleofthemysticjargonof
    tileHermeticPhilosophy,hemighthavereceivedmuchlightuponthesubjectofthedual
    mindbutthen,perhaps,hismostinterestingworkmightnothavebeenwritten.Letusnow
    considertheHermeticTeachingsregardingMentalGender.
    TheHermeticTeachersimparttheirinstructionregardingthissubjectbybiddingtheir
    studentsexaminethereportoftheirconsciousnessregardingtheirSelf.Thestudentsare
    biddentoturntheirattentioninwardupontheSelfdwellingwithineach.Eachstudentisled
    toseethathisconsciousnessgiveshimfirstareportoftheexistenceofhisSelfthereportis
    IAm.Thisatfirstseemstobethefinalwordsfromtheconsciousness,butalittlefurther
    examinationdisclosesthefactthatthisIAmmaybeseparatedorsplitintotwodistinct
    parts,oraspects,whichwhileworkinginunisonandinconjunction,yet,nevertheless,may
    beseparatedinconsciousness.
    WhileatfirstthereseemstobeonlyanIexisting,amorecarefulandcloserexamination
    revealsthefactthatthereexistsanIandaMe.Thesementaltwinsdifferintheir
    characteristicsandnature,andanexaminationoftheirnatureandthephenomenaarising
    fromthesamewillthrowmuchlightuponmanyoftheproblemsofmentalinfluence.
    LetusbeginwithaconsiderationoftheMe,whichisusuallymistakenfortheIbythe
    TheKybalionPage52
    student,untilhepressestheinquiryalittlefurtherbackintotherecessesofconsciousness.
    AmanthinksofhisSelf(initsaspectofMe)asbeingcomposedofcertainfeelings,tastes,
    likes,dislikes,habits,peculiarties,characteristics,etc.,allofwhichgotomakeuphis
    personality,ortheSelfknowntohimselfandothers.Heknowsthattheseemotionsand
    feelingschangearebornanddieawayaresubjecttothePrincipleofRhythm,andthe
    PrincipleofPolarity,whichtakehimfromoneextremeoffeelingtoanother.Healsothinksof
    theMeasbeingcertainknowledgegatheredtogetherinhismind,andthusformingapart
    ofhimself.ThisistheMeofaman.
    Butwehaveproceededtoohastily.TheMeofmanymenmaybesaidtoconsistlargely
    oftheirconsciousnessofthebodyandtheirphysicalappetites,etc.Theirconsciousness
    beinglargelyboundupwiththeirbodilynature,theypracticallylivethere.Somemeneven
    gosofarastoregardtheirpersonalapparelasapartoftheirMe,andactuallyseemto
    consideritapartofthemselves.Awriterhashumorouslysaidthatmenconsistofthree
    partssoul,bodyandclothes.Theseclothesconsciouspeoplewouldlosetheirpersonality
    ifdivestedoftheirclothingbysavagesupontheoccasionofashipwreck.Butevenmany
    whoarenotsocloselyboundupwiththeideaofpersonalraimentstickcloselytothe
    consciousnessoftheirbodiesbeingtheirMe.TheycannotconceiveofaSelfindependent
    ofthebody.Theirmindseemstothemtobepracticallyasomethingbelongingtotheir
    bodywhichinmanycasesitisindeed.
    ButasmanrisesinthescaleofconsciousnessheisabletodisentanglehisMefromhis
    ideaofbody,andisabletothinkofhisbodyasbelongingtothementalpartofhim.But
    eventhenheisveryapttoidentifytheMeentirelywiththementalstates,feelings,etc.,
    whichhefeelstoexistwithinhim.Heisveryapttoconsidertheseinternalstatesasidentical
    withhimself,insteadoftheirbeingsimplythingsproducedbysomepartofhismentality,
    andexistingwithinhimofhim,andinhim,butstillnothimself.Heseesthathemay
    changetheseinternalstatesoffeelingsbyaneffortofwill,andthathemayproducea
    feelingorstateofanexactlyoppositenature,inthesameway,andyetthesameMe
    exists.Andsoafterawhileheisabletosetasidethesevariousmentalstates,emotions,
    feelings,habits,qualities,characteristics,andotherpersonalmentalbelongingsheisable

    tosetthemasideinthenotmecollectionofcuriositiesandencumbrances,aswellas
    valuablepossessions.Thisrequiresmuchmentalconcentrationandpowerofmental
    analysisonthepartofthestudent.Butstillthetaskispossiblefortheadvancedstudent,and
    eventhosenotsofaradvancedareabletosee,intheimagination,howtheprocessmaybe
    performed.
    Afterthislayingasideprocesshasbeenperformed,thestudentwillfindhimselfin
    consciouspossessionofaSelfwhichmaybeconsideredinitsIandMedualaspects.
    TheMewillbefelttobeaSomethingmentalinwhichthoughts,ideas,emotions,feelings,
    andothermentalstatesmaybeproduced.Itmaybeconsideredasthementalwomb,as
    theancientsstyleditcapableofgeneratingmentaloffspring.Itreportstotheconsciousness
    asaMewithlatentpowersofcreationandgenerationofmentalprogenyofallsortsand
    kinds.Itspowersofcreativeenergyarefelttobeenormous.Butstillitseemstobe
    consciousthatitmustreceivesomeformofenergyfromeitheritsIcompanion,orelse
    fromsomeotherI,ereitisabletobringintobeingitsmentalcreations.Thisconsciousness
    bringswithitarealizationofanenormouscapacityformentalworkandcreativeability.
    Butthestudentsoonfindsthatthisisnotallthathefindswithinhisinnerconsciousness.
    HefindsthatthereexistsamentalSomethingwhichisabletoWillthattheMeactalong
    certaincreativelines,andwhichisalsoabletostandasideandwitnessthementalcreation.
    ThispartofhimselfheistaughttocallhisI.Heisabletorestinitsconsciousnessatwill.
    Hefindstherenotaconsciousnessofanabilitytogenerateandactivelycreate,inthesense
    ofthegradualprocessattendantuponmentaloperations,butratherasenseand
    consciousnessofanabilitytoprojectanenergyfromtheItotheMeaprocessofwilling
    TheKybalionPage53
    thatthementalcreationbeginandproceed.HealsofindsthattheIisabletostandaside
    andwitnesstheoperationsoftheMe'smentalcreationandgeneration.Thereisthisdual
    aspectinthemindofeveryperson.TheIrepresentstheMasculinePrincipleofMental
    GendertheMerepresentstheFemalePrinciple.TheIrepresentstheAspectofBeing
    theMetheAspectofBecoming.YouwillnoticethatthePrincipleofCorrespondence
    operatesonthisplanejustasitdoesuponthegreatplaneuponwhichthecreationof
    Universesisperformed.Thetwoaresimilarinkind,althoughvastlydifferentindegree.As
    above,sobelowasbelow,soabove.
    TheseaspectsofmindtheMasculineandFemininePrinciplestheIandtheMe
    consideredinconnectionwiththewellknownmentalandpsychicphenomena,givethe
    masterkeytothesedimlyknownregionsofmentaloperationandmanifestation.The
    principleofMentalGendergivesthetruthunderlyingthewholefieldofthephenomenaof
    mentalinfluence,etc.
    ThetendencyoftheFemininePrincipleisalwaysinthedirectionofreceiving
    impressions,whilethetendencyoftheMasculinePrincipleisalwaysin.thedirectionof
    givingout,orexpressing.TheFemininePrinciplehasamuchmorevariedfieldofoperation
    thanhastheMasculinePrinciple.TheFemininePrincipleconductstheworkofgenerating
    newthoughts,concepts,ideas,includingtheworkoftheimagination.TheMasculine
    PrinciplecontentsitselfwiththeworkoftheWill,initsvariedphases.Andyetwithoutthe
    activeaidoftheWilloftheMasculinePrinciple,theFemininePrincipleisapttorestcontent
    withgeneratingmentalimageswhicharetheresultofimpressionsreceivedfromoutside,
    insteadofproducingoriginalmentalcreations.
    Personswhocangivecontinuedattentionandthoughttoasubjectactivelyemployboth
    oftheMentalPrinciplestheFeminineintheworkofactivementalgeneration,andthe
    MasculineWillinstimulatingandenergizingthecreativeportionofthemind.Themajorityof

    personsreallyemploytheMasculinePrinciplebutlittleandarecontenttoliveaccordingto
    thethoughtsandideasinstilledintotheMefromtheIofotherminds.Butitisnotour
    purposetodwelluponthisphaseofthesubject,whichmaybestudiedfromanygoodtextbook
    uponpsychology,withthekeythatwehavegivenyouregardingMentalGender.
    ThestudentofPsychicPhenomenaisawareofthewonderfulphenomenaclassified
    undertheheadofTelepathyThoughtTransferenceMentalInfluenceSuggestion
    Hypnotism,etc.Manyhavesoughtforanexplanationofthesevariedphasesofphenomena
    underthetheoriesofthevariousdualmindteachers.Andinameasuretheyareright,for
    thereisclearlyamanifestationoftwodistinctphasesofmentalactivity.Butifsuchstudents
    willconsiderthesedualmindsinthelightoftheHermeticTeachingsregardingVibrations
    andMentalGender,theywillseethatthelongsoughtforkeyisathand.
    InthephenomenaofTelepathyitisseenhowtheVibratoryEnergyoftheMasculine
    PrincipleisprojectedtowardtheFemininePrincipleofanotherperson,andthelattertakes
    theseedthoughtandallowsittodevelopintomaturity.InthesamewaySuggestionand
    Hypnotismoperates.TheMasculinePrincipleofthepersongivingthesuggestionsdirectsa
    streamofVibratoryEnergyorWillPowertowardtheFemininePrincipleoftheotherperson,
    andthelatteracceptingitmakesititsownandactsandthinksaccordingly.Anideathus
    lodgedinthemindofanotherpersongrowsanddevelops,andintimeisregardedasthe
    rightfulmentaloffspringoftheindividual,whereasitisinrealitylikethecuckooeggplacedin
    thesparrow'snest,whereitdestroystherightfuloffspringandmakesitselfathome.The
    normalmethodisfortheMasculineandFemininePrinciplesinaperson'smindtocoordinate
    andactharmoniouslyinconjunctionwitheachother.But,unfortunately,the
    MasculinePrincipleintheaveragepersonistoolazytoactthedisplayofWillPoweristoo
    slightandtheconsequenceisthatsuchpersonsareruledalmostentirelybythemindsand
    willsofotherpersons,whomtheyallowtodotheirthinkingandwillingforthem.Howfew
    originalthoughtsororiginalactionsareperformedbytheaverageperson?Arenotthe
    TheKybalionPage54
    majorityofpersonsmereshadowsandechoesofothershavingstrongerwillsormindsthan
    themselves?ThetroubleisthattheaveragepersondwellsalmostaltogetherinhisMe
    consciousness,anddoesnotrealizethathehassuchathingasanI.Heispolarizedinhis
    FemininePrincipleofMind,andtheMasculinePrinciple,inwhichislodgedtheWill,is
    allowedtoremaininactiveandnotemployed.
    ThestrongmenandwomenoftheworldinvariablymanifesttheMasculinePrincipleof
    Will,andtheirstrengthdependsmateriallyuponthisfact.Insteadoflivinguponthe
    impressionsmadeupontheirmindsbyothers,theydominatetheirownmindsbytheirWill,
    obtainingthekindofmentalimagesdesired,andmoreoverdominatethemindsofothers
    likewise,inthesamemanner.Lookatthestrongpeople,howtheymanagetoimplanttheir
    seedthoughtsinthemindsofthemassesofthepeople,thuscausingthelattertothink
    thoughtsinaccordancewiththedesiresandwillsofthestrongindividuals.Thisiswhythe
    massesofpeoplearesuchsheeplikecreatures,neveroriginatinganideaoftheirown,nor
    usingtheirownpowersofmentalactivity.
    ThemanifestationofMentalGendermaybenoticedallaroundusineverydaylife.The
    magneticpersonsarethosewhoareabletousetheMasculinePrincipleinthewayof
    impressingtheirideasuponothers.Theactorwhomakespeopleweeporcryashewills,is
    employingthisprinciple.Andsoisthesuccessfulorator,statesman,preacher,writerorother
    peoplewhoarebeforethepublicattention.Thepeculiarinfluenceexertedbysomepeople
    overothersisduetothemanifestationofMentalGenderalongtheVibratoriallinesabove
    indicated.Inthisprincipleliesthesecretofpersonalmagnetism,personalinfluence,

    fascination,etc.,aswellasthephenomenagenerallygroupedunderthenameof
    Hypnotism.
    Thestudentwhohasfamiliarizedhimselfwiththephenomenagenerallyspokenofas
    psychicwillhavediscoveredtheimportantpartplayedinthesaidphenomenabythatforce
    whichsciencehasstyledSuggestion,bywhichtermismeanttheprocessormethod
    wherebyanideaistransferredto,orimpresseduponthemindofanother,causingthe
    secondmindtoactinaccordancetherewith.AcorrectunderstandingofSuggestionis
    necessaryinordertointelligentlycomprehendthevariedpsychicalphenomenawhich
    Suggestionunderlies.But,stillmoreisaknowledgeofVibrationandMentalGender
    necessaryforthestudentofSuggestion.ForthewholeprincipleofSuggestiondepends
    upontheprincipleofMentalGenderandVibration.
    ItiscustomaryforthewritersandteachersofSuggestiontoexplainthatitisthe
    objectiveorvoluntarymindwhichmakethementalimpression,orsuggestion,uponthe
    subjectiveorinvoluntarymind.Buttheydonotdescribetheprocessorgiveusanyanalogy
    innaturewherebywemaymorereadilycomprehendtheideaButifyouwillthinkofthe
    matterinthelightoftheHermeticTeachings,youwillbeabletoseethattheenergizingof
    theFemininePrinciplebytheVibratoryEnergyoftheMasculinePrincipleisinaccordanceto
    theuniversallawsofnature,andthatthenaturalworldaffordscountlessanalogieswhereby
    theprinciplemaybeunderstood.Infact,theHermeticTeachingsshowthattheverycreation
    oftheUniversefollowsthesamelaw,andthatinallcreativemanifestations,upontheplanes
    ofthespiritual,themental,andthephysical,thereisalwaysinoperationthisprincipleof
    GenderthismanifestationoftheMasculineandtheFemininePrinciples.Asabove,so
    belowasbelow,soabove.Andmorethanthis,whentheprincipleofMentalGenderis
    oncegraspedandunderstood,thevariedphenomenaofpsychologyatoncebecomes
    capableofintelligentclassificationandstudy,insteadofbeingverymuchinthedark.The
    principleworksoutinpractice,becauseitisbasedupontheimmutableuniversallawsof
    life.
    Weshallnotenterintoanextendeddiscussionof,ordescriptionof,thevaried
    phenomenaofmentalinfluenceorpsychicactivity.Therearemanybooks,manyofthem
    quitegood,whichhavebeenwrittenandpublishedonthissubjectoflateyears.Themain
    factsstatedinthesevariousbooksarecorrect,althoughtheseveralwritershaveattempted
    toexplainthephenomenabyvariouspettheoriesoftheirown.Thestudentmayacquaint
    himselfwiththesematters,andbyusingthetheoryofMentalGenderhewillbeabletobring
    orderoutofthechaosofconflictingtheoryandteachings,andmay,moreover,readilymake
    himselfamasterofthesubjectifhebesoinclined.Thepurposeofthisworkisnottogivean
    extendedaccountofpsychicphenomena,butrathertogivetothestudentamasterkey
    wherebyhemayunlockthemanydoorsleadingintothepartsoftheTempleofKnowledge
    whichhemaywishtoexplore.WefeelthatinthisconsiderationoftheteachingsofThe
    Kybalion,onemayfindanexplanationwhichwillservetoclearawaymanyperplexing
    difficultiesakeythatwillunlockmanydoors.Whatistheuseofgoingintodetailregarding
    allofthemanyfeaturesofpsychicphenomenaandmentalscience,providedweplaceinthe
    handsofthestudentthemeanswherebyhemayacquainthimselffullyregardinganyphase
    ofthesubjectwhichmayinteresthim.WiththeaidofTheKybaliononemaygothroughany
    occultlibraryanew,theoldLightfromEgyptilluminatingmanydarkpages,andobscure
    subjects.Thatisthepurposeofthisbook.Wedonotcomeexpoundinganewphilosophy,
    butratherfurnishingtheoutlinesofagreatworldoldteachingwhichwillmakeclearthe
    teachingsofotherswhichwillserveasaGreatReconcilerofdifferingtheories,and
    opposingdoctrines.

    CHAPTERXV.
    HERMETICAXIOMS.

    ThepossessionofKnowledge,unlessaccompaniedbyamanifestationandexpression
    inAction,islikethehoardingofpreciousmetalsavainandfoolishthing.Knowledge,like
    Wealth,isintendedforUse.TheLawofUseisUniversal,andhewhoviolatesitsuffersby
    reasonofhisconflictwithnaturalforces.
    TheKybalion
    .
    TheHermeticTeachings,whilealwayshavingbeenkeptsecurelylockedupintheminds
    ofthefortunatepossessorsthereof,forreasonswhichwehavealreadystated,werenever
    intendedtobemerelystoredawayandsecreted.TheLawofUseisdweltuponinthe
    Teachings,asyoumayseebyreferencetotheabovequotationfromTheKybalion,which
    statesitforcibly.KnowledgewithoutUseandExpressionisavainthing,bringingnogoodto
    itspossessor,ortotherace.BewareofMentalMiserliness,andexpressintoActionthat
    whichyouhavelearned.StudytheAxiomsandAphorisms,butpracticethemalso.
    WegivebelowsomeofthemoreimportantHermeticAxioms,fromTheKybalion,witha
    fewcommentsaddedtoeach.Maketheseyourown,andpracticeandusethem,forthey
    arenotreallyyourownuntilyouhaveUsedthem.
    Tochangeyourmoodormentalstatechangeyourvibration.
    TheKybalion
    .
    OnemaychangehismentalvibrationsbyaneffortofWill,inthedirectionofdeliberately
    fixingtheAttentionuponamoredesirablestate.WilldirectstheAttention,andAttention
    changestheVibration.CultivatetheArtofAttention,bymeansoftheWill,andyouhave
    solvedthesecretoftheMasteryofMoodsandMentalStates.
    Todestroyanundesirablerateofmentalvibration,putintooperationthePrincipleof
    Polarityandconcentrateupontileoppositepoletothatwhichyoudesiretosuppress.Killout
    theundesirablebychangingitspolarity.
    TheKybalion
    .
    ThisisoneofthemostimportantoftheHermeticFormulas.Itisbasedupontrue
    scientificprinciples.Wehaveshownyouthatamentalstateanditsoppositeweremerely
    thetwopolesofonething,andthatbyMentalTransmutationthepolaritymightbereversed.
    Thisprincipleisknowntomodernpsychologists,whoapplyittothebreakingupof
    undesirablehabitsbybiddingtheirstudentsconcentrateupontheoppositequality.Ifyouare
    possessedofFear,donotwastetimetryingtokilloutFear,butinsteadcultivatethequality
    ofCourage,andtheFearwilldisappear.Somewritershaveexpressedthisideamost
    forciblybyusingtheillustrationofthedarkroom.Youdonothavetoshoveloutorsweepout

    theDarkness,butbymerelyopeningtheshuttersandlettingintheLighttheDarknesshas
    disappeared.TokilloutaNegativequality,concentrateuponthePositivePoleofthatsame
    quality,andthevibrationswillgraduallychangefromNegativetoPositive,untilfinallyyou
    willbecomepolarizedonthePositivepoleinsteadoftheNegative.Thereverseisalsotrue,
    asmanyhavefoundouttotheirsorrow,whentheyhaveallowedthemselvestovibratetoo
    constantlyontheNegativepoleofthings.Bychangingyourpolarityyoumaymasteryour
    moods,changeyourmentalstates,remakeyourdisposition,andbuildupcharacter.Muchof
    theMentalMasteryoftheadvancedHermeticsisduetothisapplicationofPolarity,whichis
    oneoftheimportantaspectsofMentalTransmutation.RemembertheHermeticAxiom
    (quotedpreviously),whichsays:
    Mind(aswellasmetalsandelements)maybetransmutedfromstatetostatedegreeto
    degreeconditiontoconditionpoletopolevibrationtovibration.
    TheKybalion
    .
    ThemasteryofPolarizationisthemasteryofthefundamentalprinciplesofMental
    TransmutationorMentalAlchemy,forunlessoneacquirestheartofchanginghisown
    polarity,hewillbeunabletoaffecthisenvironment.Anunderstandingofthisprinciplewill
    enableonetochangehisownPolarity,aswellasthatofothers,ifhewillbutdevotethe
    time,care,studyandpracticenecessarytomastertheart.Theprincipleistrue,butthe
    TheKybalionPage57
    resultsobtaineddependuponthepersistentpatienceandpracticeofthestudent.
    RhythmmaybeneutralizedbyanapplicationoftheArtofPolarization.
    TheKybalion.
    Aswehaveexplainedinpreviouschapters,theHermetistsholdthatthePrincipleof
    RhythmmanifestsontheMentalPlaneaswellasonthePhysicalPlane,andthatthe
    bewilderingsuccessionofmoods,feelings,emotions,andothermentalstates,areduetothe
    backwardandforwardswingofthementalpendulum,whichcarriesusfromoneextremeof
    feelingtotheother.
    TheHermetistsalsoteachthattheLawofNeutralizationenablesone,toagreatextent,
    toovercometheoperationofRhythminconsciousness.Aswehaveexplained,thereisa
    HigherPlaneofConsciousness,aswellastheordinaryLowerPlane,andtheMasterby
    risingmentallytotheHigherPlanecausestheswingofthementalpendulumtomanifeston
    theLowerPlane,andhe,dwellingonhisHigherPlane,escapestheconsciousnessofthe
    swingbackward.ThisiseffectedbypolarizingontheHigherSelf,andthusraisingthe
    mentalvibrationsoftheEgoabovethoseoftheordinaryplaneofconsciousness.Itisakinto
    risingaboveathing,andallowingittopassbeneathyou.TheadvancedHermetistpolarizes
    himselfatthePositivePoleofhisBeingtheIAmpoleratherthanthepoleofpersonality,
    andbyrefusinganddenyingtheoperationofRhythm,raiseshimselfaboveitsplaneof
    consciousness,andstandingfirminhisStatementofBeingheallowsthependulumtoswing
    backontheLowerPlanewithoutchanginghisPolarity.Thisisaccomplishedbyall
    individualswhohaveattainedanydegreeofselfmastery,whethertheyunderstandthelaw
    ornot.Suchpersonssimplyrefusetoallowthemselvestobeswungbackbythependulum
    ofmoodandemotion,andbysteadfastlyaffirmingthesuperiority,theyremainpolarizedon
    thePositivepole.TheMaster,ofcourse,attainsafargreaterdegreeofproficiency,because
    heunderstandsthelawwhichheisovercomingbyahigherlaw,andbytheuseofhisWill
    heattainsadegreeofPoiseandMentalSteadfastnessalmostimpossibleofbeliefonthe
    partofthosewhoallowthemselvestobeswungbackwardandforwardbythemental
    pendulumofmoodsandfeelings.
    Remember,always,however,thatyoudonotreallydestroythePrincipleofRhythm,for
    thatisindestructible.Yousimplyovercomeonelawbycounterbalancingitwithanother,and
    thusmaintainanequilibrium.Thelawsofbalanceandcounterbalanceareinoperationon

    thementalaswellasonthephysicalplanes,andanunderstandingoftheselawsenables
    onetoseemtooverthrowlaws,whereasheismerelyexertingacounterbalance.
    NothingescapesthePrincipleofCauseandEffect,buttherearemanyPlanesof
    Causation,andonemayusethelawsofthehighertoovercomethelawsofthelower.
    The
    Kybalion
    .
    ByanunderstandingofthepracticeofPolarization,theHermetistsrisetoahigherplane
    ofCausationandthuscounterbalancethelawsofthelowerplanesofCausation.Byrising
    abovetheplaneofordinaryCausestheybecomethemselves,inadegree,Causesinstead
    ofbeingmerelyCaused.Bybeingabletomastertheirownmoodsandfeelings,andby
    beingabletoneutralizeRhythm,aswehavealreadyexplained,theyareabletoescapea
    greatpartoftheoperationsofCauseandEffectontheordinaryplane.Themassesof
    peoplearecarriedalong,obedienttotheirenvironmentthewillsanddesiresofothers
    strongerthanthemselvestheeffectofinheritedtendenciesthesuggestionsofthoseabout
    themandotheroutwardcauseswhichtendtomovethemaboutonthechessboardoflife
    likemerepawns.Byrisingabovetheseinfluencingcauses,theadvancedHermetistsseeka
    higherplaneofmentalaction,andbydominatingtheirmoods,emotions,impulsesand
    feelings,theycreateforthemselvesnewcharacters,qualitiesandpowers,bywhichthey
    overcometheirordinaryenvironment,andthusbecomepracticallyplayersinsteadofmere
    Pawns.Suchpeoplehelptoplaythegameoflifeunderstandingly,insteadofbeingmoved
    aboutthiswayandthatwaybystrongerinfluencesandpowersandwills.Theyusethe
    PrincipleofCauseandEffect,insteadofbeingusedbyit.Ofcourse,eventhehighestare
    TheKybalionPage58
    subjecttothePrincipleasitmanifestsonthehigherplanes,butonthelowerplanesof
    activity,theyareMastersinsteadofSlaves.AsTheKybalionsays:
    Thewiseonesserveonthehigher,butruleonthelower.Theyobeythelawscoming
    fromabovethem,butentheirownplane,andthosebelowthem,theyruleandgiveorders.
    And,yet,insodoing,theyformapartofthePrinciple,insteadofopposingit.Thewiseman
    fallsinwiththeLaw,andbyunderstandingitsmovementsheoperatesitinsteadofbeingits
    blindslave.Justasdoestheskilledswimmerturnthiswayandthatway,goingandcoming
    ashewill,insteadofbeingasthelogwhichiscarriedhereandtheresoisthewisemanas
    comparedtotheordinarymanandyetbothswimmerandlogwisemanandfool,are
    subjecttoLaw.HewhounderstandsthisiswellontheroadtoMastery.
    TheKybalion
    .
    InconclusionletusagaincallyourattentiontotheHermeticAxiom:
    TrueHermeticTransmutationisaMentalArt.
    TheKybalion
    .
    Intheaboveaxiom,theHermetiststeachthatthegreatworkofinfluencingone's
    environmentisaccomplishedbyMentalPower.TheUniversebeingwhollymental,itfollows
    thatitmayberuledonlybyMentality.Andinthistruthistobefoundanexplanationofallthe
    phenomenaandmanifestationsofthevariousmentalpowerswhichareattractingsomuch
    attentionandstudyintheseearlieryearsoftheTwentiethCentury.Backofandunderthe
    teachingsofthevariouscultsandschools,remainseverconstanttheprincipleoftheMental
    SubstanceoftheUniverse.IftheUniversebeMentalinitssubstantialnature,thenitfollows
    thatMentalTransmutationmustchangetheconditionsandphenomenaoftheUniverse.If
    theUniverseisMental,thenMindmustbethehighestpoweraffectingitsphenomena.Ifthis
    beunderstoodthenallthesocalledmiraclesandwonderworkingsareseenplainlyfor
    whattheyare.

    THEALLisMINDTheUniverseisMental.
    TheKybalion

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