The New Kybalion 2011

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T h e N e w

KYBALION

T h e A l l I s M i n d .

T h e U n i v e r s e I s M e n t a l .

U p d a t e d 2 0 1 1

b y M a n y A r t i s t i c S o u l s


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I t chanced once upon a t ime my mind was med i ta t ing on the th ings tha t a re .

My thoughts were ra i sed to a grea t he ight and the sen ses o f my body were be ing he ld back ,

jus t a s men who a re we ighed down wi th s l eep a f t er a f i l l o f f o od o r f rom f a t igue o f body ,

when a Be ing more than vast in s i z e , b e yond a l l bounds , ca l l ed out my name and sa id :

What do you hear and see and what have you in mind to l ea rn a nd know?

And I sa id :

Who a re you?

He sa id :

I am Man-Shepherd (Poemandres ) , Mind o f Al l Master -hood .

I know what you des i re and I 'm wi th you everywhere .

I r ep l i ed :

I l ong to l ea rn the th ings tha t a re and comprehend the i r na ture and know God .

Thi s i s wha t I des i re t o hear .

He answered back to me :

Ho ld in your mind a l l you would know and I wi l l t ea ch you.

The Corpus Hermeticum


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The Hermetic Principle of Cause and Effect, in its aspect of The Law of Attraction,

Will bring lips and ear together; pupil and book in company. Such is The Law.

So mote it be!


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O f P i e t y a n d Tr u e P h i l o s o p h y

Hermes: Both for the sake of love to man, and piety to God, my son, for the first

time take pen in hand. For there can be no piety more righteous than to know the

things that are, and to give thanks for these to Him who made them, which I will

never cease to do.

Tat:What should a man do, Father, to lead his life wisely seeing there is nothing

here true?

Hermes:Be pious, my son, for he that does so is the best and highest philosopher.

Without philosophy, the height of piety cannot be scaled. He who learns and

studies the things that are, how they have been ordered, by whom, and for whose

sake will give thanks for all unto the Demiurge, as unto a good father, an excellent

nurse, and a faithful steward who never breaks his trust. He that gives thanks will

be pious, and he that is pious will know both where the Truth is and what it is.

And as he learns, he will be even more pious. Never can an embodied Soul thathas once leaped aloft to get a hold upon the truly Good and True slip back again

into the contrary, for it is infinitely enamored thereof. When the soul knows the

Author of its Peace, it is filled with wondrous love, and with forgetfulness of every

ill, and can no more be kept from the Good. Let this be the goal of piety.

Once you have arrived, you shall both live nobly, and happily depart from life, for that soul will no longer be ignorant of

whether it should wing its flight again. This is the only Path to Truth; The Path on which our forebears set their feet

upon, and setting them they attained the Good. A plain and venerable Path, but difficult for the soul to tread while still

in the body. It must first war against itself, make a great dissension, and manage that the victory should rest with the onepart. There is a contest of the one against the twothe former trying to flee and the latter dragging down. And theres

great strife and battle of these with one anotherthe one desiring to escape and the others striving to detain. Moreover,

the victory of the one or of the others is not resemblant. The one does hasten to the Good, the others settle to the things

that are evil. The one longs to be freed; the others love their slavery. If the two be vanquished, they remain deprived of

their own selves and of their ruler; but if the one be overcome by the two, it is harried by them and driven about, being

tortured by the life down here. The one will lead you upon The Path, but you must first forsake the body before your end

and get the victory in this contentious and conflicted life, and when you have overcome, return home. Now I will go

through the things that are by heads. Understand what I say, and remember what you hear.

Thrice-Greatest Hermes, Vol. 3


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IntroductionThe Hermetic Philosophy is the Master-Key that will open all the doors of the Occult Teachings.

Great pleasure has been taken in presenting to students and investigators of the Secret Doctrines thislittle work based upon the original Hermetic Teachings. In the early days was a compilation of certainvital Hermetic Doctrines known as The Kybalion. It constitutes the basic principles of The Art of Hermetic

Alchemy, the mastery of mental forces (the transmutation of mental vibrations), not the changing of onekind of metal into another. The book is merely a collection of maxims, axioms, and precepts that areincomprehensible to outsiders, but readily understood by students once the lore has been explained andexemplified by the Hermetic Initiates. Although no other occult teachings have been as closely guardedas the Hermetic principles, this knowledge was never intended to be secreted and stored away. Webelieve the original intent of the Three Initiates was to place in the hands of the student a Master-Key.One that would open the inner doors in the Temple of Mystery through the main portals he has alreadyentered and provide a statement of Truth that will serve to reconcile the many bits of occult knowledgehe may have already acquired.

Even though much has been written on this subject in recent years, we believe the many earnest

seekers of the Arcane Truths will welcome the appearance of this revised edition. Study the axioms andprinciples contained within this booklet; use and make them your own. They are not really your own untilyou have used them. Knowledge without use and expression is a vain thing; bringing no good to itspossessor or the race. However, prior to moving on, you are encouraged to ask yourself if you can trustthis book's contents to lead you safely through the realms of the Unknown, and then back again. TheMany Artistic Souls urge students to be prudent, discerning, and perceptive while examining any occultmaterials, as the path to attainment is laden with many carefully laid ruses and intentional blinds.Additionally, you may begin to realize that the pursuit of occult lore has its own rules. Information comesto you only when you truly need it, not merely because you'd like to possess it. Nevertheless, if you havethis book in your possession, then you are either well on your way to having more occult data for yourperusal and will appreciate its contents, or you are one who seeks to persecute those who live by the

Secret Doctrines.

Since the Many Artistic Souls do not seek recognition and wish to remain anonymous, there is no onewith whom you may debate this book's contents. There is only you, this book, the truth, personal tuition,and the fact that this book just seemed to appear out of nowhere...as if by magic. It can only be found onthe world wide web and available only through a web page link similar to the one that brought it to youtoday. This book is provided free of monetary charge, but there is a price you must pay for simply havingit in your possession. You will need to commit to using the Hermetic Axioms and Principles containedwithin it so that you can develop yourself into a Master.

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The possession of knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in action, is like the

hoarding of precious metalsa vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like wealth, is intended for use. TheLaw of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural forces.


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Mercury Trismegistus [Hermes]Where fall the footsteps of the Master, the ears of those ready for his Teaching open wide.

Egypt is the birthplace of Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. The Hierophants and Masters of theLand of Isis freely provided for those who came prepared to partake of the Mystic and Occult Lore. Aplace known as The Great Lodge of Lodges of the Mysticswas located in Egypt, and at the doors of her

temples entered the Neophytes. Once endowed with these occult teachings, they traveled to the fourcorners of the earth as Hierophants, Adepts, and Masters. They were ready and willing to pass on tothose who were ready to receive the precious knowledge. Among them was one of whom Masters hailas The Master of Masters. This man, if he was a man, dwelt in Egypt in the earliest days, and wasknown as Hermes Trismegistus. The best authorities regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, andsome of the Jewish traditions claim that Abraham acquired a portion of his mystic knowledge fromHermes himself. From the land of the Ganges, many advanced occultists wandered to the land of Egyptand sat at the feet of the Master, and from other lands came the learned ones, all of whom regardedHermes as the Master of Masters. From him they obtained the Master-Key that explained and reconciledtheir divergent views thus firmly establishing the Secret Doctrines. As the years rolled by, the Egyptiansdeified Hermes and made him one of their gods, Thoth. They honored his memory for many centuries,

deeming him the Scribe of the Gods. Eventually, they bestowed upon him the ancient title Trismegistus,which means thrice-great. The people of ancient Greece also made him one of their gods, Hermes, thegod of Wisdom. In all the ancient lands the name Hermes Trismegistus was revered.

Rather than attempt to establish a school of philosophy that would dominate the world's thought, thelifework of Hermes seems to have been in the direction of planting the great Seed of Truth, one thathas grown and blossomed in many forms. He was the father of Occult Wisdom, the founder ofAstrology, and discoverer of Alchemy. The records engraved on the stones of ancient Egypt and thebuilding of the pyramids prove that the ancients had a full, comprehensive knowledge of astronomy.The fragments of the ancient writings reveal they were also acquainted with chemistry because theyknew the chemical properties of things. In fact, the ancient theories regarding physics are beingverified by the latest discoveries of modern science, especially those relating to the constitution ofmatter. They were especially skilled in the science of psychology, particularly the branches that havebeen realized under the title psychic science. Therefore, it must not be assumed that the ancientswere ignorant of what the modern schools claim to be their exclusive and special property. All nationshave borrowed from the Hermetic Teachings and they have have strongly influenced the philosophiesof all races for several thousand years. Despite the many wanderings from the path, students ofComparative Religions will be able to perceive the influence of these teachings in almost everyreligion known to man. Whether it be a dead religion, or one in full vigor in our own times, theHermetic Teachings are the Great Reconciler. All the fundamentals embedded in the esotericteachings of every race may be traced back to Hermes Trismegistus.

The Lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the Ears of Understanding.

The term hermetic means sealed so that nothing can escape; protected from any outside interferenceor influence; obscure and difficult for outsiders to understand, and the followers of Hermes havealways observed the principles of secrecy and obscurity in their teachings. They strictly adhere to theHermetic aphorisms and refuse to impart their wisdom to underdeveloped students and followers.Instead, they follow the Hermetic custom and reserve these truths for those who are ready tocomprehend and master them. Unfortunately, however, there are many modern practitioners who areignorant compared to the ancient Masters. They lack the fundamental knowledge upon which the workis based, and misinterpret the Hermetic Teachings. They are apathetic and display foolhardiness intheir haphazard attempts to teach to the world that which is not ready to be received. They imagine

they could force upon a race of boors truths that can only be understood by those who have advancedalong The Path. When written, the Teachings are veiled in terms of alchemy and astrology so that onlythose possessing the Master-Key could read them aright. More importantly, there are certain HermeticTeachings that, if publicly promulgated, would bring down upon the Teachers a great cry of scorn andrevilement from the nescient multitude. The Masters know how few there are in each generation whoare ready for the truth, or who would even recognize it if it were presented to them. They know thefolly of attempting to teach to the world that which is not ready to be received.

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From lip to ear, these teachings have been handed down, in their original purity, by a few brave men andwomen in each age. They devote their lives to the labor of love and refuse to allow the Eternal Flame ofTruth to be extinguished. Faithfully, they tend the Altar of Verity and lovingly maintain the willingness touse their lamps to re-light the lesser lamps of the outside world when the light of truth grows dim,clouded by reason of neglect and clogged with foreign matter. If you are a true student then you will beable to comprehend and apply the Hermetic Principles. If not, then you must develop yourself into one.Otherwise, the Hermetic Teachings will be merely words to you. The Teachers trust that the student willderive as much benefit from the study of these pages as the many who have gone before him. Thosewho have traveled this same Path to Mastery since the times of HERMES TRISMEGISTUS.

The Hermes Stage of EnlightenmentAt this point, the Teachers need to point out that Hermes is the personification of a teaching-power orgrade of spiritual illumination; one who has reached the Hermes or thrice-greatest state ofconsciousness or enlightenment. Similar to the Christ consciousness or Buddha stage ofenlightenment. This stage of enlightenment is characterized by a heightening of the spiritual intuitionthat makes the mystic capable of receiving the first touch of cosmic consciousness, and of retaining itin his physical memory when he returns to the normal state. The setting forth of the teaching is in theform of apocalyptic and of an ordered and logical nature, for it purports to be a setting forth of thespiritual Epopteia of the Inner Mysteries (Epopteia is the highest stage of enlightenment in theEleusinian Mysteries, and was attainable by lay persons who had to be shown Demeter's greatest

mysteries of life and death.), the Vision revealed by the Great Initiator or Master Hierophant, Mind ofall master-hood. This Vision, as we are told by many seers and prophets, is incapable of being setforth by tongue of flesh in its own proper terms, seeing that it transcended the consciousness ofnormal humanity. Being in itself a living, potent, intelligible reality, apart from all forms either materialor intellectual in any way known to man, it pervades his very being and makes his whole naturerespond to a new key of truth or vibrate in a higher octave where all things, while remaining the same,received a new interpretation and intensity.

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The Seven Hermetic Principles

The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possesses

The Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open.


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The Principle of MentalismThe Universe is Mental and held in the Mind of The All.

The Principle of Mentalism embodies the truth that The All is Mind and the Universe is Mental. It explainsthat the Universe is a Mental Creation of The All and we are dwelling in Its Infinite Mind. According toquantum physics, there can't be a Universe without Mind entering into it, and If the Universe is Mental in

its substantial nature, then it follows that Mind is the highest power affecting its prodigies. Thus MentalTransmutation must change the conditions and phenomena of the Universe. This is the SubstantialReality underlying all the outward manifestations and appearances that we know under the terms of thematerial Universe, the phenomena of life, matter, energy, and force. By establishing the Universe'sMental Nature, this principle clarifies all the varied mental and psychic phenomena that remainsinexplicable and defies scientific treatment. Therefore, we are justified in considering that the Universeexists or proceeds in some way from The All, and Mind is actually shaping all that is apparent to ourmaterial senses. There is no escape from this conclusion. The All creates in no other way exceptmentally; without using material and without reproducing Itself. If this be understood, then all the so-called miracles and wonder-workings are plainly seen for what they are.

As stated by Hermetists, the process concerning the Mental Creation of the Universe is akin to that of anartist who becomes so involved in his creation that he lives in it for the time being. With that in mind,imagine youre an author forming an idea of his characters, or sculptor forming an image of an ideal hewishes to express through his art. In either scenario, you will realize that while the image has itsexistence and being solely within the mind of the artist, the artist is also immanent in the mental image.For example, Othello, Iago, Hamlet, Lear, and Richard III merely existed in the mind of Shakespeare atthe time of their conception, and Shakespeare also existed within each of these characters, giving themtheir vitality, spirit, and action. The entire virtue, life, and spirit of the mental image is derived from theintrinsic mind of the thinker. Man has the capacity to form mental images of the ideals he wishes toexpress, but his mind is finite. The entire virtue, life, and spirit of the Universe is the Mental Imagederived from the Infinite Mind of The All. The two are similar in nature, but infinitely different in degree. In

Its Infinite Mind, The All creates countless Universes that exist for aeons of time. Yet, the creation,development, decline, and death of a million Universes is as the time of the twinkling of an eye to TheAll. Such was the Teaching of Hermes.

True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.

Among the many secret branches of knowledge possessed by the Hermetists is the Art of transformingmental states, forms, and conditions into others. Mental Transmutation is the magic the ancient writersreferred to in their mystical works. The legends of the Philosopher's Stone that would turn base metalinto Gold is an allegory relating to Hermetic Philosophy, and is readily understood by all students of trueHermeticism. The great work of influencing one's environment can be accomplished by Mental Power,and the Art that enables one to transmute mental conditions must render the Master the controller ofmaterial conditions, as well as those ordinarily called mental. The true practitioner of MentalTransmutation works amid the mental plane, transmuting mental conditions in themselves and othersaccording to the true Hermetic Art. However, only advanced Mental Alchemists have been able to attainthe degree of power necessary to control the macroscopic physical conditions such as the control of theelements of Nature, the production or cessation of tempests and earthquakes, and other great physicalphenomena. Such persons have always existed, but it is a matter of earnest belief to the advancedoccultists of all schools. These Masters do not make public exhibitions of their powers. They seekseclusion from the crowds of men in order to better work their way along the path of attainment. Thereason for mentioning their existence is merely to call your attention to the fact that their power is entirelymental and operates along the lines of Mental Transmutation. The Masters know that every material

condition depends upon the minds of others and may be transmuted in accordance with the earnestdesire, will, and treatments of a person desiring changed conditions of life. The true nature of energy,power, and matter are subordinate to the mastery of mind. An understanding of the Hermetic Principle ofMentalism enables the student to readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe and intelligently applythem to his well-being and advancement, instead of using them haphazardly.

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With the Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the mental andpsychic temple of knowledge. An old Hermetic Master once wrote: He who grasps the truth of theMental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to Mastery. These words are as true todayas when they were first written. Without this Master-Key, mastery is impossible and the student knocks invain at the many doors of The Temple.

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2. The Principle of CorrespondenceIt is true, without any error; that which is above is also that which is below for the performance of the

Wonders of a certain one thing, and as all things arise from one Stone, so also they were

generated from one common Substance, which includes the four elements created by God.

The Emerald Tablet of Thoth

The Principle of Correspondence embodies the truth that there is a harmony, agreement, and similaritybetween the laws and phenomena of the many planes of existence. The same laws, principles, andcharacteristics apply to each unit, or combination of units of activity, as each manifests its own miracleupon its own plane. Although there are planes beyond our knowing, the Hermetic Philosophyconsiders that the Universe may be divided into three classes of exhibition known as the Three GreatPlanes. These are the Great Physical Plane, the Great Mental Plane, and the Great Spiritual Plane.Although these planes are not actual divisions of the wonders of the Universe, these arbitrary termsare used by Hermetists in order to aid in the thought and study of the universal activity of existence.Each of these divisions are ascending degrees of the Great Scale of Life, and may be regarded as thethree great groups of degrees of life manifestation. The higher the degree of rate of vibration, the higherthe plane and the higher the manifestation of life occupying that plane. The lowest point of which is

undifferentiated matter, and the highest being that of Spirit. The many planes of existence shade intoeach other, as there are no rigidly enforced divisions between the higher demonstrations of the physicaland the lower of the mental, or between the higher of the mental and the lower of the physical.Nevertheless, when we apply the Principle of Correspondence to these planes we are able tounderstand much that would otherwise remain unknowable to us.

Great Physical PlaneThe Great Physical Plane, and its subdivisions, contains all that relates to physics and materialmanifestations. The Plane of Matter-Aconstitutes the forms of matter generally recognized by the text-books on physics in its mode of solids, liquids, and gases. The Plane of Matter-B comprises higher,more subtle forms of matter that modern science recognizes as the phenomena of Radiant Matter in its

phases of radium; this classification belonging to the lower subdivision of this plane. The Plane ofMatter-C contains certain subtle and tenuous matter; the existence of which is not suspected by ordinaryscientists. The Plane of Ethereal Substance contains that which science speaks of as the ether; asubstance of extreme tenacity and elasticity that pervades all Universal space and acts as a medium forthe transmission of waves of energy such as light, heat, electricity, and magnetism. This etherealsubstance forms a connecting link between matter and energy and partakes of the nature of each. ThePlane of Energy-A contains the ordinary forms of energy known to science. These are heat, light,magnetism, electricity, attraction, gravity, cohesion, chemical affinity, and many other forms of energyindicated by scientific experiments. The Plane of Energy-B is comprised of higher forms of energy,Nature's Finer Forces, and have yet to be discovered by science. The Hermetic Teachings indicate thatthese Finer Forces are called into operation in the manifestation of certain forms of mental phenomena.The Plane of Energy-C contains energy so highly organized that it bears many of the characteristics oflife, but is not recognized by the minds of men on the ordinary plane of development. Such energy isinconceivable to ordinary man, and may be considered the Divine Power. The beings employing theenergy contained within this plane are as gods when compared to the highest human types known to us.This particular subdivision is available for use on the Spiritual Plane alone.

Great Mental PlaneThe Great Mental Plane, and its subdivisions, contains those forms of living things known to us inordinary life and certain other forms known only to the occultist. The Plane of Mineral Mind comprisesthe states and conditions of the units, entities, or combinations of the same that enliven the forms knownto us as minerals, metals, noble gases, and chemicals (Periodic Table of the Elements). In a sense,these entities may be referred to as souls because they are actually living beings of a low degree of

development, life, and mind just a little more than the units of living energy that comprise the highersubdivisions of the highest physical plane. The average mind does not generally attribute the possessionof mind, soul, or life to the Mineral Kingdom, but occultists recognize their existence and modern scienceis rapidly moving toward the Hermetic point-of-view in this respect. Some of the more daring scientificminds have articulated that the molecules, atoms, and electrons that comprise the Mineral Kingdom alsohave their attractions and repulsions, affinities and non-affinities. The desire, will, emotions, and feelingsof the atoms differ only in degree from those of men.

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The Plane of Elemental Mind-A comprises the states, conditions, and degrees of vital and mentaldevelopment of a class of entities unknown to the average man, but recognized by occultists. Theseentities do exist and play their part in the unfolding drama of the Universe. Their degree of intelligence isbetween that of the mineral and chemical entities and the entities of the Plant Kingdom. The Plane ofPlant Mindcomprises the states and conditions of the entities that encompass the kingdoms of the plantworld. The phenomena of each plant having a life, mind, and soul is well understood by the averageintelligent person. The Plane of Elemental Mind-B comprises the states and conditions of higher forms ofelemental entities that form a part of the scale between the Plane of Plant Mind and the Plane of AnimalMind. The entities partaking of the nature of both and playing their part in the general work of theUniverse. The Plane of Animal Mindcomprises the states and conditions of the entities that animate theanimal forms of life known to us all. The Plane of Elemental Mind-C comprises those entities that areinvisible, but partake of the nature of both animal and human life in a certain degree and in certaincombinations. The readers of Bulwer's Zanoni and similar tales will recognize the entities inhabitingthese planes of life. If the student can read between the lines, he will have light shone upon theprocesses of evolution, as well as a key to the secret door of the leaps of life between kingdom tokingdom. The great kingdoms of elementals are mentioned in esoteric writings and fully recognized byall occultists. The Plane of Human Mindcomprises those manifestations of life and mentality that arecommon to man in his various degrees of intelligence. Todays average man occupies the fourthsubdivision of the Plane of Human Mind, and only the most intelligent have crossed the borders of thefifth subdivision. Our own race is the fifth to set foot upon The Path, and consists of a few advanced

souls who have outstripped the masses and passed on to the sixth and seventh subdivisions. TheIllumined Ones report that the man of the sixth subdivision will be The Super Man and he of the seventhwill be The Over Man, but man has yet to move on to these subdivisions and beyond.

Great Spiritual PlaneThe Great Spiritual Plane, and its subdivisions, contains beings possessing life, mind, and form farabove that of man today. These are the Angels, Archangels, and Demi-Gods. The life and mind of thesebeings transcend ours and some are said to be clothed in pure energy. On the lower planes dwell thosegreat souls whom we call Masters and Adepts. Above them are the Great Hierarchies of the AngelicHosts. Above them are those Beings who may be called the Gods; these Beings are so high in the scaleof existence that their Being, Intelligence, and Power is akin to those acknowledged by the races of men

in their conceptions of Deity. They are beyond the highest flights of the human imagination, the worddivine being the only one applicable to them. Many of these Beings take great interest in the matters ofthe Universe and play an important part in its affairs. These unseen Divinities and Angelic Helpersextend their influence freely and powerfully in the process of evolution and cosmic progress. Theiroccasional intervention and assistance in human affairs have led to the many legends, beliefs, religions,and traditions of the race, past and present. They have repeatedly superimposed their knowledge andpower upon the world all under the Law of The All. Yet, even the highest of these advanced Beings existmerely as creations of, and in, the Mind of The All. They are mortal and their plane of existence is belowthat of Absolute Spirit. They belong to the Universe and are subject to the cosmic processes andUniversal Laws. Still, they are the Elder Brethren of the Race. These advanced souls have outstrippedtheir brethren and foregone the ecstasy of absorption by The All in order to help the race on its upwardjourney along The Path.

Only those whose minds have been carefully trained along the lines of the Hermetic Philosophy, and thosewho have brought with them from previous incarnations the knowledge regarding this plane are able tograsp the Inner Teachings concerning the state of existence and the powers manifested on The GreatSpiritual Plane. The phenomena is so much higher than that of the mental planes that a confusion of ideaswould likely result from an attempt to describe the same. The Great Spiritual Plane, and its subdivisions,must not be confused with what is commonly employed in connection with religious, ecclesiastical,spiritual, ethereal, or holy. More importantly, much of these Inner Teachings is held by the Hermetists asbeing too sacred, important, and dangerous for general public dissemination. Occultists know that SpiritualPower may be employed for evil, as well as good, in accordance with the Principle of Polarity. A fact thathas been recognized by the majority of religions in their conceptions of Satan, Beelzebub, the Devil,

Lucifer, Fallen Angels, etc. Therefore, the knowledge regarding these planes has been kept in the mostsacred places in all Esoteric Fraternities and Occult Orders in the Secret Chamber of the Temple.Unfortunately, however, those who have attained high spiritual power, and misused it, have a terriblefate in store. The striving for selfish power on the Spiritual Planes inevitably results in the arrogant soullosing its spiritual balance and falling back as far as it had previously risen.

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The swing of the Pendulum of Rhythm will inevitably swing them back to the furthest extreme of materialexistence, from which point they must retrace their steps spirit-ward and along the weary rounds of ThePath, but with the added torture of always carrying with them a lingering memory of the heights fromwhich they fell due to their malevolent and inappropriate actions. Nevertheless, even such a soul isprovided the opportunity of a return, but while paying the terrible penalty according to the invariable Law.

Each of the Hermetic Principles, including that of Mental Substance, are in full operation on all planes ofexistence, for all are held in the Mind of The All. The Principle of Vibration manifests on all planes; thedifferences that go to make the planes arise from vibration. The Principle of Polarity manifests on each

plane; the extremes of the poles apparently opposite and contradictory. The Principle of Rhythmmanifests on each plane; the movement of the phenomena having its ebb and flow, rise and fall, in-breathing and out-pouring. The Principle of Cause and Effect manifests on each plane; every effecthaving its cause and every cause having its effect. The Principle of Gender manifests on each plane andoperating along the lines of its masculine and feminine aspects. All that is in the Universe emanatesfrom the same Source.

At this point the student may ask, Is a plane a place having dimensions, or is it merely a mental state orcondition? The paradoxical answer is this: A plane is neither a place nor an ordinary dimension ofspace. It is more than a mental state or condition, but may be considered a mental state or condition.While a plane is neither a place nor a state or condition, it possesses qualities common to both.

Although it is not an ordinary dimension of space, a plane is a degree of dimension of creation, thefourth dimension. Occultists refer to it as the Dimension of Vibration where everything vibrates atdifferent rates of motion, direction, and manner. The degrees of the rate of vibration constitute thedegrees of measurement on the Scale of Vibrations and form what occultists call planes. This dimensionis the standard used in determining the planes.

The grasping of the Principle of Correspondence allows the student to reconcile many paradoxes andhidden secrets of Nature. Its use allowed the Veil of Isis to be removed so that a glimpse of the face ofthe goddess might be seen. Just as a knowledge of the Principles of Geometry enables man to measuredistant Suns and their movements, a knowledge of this tenet enables him to reason intelligently from theknown to the unknown. By studying the nomad, he understands the archangel.

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3. The Principle of VibrationNothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.

The Principle of Vibration embodies the truth that motion is manifest in everything in the Universe.The Hermetic Teachings are that nothing is at rest; that everything moves and vibrates. Even The Allmanifests a constant vibration of such an infinite rate of intensity and rapidity that It is practically at

rest, just as a rapidly moving wheel seems to be motionless. At the other end of the scale are grossforms of matter whose vibrations are so low that they seem at rest. The differences between thevarious manifestations of the Universal Power are due to the oscillating rate and mode of vibrations.The higher the vibration, the higher the position on the Scale of Vibration. Although this principle wasenunciated thousands of years ago by the Masters of Ancient Egypt and recognized by some of theearly Greek philosophers who exemplified it in their systems, it was not acknowledged by thinkersoutside the Hermetic ranks until the 19th century. It was during this time that physical sciencediscovered this truth, and in the 20th century additional scientific discoveries provided further proof ofthis primordial Hermetic doctrine. Modern science has proven that all we refer to as matter and energyare merely modes of vibratory motion, and some of the more advanced scientists are quickly movingtoward the positions of the occultists who hold that the phenomena of mind are also modes of

vibration or motion. In fact, all particles of matter are in circular movement, and all forms of mattermanifest vibrations in accordance with the Principle of Vibration. The planets revolve around Suns,the Suns move around even greater central points, and these greater central points are believed tomove around even greater points, and so on, ad infinitum.

Science explains that light, heat, magnetism, and electricity are merely forms of vibratory motionconnected in some way with, and likely emanating from, the Ether. To some degree, all matter manifestswith the vibrations arising from temperature or heat. Whether an object is cold or hot, it manifests certainheat vibrations and is in constant motion and vibration. For example, a rapidly moving object (wheel,spinning top, or cylinder) demonstrates the effects of increasing rates of vibration. Initially, the object ismoving slowly and may be readily seen, but no sound of its movement reaches the ear. It is not until the

velocity is increased that a deep growl or low note can be heard. Then as the velocity is furtherincreased the note rises one in the musical scale. Then the motion, being further increased, rises onemore in the musical scale. Then, one after the other, all the notes of the musical scale can be heard,rising higher and higher as the motion is increased. When the object has reached a certain velocity, thefinal note perceptible to human ears is reached, and then the piercing shriek begins to die away; the rateof motion being so high that the human ear cannot register the sound of the vibrations.

Next, comes the perception of rising degrees of temperature, and after a while the human eye catches aglimpse of the object as it becomes a dull, dark reddish color. As the rate increases, the red becomesbrighter. Then, as the speed is increased even more, the red melts into an orange color. Then theorange melts into a yellow color. Then follow, successively, the shades of green, blue, and violet as therate of speed increases. Violet, the final color, then shades away and all color disappears. Although the

human eye is not able to register them, there are rays emanating from the revolving objectthe invisiblerays that are used in photography. Then the peculiar rays, known as the X-Rays, begin to manifest asthe constitution of the object changes. When the appropriate rate of vibration is attained, electricity andmagnetism are emitted. However, when the object reaches the stage where it begins to emit electricityand magnetism it is not actually resolved into these forms of energy. It reaches a degree of vibration inwhich these energies are liberated, to a certain degree, from the confining influences of its structure.Until the object reaches the appropriate rate of vibration, these forms of energy are confined in thematerial combinations by reason of the energies manifesting through them. When the object reaches acertain rate of vibration, its molecules begin to disintegrate and resolve themselves into their originalelements. Then the elements are separated into the countless electrons of which they are composed.Finally, the electrons disappear and the object may be said to be composed of The Ethereal Substance.

The previous illustration corresponds with the Hermetic Teachings; that The Ethereal Substancemanifests a degree of vibration entirely its own, and is the connecting link between the forms of vibratoryenergy known as matter, energy, or force. It shows the effect of constantly increased rates and modes ofvibration; and that the Universal Ether is of extreme tenacity and elasticity. It pervades Universal spaceand serves as a medium of transmission for waves of vibratory energy such as heat, light, electricity,and magnetism.

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The molecules of which the particular kinds of matter are composed are in a state of constant vibrationand movement around each other and against each other. The molecules are composed of atoms, whichare also in a state of constant movement and vibration. The atoms are composed of electrons andprotons, which are also in a state of constant movement and vibration. Though the illustration has yet tobe taken further, the Hermetists teach that if the vibrations be continually increased, the object wouldascend the successive states of manifestation; moving on Spirit-ward until, finally, re-entering The All,which is Absolute Spirit. From The All down to the grossest form of matter, all is in vibration.

To change your mood or mental state, change your vibration.

The Principle of Vibration underlies the wonderful phenomena of the power manifested by the Mastersand Adepts, those capable of setting aside the Laws of Nature and conquering natural phenomena invarious ways. In reality, however, they are simply using one law against another, one principle againstanother, and accomplish miraculous results by changing the vibrations of material objects and formsof energy. By applying the Principle of Vibration to mental phenomena, one may change his mentalvibrations by deliberately directing and fixing his attention upon a more desirable state by an effort ofwill. Will directs the attention and attention changes the vibration. As a result, he gains perfect controlover his mental states and moods. Mental states may also be produced in others. The Hermetiststeach that all manifestations of any mental state or condition are accompanied by vibrations, a portion

of which are projected on to others that affect their minds by induction.

For example, a person who is melancholy and filled with fear seeks assistance from a MentalScientist. The scientist brings his own mind up to the desired vibration by his trained will, obtains thedesired polarization in his own mind, and then produces a similar mental state in his patient byinduction. As a result, the persons fear and other negative emotions were transmuted into similarpositive mental states. The Mental Scientist was able to transfer his own positive emotions on to hispatient, and because of the increased vibrations, the person polarized toward the positive end of thescale. When it is understood that mental induction is possible we will readily see how a certain mentalstate may be produced in another person. It is the Principle of Vibration that engenders thephenomena of telepathy, mental influence, and other forms of power of mind over mind. This power

may be acquired only by the proper instruction and practice. Cultivate the Art of Attention by means ofthe will and you will have solved the secret of the Mastery of Moods and Mental States. He whounderstands the Principle of Vibration has grasped the Scepter of Power.

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4. The Principle of PolarityEverything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites.

Like and unlike are the same. Opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree.

Extremes meet. All truths are but half-truths. All paradoxes may be reconciled.

The Principle of Polarity embodies the truth that everything is dual. It explains that all manifested

things have two sides, two aspects, two poles, or a pair of opposites and the difference betweendiametrically opposed concepts is simply a matter of degree and rate of vibration. Man has alwaysrecognized something akin to this doctrine and has endeavored to express it by maxims such aseverything is and isn't, at the same time; all truths are but half-truths; every truth is half-false; thereare two sides to everything; there is a reverse side to every shield, etc. Where does light end anddarkness begin? What is the difference between large and small; sharp and dull; high and low? Thistenet reconciles these contradictions and no other can supersede it.

Illustrations of the Principle of Polarity may be discovered by an examination into the true nature ofanything. For example, on the physical plane it is illustrated by showing that heat and cold areidentical in nature, and the difference between the two is only a matter of degrees. The thermometer

shows many degrees of temperature; the lowest pole being cold and the highest heat. Between thesetwo poles are many degrees of heat and cold. The higher of the two extremes is always warmer, whilethe lower is always colder. So it is with the scale of color. Higher and lower vibrations is the onlydifference between high violet and low red. There is no absolute standard; all is merely a matter ofdegree, a matter of higher or lower vibrations. The very terms high and low are poles of the samething. The terms are merely relative, as with east and west. Travel far enough in an eastward directionand you will ultimately reach a point that is termed west. Travel far enough north, and you will reach apoint that is termed south. The musical scale is the same, beginning with C and moving upward untilyou have reached another C. Light and darkness, although opposites, are the same thing; thedifference consists only of varying degrees of the same thing and that same thing is merely a form,variety, and rate of vibration.

On the mental plane, the principle is illustrated by showing that love and indifference are the same. Atfirst glance, however, it may be challenging for the student to recognize that these two mental statesare merely two extremes of the same thing with many degrees, or varying emotions, in between. Thephenomena that we experience are manifestations of the Principle of Polarity. Many of us have hadpersonal experiences of the rapid transition from love to indifference, and vice versa. This isaccomplished by the use of the will. A mental state, and its opposite, are merely two poles of onething and by Mental Transmutation the polarity might be reversed. This principle is employed bymodern psychologists who apply it to transform undesirable habits within their subjects byencouraging them to concentrate upon the opposite quality. For example, if one is filled with fear, heshould not waste time trying to eradicate it. Effectively cultivating the quality of courage will cause thefear to be transformed. Man is capable of transmuting a negative trait by concentrating upon the

positive pole of that same quality. The vibrations will gradually change from negative to positive untilhe becomes polarized on the positive. The positive pole is of a higher degree than the negative, andthe tendency of Nature is in the direction of the dominant activity of the positive pole.

By changing your polarity you may master your moods, change your mental states, remake yourdisposition, and improve your character. Much of the Mental Mastery of the advanced Hermetics isdue to the adept application of the Principle of Polarity. It is one of the most important aspects ofMental Transmutation. The Hermetist understands the Art of Mental Transmutation and is able totransmute one mental state into another along the lines of polarization by means of an intelligentapplication of this principle. It is through the application of this principle that the results of many of themental treatments are obtained. Nearly all mental changes are along the line of polarization; thechange being one of degree rather than kind. Although things belonging to different classes cannot betransmuted into each other, things of the same class may have their polarity changed. For example,indifference can't become east or west, or the color red, but it may be transmuted into love bychanging its polarity. Hard things may be rendered soft; dull things can become sharp; hot things canbecome cold. An understanding of this principle will enable the student to better understand his ownmental states, as well as those of others, and enable him to raise or lower the vibration, at will, if hewill devote the time and study necessary to master the Art.

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As a result, he will become Master of his mental states instead of being enslaved to them.Additionally, he will be able to aid his fellows intelligently. Unless one acquires the art of changing hisown polarity he will be unable to affect his environment. The mastery of polarization is the mastery ofthe fundamental principles of Mental Alchemy.

The Divine Enigma

The half-wise, recognizing the comparative unreality of the Universe imagine that they may defy Its Laws, are

vain and presumptuous fools. They are broken against the rocks and torn asunder by the elements by reason of

their folly. The truly wise, knowing the nature of the Universe, use Law against laws; the higher against the lower,

and by the Art of Alchemy transmute that which is undesirable into that which is worthy, and thus triumph.

Mastery consists not in abnormal dreams, visions, fantastic imaginings, or living, but in using the higher forces

against the lowerescaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher.

Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master.

The Divine Enigma is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity and manifests itself when The All begins tocreate. It denotes the difference between wisdom and half-wisdom. If man, owing to half-wisdom, acts,lives, and thinks of the Universe as merely a dream, similar to his own finite dreams, he stumblesaround in a labyrinth and makes no progress. Then he is forced into an awakening and the acceptance

of the Natural Laws that he previously ignored. Therefore, it is imperative to keep in mind that while theUniverse is not; still, it is. The Teachers caution against the error of omitting the other side of anyquestion. This warning is directed toward the complications of the Absolute and the Relative, whichperplexes the students of philosophy and cause many to think and act contrary to what is generallyknown as common sense. There are many contradictions when considering the nature of the Universe,as well as the many challenges that plague life, being, and becoming. The Laws of Nature become lessconstant, or effective, when we know them to be merely mental creations.

From the Relative viewpoint, the Universe is in the nature of an illusion, dream, or phantasmagoriawhen compared to The All in Itself. Hermetists recognize this even in ordinary view, for the world is afleeting show that is born and then dies. The elements of impermanence, change, and finiteness mustever be connected with the idea of a created Universe when it is contrasted with the idea of The All nomatter what may be our beliefs concerning the nature of both. Philosopher, metaphysician, scientist,and theologian all agree upon this idea. It is found in all forms of philosophical thought and religiousconcepts. To The All, the Universe must be unreal and illusive, a mere dream, or the result ofmeditation, but to finite minds forming a part of that Universe and viewing it through mortal faculties,the Universe is very real and must be considered so. Even our finite minds understand the scientificdictum that there is no such thing as matter from a scientific point of view. What we consider to bematter is held to be merely an aggregation of atoms, which vibrate in constant circular motion.Although the Laws, Powers, Life, and Phenomena of The Infinite All are as things witnessed in a stateof meditation or dream, we must acknowledge the real nature of the Universe and treat it as alive andactive. We must seek to understand its mental laws, and endeavor to use them to the best of ourability. We will fare badly if we do not.

The Relative point of view shows only one side of the picture, however. The other side is the Absolute.English Philosopher Herbert Spenser's basic principle postulates the existence of an Infinite andEternal Energy from which all things proceed. The influence of Hermetic thought largely rests on thetheories of modern science, as well as those of the early philosophers of Greece. The Hermetistsrecognize in Spensers philosophy the highest outside statement of the workings of the Natural Lawsthat have ever been promulgated. In addition, his teachings regarding evolution and rhythm are inalmost perfect agreement with the Hermetic Teachings regarding the Principle of Rhythm. Wheth er theUniverse be created of matter, or is a Mental Creation of The All, it is unsubstantial and non-enduring;a thing of time, space, and constant change. The Hermetic Teachings explain that anything having abeginning and an ending must be, in a sense, unreal and untrue. Therefore, from the Absolute point of

view there is nothing real except The All. However, in recognizing the Absolute point of view, we mustnot make the mistake of ignoring or denying the facts and phenomena of the Universe as they presentthemselves to our mortal faculties, for we are not The All. For example, we all recognize the fact thatmatter exists to our senses: when we kick a stone and feel the impact it seems real; our foot feels theimpact by means of our brain; our brain and foot are comprised of atoms. If it were not by reason ofour mind we would not know the foot or stone at all.

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If students can grasp the underlying principle of The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental and held inthe Mind of The All, he will find that all the Hermetic Principles fit neatly into his scientific knowledgeand will serve to bring out obscure points. Students are discouraged from yielding to the temptation thatovercomes the half-wise; that which causes them to be hypnotized by the apparent unreality of things.Wandering about in a dream-like state, ignoring the practical work and life of man, and perishing byreason of their folly. Students would do well to avoid the half-wise, altogether, and simply follow theexample of the wise who use Law against laws, the higher against the lower, and by the Art of Alchemytransmute that which is undesirable into that which is worthy. It is ignorant to dwell upon the feature ofillusion, and unwise to deny or ignore the existence of matter in its relative aspect. This Universe ofMentality is very real indeed. It is the only one we can ever know, though we rise from plane to plane,higher and higher in it. With the Master-Key of the Hermetic Philosophy, students will be able tounlock many doors of the inner philosophical conceptions of Spenser, whose work shows the resultsof the preparation of his previous incarnations.

Our purpose in the Universe is not to deny its existence, but to live within it, do the best we can eachday, live up to our highest ideals, and triumph. That which is evermore apparent becomes the illusorynature of finite things, but not until The All finally withdraws us into Itself does the vision actuallyvanish. Grasp the advantage of Mentalism, as well as the paradox of the Absolute and the Relative,lest you become entangled in the mire of half-truth. Learn from the Hermetic Teachings that theUniverse is purely mental in its nature, and while on the plane of matter, recognize its phenomena. It

is true that the higher we rise in the scale of existence, the nearer to the Mind of The All we reach.We may even control matter and overcome the lower laws, but we may only do so by applying the higherforces. However, we cannot escape Law or rise above it entirely. The most advanced Masters mayacquire the powers attributed to the gods of men, but even they are bound by and subservient to Law.The Universe exists by virtue of these Laws, which form its framework and hold it together. Nothing butThe All can escape Law because The All is LAW Itself, from which all Laws emerge.

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5. The Principle of RhythmEverything flows out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall. The pendulum-swing manifests in

everything. The measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left. Thus Rhythm compensates.

The Principle of Rhythm embodies the truth that in everything there is a measured motion: an action andreaction; an advance and retreat; a rising and sinking; a flow and inflow; a tide-like ebb and flow; a

swing backward and forward. There is a pendulum-like movement that exists between the two poles onthe physical, mental, and spiritual planes in accordance with the Principle of Polarity. It is manifested inall the phenomena of the Universe, in the creation and destruction of worlds, in the rise and fall ofnations, in the mental states of man, and in the life history of all things. Suns, worlds, men, animals,plants, minerals, forces, energy, mind, and matter manifest this principle. This law is closely connectedwith that of polarity because it manifests between the two poles established by that principle. The swingis always toward one pole and then to the other. There is always the Out-breathing and In-breathing ofBraham,as the Brahams word it, beginning with the manifestations of The All.

The All begins by meditating on Its Creation so that it can be Thought into Existence. It projects Its Willtoward Its aspect of Becoming and lowers Its vibration until the urge ceases. Next, The All gradually

awakens from Its Meditative State, and in doing so the Mental Image of Its Creation becomes manifeston the material, mental, and spiritual planessuccessively and in Divine Order. Universes are created.Matter becomes less gross. The units spring into being. The combinations begin to form. Life beginsmanifesting in higher and higher forms, and Mind becomes more and more evident. Then their height ofpower is reached and each unit reaches its extreme low point of material manifestation. The All hasseparated the lowest point from the highest with Spirit, and the distance between the two poles is only amatter of degree. This is the Stage of Involution. Then the process of retrogression begins, the returnswing of the Rhythmic Pendulum. During this in-drawing process, all indistinguishable energy returns tothe Source from which it emerged as highly developed units of life by means of physical, mental, andspiritual evolution. After aeons they become dead masses of matter awaiting another impulse thatrestarts their inner energies into activity. Then a new solar life cycle is begun.

It is the same with all the worlds. They are born, grow, and then die only to be reborn. It is the same withall things of shape and form. They swing from activity to inactivity, action to reaction, birth to death, andthen back again. This can also be observed with all great movements, philosophies, creeds, fashions,governments, and nations. We experience their birth, growth, maturity, decadence, death, and re-birth.The swing of the pendulum is ever in evidence. Night follows day. Day follows night. All masses ofmatter swing around the circle of their nature. There is no such thing as absolute rest or cessation frommovement, and all movement partakes of rhythm. The Principle of Rhythm is of universal application andmay be applied to the phenomena of any of the planes of existence, as well as to all phases of humanactivity. Upon the Completion of the Great Work, The All shall draw back into Itself all of Its Creationsincluding Its Attention, Contemplation, and Meditation of the Universe. The spirit of each soul will haveexpanded until it has merged with the Creator. We will go gladly, for we will then be able to know the

Whole Truth of Being At One with The All. Such is the Destiny of Man as reported by the Illumined, thosewho have advanced well along The Path. In the meantime, rest calm and serene. We are safe andprotected by the Infinite Power of the Father-Mother Mind.

Rhythm may be neutralized by an adept application of the Art of Polarization.

Although the Principle of Rhythm is well understood by modern science and considered a universal lawas applied to material things, the Hermetists carry it much further. They have learned how to use theprinciple, instead of being used by it. They have also discovered that there are two general planes of itsmanifestation: the lower and the higher. An understanding of these planes enables them to rise to the

higher plane of consciousness in order to escape the backward swing of the rhythmic pendulum, whichmanifests on the lower. They know that its manifestations and influence extend to the mental activities ofman and account for the bewildering succession of moods, feelings, and other perplexing changes thatwe notice in ourselves. While the law is invariable, cannot be annulled, or cease its operations, theHermetic Master is able to escape the rhythmic swing toward distress by rising to the higher plane ofSelf, and by use of the Law of Neutralization. Its processes are similar to rising above a thing and lettingit pass beneath you.

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When the Hermetic Master observes the backward swing of the rhythmic pendulum on the lower plane,he refuses to participate by denying its influence over him, consciously raises his mental vibrations,polarizes himself to the point where he desires to rest, and then neutralizes the rhythmic swing of thependulum. As a result, he is able to escape negative mental consequences. Although individuals whohave attained any degree of self-mastery accomplish this by simply refusing to allow their negativemental states to adversely affect them, the Master carries this to a much higher degree of proficiency. Bythe adept use of his will, he achieves and maintains a degree of poise and mental firmness that isalmost impossible to believe on the part of the masses. Those who allow themselves to be swungbackward and forward like a pendulum.

The importance of this will be appreciated by any thinking person who realizes what creatures of moods,feelings, and emotions the majority of people are, and how little mastery of themselves they manifest. If thestudent will stop and consider a moment, he will realize how much these swings of rhythm have affectedhim in his life. How a period of enthusiasm has been invariably followed by an opposite temperament ofdepression. How his moods and periods of courage have been succeeded by equal moods of fear. Tides offeeling rise and fall with him, but he has never suspected the cause or reason of the mental phenomena.An understanding of this principle will provide the student with much insight into the mastery of theserhythmic swings of feeling, and enable him to know himself better so that he can avoid being carried awayby these inflows and outflows. The will is superior to the conscious manifestation of this principle andalthough the principle can never be destroyed, we can escape its effects.

Another important aspect of the Principle of Rhythm is the Law of Compensation. The measureof theswing in one direction determines the distance of the swing in the opposite direction. The one balancesor counterbalances the other. On the Physical Plane, we see many examples of this law in action. Thependulum of the clock swings a certain distance to the right, and then an equal distance to the left. Theseasons balance each other in the same way, and even the tides follow the same law. An object hurledupward to a certain height has an equal distance to traverse on its return. The force with which aprojectile is sent upward is reproduced when the projectile returns to the earth. Even the capacity forboth pain and pleasure in each individual, including animals, is balanced. The Law of Compensation ismanifested in all the phenomena of rhythm. One generally pays the price of anything he possesses orlacks. If he has one thing, he lacks another. The things that one gains are always paid for by the things

that one loses. Thus rhythm compensates. The rich possess much that the poor lack, while the pooroften possess things that are beyond the reach of the rich. The millionaire may have the inclinationtoward feasting and the wealth to secure all the luxuries of the table, but he lacks the appetite to enjoythe same. The appetite, digestion, and inclinations of the poor person is envied by the millionaire. Thepoor person gets more pleasure from his plain food than the millionaire could ever obtain even if hisappetite were not jaded. Their wants, habits, and inclinations differ.

This law is also evident on the Mental Plane, and man's mental states are subject to it. There aretemperaments that permit low degrees of enjoyment and equally low degrees of suffering. Those thatpermit the most intense enjoyment, but also the most intense suffering. However, it does not alwaysfollow that one must compensate for a certain degree of pleasure with a corresponding degree of pain.In many instances, man is not required to swing as far, proportionately, toward the pole of pain before heis allowed to experience pleasure. On the contrary. According to the Law of Compensation, the pleasureone experiences is the rhythmic swing for a degree of pain that was endured either in the present life orprevious incarnation. The Hermetists regard the chain of lives as continuous, and as forming a part ofone life of the individual. The student may understand the rhythmic swing, but it is without meaningunless the truth of reincarnation is admitted. Even though several lifetimes may be required for thereturn swing of the Pendulum of Rhythm, there is always the rhythmic swing from one pole to the otheraccording to Law. Everything has its pleasant and unpleasant sides and this law is always in operation.Striving to balance and counter-balance, and always succeeding in time.

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6. The Principle of Cause and EffectEvery cause has its effect. Every effect has its cause. Everything happens according to Law.

Chance is but a name for Law not recognized. There are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes Law.

The Principle of Cause and Effect embodies the truth that everything happens according to Law andthat nothing ever escapes It. This principle explains that Law pervades the Universe; that there is a

cause for every effect, and an effect from every cause; that nothing happens by chance; that there isno such thing as chance; that chance is merely a term indicating cause existing, but neitherrecognized nor perceived; and that phenomena is continuous, without break or exception. Thisprinciple underlies all scientific thought, both ancient and modern, and was enunciated by theHermetic Teachers in the earliest days. While there are countless and varied disputes between themany schools of thought, they are primarily based upon the details of the operations of this principle,as well as the meanings of certain words. It has been accepted as correct by practically all thethinkers of the world. To think otherwise would be to take the phenomena of the Universe from thedomain of Law and Order and relegate it, instead, to the control of chance. However, a littleconsideration will show anyone that there is no such thing as pure chance.

The definition of the word chance is a supposed agent or mode of activity other than a force, law orpurpose; the operation or activity of such agent; the supposed effect of such an agent; ahappening; fortuity; casualty; etc.Therefore, there can be no such agent as chance in the sense ofsomething outside of Law, something outside of Cause and Effect. How could there be a somethingacting in the phenomenal Universe independent of the laws, order, and continuity of existence?Such a something would be entirely independent of the orderly trend of the Universe and superiorto it. We can't imagine anything outside of The All that exists independent of Law. This is becausewe know that The All is the LAW in Itself. Though vast, there is no room in the Universe forsomething that is outside of and independent of Law. The existence of such a something wouldrender all Natural Laws ineffective. It would plunge the Universe into chaotic disorder andlawlessness. What we call chance is merely an expression relating to obscure causes; causes thatwe cannot perceive; causes that we cannot understand.

He who understands the Principle of Cause and Effect is well on the road to Mastery.

The word chance is derived from a word meaning to fallsuch as the falling of dice. The idea beingthat the fall of the dice is merely a happening unrelated to any cause, and this is the sense in whichthe term is generally employed, but when the matter is closely examined, it is seen that there is nochance whatsoever about the fall of the dice. Each time a die falls and displays a certain number, itobeys a law as infallible as that which governs the revolution of the planets around the Sun, and backof the fall of the die are a chain of causes that go back farther than the mind can follow. The positionof the die in the box; the amount of muscular energy expended in the throw; the condition of the table,etc., are all are causes, the effects of which may be seen, and back of these seen causes are chainsof unseen preceding causes, all of which had a bearing upon the number of the die that felluppermost. If a die be cast a great number of times, it will be found that the numbers shown will beabout equal, that is, there will be an equal number of one-spot, two-spot, and so forth, cominguppermost. Toss a penny in the air, and it will come down either heads or tails, but make a sufficientnumber of tosses and the heads and tails will be approximately even. This is the operation of the Lawof Average, and both the average and the single toss come under the Law of Cause and Effect. If wewere able to look into the preceding causes, it would be clearly seen that it was simply impossible forthe die to fall other than it did, under the same circumstances, and at the same time. Given the samecauses the same results will follow. There is always a cause and a because to every event. Nothingever happens without a cause or chain of causes.

Some confusion has arisen in the minds of those considering this principle stemming from the fact thatthey were unable to explain how one thing could cause or be the creator of another thing. No thing evercauses or creates another thing; cause and effect deals merely with events. An event is that whichcomes, arrives, or happens as a result or consequence of some preceding event. No event createsanother event; it is merely a preceding link in the great orderly chain of events flowing from the CreativeEnergy of The All. There is a continuity between all events precedent, consequent, and subsequent.

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There is a relation existing between everything that has gone before and everything that follows. Forexample, a stone is dislodged from a mountain side and crashes through a roof of a cottage in thevalley below. Initially, we may regard this as a chance event, but when we examine the matter we finda great chain of causes behind it. In the first place, there was the rain that softened the earthsupporting the stone, which allowed it to fall, and back of that was the influence of the Sun andpreceding rains, which gradually disintegrated the piece of rock from a larger piece. Then therewere the causes that led to the formation of the mountain, and its upheaval by convulsions ofnature, and so on, ad infinitum. Then we might follow up the causes behind the rain. Then we mightconsider the existence of the roof. In short, we would soon find ourselves involved in a mesh ofcause and effect from which we would soon strive to extricate ourselves.

Just as a man has two parents, four grandparents, eight great-grandparents, sixteen great-great-grandparents, and so on, until when generations are calculated the numbers of ancestors run into themillions. So it is with the number of causes behind even the most trifling event of phenomena such asthe passage of that tiny speck of soot that now passes before your eyes. It is not an easy matter totrace the speck of soot back to the early period of the world's history when it formed a part of amassive tree-trunk, but it is the same speck of soot that now passes before your eyes on its way toother adventures. A mighty chain of events, causes, and effects brought that speck of soot to itspresent location and condition, and will go on to produce other events hundreds of years from now.One of the series of events arising from the tiny speck of soot was the initial writing of these lines that

causedthe early 20th century version ofThe Kybalion to be revised by Many Artistic Souls in the year2011. All of which will arouse certain thoughts in your mind and that of others, which will affect others,and so on, beyond the ability of man to think further. All from the passage of a tiny speck of soot, andall of which shows the relativity and association of things. There is no great, there is no small in theMind that causeth All. If you were to carefully examine this statement, you would realize that there is acondensed wealth of Hermetic knowledge contained within it. Every thought we think and every act weperform has its direct and indirect results, which fit into the great chain of cause and effect.

Nothing escapes the Principle of Cause and Effect, but there are many planes of causation

and one may use the Laws of the higher to overcome the laws of the lower.

The majority of people are more or less slaves of heredity, environment, emotions, feelings, and moods,and they manifest no Mastery worthy of mentioning. Not only are the majority of people carried alonglike the falling stoneobedient to environment, outside influences, internal moods, and desirestheyalso succumb to the desires and wills of others stronger than themselves. They are swayed by theopinions, customs, and thoughts of the outside world and manifest very little freedom. Heredity,environment, and suggestion carry them along without resistance on their part or the use of their will.They are moved like pawns on the Chessboard of Life. They play their parts and are laid aside once thegame is over. They have the audacity to indignantly repudiate this assertion saying, I am free to act anddo as I please; I do whatever I want to do. However, they fail to explain from where the desire to wanttodo something arises. What makes them desire to do one thing in preference to another; what makes

them prefer to do this and not do that? Is there no because to their desires and preferences? TheMaster can transmute these predilections into others at the opposite end of the mental pole. He has theresoluteness to adeptly employ his will, instead of behaving in a foolhardy manner because someemotion or environmental suggestion arouses a desire within him to do so.

The Hermetic Master understands the Art of Mental Transmutation, as well as the methods of risingabove the material plane of Cause and Effect. He does not escape the causation of the higher planes;even the most wise are subject to the principle as it manifests on the higher planes . The Master serveson the higher and obeys the laws coming from above him, but on his own plane and those below him,he rules and gives orders. He forms a conscious part of the Law, instead of opposing it. He falls inalignment with the Law and by understanding its movements he operates it, instead of being its blind

slave. He knows the rules of The Game of Life and he plays the game, instead of being played andmoved about by the wills of others and environment. The Master is a Mover, not a pawn. H e uses thisprinciple, instead of being used by it. By placing himself in touch with the higher powers of his truenature, he is able to dominate his own mood, character, qualities, and environment thus becoming theCause, instead of an Effect. Just as the skilled swimmer propels himself through water and goes andcomes as he wills, instead of being as the log that is carried here and there. So is the wise man whencompared to the fool. Yet, swimmer and log, wise man and fool, are subject to Law.

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The Hermetic Teachings are that man may use Law to overcome laws, and the higher will alwaysprevail against the lower until he has reached the stage in which he seeks refuge in the LAW Itself.Now we are able to see, through eyes made clear by knowledge, that everything is governed byUniversal Law, and the infinite number of laws are manifestations of the One Great Law: The Lawthat is The All . It is true, indeed, that not a sparrow drops unnoticed by the Mind of The All, and eventhe hairs on our head are numbered, as the scriptures have stated. There is nothing outside of Law.Nothing that happens contrary to It. Therefore, there is no such thing as chance.

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

The Principle of Gender embodies the truth that there is gender manifested in everything. Themasculine and feminine principles are always expressed and active in all phases of phenomena andon every plane of existence. On the physical plane the principle manifests as sex, and on the higher

planes it takes on higher forms, but the principle is ever the same. When The All manifests on thePlane of Organic Life, It acts according to Law and Principle moving on a lower plane of existence.Consequently demonstrating the Principle of Gender in Its masculine and feminine aspects. It is thesame in the field of inorganic matter, as well as the field of energy or force. No exhibition of creation ispossible without this principle. This is true even in the creation of Universes, and neither aspect iscapable of operating without the assistance of the other. M asculinity is always present in thefeminine form and femininity is always present in the masculine. In some forms of life both masculineand feminine aspects are combined into one organism. More importantly, the terms gender and sex arenot equivalent. Sex is a material manifestation of gender; the physical distinctions between male andfemale living things. Gender means relating to generation or creation . Wherever anything is generatedor created on any plane of existence the Principle of Gender is manifested.

Prior to the 20th century, a distinct manifestation of the Principle of Gender among the particles thatconstitute the basis of matter was difficult to prove due to the erroneous assumption that the atomwas indivisible. The concept of the atom as an indivisible component of matter was first proposed byearly Indian and Greek philosophers. 17th and 18th century chemists had even taken the notionfurther by providing a physical basis for this idea by showing that certain substances could not bebroken down further by chemical methods. However, during the late 19th and early 20th centuriesphysicists discovered subatomic components and structure inside the atom, thereby demonstratingthat the atom was, indeed, divisible. Ironically, the word atom comes from the Greektomos, whichmeans uncuttable or indivisible; something that cannot be divided further. Nevertheless, it has beenscientifically ascertained that the formation of the atom is due to the clustering of electrons around aproton. It appears that the purpose of the proton (the masculine element) is to direct a certain inherentenergy toward the electron (the feminine element). An understanding of the Principle of Gender willshed light on many subjects that have perplexed the minds of men. In many physical phenomena suchas electricity, magnetism, and thermal conductivity electrons play an essential role; they determine thechemical properties of an element and strongly influence the atom's magnetic properties. When anelectron unites with a proton a certain process is begun, and the result is the birth of a new atom. Thenew atom is comprised of a union of both masculine and feminine elements.

This is the truth of electrical phenomena and corresponds to the most ancient Hermetic Teachings thathave always identified the Masculine Principle of Gender and the Feminine Pole of Electricity. T hemasculine aspect manifested by The All stands apart from the actual mental creation of the Universeand projects Its Will toward the feminine. The feminine particles vibrate and encircle rapidly under the

influence of the masculine energy and begins the actual work of the evolution of the Universe. Whenviewed in this light, one may think of the masculine feature as God or the Father, and the feminine asNature or the Universal Mother from whose womb all things are born. However, because the masculineelement has been viewed as the Father and the feminine as the Universal Mother, the ancient teachingson the subject have become distorted: many postulate that there is both a male and a female God orCreator, but the Hermetic Teachings do not imply a duality. On the contrary. The All is One and in itsInfinite Mind the Universe is generated, created, and exists. In Itself, The All is above gender and everyother law, including those of time and space. It is the Law from which the laws proceed and is notsubject to them. The two aspects, masculine and feminine, are merely characteristics of Its expression.From centers of activity, on to man, and then on to even higher planes of existence, all manifestsaccording to the well-established and firmly enforced Laws of Nature.

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From the Will of God Nature received the Word (Logos), and gazing upon the Cosmos' Beauty did copy it,

making herself into a cosmos by means of her own elements and by the births of souls. For the Mind being

God, both male and female as life and light subsisting, brought forth another Mind, the Work man, to give

things form. God as he was of Fire and Spirit formed Seven Rulers who enclose the cosmos that the sense

perceives, and whose government or disposition is called fate or destiny. Straightway from out the

downward elements Gods Reason (Logos) leaped up to Natures pure formation, and was atoned with the

Formative Mind; for it was co-essential with it. And Natures downward elements were thus left reason-

less, so as to be pure matter. Then the Formative Mind, atoned with Reason, surrounded the spheres and

spun them with his whirl, set turning his formations, and let them turn from a beginning boundless unto

an endless end. For that the circulation of these spheres begins where it does end as Mind wills. And from

the downward elements Nature brought forth lives reason-less; for He did not extend the Reason (Logos)

to them. The Air brought forth things winged; the Water things that swim, and Earth-and-Water one from

another parted, as Mind willed. And from her bosom Earth produced what lives, she had four-footed

things and reptiles, beasts wild and tame.

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Mental GenderThe Infinite Mind of The All is the Womb of Universes.

The Principle of Mental Gender embodies the truth that there is a dual aspect in the mind of everyperson. The Irepresenting the Masculine Principle of Mental Gender and the Aspect of Being. The Merepresenting the Feminine Principle of Mental Gender and the Aspect of Becoming. These aspects of

mind, in connection with mental and psychic phenomena, provide the master-key to the dimly knownregions of mental operation and manifestation. Students of psychology who follow the trend of thoughtalong the lines of mental phenomena are struck by the persistence of the dual-mind idea that hasgiven rise to a number of plausible theories regarding the nature and constitution of the conscious andsub-conscious minds.

In 1893, Thomson J. Hudson attained great popularity by advancing his well-known theory of theobjective and subjective minds, which he held existed in every individual. In 1921, Carl Gustav Jungtermed these aspects of the mind the anima and animus. The following is an excerpt borrowed from the

pages of Jung's Liber Novus: Inasmuch as the I is only the center of my field of consciousness, it is not identical

with the totality of my psyche, being merely a complex among other complexes. Hence I discriminate between the I

and the self, since the I is only the subject of my consciousness, while the self is the subject of my totality: hence italso includes the unconscious psyche. In this sense the self would be an (ideal) greatness which embraces and

includes the I. In unconscious fantasy the self often appears as the super-ordinated or ideal personality, as Faust is in

relation to Goethe and Zarathustra to Nietzsche. He equated the Hindu notion of Brahman/Atman with the self, and

argued that the soul possessed qualities that were complementary to the persona, containing those qualities that the

conscious attitude lacked. This complementary character of the soul also affected its sexual character, so that a man

had a feminine soul, or anima, and a woman had a masculine soul, or animus. This corresponded to the fact that men

and women had both masculine and feminine traits. He also noted that the soul gave rise to images that were

assumed to be worthless from the rational perspective. There were four ways of using them: The first possibility of

making use of them is artistic, if one is in anyway gifted in that direction; a second is philosophical speculation; athird is quasi;religious, leading to heresy and the founding of sects; and a fourth way of employing the dynamis of

these images is to squander it in every form of licentiousness.

Although the theories of the various writers may somewhat differ from each other, there remains theunderlying principle of the duality of mind. The masculine aspect corresponds to the objective,conscious, voluntary, and active mind. It contends itself with the work of the will in its varied phases.The feminine aspect corresponds to the subjective, subconscious, involuntary, and passive mind. Ithas a more varied field of operation than the masculine. It conducts the work of generating newthoughts, concepts, and ideas, including the work of the imagination. The feminine aspect may beconsidered the mental womb, as the ancients styled it, capable of generating mental offspring. It

reports to the consciousness as a Me with latent powers of creation and generation of mental progenyof all sorts and kinds. Its powers of creative energy are felt to be enormous, but still it seems to beconscious that it must receive some form of energy from either its Icompanion, or the I from the mindof another, where it is able to bring into being its mental creations. Without the active aid of the will ofthe masculine aspect, the feminine is apt to rest content with generating mental images that are theresult of impressions received from outside, instead of producing original mental creations.

Unfortunately, there are only a few original thoughts or actions performed by the average person. Themasculine principle in him is too languid to act because his display of will power is too slight. As aresult, he is ruled almost entirely by the minds and wills of other persons, whom he allows to do histhinking and willing for him. He subconsciously allows an idea that originated in the mind of anotherperson to grow and develop in his own mind, and in time the idea is regarded as his own mentaloffspring. In reality, however, it is like the cuckoo egg placed in the sparrow's nest: it destroys theoriginal offspring of another and makes itself at home. This is why the masses of people are suchsheep-like creatures, never originating an idea of their own, nor using their own powers of mentalactivity. They are mere shadows and echoes of others having stronger wills or minds than themselves.The average person dwells almost completely in his Me consciousness. He does not even realize that hehas such a thing as an I. He is polarized in his feminine aspect of mind and the masculine is allowed toremain inactive and unemployed.

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The average person thinks of his M

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