The Kybalion

The Kybalion (1908)… the study of this book is being turned into a short essay and a reference for further research.  Notes & Quotes have been started and are in a constant process.  This Analysis Section will be continuously updated with new concepts and takeaways.  Please check back or sign up for our Newsletter for updates.

As with most things in life, nothing should be believed until it is proven by practice…

The Kybalion Analysis

The Hermetic Philosophy

Egypt, the home of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, was the birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. From her Secret Doctrine all nations have borrowed …which the masterminds of that ancient land had gathered together.

Hermes Trismegistus… father of the Occult Wisdom; the founder of Astrology; the discoverer of Alchemy. –long before the days of Moses. The best authorities regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, and some of the Jewish traditions go so far as to claim that Abraham acquired a portion of his mystic knowledge from Hermes himself…

Below are YouTube video(s) on the topic.  You can speed up the video by clicking on the settings “Cog Wheel” and “Playback Speed”; try listening to the 1.5x speed then 1.25x speed… then adjust to your liking!

NOTES – QUOTES

The Kybalion Summary

the pdf version of this book is considered in the public domain, so my notes are going to start out as mostly highlights copied strait from that book…

…presenting to the attention of students and investigators of the Secret Doctrines …based upon the world-old Hermetic Teachings. 

…a statement of the Truth that will serve to reconcile the many bits of occult knowledge acquired, but which are apparently opposed to each other and which often serve to discourage and disgust the beginner in the study… Even the most ancient teachings of India undoubtedly have their roots in the original Hermetic Teachings.  

“The lips of Wisdom are closed, except to the ears of Understanding”–The Kybalion.

Chapter 1. The Hermetic Philosophy

Egypt, the home of the Pyramids and the Sphinx, was the birthplace of the Hidden Wisdom and Mystic Teachings. From her Secret Doctrine all nations have borrowed …which the masterminds of that ancient land had gathered together.

Hermes Trismegistus… father of the Occult Wisdom; the founder of Astrology; the discoverer of Alchemy. –long before the days of Moses. The best authorities regard him as a contemporary of Abraham, and some of the Jewish traditions go so far as to claim that Abraham acquired a portion of his mystic knowledge from Hermes himself.

–the Egyptians made Hermes one of their gods, under the name of Thoth. Years after, the people of Ancient Greece also made him one of their many gods–calling him “Hermes, the god of Wisdom.” The Egyptians revered his memory for many centuries- calling him “the Scribe of the Gods,” and bestowing upon him, distinctively, his ancient title, “Trismegistus,” which means “the thrice great”;

…there were always a few faithful souls who kept alive the Flame, tending it carefully, and not allowing its light to become extinguished. And thanks to these staunch hearts, and fearless minds, we have the truth still with us. But it is not found in books, to any great extent. It has been passed along from Master to Student; from Initiate to Hierophant; from lip to ear. When it was written down at all, its meaning was veiled in terms of alchemy and astrology so that only those possessing the key could read it aright… the Hermetic Philosophy is the only Master Key which will open all the doors of the Occult Teachings!

These teachings really constituted the basic principles of “The Art of Hermetic Alchemy,” which, contrary to the general belief, dealt in the mastery of Mental Forces, rather than Material Elements-the Transmutation of one kind of Mental Vibrations into others, instead of the changing of one kind of metal into another. The legends of the “Philosopher’s Stone” which would turn base metal into Gold, was an allegory relating to Hermetic Philosophy, readily understood by all students of true Hermeticism.

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. So mote it be!

Chapter 2. 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.”–The Kybalion.

The Seven Hermetic Principles, upon which the entire Hermetic Philosophy is based, are as follows;

1. The Principle of Mentalism

“THE ALL IS MIND; The Universe is Mental.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that “All is Mind.” It explains that THE ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of “The Material Universe”; the “Phenomena of Life”; “Matter”; “Energy”; and, in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is SPIRIT which in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered and thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND.

2. The Principle of Correspondence.

“As above, so below; as below, so above.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life. The old Hermetic axiom ran in these words: “As above, so below; as below, so above.” And the grasping of this Principle gives one the means of solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret of Nature. There are planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the Principle of Correspondence to them we are able to understand much that would otherwise be unknowable to us. This Principle is of universal application and manifestation, on the various planes of the material, mental, and spiritual universe–it is an Universal Law.

3. The Principle of Vibration

“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that “everything is in motion”; “everything vibrates”; “nothing is at rest”; facts which Modern Science endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to verify. And yet this Hermetic Principle was enunciated thousands of years ago, by the Masters of Ancient Egypt. This Principle explains that the differences between different manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind, and even Spirit, result largely from varying rates of Vibration. From THE ALL, which is Pure Spirit, down to the grossest form of Matter, all is in vibration–the higher the vibration, the higher the position in the scale.

4.  The Principle of Polarity

“Everything 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 Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that “everything is dual”; “everything has two poles”; “everything has its pair of opposites,” all of which were old Hermetic axioms. It explains the old paradoxes, that have perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows: “Thesis and antithesis are identical in nature, but different in degree”; “opposites are the same, differing only in degree”; “the pairs of opposites may be reconciled”; “extremes meet”; “everything is and isn’t, at the same time”; “all truths are but half-truths”; “every truth is half-false”; “there are two sides to everything,” etc., etc., etc. It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that “opposites” are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them. To illustrate: Heat and Cold, although “opposites,” are really the same thing, the differences consisting merely of degrees of the same thing. Look at your thermometer and see if you can discover where “heat” terminates and “cold” begins! There is no such thing as “absolute heat” or “absolute cold”–the two terms “heat” and “cold” simply indicate varying degrees of the same thing, and that “same thing” which manifests as “heat” and “cold” is merely a form, variety, and rate of Vibration. 

5.  The Principle of Rhythm

“Everything 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; rhythm compensates.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion, to and fro; a flow and inflow; a swing backward and forward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a hightide and low-tide; between the two poles which exist in accordance with the Principle of Polarity described a moment ago. There is always an action and a reaction; an advance and a retreat; a rising and a sinking. This is in the affairs of the Universe, suns, worlds, men, animals, mind, energy, and matter. This law is manifest in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the mental states of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists find the understanding of the Principle most important). The Hermetists have grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by the use of the appropriate formulas and methods.

6.  The Principle of Cause and Effect

“Every 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 the Law.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the fact that there is a Cause for every Effect; an Effect from every Cause. It explains that: “Everything Happens according to Law”; that nothing ever “merely happens”; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes of Cause and Effect, the higher dominating the lower planes, still nothing ever entirely escapes the Law. The Hermetists understand the art and methods of rising above the ordinary plane of Cause and Effect, to a certain degree, and by mentally rising to a higher plane they become Causers instead of Effects. The masses of people are carried along, obedient to environment; the wills and desires of others stronger than themselves; heredity; suggestion; and other outward causes moving them about like pawns on the Chessboard of Life. But the Masters, rising to the plane above, dominate their moods, characters, qualities, and powers, as well as the environment surrounding them, and become Movers instead of pawns. They help to PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE, instead of being played and moved about by other wills and environment. They USE the Principle instead of being its tools. The Masters obey the Causation of the higher planes, but they help to RULE on their own plane.

7.  The Principle of Gender

“Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.”–The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that there is GENDER manifested in everything–the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work. This is true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the Mental and even the Spiritual Planes. On the Physical Plane, the Principle manifests as SEX, on the higher planes it takes higher forms, but the Principle is ever the same. No creation, physical, mental or spiritual, is possible without this Principle. An understanding of its laws will throw light on many a subject that has perplexed the minds of men. The Principle of Gender works ever in the direction of generation, regeneration, and creation. Everything, and every person, contains the two Elements or Principles, or this great Principle, within it, him or her. Every Male thing has the Female Element also; every Female contains also the Male Principle. If you would understand the philosophy of Mental and Spiritual Creation, Generation, and Re-generation, you must understand and study this Hermetic Principle. It contains the solution of many mysteries of Life.

Chapter 3. Mental Transmutation

“Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted, from state to state; degree to degree; condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration. True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.”–The Kybalion.

• The truth is, that beneath the material chemistry, astronomy and psychology (that is, the psychology in its phase of “brain-action”) the ancients possessed a knowledge of transcendental astronomy, called astrology; of transcendental chemistry, called alchemy; of transcendental psychology, called mystic psychology.
• If the Universe is Mental in its nature, then Mental Transmutation must be the art of CHANGING THE CONDITIONS OF THE UNIVERSE, along the lines of Matter, Force and mind. So you see, therefore, that Mental Transmutation is really the “Magic” of which the ancient;
• In this little book we shall state the basic principles of Mental Transmutation, that all who read may grasp the Underlying Principles, and thus possess the Master-Key that will unlock the many doors of the Principle of Polarity.
• “THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental,” in the words of The Kybalion. We ask the close attention, and careful study of this great Principle, on the part of our students, for it is really the Basic Principle of the whole Hermetic Philosophy, and of the Hermetic Art of Mental Transmutation.

Chapter 4. The All 

“Under, and back of, the Universe of Time, Space and Change, is ever to be found The Substantial Reality–the Fundamental Truth.”–The Kybalion.

• Under and behind all outward appearances or manifestations, there must always be a Substantial Reality. This is the Law.
• …And if he be a thinking man, he realizes that all of these changing things must be but outward appearances or manifestations of some Underlying Power–some Substantial Reality.
• “THAT which is the Fundamental Truth–the Substantial Reality–is beyond true naming, but the Wise Men call it THE ALL.”–The Kybalion.
• “In its Essence, THE ALL is UNKNOWABLE.”–The Kybalion.
• “But, the report of Reason must be hospitably received, and treated with respect.”–The Kybalion.
• THE ALL being Infinite, Absolute, Eternal and Unchangeable it must follow that anything finite, changeable, fleeting, and conditioned cannot be THE ALL. And as there is Nothing outside of THE ALL, in Reality, then any and all such finite things must be as Nothing in Reality.
• “THE ALL” is Infinite Living Mind–the Illumined call it SPIRIT!
• ******It may help you to get the proper idea, if you will apply the Law of Correspondence to yourself, and your own mind. You know that the part of You which you call “I,” in a sense, stands apart and witnesses the creation of mental Images in your own mind. The part of your mind in which the mental generation is accomplished may be called the “Me” in distinction from the “I” which stands apart and witnesses and examines the thoughts, ideas and images of the “Me.” “As above, so below,” remember, and the phenomena of one plane may be employed to solve the riddles of higher or lower planes.
• *******
• Is it any wonder that You, the child, feel that instinctive reverence for THE ALL, which feeling we call “religion”–that respect, and reverence for THE FATHER MIND? Is it any wonder that, when you consider the works and wonders of Nature, you are overcome with a mighty feeling which has its roots away down in your inmost being? It is the MOTHER MIND that you are pressing close up to, like a babe to the breast.
• And, in the meantime, rest calm and serene–you are safe and protected by the Infinite Power of the FATHER-MOTHER MIND. “Within the Father-Mother Mind, mortal children are at home.”–The Kybalion. “There is not one who is Fatherless, nor Motherless in the Universe.”–The Kybalion.

Chapter 5. The Mental Universe 

“The Universe is Mental–held in the Mind of THE ALL.”–The Kybalion.

• “THE ALL creates in its Infinite Mind countless Universes, which exist for aeons of Time–and yet, to THE ALL, the creation, development, decline and death of a million Universes is as the time of the twinkling of an eye.”–The Kybalion.
• “The Infinite Mind of THE ALL is the womb of Universes.”–The Kybalion.
• But, the Hermetic teaching does not imply a real duality–THE ALL is ONE–the Two Aspects are merely aspects of manifestation. The teaching is that The Masculine Principle manifested by THE ALL stands, in a way, apart from the actual mental creation of the Universe. It projects its Will toward the Feminine Principle (which may be called “Nature”) whereupon the latter begins the actual work of the evolution of the Universe, from simple “centers of activity” on to man, and then on and on still higher, all according to well-established and firmly enforced Laws of Nature.
• It may help you to get the proper idea, if you will apply the Law of Correspondence to yourself, and your own mind. You know that the part of You which you call “I,” in a sense, stands apart and witnesses the creation of mental Images in your own mind. The part of your mind in which the mental generation is accomplished may be called the “Me” in distinction from the “I” which stands apart and witnesses and examines the thoughts, ideas and images of the “Me.” “As above, so below,” remember, and the phenomena of one plane may be employed to solve the riddles of higher or lower planes.

Chapter 6. The Divine Paradox 

“The half-wise, recognizing the comparative unreality of the Universe, imagine that they may defy its Laws–such are vain and presumptuous fools, and 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 and fantastic imaginings or living, but in using the higher forces against the lower–escaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher. Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master.”–The Kybalion.

This is the Paradox of the Universe, resulting from the Principle of Polarity which manifests when THE ALL begins to Create–hearken to it for it points the difference between half-wisdom and wisdom.

• Keep your mind ever on the Star, but let your eyes watch over your footsteps, lest you fall into the mire by reason of your upward gaze.
• Universe IS NOT, still IT IS. Remember ever the Two Poles of Truth the Absolute and the Relative. Beware of Half-Truths.
• What Hermetists know as “the Law of Paradox” is an aspect of the Principle of Polarity. The Hermetic writings are filled with references to the appearance of the Paradox in the consideration of the problems of Life and Being.
• Anything that has a beginning and an ending must be, in a sense, unreal and untrue, and the Universe comes under the rule, in all schools of thought.
• Whether the Universe be created of Matter, or whether it be a Mental Creation in the Mind of THE ALL–it is unsubstantial, non enduring, a thing of time, space and change.
• But the Absolute point of view shows merely one side of the picture–the other side is the Relative one. Absolute Truth has been defined as “Things as the mind of God knows them,” while Relative Truth is “Things as the highest reason of Man understands them.”
• …fact that matter “exists” to our senses–we will fare badly if we do not… best, if it were not by reason of our Mind, we would not know the foot or stone at all.  
• friends, to mortals this Universe of Mentality 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.
• …We may deny its mastery over us–and rightly so–but we should not attempt to ignore it in its relative aspect, at least so long as we dwell upon its plane
• Those Laws which THE ALL intends to be governing Laws are not to be defied or argued away. So long as the Universe endures, will they endure–for the Universe exists by virtue of these Laws which form its framework and which hold it together.
• to grasp the underlying principle of “THE ALL is Mind; the Universe is Mental– held in the mind of THE ALL.” …the Universe and its laws, and its phenomena, are just as REAL, so far as Man is concerned, as they would be under the hypotheses of Materialism or Energism. …to ACT AND LIVE as if the fleeting things were real and substantial
• …under the old views Mental Power was ignored as a Natural Force, while under Mentalism it becomes the Greatest Natural Force. And this one difference revolutionizes Life, to those who understand the Principle and its resulting laws and practice
• “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, and fantastic imaginings or living, but in using the higher forces against the lower–escaping the pains of the lower planes by vibrating on the higher.” Remember always, student, that “Transmutation, not presumptuous denial, is the weapon of the Master.”  
• The true Meaning of Life is not known to men on this plane if, indeed, to any–but the highest authorities, and our own intuitions, teach us that we will make no mistake in living up to the best that is in us, so far as is possible, and realising the Universal tendency in the same direction in spite of apparent evidence to the contrary. We are all on The Path–and the road leads upward ever, with frequent resting places.

Chapter 7. “The All” In All  

“While All is in THE ALL, it is equally true that THE ALL is in ALL. To him who truly understands this truth hath come great knowledge.”–The Kybalion.

• creators? The Law of Paradox explains that both propositions are true, viewed from the proper viewpoints.
• of “All in THE ALL; and THE ALL in All?”
• while the Universe is a creation of Infinite Mind–and the difference between the two poles separates them. And yet it is merely a matter of degree–the same Principle is in operation–the Principle of Correspondence manifests in each–“As above, so Below; as Below, so above.”
• This is what spiritual development means–the recognition, realization, and manifestation of the Spirit within us.

• The above illustration of the “meditation,” and subsequent “awakening from meditation,” of THE ALL, is of course but an attempt of the teachers to describe the Infinite process by a finite example. And, yet: “As Below, so Above.” The difference is merely in degree. And just as THE ALL arouses itself from the meditation upon the Universe, so does Man (in time) cease from manifesting upon the Material Plane, and withdraws himself more and more into the Indwelling Spirit, which is indeed “The Divine Ego.”

   

Chapter 8. Planes Of Correspondence  

“As above, so below; as below, so above.”–The Kybalion.

…

• The great Second Hermetic Principle embodies the truth that there is a harmony, agreement, and correspondence between the several planes of Manifestation, Life and Being.
• …known as the Three Great Planes, namely: 1. The Great Physical Plane. 2. The Great Mental Plane. 3. The Great Spiritual Plane.
• These divisions are more or less artificial and arbitrary, for the truth is that all of the three divisions are but ascending degrees of the great scale of Life, the lowest point of which is undifferentiated Matter, and the highest point that of Spirit. …In short, the Three Great Planes may be regarded as three great groups of degrees of Life Manifestation
• This Fourth Dimension may be called “The Dimension of Vibration” It is a fact well known to modern science, as well as to the Hermetists who have embodied the truth in their “Third Hermetic Principle,” that “everything is in motion; everything vibrates; nothing is at rest.”
• The higher the degree of rate of vibration, the higher the plane, and the higher the manifestation of Life occupying that plane.
• …These Seven Minor Physical Planes are as follows: 1. The Plane of Matter (A) 2. The Plane of Matter (B) 3. The Plane of Matter (C) 4. The Plane of Ethereal Substance 5. The Plane of Energy (A) 6. The Plane of Energy (B) 7. The Plane of Energy (C)
• The Plane of Matter (A) comprises the forms of Matter in its form of solids, liquids, and gases, as generally recognized by the text-books on physics.
• The Plane of Matter (B) comprises certain higher and more subtle forms of Matter of the existence of which modern science is but now recognizing, the phenomena of Radiant Matter, in its phases of radium, etc., belonging to the lower sub-division of this Minor Plane.
• The Plane of Matter (C) comprises forms of the most subtle and tenuous Matter, the existence of which is not suspected by ordinary scientists. The Plane of Ethereal Substance comprises that which science speaks of as “The Ether”, a substance of extreme tenuity and elasticity, pervading all Universal Space, and acting as a medium for the transmission of waves of energy, such as light, heat, electricity, etc. This Ethereal Substance forms a connecting link between Matter (so-called) and Energy, and partakes of the nature of each.

   

• …

Chapter 9. Vibration  

“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”–The Kybalion.

…

• The great Third Hermetic Principle–the Principle of Vibration– embodies the truth that Motion is manifest in everything in the Universe–that nothing is at rest–that everything moves, vibrates, and circles.
• …that the “differences” between the various manifestations of the universal power are due entirely to the varying rate and mode of vibrations.
• that Spirit is at one end of the Pole of Vibration, the other Pole being certain extremely gross forms of Matter. Between these two poles are millions upon millions of different rates and modes of vibration.
• Science teaches that Light, Heat, Magnetism and Electricity are but forms of vibratory motion connected in some way with, and probably emanating from the Ether.
• this Ethereal Substance is of extreme tenuity and elasticity, and pervades universal space, serving as a medium of transmission of waves of vibratory energy, such as heat, light, electricity, magnetism, etc.
• them. In short, he may be able to produce on the Mental Plane that which science produces on the Physical Plane–namely, “Vibrations at Will.”
•  As one of the old Hermetic writers has truly said: “He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has grasped the scepter of Power.” 

Chapter 10. Polarity  

“Everything 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 Kybalion.

• The great Fourth Hermetic Principle–the Principle of Polarity embodies the truth that all manifested things have “two sides”; “two aspects”; “two poles”; a “pair of opposites,” with manifold degrees between the two extremes.

• Then passing on to the Physical Plane, they illustrate the Principle by showing that Heat and Cold are identical in nature, the differences being merely a matter of degrees…

• Between these two poles are many degrees of “heat” or “cold,” call them either and you are equally correct.

• Light and Darkness are poles of the same thing, with many degrees between them.

• And it is this fact that enables the Hermetist to transmute one mental state into another, along the lines of Polarization. Things belonging to different classes cannot be transmuted into each other, but things of the same class may be changed, that is, may have their polarity changed.

• He will see that these states are all matters of degree, and seeing thus, he will be able to raise or lower the vibration at will–to change his mental poles, and thus be Master of his mental states, instead of being their servant and slave. And by his knowledge he will be able to aid his fellows intelligently and by the appropriate methods change the polarity when the same is desirable.

Chapter 11. Rhythm   

“Everything 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; rhythm compensates”–The Kybalion.

• The great Fifth Hermetic Principle–the Principle of Rhythm-embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion; a to and-from movement; a flow and inflow; a swing forward and backward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a high-tide and a low- tide; between the two-poles manifest on the physical, mental or spiritual planes.

• Rhythm manifests between the two poles established by the Principle of Polarity… the swing is ever “toward” first one pole and then the other.

• Night follows day; and day night. The pendulum swings from Summer to Winter, and then back again. The corpuscles, atoms, molecules, and all masses of matter, swing around the circle of their nature.

• They discovered that there were two general planes of Consciousness, the Lower and the Higher, the understanding of which fact enabled them to rise to the higher plane and thus escape the swing of the Rhythmic pendulum which manifested on the lower plane.

• This they call the Law of Neutralization. Its operations consist in the raising of the Ego above the vibrations of the Unconscious Plane of mental activity, so that the negative-swing of the pendulum is not manifested in consciousness, and therefore they are not affected.

• …by the use of his Will he attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of those who allow themselves to be swung backward and forward by the mental pendulum of moods and feelings

• The Will is superior to the conscious manifestation of this Principle, although the Principle itself can never be destroyed. We may escape its effects, but the Principle operates, nevertheless. The pendulum ever swings, although we may escape being carried along with it.

• The Law of Compensation is that the swing in one direction determines the swing in the opposite direction, or to the opposite pole-the one balances, or counterbalances, the other.

• escape the swing toward Pain, by the process of Neutralization before mentioned. By rising on to the higher plane of the Ego, much of the experience that comes to those dwelling on the lower plane is avoided and escaped.

• The Law of Compensation is ever in operation, striving to balance and counter-balance, and always succeeding in time, even though several lives may be required for the return swing of the Pendulum of Rhythm.

Chapter 12. Causation  

“Every 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 the Law.”–The Kybalion.

• There is always a “cause” and a “because” to every event. Nothing ever “happens” without a cause, or rather a chain of causes.
• Some confusion has arisen in the minds of persons considering this Principle, from the fact that they were unable to explain how one thing could cause another thing–that is, be the “creator” of the second thing.

• “The further the creation is from the Centre, the more it is bound; the nearer the Centre it reaches, the nearer Free is it.”

• The majority of people are more or less the slaves of heredity, environment, etc., and manifest very little Freedom. They are swayed by the opinions, customs and thoughts of the outside world, and also by their emotions, feelings, moods, etc.

• …

Chapter 13. Gender  

“Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.”–The Kybalion.

• that Gender, in its Hermetic sense, and Sex in the ordinarily accepted use of the term, are not the same.
• The office of Gender is solely that of creating, producing, generating, etc., and its manifestations are visible on every plane of phenomena.

• …the Masculine principle of Gender with the “Positive,” and the Feminine with the “Negative” Poles of Electricity (so called).

• The so-called Negative pole of the battery is really the pole in and by which the generation or production of new forms and energies is manifested

• The part of the Masculine principle seems to be that of directing a certain inherent energy toward the Feminine principle, and thus starting into activity the creative processes. But the Feminine principle is the one always doing the active creative work-and this is so on all planes.

•  …

Chapter 14. Mental Gender  

• …these “two minds.” The late Thomson J. Hudson attained great popularity in 1893 by advancing his well-known theory of the “objective and subjective minds” which he held existed in every individual. Other writers have attracted almost equal attention by the theories regarding the “conscious and subconscious minds”; the “voluntary and involuntary minds”; “the active and passive minds,” etc., etc. The theories of the various writers differ from each other, but there remains the underlying principle of “the duality of mind.”

• The Masculine Principle of Mind corresponds to the so-called Objective Mind; Conscious Mind; Voluntary Mind; Active Mind, etc. And the Feminine Principle of Mind corresponds to the so called Subjective Mind; Sub-conscious Mind; Involuntary Mind; Passive Mind, etc.

• While at first there seems to be only an “I” existing, a more careful and closer examination reveals the fact that there exists an “I” and a “Me.” These mental twins differ in their characteristics and nature, and an examination of their nature and the phenomena arising from the same will throw much light upon many of the problems of mental influence.

• A man thinks of his Self (in its aspect of Me) as being composed of certain feelings, tastes likes, dislikes, habits, peculiar ties, characteristics, etc., all of which go to make up his personality, or the “Self” known to himself and others.

• He finds that there exists a mental Something which is able to Will that the “Me” act along certain creative lines, and which is also able to stand aside and witness the mental creation. This part of himself he is taught to call his “I.”

• He is able to rest in its consciousness at will. He finds there not a consciousness of an ability to generate and actively create, in the sense of the gradual process attendant upon mental operations, but rather a sense and consciousness of an ability to project an energy from the “I” to the “Me”–a process of “willing” that the mental creation begin and proceed.

• He also finds that the “I” is able to stand aside and witness the operations of the “Me’s” mental creation and generation. There is this dual aspect in the mind of every person.

• The “I” represents the Masculine Principle of Mental Gender-the “Me” represents the Female Principle. The “I” represents the Aspect of Being; the “Me” the Aspect of Becoming.

• These aspects of mind-the Masculine and Feminine Principles-the “I” and the “Me”-considered in connection with the well-known mental and psychic phenomena, give the master-key to these dimly known regions of mental operation and manifestation. The principle of Mental Gender gives the truth underlying the whole field of the phenomena of mental influence, etc.

• The Feminine Principle conducts the work of generating new thoughts, concepts, ideas, including the work of the imagination.

• The Masculine Principle contents itself with the work of the “Will” in its varied phases.

• And yet, without the active aid of the Will of the Masculine Principle, the Feminine Principle is apt to rest content with generating mental images which are the result of impressions received from outside, instead of producing original mental creations.

• The purpose of this work is not to give an extended account of psychic phenomena but rather to give to the student a master-key whereby He may unlock the many doors leading into the parts of the Temple of Knowledge which he may wish to explore.

Chapter 15. Hermetic Axioms  

• “The possession of Knowledge, unless accompanied by a manifestation and expression in Action, is like the hoarding of precious metals-a vain and foolish thing. Knowledge, like wealth, is intended for Use. The Law of Use is Universal, and he who violates it suffers by reason of his conflict with natural forces.”–The Kybalion.
• “To change your mood or mental state–change your vibration.”–The Kybalion.
• “To destroy an undesirable rate of mental vibration, put into operation the principle of Polarity and concentrate upon the opposite pole to that which you desire to suppress. Kill out the undesirable by changing its polarity.”–The Kybalion.
• “Mind (as well as metals and elements) may be transmuted from state to state; degree to degree, condition to condition; pole to pole; vibration to vibration.”–The Kybalion.
• “Rhythm may be neutralized by an application of the Art of Polarization.”–The Kybalion.
• “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 Kybalion.
• “The wise ones serve on the higher, but rule on the lower. They obey the laws coming from above them, But on their own plane, and those below them they rule and give orders. And, yet, in so doing, they form a part of the Principle, instead of opposing it. The wise man falls in with the Law, and by understanding its movements he operates it instead of being its blind slave. Just as does the skilled swimmer turn this way and that way, going and coming as he will, instead of being as the log which is carried here and there–so is the wise man as compared to the ordinary man–and yet both swimmer and log; wise man and fool, are subject to Law. He who understands this is well on the road to Mastery.”–The Kybalion.

• “True Hermetic Transmutation is a Mental Art.”–The Kybalion

• “THE ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental.”–The Kybalion.

The Kybalion

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