The Kybalion is a Hermetic book which is supposed to be a distillation of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. I have heard over and over from a good number of occultists as well as philosophers that this book is a must read. It is a work published in the early 20th century which has fallen into the public domain so it’s cheap or free depending on your choice of media.
The book is written under the pseudonym of the Three Initiates, but there is some evidence the authorship may belong to William Walker Atkinson (the author of The Human Aura as Swami Panchadesi). The Kybalion is a short work, but covers some important Hermetic principles. Regardless of the actual authorship, the book is still interesting and a great philosophical read. You’re not unlocking much from an occult perspective, but it sets you up for a spiritual development from a philosophical standpoint which can be applied to the occult.
What Is Hermeticism?
Hermeticism is a philosophy and esoteric religion centered around the writings of Hermes Trismegistus. One of the most essential principles is as above, so below (and vice versa). Hermetic occultism can be argued to be similar to more modern schools of occultism which view magick as a mental transformation rather than a supernatural one.
Hermeticism can also be argued to be monotheistic, but more in line with modern polytheistic religions (the gods are a manifestation of the highest God). The highest power is viewed as The All, which can be argued to run parallel to God in the Kabbalah. The All then breaks down into a dualistic existence much like the Kabbalah, or even esoteric Daoism. It makes sense that both the Kabbalah and Hermeticism were integrated into the Golden Dawn.
Hermeticism also offers a key to other forms of occult works. When things like Grimoires and similar are read with the Hermetic principles on hand, they become something more abstract and applicable. Modern occult practices inadvertently simplify these rituals into something more streamlined and maintainable. Instead of unconsciously spending energy on the process of gathering materials and adhering to an obsessive ritual, modern magick aims to simplify the process by focusing on efficiently channeling energy for a ritual. Whether this ritual is purported to affect merely the mind or the world of the magician is up for debate.
Hermeticism doesn’t really touch on the metaphysical underpinnings of how occult principles exist, it just accepts that they do. This occultism can be explained away as psychological or metaphysical depending on underlying beliefs. There really isn’t a conflict either way. Hermeticism can be a religion or a way of life without living at odds with the other.
The 7 Hermetic Principles
The crux of this work is The 7 Hermetic Principles. These seven principles are: Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender. Each of these principles supersedes the more mundane descriptions. Gender is not necessarily sex, but a dualistic approach to existence.
Mentalism basically describes the world as Maya from Buddhist and Hindu contexts. Correspondence is the principle of as above, so below. Vibration is the principle that everything is in some way at motion. It is often used as something to be tied into quantum mechanics (for better and for worse).
Polarity reinforces the dualistic nature of existence. Rhythm describes the cyclical existence of the world and of its phenomenon. Cause and Effect is self explanatory. Gender further abstracts the idealized dualism behind Polarity on every plane.
About the Book
This book is centered around describing The 7 Hermetic Principles. It delves into more depths for some of the principles, but the book aims to stay abstract. These are concepts which cannot be nailed down exactly. Your interpretation can easily change depending on your religious or metaphysical beliefs. Ghosts and hallucinations can coexist as the cause of a purported haunting within the context of Hermeticism.
This book is relatively short, weighing in at 102 pages divided over 15 chapters. The spiritual aspects are easily accessible without being overbearing. The brevity lends to the philosophy rather than hurting it. I can see why this is such an commonly recommended spiritual work.
The authorship is a bit questionable. It might be by the same author as The Human Aura, and it might not be. There’s a clear lack of definitive proof one way or another for it being an ancient work or a modern one. Either way, it still is held as a Hermetic work and manages to hold close to the philosophy. The content is well written and can help with your philosophical and spiritual growth without trying to monopolize your spirituality.
Reading It
It’s an older work so some of the parts are a bit terser than others. That being said, the book is extremely straightforward. It also doesn’t have the same implications of some works from the same era.
If you’re even the least bit interested in philosophy, especially that which touches on metaphysics, you’ll get something out of this work. Some of the science may feel a bit off, but it’s older and the same concepts still carry over with newer physics. Mind you, this isn’t a causal statement. There’s enough abstraction to allow links without forcing them one way or another.
I greatly enjoyed this work and suggest getting a copy. It doesn’t directly conflict with any major religion or philosophy (especially one which would be interested in spiritual works). The writing is clear and concise, albeit terse at times, but manages to cram a lot of thought into a small space.
If you’re looking for something more spiritual to read, or you want to aim for the more occult philosophies, this is a great work. Hermeticism isn’t necessarily occult, but it easily ties in and has schools around it. This is a great work philosophically, spiritually, and occultly. If you’re interested in magick or man, it can be a great read.
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