THE KYBALION A Study of The Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece BY THREE INITIATES "THE LIPS OF WISDOM ARE CLOSED, EXCEPT TO THE EARS OF UNDERSTANDING" 1912 COPYRIGHT 1912 ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE YOGI PUBLICATION SOCIETY MASONIC TEMPLE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ISBN 0 911662-25-1 TO HERMES TRISMEGISTUS KNOWN BY THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS AS "THE GREAT GREAT" AND "MASTER OF MASTERS" THIS LITTLE VOLUME OF HERMETIC TEACHING IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED Table of Contents I. The Hermetic Philosophy II. The Seven Hermetic Principles 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 III. Mental Transmutation IV. The All V. The Mental Universe VI. The Divine Paradox VII. "The All" in All VIII. Planes of Correspondence IX. Vibration X. Polarity XI. Rhythm XII. Causation XIII. Gender XIV. Mental Gender XV. Hermetic Axioms INTRODUCTION We take great pleasure in presenting to the attention of students and investigators of the Secret Doctrines this little work based upon the world-old Hermetic Teachings. There has been so little written upon this subject, not withstanding the countless references to the Teachings in the many works upon occultism, that the many earnest searchers after the Arcane Truths will doubtless welcome the appearance of this present volume. The purpose of this work is not the enunciation of any special philosophy or doctrine, but rather is to give to the students a statement of the Truth that will serve to reconcile the many bits of occult knowledge that they may have acquired, but which are apparently opposed to each other and which often serve to discourage and disgust the beginner in the study. Our intent is not to erect a new Temple of Knowledge, but rather to place in the hands of the student a Master-Key with which he may open the many inner doors in the Temple of Mystery through the main portals he has already entered.