The Emerald Tablets & Hermes Trismegistus: Foundations of Mystery School Wisdom
Few works in the history of esotericism carry as much mystique as the Emerald Tablets. Short, poetic, and cryptic, they have inspired centuries of philosophers, alchemists, and seekers. Attributed to the legendary Hermes Trismegistus — the “thrice-great Hermes” — the Tablets sit at the heart of Hermetic tradition and the teachings of the ancient mystery schools.
But what do they actually say? And why are they considered so foundational?
In this article, we’ll explore the story of Hermes, the wisdom of the Tablets, and their enduring influence on Hermetic and esoteric traditions.
If you are new to the mystery school teachings, start here: What are mystery schools?
If this sparks something inside, you can watch the lectures and guided practices on our Mystery School page: Bright Beings Academy – Mystery School
Hermes Trismegistus: The Sage of Sages
Hermes Trismegistus is a figure shrouded in legend. His name means “thrice-great,” symbolising mastery of the three great sciences: alchemy, astrology, and theurgy.
In Egypt, he was identified with Thoth, god of wisdom and writing.
In Greece, he was linked with Hermes, messenger of the gods and guide of souls.
Together, he became Hermes Trismegistus — a symbol of the archetypal initiate and teacher.
Through him flowed the Hermetic texts, including the Corpus Hermeticum and the Emerald Tablets, which mystery schools regarded as timeless guides to hidden knowledge.
Learn more about Hermes’ wider teachings in The Hermetic Principles: Universal Laws of the Mystery Schools.
What the Emerald Tablet actually is (plain English)
The Emerald Tablet (Latin: Tabula Smaragdina) is a short, cryptic Hermetic text, first known from Arabic sources in the 8th–9th centuries CE, where it appears inside encyclopaedic treatises on nature and cosmology (e.g., the Book of the Secret of Creation). It was later translated into Latin and became a touchstone for medieval and Renaissance readers. There is no surviving ancient emerald slab; the “tablet found in a hidden chamber” is a literary frame story, not an archaeological object. (Wikipedia)
What it says, in one breath
The Tablet speaks in brief aphorisms about unity, transformation, and correspondence—famously paraphrased as “as above, so below.” Readers took it as a meditation on how the macrocosm and microcosm mirror each other and how change proceeds from subtle to dense. (For an historic English rendering, see Isaac Newton’s translation.) (Encyclopedia Britannica)
How the Tablet travelled
Arabic → Latin (12th c.): Latin versions circulated widely and anchored alchemical commentaries.
Renaissance: Interpreted through Neoplatonic and Christian lenses; printers paired it with emblematic images.
Early modern: Scholars, natural philosophers and occultists continued to cite it; Newton copied and translated it. (Wikipedia)
“Emerald Tablets” vs The Emerald Tablet
The historical text is one short Tablet in Arabic/Latin manuscript traditions. By contrast, “The Emerald Tablets of Thoth the Atlantean” is a 20th-century work by Maurice Doreal with modern mythic elements (Atlantis, hidden chambers, etc.). It is not the historical Hermetic Tablet. Keep these separate in your reading. (Wikipedia)
Myths vs reality (quick clarifications)
Not Egyptian stone artefact: the Tablet is preserved as text, not a museum object of green stone. (cabinet.ox.ac.uk)
Antiquity vs medieval origins: Renaissance readers thought it primeval; scholarship traces our earliest versions to early medieval Arabic compilations. (cabinet.ox.ac.uk)
“As above, so below” source: the famous phrase is a paraphrase of the Latin; you can compare Newton’s wording to see how readers arrived at it. (newtonproject.ox.ac.uk)
How to read the Tablet today
Treat it as a symbolic meditation on alignment and process, not a recipe or miracle technology. Let it inform ethics, attention, breath, and steady practice. If anyone sells it as a shortcut to power, pause and seek a second view. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
The Emerald Tablets: A Cryptic Legacy
The Emerald Tablets are short verses inscribed on a mythical green stone, first referenced in Arabic sources around the 6th century but believed to be far older in origin. The most famous passage reads:
“That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing.”
This became the Principle of Correspondence, forming the bedrock of Hermetic philosophy.
Other verses speak of:
The unity of all existence.
The transformative power of alchemy.
The cycles of rhythm and polarity.
The eternal nature of the soul.
The Tablets were less a literal manual than a symbolic mirror — guiding initiates to discover truth within themselves.
The Teachings of the Emerald Tablets
Mystery schools drew from the Tablets to shape their curriculum:
Alchemy: The metaphor of transmuting lead into gold symbolised the transformation of human consciousness.
Explore this further in Alchemy and the Mystery Schools: The Inner Gold of Transformation.Astrology: The maxim “as above, so below” gave cosmic meaning to the movements of the stars.
See Astrology, the Stars, and the Mystery Schools.Sacred Geometry: The unity of “the One Thing” was expressed through divine patterns and mathematical harmony.
Read Sacred Geometry: Patterns of the Divine in Mystery School Teachings.Esoteric Psychology: The Tablets emphasised self-mastery and reflective practice, anticipating the inner work of later schools.
Learn more in Reflective Psychology and Psychism.
Influence Through the Ages
The Emerald Tablets were copied, studied, and reinterpreted across centuries:
Medieval Alchemists saw in them the keys to material and spiritual transmutation.
Renaissance Magicians like John Dee turned to them for divine communication (John Dee and the Hidden Knowledge of the Renaissance Mystery Schools).
Isaac Newton himself translated the Emerald Tablet into Latin, showing its impact even on early modern science (Sir Isaac Newton, Alchemy, and the Hermetic Tradition).
In modern times, the Tablets continue to inspire New Age thinkers and spiritual practitioners, often referenced as sources of universal law and personal empowerment.
Why the Emerald Tablets Still Matter
So why do these cryptic lines still hold such power? Because they remind us of eternal truths:
The universe is a living unity.
Inner and outer worlds mirror one another.
Transformation is both possible and necessary.
The human soul carries divine potential.
These ideas remain central to the journey of self-realisation. They are not relics of the past but living principles waiting to be embodied.
For a broader view of how mystery schools carried these teachings, see What Are Mystery Schools? The Hidden Lineage of Ancient Wisdom.
Safety & ethics — a quick note
Choose teachers and communities that widen your agency. Look for transparent pricing, realistic claims, boundaries and aftercare. Decline pressure tactics or secrecy-for-payment. If your body says “no,” pause and get a second view.
Explore the Mystery School Teachings
If the wisdom of Hermes and the Emerald Tablets resonates with you, there is more to discover. At the Bright Beings Academy Mystery School, we explore these timeless teachings in depth through lectures on:
FAQs on The Emerald Tablets and Hermes Trismegistus
What are the Emerald Tablets?
The Emerald Tablets are short cryptic verses attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. They contain the foundations of Hermetic philosophy, including the maxim “As above, so below.”
Who was Hermes Trismegistus?
A legendary figure blending the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes, seen as the archetypal teacher of mystery school wisdom.
Why are the Emerald Tablets important?
They shaped the teachings of alchemy, astrology, and Hermetic philosophy, influencing both spiritual traditions and early science.
Can the Tablets be read today?
Yes. Various translations exist, though their language is symbolic. They are best approached as guides to meditation and transformation rather than literal instruction.
Is there a real emerald tablet in a museum?
No. The Tablet survives as texts in Arabic and Latin manuscripts; the tomb-discovery story is part of the tradition’s narrative framing. (Wikipedia)
Where does “as above, so below” come from?
From the Latin tradition of the Tablet (compare Newton’s translation). It summarises correspondence between levels of reality. (newtonproject.ox.ac.uk)
Are the “Emerald Tablets of Thoth” the same thing?
No. That is a mid-20th-century book by Maurice Doreal; it is not the historical Hermetic Tablet. (Wikipedia)
Did Renaissance scholars think it was ancient Egyptian?
Yes, many did. Modern research traces our earliest known versions to Arabic sources compiled in the 8th–9th centuries CE. (cabinet.ox.ac.uk)
Why do alchemists cite it so often?
It gave a compact philosophical frame—unity, process, correspondence—that commentators used to read laboratory and spiritual work together. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Where can I read a reputable translation online?
The Newton Project (Oxford) hosts Newton’s Latin/English version with notes. (newtonproject.ox.ac.uk)
Further Reading
The Emerald Tablet and As Above, So Below: A Plain-English Explainer
Neoplatonism and Theurgy: The Simple Map Behind Western Mysticism
Alchemy Stages: Nigredo to Rubedo — The Inner Transformation Map
How to Vet a Mystery School: Ethics, Fees, Promises & Red Flags
I look forward to connecting with you in my next post.
Until then, be well and keep shining.
Peter. :)
