The Hermetic Principles: Universal Laws of the Mystery Schools
The phrase “As above, so below” may be one of the most recognisable lines in all of esoteric history. It comes from the Hermetic tradition — a stream of wisdom that shaped the ancient mystery schools and still inspires seekers today.
At the heart of this tradition lie the Hermetic Principles, seven universal laws said to govern both the cosmos and the human soul. These principles offer a framework for understanding reality and for transforming consciousness.
In this article, we’ll explore their origins, outline each principle, and see why they remain as relevant today as they were in the temples of Egypt and the libraries of Alexandria.
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
Origins of Hermetic Wisdom
The Hermetic Principles are attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary figure who fused the wisdom of the Egyptian god Thoth with the Greek Hermes. His teachings, written in texts like the Emerald Tablets, became the foundation of Hermetic philosophy.
Mystery schools used these principles to train initiates, showing them that the same forces shaping the stars also shape the human heart. They were not abstract philosophy but practical laws for living in harmony with the universe.
For more on Hermes and his role in the mysteries, see The Emerald Tablets & Hermes Trismegistus: Foundations of Mystery School Wisdom.
What people call the “Hermetic Principles” (plain English)
Most modern lists come from The Kybalion (1908), a short book published under the name “Three Initiates.” It sets out seven aphorisms: Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause & Effect, and Gender. Treat them as a compact practice map—useful lenses for reflection—rather than ancient commandments. (Internet Sacred Text Archive)
Are these ancient? What scholars actually say
The Kybalion is a modern work influenced by New Thought and popular occult writing of the early 1900s; the best evidence points to William Walker Atkinson as the author. By contrast, classical Hermeticism refers to late-antique texts like the Corpus Hermeticum and the Asclepius, translated and studied by scholars such as Brian Copenhaver. Don’t conflate the two: The Kybalion distils a modern synthesis; the ancient Hermetica are diverse dialogues about mind, cosmos and ascent. (ResearchGate)
Where the ideas overlap (and where they don’t)
Overlap: both streams value mind, correspondence and transformation (e.g., “as above, so below” as a way to read pattern). (Internet Sacred Text Archive)
Differences: the seven-principle schema is not found in the ancient dialogues; it’s a later framework. The Hermetica are broader (creation, nous, fate, prayer, ethics) and don’t present a single numbered list. (Wikipedia)
How to use the principles wisely today
Hold the seven as working lenses:
Mentalism → notice how attention shapes experience.
Correspondence → look for patterns without forcing them.
Polarity & Rhythm → regulate swings; choose the middle way.
Cause & Effect → take responsibility for small, repeatable actions.
Keep claims modest. Pair any “mind” work with breath, posture, ethical action and journalling so insight lands in daily life.
If you want the historical Hermetica
Start with reliable translations of the Corpus Hermeticum and Asclepius (modern English with notes). These are the late-antique texts that shaped Renaissance interest in Hermes—not The Kybalion. (Cambridge University Press & Assessment)
Common misconceptions to drop
“The seven principles are the original core of Hermeticism.” — They’re 20th-century packaging; helpful, but not ancient doctrine. (Wikipedia)
“The Kybalion is a lost secret text.” — It’s a modern book, likely by Atkinson, drawing on earlier esoteric currents. (ResearchGate)
“Scholarship dismisses Hermeticism.” — No; there’s a robust academic field studying the ancient materials carefully. (Cambridge University Press & Assessment)
The Seven Hermetic Principles
1. The Principle of Mentalism
“The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.”
Everything begins with thought. The universe itself is shaped by consciousness. In mystery schools, this principle taught initiates that reality can be influenced by changing their own mental state.
2. The Principle of Correspondence
“As above, so below; as within, so without.”
The macrocosm (cosmos) reflects the microcosm (the self). By studying the patterns of nature, astrology, and sacred geometry, initiates learned about their inner world.
Learn more in Sacred Geometry: Patterns of the Divine in Mystery School Teachings.
Explore how the stars mirror the soul in Astrology, the Stars, and the Mystery Schools.
3. The Principle of Vibration
“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”
All things, from atoms to galaxies, are in constant motion. Ancient schools used chanting, sound, and energy practices to raise vibration.
See how Nikola Tesla echoed this wisdom in Nikola Tesla and the Esoteric Teachings of Energy, Frequency, and Vibration.
4. The Principle of Polarity
“Everything is dual; everything has poles.”
Light and dark, hot and cold, joy and sorrow — opposites are not separate, but extremes of the same continuum. Mystery schools trained initiates to find balance between polarities.
5. The Principle of Rhythm
“Everything flows, out and in.”
Life moves in cycles — seasons, tides, birth and death. Initiates learned to work with rhythms rather than resist them.
Explore the cycle of transformation in The Dark Night of the Soul: A Mystery School Rite of Passage.
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect
“Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause.”
Nothing happens by chance. Mystery schools taught that by aligning intentions with universal law, one could consciously shape destiny.
Learn how this law influenced thinkers like Newton in Sir Isaac Newton, Alchemy, and the Hermetic Tradition.
7. The Principle of Gender
“Gender is in everything; everything has masculine and feminine principles.”
This principle goes beyond biology. It refers to the balance of receptive and active forces in all creation — yin and yang, spirit and matter.
For a deeper look at awakening inner vision, see The Third Eye in Mystery School Teachings: Awakening Inner Vision.
Hermetic Principles in Practice
The mystery schools did not see these principles as abstract theories. They were tools for transformation.
Alchemy applied them to the process of inner purification (Alchemy and the Mystery Schools: The Inner Gold of Transformation).
Meditation helped initiates quiet the mind and perceive universal order (Esoteric Meditation: Initiatory Practices for Inner Vision).
Kabbalah and the Tree of Life mapped them onto divine emanations (Kabbalah and Hermetic Qabalah: The Tree of Life).
Even modern science has been touched by Hermetic echoes. Einstein spoke of imagination as the key to discovery. Tesla insisted the universe was built on frequency and vibration. Both men reflected Hermetic wisdom in their breakthroughs.
Explore more in Albert Einstein and Esoteric Wisdom.
Why the Hermetic Principles Still Matter
In a world that often feels chaotic, the Hermetic Principles remind us of underlying order. They show us:
Our minds shape our reality.
Our inner world reflects the outer world.
We are part of a vast, vibrating universe.
Balance, rhythm, and harmony guide growth.
These teachings are not relics. They are invitations. Invitations to live consciously, to align with the universal laws that govern life, and to experience transformation.
For a broader view, see What Are Mystery Schools? The Hidden Lineage of Ancient Wisdom.
Safety & discernment — a quick note
Prefer teachers who widen your agency and consent. Look for transparent pricing, realistic claims, boundaries and aftercare. Decline secrecy-for-payment or miracle marketing. If your body says “no,” pause and seek a second view.
Explore the Hermetic Principles in Depth
The Hermetic Principles are not only to be studied — they are to be embodied. At the Bright Beings Academy Mystery School, you’ll find in-depth lectures on:
FAQs On The Hermetic Principles
What are the Hermetic Principles?
They are seven universal laws, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, that explain the nature of reality and the human soul.
Where do they come from?
They originate in Hermetic texts like the Emerald Tablets, which influenced the mystery schools of Egypt, Greece, and later Western esotericism.
Are the Hermetic Principles scientific?
While not science in the modern sense, they inspired thinkers like Newton, Tesla, and Einstein, who echoed similar ideas about vibration, cause and effect, and imagination.
How can I apply them today?
You can use them to align your thoughts, embrace balance, work with life’s cycles, and live with greater awareness of universal law.
Are the “seven principles” found in the ancient Hermetica?
No. They come from The Kybalion (1908), not from the late-antique Corpus Hermeticum. (Internet Sacred Text Archive)
So is The Kybalion fake?
It’s modern—likely by William Walker Atkinson—and influential in New Thought/occult circles. Use it as a practice guide, not a historical source. (ResearchGate)
What’s the best way to read the ancient material?
Get a reputable translation (e.g., Copenhaver’s) and read slowly; expect dialogue, prayer and cosmology rather than numbered rules. (Cambridge University Press & Assessment)
Is “as above, so below” from The Kybalion?
The phrase is popularised there, but its roots are in the Emerald Tablet tradition; later readers linked it with Hermetic thought. (Internet Sacred Text Archive)
Can the seven principles sit alongside science?
Treat them as symbolic lenses for attention and ethics, not lab theories. Keep curiosity alive and claims grounded.
Why do people mix the two streams?
Because the names are similar and the modern book borrows Hermetic flavour. Clear labels help: ancient Hermetica vs modern Kybalion. (Wikipedia)
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. :)
