The Hermetic Revival: 7

Ancient Principles For

Self-Mastery
Colton Swabb
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Feb 26, 2018 · 21 min read
The universe runs on natural laws. Apples fall. Birds fly. We live.
We die.

When we take the time to understand these laws, we can use them.
We can leverage them. We can push against gravity to fly. We can
use the knowledge one day we must die, to live better lives.

And since the very beginning of civilization the wisest of us have

been united by this pursuit of discovering what these natural laws
are, so we can learn from them and use them to experience more
happiness, meaning, and control over our lives in the time we do
have.

These days, this pursuit manifests as the top shelf of the self-help
and personal growth sections at the bookstore. But nearly 2,000
years ago, when these themes and ideas would get you killed for
heresy and blasphemy, they were discussed in whispered tones
and passed down only from a master to their student in moments
extreme trust.

However, through effort of preservation and excavation we are

able to get look into our philosophical past and a once-great
tradition, which lead to an overall greater understanding of the
universe, our place in it, and catalyzed the Italian creative
renaissance, influenced the American revolutionaries, and now
shows up in much of modern day personal growth media.
This tradition, is Hermeticism.

What Is Hermeticism?
The hermetic tradition represents a non-Christian lineage of
Gnosticism, which is the name for a variety of ancient religious
ideas and systems dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries A.D.

The surviving writings of Hermeticism are known as the Corpus

Hermetica, which is composed of a series of letters from a master,
Hermes Trismegistus, wherein he tries to enlighten his disciple.
These letters were lost to the western world after classical times,
but survived in the Byzantine libraries.

In the Fifteenth century, the letters were rediscovered and

translated into Latin by the court of Cosimo de Medici (yes,
grandfather to Lorenzo de’ Medici, the patron of Leonardo Da
Vinci and several other renaissance artists). These letters were so
influential during the time that they acted as a catalyst in the
development of Italian Renaissance thought and culture.
Leonardo Da Vinci — Self-Portrait

Inspired by this wave of innovation, these timeless principles were

resurrected again by the Freemasons and showed up in the
teachings of the American revolutionaries.
But why is this philosophy so influential?
Being a Gnostic tradition, Hermeticism is a school of ideas and
systems that focuses on the pursuit of Gnosis — meaning the
pursuit of empirical knowledge pertaining to spiritual mysteries.

You see, in a historical world where all major religions had

gatekeepers to the spiritual experience, the Gnostics, and later
Hermeticists, rebelled in thought.

They took the pursuit of the mystical experience into their own
hands and developed a way of thinking about the world that
helped them communicate with and directly experience what they
call ‘a more visionary reality.’

Which begs the question, what kind of man was Hermes

Trismegistus, and what made him so widely influential?

Who is Hermes Trismegistus?

HERMES MERCURIUS TRISMEGISTUS

“Master of all arts and sciences, perfect in all crafts, Ruler of the
Three Worlds, Scribe of the Gods, and Keeper of the Books of Life,
Thoth Hermes Trismegistus — the Three Times Greatest, the
“First Intelligencer” — was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as
the embodiment of the Universal Mind. While in all probability
there actually existed a great sage and educator by the name of
Hermes, it is impossible to extricate the historical man from the
mass of legendary accounts which attempt to identify him with
the Cosmic Principle of Thought.”

Manly P. Hall — The Secret Teachings of All Ages

Hermes Trismegistus is the purported author of both the Emerald

Tablet and the Corpus Hermeticum, and one of those characters in
history that blend the mythical with the actual.

Hermes Trismegistus is the author who represents a combination

of the Egyptian God Thoth and the Greek God Hermes, who were
both gods of writing and magic in their respective cultures.

Hermes was credited with tens of thousands of highly esteemed

writings, from both Egypt and Greece, suggesting a shared cultural
tradition between the two in the man. And while the Italian
Renaissance believed Hermes to be an Egyptian Priest, it is
possible the Corpus Hermetica was actually written by a collective
unknown authors who were Platonistic and Stoic Greeks.

All that can be said for sure, is that the 7 Hermetic Laws shared in
the Corpus Hermetic have been found in part in the Nag
Hammadhi library in 4th century Egypt A.D., and even in the
Emerald Tablets of Thoth — proving a common thread of some
sort.
Whether Hermes actually existed, was in fact both the Greek God
Hermes and the Egyptian God Thoth, and represented a shared a
cultural link between Ancient Greece and Egypt — there is no way
to know. Especially since practicing sincerely the following
teachings of the “three times great” mystic, what it means to
actually exist will change.

What we can be certain of, is that these principles of Hermeticism

held immense value for these ancient cultures, whoever their
author may be. And whenever they resurface in culture, they act as
a catalyst to creative renaissance, revolutions, and cultural
regeneration.

These 7 Laws are some of the oldest and most influential systems
of thinking, which will expand horizons, broaden possibilities, and
aid one in the pursuit of fuller, happier, more meaningful and
longer life — as much today as they ever have.

While reading these principles, remember that they were written

thousands of years ago, before any modern science verified their
unusually accurate (and esoteric) claims.

The 7 Hermetic Principles for Self-Mastery

1. The Principle of Mentalism:

The All is mind; The Universe is Mental.

This first principle embodies the truth that ‘All is Mind.’ Meaning,
the Universe itself, at an underlying and foundational level, is
Mental. That all phenomena of life, matter and energy of the
material universe are thoughts of an infinite and universal, living
Mind. Which means all things share a connection in the fact they
exist within the Mind of ‘THE ALL’, as it is put, and therefore are
all subject to the laws of created things. This Mental Universe, for
the sake of experiment, could be explained as an infinite
intelligence, intelligent field, and even the nature of consciousness
itself. Creating a dialogue of thought, which dances with thought.

The Principle of Mentalism, explains the nature of ‘energy,’

‘power,’ and ‘matter’ as being subordinate to the Mind, as it shows
up within ourselves and the pervading nature of all things.

When you view everything you think, and therefore do, as an

interaction of thought with thought, you develop an understanding
of the first principle of Mentalism, which allows you to grasp the
the laws of the Mental Universe, being the 7 Hermetic Principles,
and apply them to your well-being and personal advancement.
Like using the knowledge of the Principle of Polarity, which is the
fourth Hermetic principle, to understand that love and hate are
the same intensity of emotion, varying only in degree. And
through the power of the mind, can be transferred from one
degree to another by the power of objective thinking and conscious
choice. The two emotions maintain their intensity, only changing
in degree to suit whatever outcome and experience you most
desire. This is possible by the law of Mentalism to influence other
laws, and the ability for the mental plane to influence what
happens on other planes.

In Hermeticism, there are many descriptions of different planes,

levels or dimenions of existence, that overlay atop one another.
They are usually depicted as layers of a concentric circle, where the
inner-layers are more foundational and influence the outer layers.
In Hermeticism, there are three Great Planes: the mental plane,
physical plane, and spiritual plane. Which have varying lesser-
planes between them that differ in degrees between
undifferentiated matter and spirit.

From a first person perspective, the mental plane is experienced

simply as thought, insight, intuition, and reason. But wisdom of
how this plane corresponds with other, unseen, or causal planes,
tells us that there may be more to our thoughts than we perceive.
That our thoughts are not tied simply to the physical plane, and
have an effect on an energetic and spiritual level, which is less
obvious but still very real.
The different planes influencing the physical plane, visualized.

This principle is what allows the student to apply their mental

faculty to leverage all other laws, almost perceiving thought as the
operating system, that allows us to interface with other layers of
being. To anticipate other natural and energetic laws, and cause
them to occur in ways that benefit us. Making a science of all
phenomena of the universe, because all other planes still exist
within the realm of a Mental Universe — and therefore can be
reasoned with. Through this principle David can take down
Goliath, man can explore the Moon, and we can reason with all
phenomena of the Mental universe.

2. The Principle of Correspondence:

As above, so below; as below, so above. As within, so without; as

without, so within.
This principle embodies the truth that there is always a
correspondence between the laws and phenomena of various
planes that manifest as being and life. Grasping this principle is
what allows one to deduce the hidden solutions to problems by
looking at what exists a layer above, and below the problem, to
infer the pattern and shadow nature of what is in-between.

Of course, there are planes and phenomena beyond our knowing,

as we are limited to the spectrums of visible light and audible
sound, but by witnessing the patterns that do exist in our
dimension we can deduce what may exist in higher and lower
ones.

Just as the knowledge of Geometry allows one to measure the

cosmos and map its movements, as a dance of spheres and spirals.
Observing the Principle of Correspondence, we can come to know
the whole of the Universe by exploring the higher and lower
nature of things, which surround the mystery. And likewise,
discover more of ourselves, by experiencing and studying the
world we are integrally a part of through the pursuit of Gnosis. The
micro is in the macro, and vice versa.

3. The Principle of Vibration:

Nothing rests; Everything moves; Everything vibrates.

This principle embodies the truths that ‘nothing rests,’ ‘everything
is in motion,’ and ‘everything vibrates.’ It explains that matter,
energy, and even spirit, are simply varying rates of vibration.

A classic example of this being frequency in which the seven

octaves of music, tuned up 44 octaves, miraculously becomes the
spectrum of visible light (passing through states of being the buzz
pitch of insects, ultra-sound, plasma, ether, hyper sound, and even
octaves of heat.) While they change manifestation, the vibrations
maintain the same correspondence, the difference being only in
measurement and energy as frequencies slide up the
electromagnetic spectrum.

At the highest rates of vibration the rate and intensity are so rapid
it appears to be motionless, like a spinning wheel appearing stable.
And at the lowest levels of vibration, objects move so slowly they
appear to be totally at rest. Between these two, exist infinite
manifestations all occurring at varying octaves of vibration, each
with their own phenomena.

Knowing this, Hermeticists believe that even thoughts have their

own rate of vibration, and can be controlled like tuning an
instrument, to produce various results for the aim of self and
environment mastery. As your understanding of vibration,
frequency, harmony and resonance increase, so too shall your
power over yourself and your world.

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 fourth principle embodies the truth that ‘everything has its
pair of opposites,’ ‘everything has two poles,’ and exists in a state
of ‘duality.’ But the true nature of this principle is that ‘opposites
are the same, only varying in degree.’

It explains that there are two poles in everything and that

opposites are really only two extremes of the same thing, the
difference being only in degree. An obvious example being hot and
cold — both being temperature, varying only in degree. And that
there is no clear crossover moment when hot stops being hot, and
starts being cold and vice, versa with no absolutes on either end.
The same can be said of ‘light and darkness’ ‘hard and soft’ ‘big or
small’ and even ‘love and hate.’ With ‘love and hate’ there is no
clear point where one emotion becomes another, or when it passes
through ‘like’ ‘dislike’ or ‘indifference.’ All are merely our
perceptions of the degree. And the principle of Polarity exists to
explain these paradoxes.

This principle is important to Hermeticists, because it suggests we

can change the polarity of a degree of emotion, by recognizing it is
the same and choosing the degree which best suits our needs.

Similar to how we can involuntary and rapid transitions in our

psyche between love and hate, like and dislike, you can choose to
experience these transitions by use of your willpower for the
betterment of your life and others. That the difference is not a
hurdle to be surmounted, but two expressions of the same thing,
differing only in degree, to choose between. This practice is the art
of Mental Alchemy.

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.
Between the opposite poles of the principle of Polarity, is the
pendulum swing of The principle of Rhythm. This principle
embodies the truth that everything exists in a measured motion,
from here to there, moving in and out, swinging backward and
forward, the rise and fall of the tides, ebbing and flowing and
never truly sitting still. Never stopping, always changing.

This principle controls the cycle of life and death, creation and
destruction, rise and fall, and of course manifests in our mental
states.

When you are in tune with the Principle of Rhythm and

understand that every mental state exists in Rhythm, always
ebbing and flowing, you can learn to use this principle to your
advantage by polarizing yourself to the degree you desire. Then,
through awareness of this principle and how it manifests, holding
yourself there to keep the pendulum from swinging you backwards
to its extreme.

Imagine going to an event that you know holds a lot of emotional

significance for you, and checking in with yourself there. Knowing,
you are experiencing a high and that this state is unsustainable,
you can slot in time for transition to keep yourself from crashing,
knowing the Principle of Rhythm is affecting or will affect you.
Likewise, with times of stress and grief, giving yourself time to
return to neutral before ramping back up again.

Know that things you lose, will come back, and that things you
own now, will disappear later.
Being able to appropriate these smooth transitions can be the
difference between days of recovery (mentally, physically, and
emotionally) and smooth grace periods between times of intensity.
Knowing when to retreat and when to return is one of the many
keys to self mastery.

Through heightened awareness gained by understanding this

principle, you can experience transcendental states of
consciousness to rise above the swing of the pendulum. Rhythm
will have an effect on you one way or another, but with awareness
you can use it to propel you forward and ride it back to recovery.

All people who experience self-mastery do this to some degree, but

those who exert their will upon this principle are able to act from a
place of purpose as opposed to letting the pendulum swing them
into reactivity.

6. The Principle of Cause & 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.
This principle embodies the fact that there is a ’Cause for every
Effect;’ and an ‘Effect for every Cause.’ Meaning, that nothing
merely ‘happens for no reason,’ and that there is no such thing as
‘chance.’ In harmony with the principle of Correspondence, there
are higher planes dominating lower planes and nothing escapes
the Principle of Cause & Effect. Nothing happens without
explanation.

The empowering use of this principle is to make the conscious

choice to rise above the plane of thought you currently occupy to
become your own Cause, and not just an Effect of others and the
situations you find yourself in. That is to say, be your own first
mover as opposed to someone who merely reacts to circumstance.
I know I am out of alignment with this principle, when I find
myself feeling reactive, stressed and frazzled; waking up only to
handle and deal with the things that come my way. Instead, of
going out of my own way to determine and create what I desire to
experience. To put into action the first move, which will bring me
the result I desire, not as a surprise, but a product of calculation.

So, I know that if I want to be a better writer, I clearly need to

write each day and read more often. As opposed, to not, and
resigning myself to merely reacting to the consequences of not
having done the work and experiencing the problems that
inevitably arise when you are not pursuing your highest calling.

Of course, when you are on the quest to become someone who has
mastery over their self, and can control their moods, character,
and the environment around them — you will naturally have to
obey the causation of higher planes in accordance to this principle.
But the important distinction is that having awareness of this will
give you the ability to rule on your own plane, without resigning to
the roles of the dunce or victim.

7. The Principle of Gender:

Gender is in everything; Everything has its masculine and

feminine principles; Gender manifests on all planes.
Painting Credit: Android Jones

This principle embodies the fact that both the masculine and
feminine exist in all things. Not just in sex, but in the creative
nature of all things, on all planes. In harmony with the principle of
Correspondence, this means that the masculine and feminine exist
not only in the physical plane, but also the mental, and the
spiritual as well. The principle of Gender plays a role in all things
generation, creation, and regeneration — nothing can come into
being without the use of this principle.

The masculine is the penetrative, assertive, progressive,

conquesting, explorative energy that drives progress. The feminine
is the receptive, sacred, treasured, protective energy, that
maintains tradition and honors the priority of what is most
important, while nourishing that which is most essential to life.

Too much masculine energy, without a balance of feminine, leads

to a growth of power to the extreme of reckless abandon — where
we lose perspective of what is most important and forget the
principles which began the conquest in the first place. While, too
much feminine energy, without a balance of the masculine, leads
to a life grounded so deeply in the present, that our lives become
determined by the cycles and external circumstance out of our
favor.

All beings contain this great Principle within them, as two parts.
Every male has feminine energy, and every female has masculine
energy. In sex we see the interplay of these energies. In our moods,
actions, attitudes, and personalities we see the dance of these
energies within ourselves.

The most potent use of this principle is how Gender is responsible

for creation, generation, and regeneration on the mental and
spiritual planes, and not just the physical. True progress is
possible through the balancing of the two energies of Gender in
oneself, relationships, and environment. By examining how
present are we with our lives. How focused we are on the future.
What we sacrificed for our achievements. How much do we protect
and honor what is our highest priority. How far from home have
we traveled, in pursuit of what we desire the most. How much are
we giving and how much are we receiving. Asking ourselves if
these energies are in balance.

To choose the middle path between these extremes of the present

feminine and future-driven masculine and seek balance in all
things, is the key to using all 7 Hermetic Principles principles to
full effect and achieving lasting self-mastery, without straying too
far from the path.

A User’s Guide for Gnosis

Each of these principles exists in nature, and applies directly to
our mental, emotional, and spiritual states. They give us a map of
hidden territory both within and without. Having awareness of
these principles, and how the affect one another, gives us an
understanding of our own patterns, what holds influence over us,
and how we can use these principles and their laws to direct our
own lives.
The 7 principles of Hermeticism teach us how to use our minds to
communicate with the Mental Universe. All dreamers imagine a
realm of higher aspiration than ours and the base and gross matter
we come from. Whether that be Plato’s World of Forms, a
Christian Heaven, the New Age Astral Plane, or the Esoteric
notion of a Higher Dimension — without trying to label or name
them, these principles help us understand the phenomena of the
planes above us, the planes below us, and how the patterns of how
they intercede can illuminate what we cannot see. As well as, how
we can tune our own vibrations and experience the ease of being in
harmony with forces that naturally occur at higher vibrations. To
choose the Polarity we wish to experience most knowing all
choices are open to us. To remain where we choose, knowing how
to transcend the pendulum swing of Rhythm. To realize that we
are always being effected, that nothing happens to us by chance
and knowing we can choose to cause the effects that we most
prefer. And that in order to benefit from all of these principles, we
must seek balance of both the masculine and feminine within
ourselves to create our ideal realities, and wield this power without
straying too far from the middle path.

These principles have served as tools for the priests and pharaohs
of Egypt, the philosophers of Greece, the artists and inventors of
the Italian Renaissance, and the revolutionaries and leaders of
America (among others to can be sure.)
But remember: these are Gnostic principles. By themselves,
these principles are useless, but when you creatively apply them,
you can achieve any endeavor you dedicate yourself to. Truly
understand them, by experiencing them for yourself.

So, here are some questions to help you apply the 7

Hermetic Principles through direct inquiry and
experience gnosis in your own life.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Mentalism:

Have you ever experienced the effect of mind over

matter? Using the power of visualization to make yourself feel
less hot, or cold. To taste a fruit in your mind, or experience a
memory as if it’s happening now.

What are things you are curious about and can learn
about, even though they are not directly or physically
in front of you right now?

Have you ever had the same idea as someone else, or

discovered something you thought was unique, only to
realize it’s been written about before? Our thoughts are
connected and this is one way we can tangibly understand that our
thoughts are not our own and do not originate within us.
Have you ever focused your awareness somewhere on
your body and felt it tingle, or the intensity of sensation
increase there, simply because you directed your mind
toward it? This is a demonstration of the common phrase,
energy goes where attention flows.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Correspondence:

Have you ever dealt with a personal problem, and begun

to feel like the situations you find yourself prod at the
issue repeatedly until you resolve it? The themes in our lives
tend to re-occur and correspond on many levels, until we learn our
lesson.

Have you ever noticed a pattern in nature, that repeats

whether in the bloom of a flower, or shape of a river, and
wonder how these seemingly unconnected events share
the same geometry? All things grow by the same sets of natural
laws.

Have you ever felt like you were a part of something

larger, that you may not even be able to see or perceive,
yet you are directly contributing to it? We, ourselves, are a
part of the correspondence.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Vibration:

Have you ever listened to a song and felt a certain way
about it, like some chords are pleasant to hear, and
others feel inherently wrong? The way things vibrate effects
us at a foundational level.

In the same way, have you ever looked at a painting or

a combination of colours and found it to be beautiful,
and at other times find it to be distressing? The expression
of certain vibrations, even that of colours, can affect us on an
emotional level.

Have you ever attracted something into your life,

repeatedly by obsessing over it? The phenomena of
synchronicity, or manifestation, occurs because of the resonance
and harmony between the way things vibrate.

Have you ever felt simply out of harmony with your

environment, your job, or the people in your life? As we
change, so too do the subtle vibrations of things and we can fall
out of harmony with what does not honor where we are at this
time in our lives.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Polarity:

Have you ever been in an argument with someone you

deeply love and experienced your passion to transform
into hate almost instantly, then return back to love
later? The Principle of Polarity can confuse our emotions, if we
do not control the way we feel to honor ourselves or those we care
about.

Have you ever dipped your fingers in water so hot that

it shocks the nerves and feels cold at first? The way we
experience the shock of extremes of polarity are similar in the
mind and nervous system.

Have you ever focused on what it would feel like, to feel

a certain way, then began to feel that way
spontaneously? Our minds don’t know the difference between
what is imagined and what is experienced and we can self-author
our own experience if we choose to. This may feel like cheating,
but sometimes it is necessary in order to consistently be in a state
of peak performance to accomplish our goals.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Rhythm:

Have you ever witnessed a repeating pattern in your

own life or the lives of others? Our lessons tend to re-emerge
if we do not learn from them and integrate them well the first
time.

Have you ever been to an event, or a party, and had the

time of your life. Then, have a tremendous comedown
the next day or even few days, even if you were sober
the entire time? What comes up, must come down, and vice
versa. Knowing how to ride your own rhythm gives you the ability
to anticipate and plan accordingly.

Likewise, have you ever spent several days in isolation

then felt yourself propelled towards adventure and
novelty? What is down, will eventually come back again. All
things exist in cycles and the key to enjoying them is
understanding them and knowing how to benefit them, without
taking them personally.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Cause & Effect:

Have you ever felt out of control, or completely

blindsided by something in your life? Little things lead to
big things. In hindsight, sometimes we can understand what
caused what happened to us, and learn from it for next time.

Have you ever wanted to accomplish something that

felt too big, or too unrealistic at the time? In the same way,
we can start small with what we want to accomplish, knowing that
these littles causes will lead to new effects. Which will put on
further on the path of what we want to achieve, simply as a rule of
nature.

Have you ever felt reactive, like your entire days were
consumed by dealing with things that were simply
happening to you, with no time to create anything
new? When we get caught up in the weeds of our to-dos, we can
lose perspective of how today we are receiving the effects of causes
that happened earlier. And even worse, lose perspective on how
the wins of today will create the causes of tomorrow.

Questions for Applying the Principle of Gender:

Have you ever felt like you were so caught up in the

future and the fantasy of your desires, that you never
took the time to do what was necessary to experience
them? Too much masculine energy, without enough feminine
presence, can lead to unhealthy fantasy and disillusionment.

Have you ever felt so present, so at ease, and

hedonically enjoying the now, that you never cast your
gaze on what would happen tomorrow? Too much
feminine energy, can lead to such a deep sense of presence that we
forget to create the causes today for the effects we want to
experience tomorrow.

Have you ever been addicted to one extreme or the

other? True self-mastery comes from being able to tread a middle
path. Knowing that this is where we are able to most accurately
direct the path of our life and show up in a way that is most
authentic to who we want to be.
These questions are a great place to get started applying the 7
Principles to your life, but don’t stop here. Use your knowledge of
these principles to create your own experiments and take your
own notes through life. Gain direct experience of what you are
curious about, without requiring spiritual permission from anyone
other than yourself. Pursue that which you desire, so long as it
does not bring harm to another.

And along the way, remind yourself of these principles at every

turn. Resurrect them every chance you get. Use them to sharpen
your will, develop self-mastery and create what you wish to
experience in this life, without compromise.

——

Colton Swabb is a writer, author, and lecturer. In his

course, Integral Influence, he teaches self-influence as a path to
self-mastery and how to master the most important skill of the
21st century.