Hermes Trismegistus was a legendary alchemist of Alexandria, often represented with a trident that represents the rays of his illumination, sometimes with a globe that represents control over the world. The Greek word about Hermes Trismegistus, means Three times the great. Hermes Trismegistus has been identified with the God Thoth of the Egyptians, Hermes for the Greeks and Mercury for the Romans. He is considered the inventor of the written word and of language, magic, astronomy, and alchemy. The denomination of hermeticism - hermeneutics comes from the name of Hermes Trismegistus, who is considered one of the greatest sages initiated to the mysteries of the world. The initiated who follow his teachings are known as hermetic. Hermeticism is a mystical - occult current that appeared in antiquity that influenced the way of thinking of a part of the world until the 17th century. Hermeticism represents the presentation of a system of laws that governs the entire universe, immutable laws, which are manifested everywhere - materially, mentally and spiritually. The seven universal laws are the essence of the entire hermetic philosophy, they are the law of ALL THAT IS THERE, the law of GOD. THE UNIVERSAL LAWS (The principles of Truth)
1. THE LAW OF MENTALISM: Everything is spirit, the universe is mental. This means that the substantial reality that lies beyond all phenomena, those that science identifies as matter, energy and life, is mental activity, in its turn originated by the Spirit. Everything that exists is a creation of the Universal Mind, and therefore there is a Universal Spirit that creates everything with its own Mind. The Spirit is by its nature unknowable and indefinable, but its existence is manifested in creative mental activity. Where matter, energy or life exists, we know therefore that all this before existing was thought by a Mind. This applies both to the macrocosm (the Universe, the great systems), and to the microcosm (the single living beings, the small systems). The first hermetic principle suggests how immense the power of the mind is, a true creator and transformer of everything and every situation.
2. THE LAW OF CORRESPONDENCE: As above so below, as below so above. The second hermetic principle says that there is a precise analogy between the laws that govern the different levels of existence. It is a principle of fundamental importance, because it makes us understand how the different systems, from the largest to the smallest, all work through the same basic laws. Knowing therefore the mechanisms that regulate a known system, we can transpose them by analogy to a stranger. This second hermetic principle is a fundamental key to understanding the functioning of non-material existence plans and occult sciences in general, since the energy currents acting on the upper levels behave in the same way as the known terrestrial ones, such as the electricity or magnetism.
3. THE LAW OF VIBRATION: There is nothing that is in a state of rest, everything moves, everything vibrates. This is not a mystery even for our science, at least as far as matter is concerned. Even apparently solid objects are made up of atoms, which are known to consist of moving particles. The fact that they appear solid and compact depends on our limited ability to perceive, but in reality everything vibrates and has its own vibratory frequency, which is inversely proportional to the density of the matter that composes it. Also the third hermetic principle has a very great importance, as it allows us to understand the interaction between the different vibratory frequencies through the phenomenon of resonance. All this can be transposed onto the higher planes of existence (etheric, astral, mental) thanks to the second hermetic principle, thus understanding the laws that govern the interaction between mind, emotions, energy and matter.
4. THE LAW OF POLARITY: Everything is dual, everything has two polarities, everything has two extremes, the similar and not similar have the same meaning, the opposite poles have an identical nature but of different degrees, the extremes attract, all truths are only half-truths, all paradoxes can reconcile. The fourth hermetic principle, which recalls the well-known Taoist philosophical system based on the interaction of the opposite polarities, Yin and Yang, explains many paradoxes with which each of us is constantly having to deal. Opposites are complementary, extremes touch each other, every truth is only half truth, every coin has two sides, everything is relative. Every opposite exists only because the other exists, and everyone needs the other. Even this hermetic principle can make us understand many things about ourselves and about life, especially if we apply it to mental, emotional, social and relational levels.
5. THE LAW OF RHYTHM: Everything flows inward or outward, everything has its duration, everything evolves and then degenerates, the movement of the pendulum manifests itself in all things and the extent of its oscillation to the right is similar to the extent of his oscillation to the left, the rhythm is constant. The fifth hermetic principle is closely related to the fourth, making it clear that in all things there is a rhythm of alternation between two opposite polarities in their manifold manifestations. But it is also linked to the third, as the vibration manifests itself as an alternation between the wave crest and the hollow center of the wave. All things grow and decay, advance and recede, increase and decrease. This is life, in galaxies as in stars, in man as in plants. No one can think of always being on the crest of the wave or growing infinitely, but the knowledge of this law and its manifestation in a specific system allows us to understand how to do the right thing at the right time, in harmony with the flowing and reflowing of life. In this, Taoist philosophy is truly the master with its wonderful system based on the alternation of prevailing energies.
6. THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT: Every cause has its effect, every effect has its cause, everything happens according to the Law, chance is only a name given to an unknown law, there are numerous plans belonging to the randomness, but there is nothing that escapes the Law. The law of cause and effect is also known by our science, which is however limited to applying it only to matter. The same law, however, is valid on any level of existence, hinting that everything that happens to us in an apparently casual way has its antecedent cause of which we are not aware. The chance is, in reality, a name attributed to an unrecognized law. This law is linked to the concept of karma, a cornerstone not only of Eastern religions but also of all the esoteric philosophies of every time and place. If someone is born rich or poor, lucky or unlucky, it is not by chance but as a consequence of a law of cause and effect. This sixth hermetic principle makes us understand how each of us is really master of our own destiny, as our future will be determined by the consequences of our choices and not by chance events. The doctrine of reincarnation is also based on this principle, as well as on the fifth and fourth.
7. LAW OF THE GENDER: There is a genre in all things, everything has its own principles, Masculine and Feminine, the genus manifests itself on all planes. The seventh hermetic principle is somewhat reminiscent of the fourth, that of polarity, but refers to the fact that every creative action requires the interaction of the male gender with the female gender. On the level of physical existence the differentiation between masculine and feminine manifests itself in sexuality, but this distinction is also present at the higher levels obviously with different modalities and energies. It is obvious to everyone how, to generate a new living being, the masculine-feminine union through the sexual act is necessary, but the same concept is also valid for any other kind of creation, from the mental to the spiritual to the artistic one. Where there is creation there is always the union of a male component with a feminine one, with the modalities proper to each level of existence.
The seven laws are quite difficult to understand by the common people, they are laws through which EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS (GOD) leads the entire universe. GOD is ALL the Infinite Spirit, the Absolute, the Invisible, the Intangible. God is not separated from his creations. He is the infinite wisdom, the omniscient intelligence, the essence of reality, and is manifested in all things. He is the Law. The fact that the word "God" appears in the text must not necessarily be seen as a religious implication. For God is meant the primordial Thinking Consciousness that governs everything, everything sustains, everything creates and everything destroys. However, these are universal laws that ultimately also correspond to the scientific field. The works attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, the best ones known, were collected in a single one generically called "Corpus Hermeticum". "Kybalion - the Hermetic Philosophy" is a book that appeared in 1908, which wants to be the essence of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. This book was published anonymously by a group or a single person under the pseudonym of "The Three Initiated"
1. THE LAW OF MENTALISM: Everything is spirit, the universe is mental. This means that the substantial reality that lies beyond all phenomena, those that science identifies as matter, energy and life, is mental activity, in its turn originated by the Spirit. Everything that exists is a creation of the Universal Mind, and therefore there is a Universal Spirit that creates everything with its own Mind. The Spirit is by its nature unknowable and indefinable, but its existence is manifested in creative mental activity. Where matter, energy or life exists, we know therefore that all this before existing was thought by a Mind. This applies both to the macrocosm (the Universe, the great systems), and to the microcosm (the single living beings, the small systems). The first hermetic principle suggests how immense the power of the mind is, a true creator and transformer of everything and every situation.
2. THE LAW OF CORRESPONDENCE: As above so below, as below so above. The second hermetic principle says that there is a precise analogy between the laws that govern the different levels of existence. It is a principle of fundamental importance, because it makes us understand how the different systems, from the largest to the smallest, all work through the same basic laws. Knowing therefore the mechanisms that regulate a known system, we can transpose them by analogy to a stranger. This second hermetic principle is a fundamental key to understanding the functioning of non-material existence plans and occult sciences in general, since the energy currents acting on the upper levels behave in the same way as the known terrestrial ones, such as the electricity or magnetism.
3. THE LAW OF VIBRATION: There is nothing that is in a state of rest, everything moves, everything vibrates. This is not a mystery even for our science, at least as far as matter is concerned. Even apparently solid objects are made up of atoms, which are known to consist of moving particles. The fact that they appear solid and compact depends on our limited ability to perceive, but in reality everything vibrates and has its own vibratory frequency, which is inversely proportional to the density of the matter that composes it. Also the third hermetic principle has a very great importance, as it allows us to understand the interaction between the different vibratory frequencies through the phenomenon of resonance. All this can be transposed onto the higher planes of existence (etheric, astral, mental) thanks to the second hermetic principle, thus understanding the laws that govern the interaction between mind, emotions, energy and matter.
4. THE LAW OF POLARITY: Everything is dual, everything has two polarities, everything has two extremes, the similar and not similar have the same meaning, the opposite poles have an identical nature but of different degrees, the extremes attract, all truths are only half-truths, all paradoxes can reconcile. The fourth hermetic principle, which recalls the well-known Taoist philosophical system based on the interaction of the opposite polarities, Yin and Yang, explains many paradoxes with which each of us is constantly having to deal. Opposites are complementary, extremes touch each other, every truth is only half truth, every coin has two sides, everything is relative. Every opposite exists only because the other exists, and everyone needs the other. Even this hermetic principle can make us understand many things about ourselves and about life, especially if we apply it to mental, emotional, social and relational levels.
5. THE LAW OF RHYTHM: Everything flows inward or outward, everything has its duration, everything evolves and then degenerates, the movement of the pendulum manifests itself in all things and the extent of its oscillation to the right is similar to the extent of his oscillation to the left, the rhythm is constant. The fifth hermetic principle is closely related to the fourth, making it clear that in all things there is a rhythm of alternation between two opposite polarities in their manifold manifestations. But it is also linked to the third, as the vibration manifests itself as an alternation between the wave crest and the hollow center of the wave. All things grow and decay, advance and recede, increase and decrease. This is life, in galaxies as in stars, in man as in plants. No one can think of always being on the crest of the wave or growing infinitely, but the knowledge of this law and its manifestation in a specific system allows us to understand how to do the right thing at the right time, in harmony with the flowing and reflowing of life. In this, Taoist philosophy is truly the master with its wonderful system based on the alternation of prevailing energies.
6. THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT: Every cause has its effect, every effect has its cause, everything happens according to the Law, chance is only a name given to an unknown law, there are numerous plans belonging to the randomness, but there is nothing that escapes the Law. The law of cause and effect is also known by our science, which is however limited to applying it only to matter. The same law, however, is valid on any level of existence, hinting that everything that happens to us in an apparently casual way has its antecedent cause of which we are not aware. The chance is, in reality, a name attributed to an unrecognized law. This law is linked to the concept of karma, a cornerstone not only of Eastern religions but also of all the esoteric philosophies of every time and place. If someone is born rich or poor, lucky or unlucky, it is not by chance but as a consequence of a law of cause and effect. This sixth hermetic principle makes us understand how each of us is really master of our own destiny, as our future will be determined by the consequences of our choices and not by chance events. The doctrine of reincarnation is also based on this principle, as well as on the fifth and fourth.
7. LAW OF THE GENDER: There is a genre in all things, everything has its own principles, Masculine and Feminine, the genus manifests itself on all planes. The seventh hermetic principle is somewhat reminiscent of the fourth, that of polarity, but refers to the fact that every creative action requires the interaction of the male gender with the female gender. On the level of physical existence the differentiation between masculine and feminine manifests itself in sexuality, but this distinction is also present at the higher levels obviously with different modalities and energies. It is obvious to everyone how, to generate a new living being, the masculine-feminine union through the sexual act is necessary, but the same concept is also valid for any other kind of creation, from the mental to the spiritual to the artistic one. Where there is creation there is always the union of a male component with a feminine one, with the modalities proper to each level of existence.
The seven laws are quite difficult to understand by the common people, they are laws through which EVERYTHING THAT EXISTS (GOD) leads the entire universe. GOD is ALL the Infinite Spirit, the Absolute, the Invisible, the Intangible. God is not separated from his creations. He is the infinite wisdom, the omniscient intelligence, the essence of reality, and is manifested in all things. He is the Law. The fact that the word "God" appears in the text must not necessarily be seen as a religious implication. For God is meant the primordial Thinking Consciousness that governs everything, everything sustains, everything creates and everything destroys. However, these are universal laws that ultimately also correspond to the scientific field. The works attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, the best ones known, were collected in a single one generically called "Corpus Hermeticum". "Kybalion - the Hermetic Philosophy" is a book that appeared in 1908, which wants to be the essence of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. This book was published anonymously by a group or a single person under the pseudonym of "The Three Initiated"
