The Three Initiates

Published in 1908, The Kybalion is a book presented as a distillation of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, authored by "Three Initiates." While it touches upon concepts found in ancient Hermetic texts, such as mentalism and the principle of correspondence ('as above, so below'), its overall framework is heavily shaped by the ideas of the New Thought movement, to which the likely author, William Walker Atkinson, belonged. The book outlines seven core Hermetic principles that it claims form the basis of all Hermetic philosophy. Despite its claims, scholarly analysis suggests the title itself may be a fabricated term to imply antiquity, and many of its principles, like vibration, have origins outside traditional Hermeticism. The Kybalion has been particularly influential in New Age circles since the mid-20th century.

The central framework of The Kybalion is built upon seven principles presented as the foundation of Hermetic philosophy. These are: the principle of mentalism, stating that "The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental"; the principle of correspondence, summarized as "As above, so below; as below, so above," indicating a connection between different planes of existence; the principle of vibration, asserting that "Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates"; the principle of polarity, which posits that "Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites"; the principle of rhythm, describing the ebb and flow in all things, where "Everything flows, out and in"; the principle of cause and effect, stating "Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause; everything happens according to law"; and the principle of gender, which holds that "Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles."

While The Kybalion incorporates elements found in ancient and medieval Hermetic texts, such as philosophical mentalism and the concept of "as above, so below," its overall substance and presentation are significantly distinct from the traditional Hermetica. Scholars note that principles like mentalism have parallels in ancient Greek Hermetic writings, but others, such as the principle of vibration, originate from later philosophical traditions like that of David Hartley. Furthermore, The Kybalion's emphasis on "mental transmutation" and its generally anti-theological stance contrast sharply with the reverence for and unification with the divine that characterizes much of historical Hermeticism. This divergence leads to the conclusion that The Kybalion is more a product of early 20th-century New Thought ideas than a direct continuation of ancient Hermetic philosophy.

“The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.”

“As above, so below; as below, so above.””

“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”

“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.”

“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.”