Everyone should be looking to get more out of themselves. The question that stalls people is – how do they get started? There are several self-help guides and books out there that supposedly can help get your life back in order.
A method to improve your life is to master your own self. Mastering the self can give you unique insights into your own life and help you cope with things easier and more effectively. If you are looking for something that is ages old and works to help you understand yourself, then you should really try The Hermetic Principles.
The Hermetic Principles
The word Hermetic means “secret” or “esoteric” and it has to do with ways how the universe can be manipulated by people with strong willpower and a desire to succeed. It was founded on the letters written by Hermes Trismegistus to his disciple. While the laws are centuries old, they still apply to fundamental aspects of our life and can bring about changes that can empower you.
There is a lot of mystery about the origin of the book and principles. It is said that the book or word of the principles only appear in your life when you’re ready to receive it in your life. What this means is that even though the teachings are from an era ago, you have to interpret it to how it applies to your life today. If you would like to learn more about these principles, you can read about all 7 of these hermetic principles in The Kybalion. The Kybalion is widely seen as the most authoritative modern source on
The Principle of Mentalism
“The all is mind; the universe is mental”
This is one of the most important principles in Hermeticism on which several other principles here are based. It states that everything is the mind and that reality is a mental construct that you can influence if you want it strongly enough. The key is holding on to a thought and then believing it strongly enough, so it becomes a reality.
The Principle of Correspondence
“As Above, so below; As within, so without; As the universe, so the soul…”
This principle talks about the “connectedness” of the whole universe across all planes of existence. Meaning that whatever things you do even at a micro level will affect what you do at the macro level. Inculcating smaller habits to start with will have a beneficial “domino effect” on the rest of you as well. Something as insignificant as making your bed every morning right after you wake up can start a positive feeling inside you that will last you throughout the day.
The Principle of Vibration
“Nothing rests; Everything moves; Everything vibrates”
The largest object to the smallest unit of matter all possesses different degrees of vibration. Anything that is seemingly stationary is in fact in a state of vibration. Science has proven that atoms are in a state of perpetual motion. The way we can apply this to practical life is called the theory of “mental transmutation” – if you want to change your vibrational frequency, you change your mental state. Always move to more desirable states of the mind and everything around you will be influenced by your positive vibrations as well.
The Principle of Polarity
“Everything is dual; Everything has poles”
By the principle of polarity, everything has extremes, but they are part of the same. For example, take the case of temperature. Heat and cold are part of the same scale, and the difference arises due to variation in degrees. This principle of polarity is exhibited in human emotion such
The Principle of Rhythm
“Everything flows, out and in; Everything has its tides; All things rise and fall”
We already have established that everything exists in a transition from one state to another, earlier. The force that enables these transitions from one pole to another is called rhythm. Think of it as the swing of a pendulum in motion – swinging from right to left and back. It is important to remind yourself that if you are living a life of abundance, there will come a time when you will fall upon hard times. You should prepare your mind for this as an eventuality rather than a possibility. Understand that certain things are out of your control and treat them with indifference.
The Principle of Cause and Effect
“Every cause has its effect; Every effect has its cause”
This principle says there is no room for chance in this world – it all deals in absolutes of cause and effect. Make sure that you keep your mind clear and think about the actions you are going to take along with the consequences.
The Principle of Gender
“Gender is in everything; Everything has its masculine and feminine principles”
According to this theory, gender pervades into everything that we have or know. Like people, everything has a decisive gender, male or female. For example, the brain we know has left and right hemispheres, but they are also associated with respective traits of each gender. According to Hermeticism, gender is something that is related to principles. The masculine principle embodies conquest, expansion, and it is also dominant. The female trait is to absorb and receive while having strong powers of restoration. The male is the yang energy, and the female is the yin energy. Only the balance of these forces can lead to harmonious functioning.
Summary
While you might notice there are some ideas which seem to be similar to modern ideas on self-improvement, you need to understand that this was one of those ideas that started it all. The gist of the hermetic principles is that you need to keep yourself aware of your surroundings, your thoughts and your actions –these will help you achieve success. Once you achieve inner greatness, then the conquering the rest of the world is a breeze!
