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.

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.

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.

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:

• The Hermetic Principles themselves

• The Third Eye

• The Dark Night of the Soul

• Sacred Geometry and more

Click here to explore the Mystery School Lectures

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.

I look forward to connecting with you in my next post.

Until then, be well and keep shining.

Peter. :)