Hermeticism & Spirituality.

Hey all,

I wanted to ask your guy's takes on spirituality and hermeticism. What are some of your favorite reads and most interested quotes?

What is your take on the axiom "As above so below, as below so above"?

What is your take on 7 reported Laws of the All?:

1. The Principle of Mentalism
2. The Principle of Correspondence
3. The Principle of Vibration
4. The Principle of Polarity
5. The Principle of Rhythm
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect
7. The Principle of Gender

It is said the entire universe runs and can be judged by these laws. And quote:

"The Principles of Truth are Seven; he who knows these, understandingly, possess the Magic Key before whose touch all the Doors of the Temple fly open." --- The Kybalion



I'll start off with the entire collection at Hermetics.org:

Put it in a pastebin, cause links got messed up on ats.

www[dot]pastebin[dot]com/4Yj8i22X

reply to post by ApostleTriad


The link doesn't work for me.

reply to post by Itisnowagain


I know, I redid the link. Get rid of the [dot]'s and you should be fine now.

reply to post by ApostleTriad




Truthfully?
It scares me a little.

I bought a book called "Initiation into Hermetics" by Franz Bardon. The book has many practical parts and teaches you to actually perform some interesting things.

I learned it to the point it was dangerous to me, and not enough to protect myself.

Let's just say that the extreme weirdness was soo bad that the book isn't even on my bookshelf anymore, It's in a box upside down under some clothes so that I don't accidently look at it.


I have found Hermeticism to be one of the most complete and useful magical systems there is. It works, and it is very powerful. It is full of hidden knowledge. I really wish I was brave enough to get back into it, but for now im going to hold off.

reply to post by Dustytoad


Bardon! What a wonderful man and what wonderful works he has. I have a nice sized collection of his things, if you'd like them that is.

Thank you for the link!

nice post!
i guess a few of the books i enjoy would be:
1) 3 books of occult philosophy, by Agrippa re printed by donald tyson)
this book was written in the 1500's,and i enjoy it for its 'novel' wisdom of that period.some of the stuff is laughable by todays standardsbut it does have a good section on Hermes the thrice great,and has the emerald tablet in it.

2) the book of thoth,aleister crowley.
this book is about the egyptian tarot and how it relates to the wisdom of thoth (hermes)

early golden dawn material (mathers) is also good.
good luck on your journey!

Originally posted by Dustytoad
reply to post by ApostleTriad

 

Truthfully?
It scares me a little.

I bought a book called "Initiation into Hermetics" by Franz Bardon. The book has many practical parts and teaches you to actually perform some interesting things.

I learned it to the point it was dangerous to me, and not enough to protect myself.

Let's just say that the extreme weirdness was soo bad that the book isn't even on my bookshelf anymore, It's in a box upside down under some clothes so that I don't accidently look at it.


I have found Hermeticism to be one of the most complete and useful magical systems there is. It works, and it is very powerful. It is full of hidden knowledge. I really wish I was brave enough to get back into it, but for now im going to hold off.

edit on 4/4/2012 by Dustytoad because: (no reason given)

could you elaborate on the weirdness and what happened that it became dangerous??? hermetics is another one of those things ive always wanted to learn about but never got round to it.

reply to post by truthseeker10


Well, I don't like to talk about it. Talking about it might bring it back up again, like an invitation.. I cannot blame just that book, I was also reading an Astral Projection book by Robert Bruce. Think that's the name.

I was looking to raise my energy body up a few octaves. Those books were recommended to me by someone on another forum. (side note: New Energy Ways technique from robert bruce is exactly what I needed to strengthen my energy body)

A lot of the early practices in the book ( I only made it to the early ones and the power of this system was there) involve the use of your mind to imagine you are somewhere you are not. You would remember every detail as you walked out of your room into the hall down the hall into the kitchen get some water and come back. You do that in real life. Then you do it all over again in your head this time.

Other practices that come a little after are things like feeling physical objects with your mind. Whatever you can Identify enough with you can actually BE. It gets easy to leave your body.

Here is one experience of MANY that gives you a clue why It may be a bad idea to loosen any connection with YOU, or your body:

Originally posted by Dustytoad
1)One time I was about to go to bed. I was laying there and decided to change which side I was laying on. I was half way through my turn when I hear "my name." (whisper) and the MY NAME!! I tried to move but I was stuck. And there were all these explosions going off in my head, along with a very loud vibrating hum. I kept struggling to get up, just to move or something. I couldn't go anywhere. Then I thought I had gotten out of it and was going towards my door, still weighing about 1000 pounds.

Well really I was still stuck on my bed, and I was projecting a tiny minute little piece of my consciousness. It was so weak that I kept warping back, and could hardly see. When I realized this I was in despair. I was panicked as heck. I waited a few seconds built up the idea in my head that I was going to use all my force in one moment and brake this weird state I was stuck in. This did not work.

Now I was projecting some part of me again. I could see myself still stuck on my bed, half way through my turn to get comfy. On my wall there was a movie playing. It had words that would repeat...

Those words said:

What game are they playing?
and who's playing it?

they kept appearing one then the other, and sped up till I could no longer see it.

Then I had no energy left and I was back in my body fully. I gave up, I gave in...

30 minutes later I was finally "let go"

Besides that I have had Demonic things after me especially in my dreams where I was pretty defenceless. They can set off tremendous explosions of energy in my head that disrupt any ability to wake up or to think very well. I will be in a normal dream, and then get 'lost" from the dream, wondering around, and then some doll or toy will be there, as I walk near it the head will turn. things will float around the room. That's when I get paralyzed and they say things like "Stop resisting!" "hahaha you're mine!" and much more evil things.

I have had dreams while still able to feel my body all the way down to fingers and toes and hear what everyone else is doing around me in real life. Meanwhile I will be stuck in a dream with demonic double diminsion couches. Everything in these dreams has 2 parts. Have to open every door twice, if some thing falls over, there is still one there and so on. The confusion and terror of these dreams seems to be their top choice. You are having the thoughts of your body, and the thoughts of your dream character at once. At some point more of your consciouness is centered in your body and your dream body get's paralyzed and you float to the floor.



The powerful loosening of consciousness that Hermeticism can bring has to be used carefully. I will FULLY admit I took it as a joke, and I tend to progress faster than I can handle in many areas anyway.

The info they bring, Hermetics, about mysticism/tarot/Alchemy/god/soul/man/magician IS TOP NOTCH. It's good info. The insight you will gain, even without following the practical parts is astounding.

Even teaches you how to cleanse your body, bring it into balance, and then bring your mind into balance by learning who you truly are positive and negative atributes, and then slowly bringing those attributes into balance.


I am pondering the idea of getting back into it, but...

"ghosts/demons" = No Joke

Originally posted by ApostleTriad
reply to post by Dustytoad

 

Bardon! What a wonderful man and what wonderful works he has. I have a nice sized collection of his things, if you'd like them that is.

I wouldn't mind a couple recommendations. I just don't want to see that one book. I have a connection with the book, and the weirdness. Like the book has power now that it was always around me while I was doing the practices.

I highly respect Franz Bardon. He's like the good guy responsible version of ol alyster crowely...

Originally posted by ApostleTriad

What is your take on 7 reported Laws of the All?:

1. The Principle of Mentalism
2. The Principle of Correspondence
3. The Principle of Vibration
4. The Principle of Polarity
5. The Principle of Rhythm
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect
7. The Principle of Gender

I agree with all of them, and the Kybalion does a good job of elucidating on them but my favorite––

The Principle of Vibration - This is how the Ancients moved... huge blocks
Everything Vibrates. If we knew more about acoustics we would be able to do sooo much more than we are. And Sonic Healing!

but you also asked about quotes. One of my favorites is from the Corpus Hermeticum that Israel Regardie reprinted in his "Middle Pillar" book.

Increase thyself to immeasurable height, leaping clear of all body, and surmounting all time, become eternal and thou shalt know God. There is nothing impossible to thyself. Deem thyself immortal and able to do all things... become higher than all Height and lower than all Depth... to be everything at the same time in earth and sea and heaven.

Think that thou art as yet begotten, that thou art in the womb, that thou ar young, that thou art old, that tho hast died and art beyond death: percieve all these things together... and thou shalt know God.

But if thou shuttest up thy soul in thy body and abasest thyself and sayest 'I know nothing, I can do nothing, I am afraid of earth and sea, I cannot mount to heaven, I know not what I was or what I shall be;' then what hast thou to do with God?
-Corpus Hermeticum xi [ii]

I highly recommend Regardie for those who would like an ease into hermetics. He is very well spoken and uses turn of the 20th century language, but he doesn't overload you in his easier books (i.e., The Middle Pillar, The Art of True Healing)

Here are the 7 principles explained more:

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM.

"THE ALL is MIND; The Universe is Mental." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that "All is Mind."

It explains that THE ALL (which is the Substantial Reality underlying all the outward manifestations and appearances which we know under the terms of "The Material Universe"; the "Phenomena of Life"; "Matter"; "Energy"; and, in short, all that is apparent to our material senses) is SPIRIT, which in itself is UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE, but which may be considered and thought of as AN UNIVERSAL, INFINITE, LIVING MIND.

It also explains that all the phenomenal world or universe is simply a Mental Creation of THE ALL, subject to the Laws of Created Things, and that the universe, as a whole, and in its parts or units, has its existence in the Mind of THE ALL, in which Mind we "live and move and have our being."

This Principle, by establishing the Mental Nature of the Universe, easily explains all of the varied mental and psychic phenomena that occupy such a large portion of the public attention, and which, without such explanation, are non-understandable and defy scientific treatment.

An understanding of this great hermetic Principle of Mentalism enables the individual to readily grasp the laws of the Mental Universe, and to apply the same to his well-being and advancement.

The Hermetic Student is enabled to apply intelligently the great Mental Laws, instead of using them in a haphazard manner. With tire Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge, and enter the same freely and intelligently.

This Principle explains the true nature of "Energy," "Power," and "Matter," and why and how all these are subordinate to the Mastery of Mind. One of the old Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago: "He who grasps the truth of the Mental Nature of the Universe is well advanced on The Path to Mastery."

And these words are as true to-day as at the time they were first written.

Without this Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and the student knocks in vain at the many doors of The Temple.

II. THE PRINCIPLE OF CORRESPONDENCE.

"As above, so below; as below so above." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life.

The old Hermetic axiom ran in these words: "As above, so below; as below, so above." And the grasping of this Principle gives one the means of solving many a dark paradox, and hidden secret of Nature.

There are planes beyond our knowing, but when we apply the Principle of Correspondence to them we are able to understand much that would otherwise be unknowable to us.

This Principle is of universal application and manifestation, on the various planes of the material, mental, and spiritual universe — it is an Universal Law.

The ancient Hermetists considered this Principle as one of the most important mental instruments by which man was able to pry aside the obstacles which hid from view the Unknown.

Its use even tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent that a glimpse of the face of the goddess might be caught.

Just as a knowledge of the Principles of Geometry enables man to measure distant suns and their movements, while seated in his observatory, so a knowledge of the Principle of Correspondence enables Man to reason intelligently from the Known to the Unknown.

Studying the monad, he understands the archangel.

III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION.

"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is in motion"; "everything vibrates"; "nothing is at rest"; facts which Modern Science endorses, and which each new scientific discovery tends to verify.

And yet this Hermetic Principle was enunciated thousands of years ago, by the Masters of Ancient Egypt.

This Principle explains that the differences between different manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind, and even Spirit, result largely from varying rates of Vibration.

From THE ALL, which is Pure Spirit, down to the grossest form of Matter, all is in vibration — the higher the vibration, the higher the position in the scale.

The vibration of Spirit is at such an infinite rate of intensity and rapidity that it is practically at rest — just as a rapidly moving wheel seems to be motionless. And at the other end of the scale, there are gross forms of matter whose vibrations are so low as to seem at rest.

Between these poles, there are millions upon millions of varying degrees of vibration. From corpuscle and electron, atom and molecule, to worlds and universes, everything is in vibratory motion.

This is also true on the planes of energy and force (which are but varying degrees of vibration); and also on the mental planes (whose states depend upon vibrations); and even on to the spiritual planes.

An understanding of this Principle, with the appropriate formulas, enables Hermetic students to control their own mental vibrations as well as those of others.

The Masters also apply this Principle to the conquering of Natural phenomena, in various ways. "He who understands the Principle of Vibration, has grasped the sceptre of Power," says one of the old writers.

IV. 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 Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that "everything is dual"; "everything has two poles"; "everything has its pair of opposites," all of which were old Hermetic axioms.

It explains the old paradoxes, that have perplexed so many, which have been stated as follows: "Thesis and anti-thesis are identical in nature, but different in degree"; "opposites are the same, differing only in degree"; "the pairs of opposites may be reconciled"; "extremes meet"; "everything is and isn't, at the same time"; "all truths are but half-truths"; "every truth is half-false"; "there are two sides to everything," etc., etc., etc.

It explains that in everything there are two poles, or opposite aspects, and that "opposites" are really only the two extremes of the same thing, with many varying degrees between them.

To illustrate: Heat and Cold, although "opposites," are really the same thing, the differences consisting merely of degrees of the same thing.

Look at your thermometer and see if you can discover where "heat" terminates and "cold" begins!

There is no such thing as "absolute heat" or "absolute cold" — the two terms "heat" and "cold" simply indicate varying degrees of the same thing, and that "same thing" which manifests as "heat" and "cold" is merely a form, variety, and rate of Vibration.

So "heat" and "cold" are simply the "two poles" of that which we call "Heat" — and the phenomena attendant thereupon are manifestations of the Principle of Polarity.

The same Principle manifests in the case of "Light and Darkness," which are the same thing, the difference consisting of varying degrees between the two poles of the phenomena.

Where does "darkness" leave off, and "light" begin?

What is the difference between "Large and Small"? Between "Hard and Soft"? Between "Black and White"? Between "Sharp and Dull"? Between "Noise and Quiet"? Between "High and Low"? Between "Positive and Negative"?

The Principle of Polarity explains these paradoxes, and no other Principle can supersede it.

The same Principle operates on the Mental Plane.

Let us take a radical and extreme example — that of "Love and Hate," two mental states apparently totally different.

And yet there are degrees of hate and degrees of Love, and a middle point in which we use the terms "Like or Dislike," which shade into each other so gradually that sometimes we are at a loss to know whether we "like" or "dislike" or "neither."

And all are simply degrees of the same thing, as you will see if you will but think a moment.

And, more than this (and considered of more importance by the Hermetists), it is possible to change the vibrations of hate to the vibrations of Love, in one's own mind, and in the minds of others.

Many of you, who read these lines, have had personal experiences of the involuntary rapid transition from Love to Hate, and the reverse, in your own ease and that of others.

And you will therefore realize the possibility of this being accomplished by the use of the Will, by means of the Hermetic formulas.

"Good and Evil" are but the poles of the same thing, and the Hermetist understands the art of transmuting Evil into Good, by means of an application of the Principle of Polarity.

In short, the "Art of Polarization" becomes a phase of "Mental Alchemy" known and practiced by the ancient and modern Hermetic Masters.

An understanding of the Principle will enable one to change his own Polarity, as well as that of others, if he will devote the time and study necessary to master the art.

V. 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." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that in everything there is manifested a measured motion, to and fro; a flow and inflow; a swing backward and forward; a pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb and flow; a high-tide and low-tide; between the two poles which exist in accordance with the Principle of Polarity described a moment ago.

There is always an action and a reaction; an advance and a retreat a rising and a sinking.

This is in the affairs of the Universe, suns, worlds, men, animals, mind, energy, and matter.

This law is manifest in the creation and destruction of worlds; in the rise and fall of nations; in the life of all things; and finally in the mental states of Man (and it is with this latter that the Hermetists find the understanding of the Principle most important).

The Hermetists have grasped this Principle, finding its universal application, and have also discovered certain means to overcome its effects in themselves by the use of the appropriate formulas and methods.

They apply the Mental Law of Neutralization.

They cannot annul the Principle, or Cause it to cease its operation, but they have learned how to escape its effects upon themselves to a certain degree depending upon the Mastery of the Principle.

They have learned how to USE it, instead of being USED BY it.

In this and similar methods, consist the Art of the Hermetists.

The Master of Hermetics polarizes himself at the point at which he desires to rest, and then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of the pendulum which would tend to carry him to the other pole.

All individuals who have attained any degree of Self-Mastery do this to a certain degree, more or less unconsciously, but the Master does this consciously, and by the use of his Will and attains a degree of Poise and Mental Firmness almost impossible of belief on the part of the masses who are swung backward and forward like a pendulum.

This Principle and that of Polarity have been closely studied by the Hermetists, and the methods of counteracting, neutralizing and USING them form an important part of the Hermetic Mental Alchemy.

VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND 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." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the fact that there is a Cause for every Effect; an Effect from every Cause. It explains that: "Everything Happens according to Law"; that nothing ever "merely happens"; that there is no such thing as Chance; that while there are various planes of Cause and Effect, the higher dominating the lower planes, still nothing ever entirely escapes the Law.

The Hermetists understand the art and methods of rising above the ordinary plane of Cause and Effect, to a certain degree, and by mentally rising to a higher plane they become Causers instead of Effects.

The masses of people are carried along, obedient to environment; the wills and desires of others stronger than themselves; heredity; suggestion; and other outward causes moving them about like pawns on the Chessboard of Life.

But the Masters, rising to the plane above, dominate their moods, characters, qualities, and powers, as well as the environment surrounding them, and become Movers instead of pawns.

They help to PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE, instead of being played and moved about by other wills and environment. They USE the Principle instead of being its tools.

The Masters obey the Causation of the higher planes, but they help to RULE on their own plane.

In this statement there is condensed a wealth of Hermetic knowledge — let him read who can.

VII. THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER.

"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles Gender; manifests on all planes." — The Kybalion.

This Principle embodies the truth that there is GENDER manifested in everything — the Masculine and Feminine Principles ever at work.

This is true not only of the Physical Plane, but of the Mental and even the Spiritual Planes. On the Physical Plane, the Principle manifests as SEX, on the higher planes it takes higher forms, but the Principle is ever the same.

No creation, physical, mental or spiritual, is possible without this Principle. An understanding of its laws will throw light on many a subject that has perplexed the minds of men.

The Principle of Gender works ever in the direction of generation, regeneration, and creation. Everything, and every person, contains the two Elements or Principles, or this great Principle, within it, him or her.

Every Male thing has the Female Element also; every Female contains also the Male Principle.

If you would understand the philosophy of Mental and Spiritual Creation, Generation, and Re-generation, you must understand and study this Hermetic Principle.

It contains the solution of many mysteries of Life.

We caution you that this Principle has no reference to the many base, pernicious and degrading lustful theories, teachings and practices, which are taught under fanciful titles, and which are a prostitution of the great natural principle of Gender.

Such base revivals of the ancient infamous forms of Phallicism tend to ruin mind, body and soul, and the Hermetic Philosophy has ever sounded the warning note against these degraded teachings which tend toward lust, licentiousness, and perversion of Nature's principles.

If you seek such teachings, you must go elsewhere for them — Hermeticism contains nothing for you along these lines.

To the pure, all things are pure; to the base, all things are base.

Originally posted by Dustytoad

Originally posted by ApostleTriad
reply to post by Dustytoad

 

Bardon! What a wonderful man and what wonderful works he has. I have a nice sized collection of his things, if you'd like them that is.

I wouldn't mind a couple recommendations. I just don't want to see that one book. I have a connection with the book, and the weirdness. Like the book has power now that it was always around me while I was doing the practices.

I highly respect Franz Bardon. He's like the good guy responsible version of ol alyster crowely...

I'm wondering how far advanced you were when you started with the Initiation into Hermetics? I've started studying it recently. In no ways am I a "newbie" but still, I'm not trying to incite anything to violence.

reply to post by LeftySinister


I wasn't/am not very advanced. I had meditated on and off for some time, but that's about it. I have always been extra sensitive, always had powerful energy.

I kind of just went right into it, thinking it was all fake magic imagination time..
It's not fake though. Magic is something I would classify as Will Power applied to consciousness/energy.
I guess you could say I rushed it

I don't even meditate anymore. I drink alcohol and eat sugar to make sure my spiritual energy doesn't get to high.
In this way I am shut off from "their" turf. There are dark beings who don't like enlightened humans. They know they only have more power than you in your current state. You can far surpass them though, thank God for that, literally.

At some point now that I am more mature, I'm going to go back into this realm.

Wrote this right around when I quit:

After that time that my body said "Hi God." beyond my control, and energy shot up my spine, my nerves, and brain chemistry were very much altered.
Now I would need to be even stronger to be able to handle the insane amount of energy I can conjure, but not quite control.

There is a bridge in meditation I need to cross to gain such control, but before I get there, I will be left open defenseless to my own mind and other, even, DARK energies...

If you get into this stuff make sure you are learning how to defend yourself psychically. Things like grounding, shielding, and others. Jesus helps in emergencies as well. All you have to do is ask.