Principles

The term "Principles" originates from the Latin "principium," meaning "beginning," "origin," or "foundation." It signifies the primary elements or fundamental truths upon which something else is based. Its usage in esoteric contexts reflects a search for the foundational building blocks of reality.

The Elements or original essences, the basic diflfertnitiations upon and of which all things are built up. We use the term to denote the seven individual and fundamental aspects of the One Universal Reality in Kosmos and in man. Plence also the seven aspects in their manifestation in the human being — divine, spiritual, psychic, asti-al. jtliysiological and simply physical. Priyavrata (Sh\). The name of the son of Swayambhuva .Maim in exoteric Hinduism. Th(> occult designation of one of the primeval races in Occultism.

Blavatsky’s use of "Principles" points to a profound metaphysical architecture, a scaffolding upon which existence is erected. It’s not merely about identifying discrete elements, but about recognizing their hierarchical relationship and their unified origin in the "One Universal Reality." This echoes the alchemical quest for the prima materia, the fundamental substance from which all transformations occur, and the Hermetic axiom that "As above, so below," implying a correspondence between cosmic principles and human constitution. Mircea Eliade, in his studies of shamanism and archaic religions, often highlighted the importance of understanding the cosmological order, the fundamental principles that govern the visible and invisible worlds, as a means for the initiate to orient themselves and gain power.

In the human being, these principles, described as divine, spiritual, psychic, astral, physiological, and physical, suggest a layered existence, a series of nested realities within the self. This resonates with Carl Jung’s concept of archetypes as universal psychic structures, fundamental patterns of the collective unconscious that inform our individual experiences. The exploration of these principles invites a practice of inner discernment, a conscious awareness of the different levels of being that constitute our awareness, moving beyond the purely physical to the subtler planes. It’s an invitation to perceive the interconnectedness of the spiritual, mental, and material, and to understand how the macrocosm is mirrored in the microcosm, not as a mere analogy, but as a fundamental structural truth. This perspective encourages a holistic understanding of oneself and the universe, moving beyond superficial observation to grasp the underlying dynamics of manifestation. It suggests that true wisdom lies in recognizing the essential unity that underlies apparent diversity.