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Chapter 8

The correspondence plans

"What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like what is above."
The Second Great Hermetic Principle explains the truth that there is a harmony,
a correlation and correspondence between the different planes of Manifestation,
Life and Existence. This statement is a truth, for all that is included in the
Universe emanates from the same source, and the same laws, principles and
characteristics apply to each unit, or combination of units of activity, as well as
each manifests its phenomena on its own plane.

For the convenience of thought and study, the Hermetic Philosophy considers
that the Universe may be divided into three great classes of phenomena, known
as the Three Great Planes called:
I. The Great Physical Plan.
II. The Great Mental Plane.
III. The Great Spiritual Plane.

These divisions are more or less artificial and arbitrary, for the truth is that all
three divisions are but ascending degrees of the great ladder of Life, the lowest
point of which is undifferentiated Matter, and the highest point Spirit. And,
indeed, the various Planes penetrate each other, so that this unsound and exact
division may be placed between the highest phenomena of the Physical Plane,
and the lowest of the Mental Plane; or between the highest of the mental and
the lowest of the Physical.
Finally, the Three Great Planes can be considered as three major groups of
degrees of vital Manifestation. Although the end of this little book does not
permit us to enter into an extensive discussion or explanation of the object of
these different planes, nevertheless, we think it good to give here a general
description of them.

At first we must consider well the question so often asked by the neophyte, who
wishes to be informed about the meaning of the word "Plan", a term which has
been widely used and little explained in many works of occultism. The question
is usually expressed thus: "Is a Plane a place having dimensions, or is it simply
a condition or state? We answer: "No; it is not a place, nor an ordinary
dimension of space; it is even more than a state or condition, and yet the state
or condition is a degree of dimension, in scale subject to measure. A bit
paradoxical, isn't it? But let us examine the matter. A "dimension," you know, is
"a measure in a straight line, in relation to the measure," etc. The ordinary
dimensions of space are length, width, and height, or perhaps length, width,
height, thickness, or circumference. There is another dimension of created
things, or measure in a straight line, known to occultists, as well as to scientists,
though the latter do not call it "dimension"; and this new dimension, which in the
future will be the most investigated as the Fourth Dimension, is the mark used in
determining the degrees or Planes.
This Fourth Dimension can be called the Vibration Dimension. This is a fact well
known to modern science, as to the Hermetists, who have established the truth
in their Third Hermetic Principle, that "everything moves, everything vibrates,
nothing is still. From the highest manifestations to the lowest, all things vibrate.
Not only do they vibrate in different coefficients of motion, but also in different
directions and in different ways. The degrees of the coefficient of vibrations
constitute the degrees of measurement on the Scale of Vibrations, or in other
words, the degrees of the Fourth Dimension. And these degrees, form what
occultists call "Planes. The highest degree of vibration constitutes the highest
plane and the highest manifestation of Life occupying this plane. Thus, though a
plane is not a place, nor yet a state or condition, it possesses the qualities of
both. We would like to say more on the subject of the scale of Vibrations in our
next lessons, wherein we will consider the Hermetic Principle of Vibration.
 You must now remember that the Three Great Planes are not the present
divisions of the phenomena of the Universe, but simply arbitrary terms
employed by the Hermetists to facilitate the thinking and study of the various
degrees and forms of universal activity and life. The atom of matter, the unity of
force, the mind of man, and the existence of the archangel are degrees of one
scale, and fundamentally the same thing, the difference being simply a matter of
degree and coefficient of vibration; all are creations of THE ALL, and have their
existence only in the Infinite Mind of THE ALL.
The Hermetists subdivide each of these Three Great Planes into Seven Minor
Planes, and each of these are also subdivided into seven sub-planes, all
divisions being more or less arbitrary, penetrating into each other, and adopted
only for the convenience of scientific study and for the idea.
The Great Physical Plane, with its Seven Minor Planes, is the division of the
phenomena of the Universe which includes all that is relative to things, forces,
and physical or mental manifestations. It includes all forms of what we call
Matter, and all forms of what we call Energy or Force. But you must know that
the Hermetic Philosophy does not recognize Matter as a "thing in itself," or as
having a separate existence constant in the mind of the Whole.

The Teachings are that Matter is rather a form of Energy; it is Energy in a lower
coefficient of vibrations of a certain species. And according to this the
Hermetists classify Matter as the lower end of the Energy, and give it three of
the Seven Minor Planes of the Great Physical Plane.
These Seven Minor Physical Plans are the following:
I . The Plan of Matter (A)
II. The Plan of Matter (B)
III. The Plan of Matter (C)
IV. The Plan of the Ethereal Substance
V. The Energy Plan (A) 'VI.
The Plan of Energy (B)
VII. The Energy Plan (C)

The Plane of Matter (A) comprises the forms of Matter in its forms of solids,
liquids and gases as generally recognized in the books of physicists.
The Plane of Matter (B) comprises certain higher and more subtle forms of
Matter, whose existence modern science is now recognizing, the phenomena of
Radiant Matter, in its phases of radium, etc., which contains the lower
subdivision of this Minor Plane. The Plane of Matter (C) comprises the forms of
the more subtle and tenuous matter, whose existence is not suspected by
ordinary scientists.
The Plane of Ethereal Substance comprises what science calls "The Ether," a
substance of extreme tenuity and elasticity, which penetrates the entire Space
of the Universe, and acts as a mediator for the transmission of waves of energy,
such as light, heat, electricity, etc. This Ethereal substance forms a link of
relationship between Matter (so called) and Energy, and participates in the
nature of both. The Hermetic Teachings, however, teach that this plane has
seven sub-divisions (as do all Minor Planes.), and that indeed there are seven
ethers instead of one.
Immediately above the Plane of Ethereal Substance is the Plane of Energy (A),
which comprises the ordinary forms of Energy known to science, being,
respectively, these seven sub planes, Heat, Light, Magnetism, Electricity and
Attraction including Gravitation, Cohesion, Chemical Affinity, etc. and various
other forms of energy indicated by scientific experiments but not yet classified.
The Plane of Energy (B) comprises seven sub-plans of higher forms of energy
not yet discovered by science, but which have been dubbed "The Subtler
Forces of Nature," and which are considered in action in the manifestations of
certain forms of Mental phenomena, and by which such phenomena are
possible. The Plane of Energy (C) comprises seven sub planes of energy so
highly organized that they contain many characteristics of life, but which are not
recognized by the minds of men on the ordinary Plane of development, being
useful only to the beings of the Spiritual Plane; such energy is not even
dreamed of by ordinary man, and may be regarded almost as the divine force.
The beings who employ it are like gods compared to the highest human types
known to us,

The Great Mental Plane comprises those forms of living thought known to us in
ordinary life, as well as certain other forms only well known to occultists. The
classification of the Seven Minor Mental Planes is more or less satisfactory and
arbitrary (if not accompanied by careful explanations which are outside the
scope of this particular work; however, we shall mention them). They are the
following:
l . The Plane of Mineral Mind
li. The Plane of Elemental Mind (A)
iii.The Plant Mind Plan
IV. The Plane of Elemental Mind (B)
V. The Plan of Animal Mind
Vi. The Plan of Elemental Mind
(C) Vil. The Plan of Hominal
Mind.

The Plane of Mineral Mind comprises the states or conditions of the units,
entities, or groups and combinations thereof, which animate the forms known to
us as minerals, chemicals, etc. These entities must not be confused with the
molecules, atoms and corpuscles, which are simply the bodies or material forms
of these entities, just as a man's body is his material form and not himself.
These entities may be called spirits in a certain sense, and living beings of a
lower degree of development, life and mind, exactly a little greater than the units
of living energy comprising the highest sub-divisions of the highest Physical
Plane. The average mind does not generally wish to ascribe the possession of
mind, spirit, or life to the Mineral Realm, but all occultists recognize its
existence, and modern science moves rapidly to the Hermetic point of view
regarding this matter. The molecules, the atoms C The corpuscles have their
loves and hates, their similarities and dissimilarities, attractions and repulsions,
affinities and defaults, etc., and many of the most intrepid minds of modern
science have expressed the opinion that the desire and will, the eitotions and
feelings, of the atoms simply differ in degree from those which men have.
We have no room to argue about this issue. All occultists know this, and others
have referred to the most recent scientific works for outside corroboration.
These are the seven usual subdivisions of this plan.
The Plane of Elemental Mind (A) comprises the state or condition, and degree
of mental and vital development, of a class of entity unknown to the average
man, but recognized by occultists. They are invisible to the ordinary senses of
man, but nevertheless exist, and have their share of the Drama of the Universe.
Their degree of intelligence is between that of the mineral and chemical entities
on the one hand, and of the entities of the vegetable kingdom on the other. Also
on this plane there are seven subdivisions.
The Plan of Plant Mind, in its seven sub-divisions, comprises the states or
conditions of the entities contained in the realms of the Plant World, the vital
and mental phenomena that people of average intelligence rightly understand,
and many new and interesting works on "Mind and Life in Plants" have been
published in the last decade. Plants have life, mind and spirit as well as
animals, man and superman.
The Plane of Elemental Mind (B), in its seven sub-divisions, comprises the
states and conditions of a higher form of the elemental or invisible entities,
having its part in the general work of the Universe, whose mind and life form a
part of e.-each between the Plane of Plant Mind and the Plane of Animal Mind,
the entities participating in the nature of both.
The Plane of Animal Mind, in its seven sub-divisions, comprises the states and
conditions of entities, beings or spirits that animate the animal forms of life,
familiar to us all. It is not necessary to go into detail regarding this realm or
plane of life, because the animal world is as familiar to us as our own.

The Plane of Elemental Mind (C), in its seven sub-divisions, comprises the
invisible entities or entities, as are all elemental forms, which participate in the
nature of animal and human life to a certain degree and in certain combinations.
The higher forms are half-human in intelligence.
The Plane of Human Mind, in its seven sub-divisions, comprises the
manifestations of life and mentality which are common to Man in its various
degrees and divisions. In this relationship we know that the average man of
today occupies the fourth sub-division of the Plane of Human Mind, and only the
most intelligent has crossed the boundaries of the Fifth Subdivision. The race
has spent millions of years to reach this position, and it will take many more
years for it to pass the sixth and seventh sub-division and go beyond it. But
remember, there were breeds before us that passed through those steps and on
the higher planes. Our own race is the fifth (with the remains of the fourth) that
set foot on the Path. However, there are some advanced spirits of our own race
who have outnumbered the masses, and who have passed through the sixth
and seventh subdivisions, and very few are above them. The man of the Sixth
Subdivision will be "Superman"; and that of the Seventh "Man on Top.

In our consideration of the Seven Minor Mental Plans, we refer to the Three
Elemental Plans in a general sense. We do not wish to go into detail on this
subject, for this work is limited to dealing with philosophy and precepts in
general. But we may tell you more, in order to give you a little clearer idea of the
relations of these planes to the more famous of them: The Elemental Planes
have the same relation to the planes of Mineral, Plant, Animal and Hominal
Mentality and Life, as the black keys on the piano have to the white keys. The
white keys are sufficient to produce the music, but there are certain scales
'melodies and harmonies in which the black keys have their part, and in which
their presence is necessary. They are also necessary as links of use of the
condition of the spirit; they are entity-state, among the other diverse planes,
certain forms of development that can be reached in it; this last result giving the
reader that can have between the lines a new light on the process of Evolution,
and a new key of the secret door of the lips of life between one kingdom and
another. The great kingdoms of the Elementals are greatly recognized by all
occultists, and the esoteric writings are full of mention of them. Readers of
Bulwer Lytton's "Zanoni" and other similar works will be able to recognize the
entities inhabiting these planes of life.
Moving from the Great Mental Plane to the Great Spiritual Plane, what can we
say? How can we explain these higher states of the Entire, of Life, and of Mind,
to minds still unable to understand and understand the higher sub-divisions of
the Hominal Plane of Mind?
The task is impossible. We can only speak in more general terms. How can the
Light be described to a man born blind? How can sugar be explained to a man
who has never eaten anything sweet, or harmony to one who was born deaf?
All we can say is that the Seven Minor Planes of the Great Spiritual Plane (each
Minor Plane having its seven sub-divisions) comprises the Enthems that
possess Life, Mind and Form above that of present Man, as the latter is above
the terrestrial worm, mineral, or even certain forms of Energy or Matter. The Life
of these Beings is so transcendental to us that we cannot yet think of the details
of them; their Minds are so transcendent that to them we seem to think a little,
and our mental processes seem to them simply as a material process; the
Matter of which their forms are composed is of the higher Planes of Matter, yet
many have said that they are trapped in Pure Energy. What can be said of such
Entes?

On the Seven Minor Planes of the Great Spiritual Plane there are Enterprises
which we may call Angels, Archangels, Semi-Gods. On the lower Minor Plane
live these great souls whom we call Masters and Adepts. Above them is the
Great Hierarchy of the Angelic Hosts, inconceivable to man; and above them
are those who may be called without irreverence The Gods, so high in the
ladder of existence are they, for their existence, intelligence, and power are
similar to those atríbuídos by the races of men to their conceptions of Divinity.
These Beings are still beyond the highest flights of human imagination, and the
Divine epithet is the only one applicable to them. Many of these Beings, as well
as the Angelic Hosts, take a great interest in the business of the Universe and
have an important part in it. These Invisible Divinities and Protecting Angels
extend their free influence in the process of Evolution and Cosmic Progress.
Their occasional intervention and assistance in human affairs has created the
many legends, beliefs, religions and traditions of the past and present race.
They have often imposed their knowledge and powers upon the world according
to the Law of THE ALL.

But even the highest of these Advanced Enthems exist simply as creations of
the Mind of THE ALL, and are subject to Cosmic Processes and Universal
Laws. They are still Mortal. We may call them "gods likened to concsco," but
they are still the Elder Brethren of the Race, the more advanced souls who have
surpassed their brethren, and who have renounced the ecstasy of Absorption
for THE ALL, in order to help the race on its journey up the Path. But they
belong to
Universe and are subject to its conditions (they are mortal) and its plane is
below the plane of the Absolute Spirit.

Only the most advanced Hermetists are able to understand the most hidden
Precepts concerning the states of existence and the powers manifested on the
Spiritual Planes. The phenomena are so superior to those of the Mental Planes
that a confusion of ideas would certainly result if we were to attempt to describe
them. Only those whose minds have been so trained in the lines of the Hermetic
Philosophy for many years certainly carry with them from other incarnations the
knowledge previously acquired - can understand just what is meant by the
Teaching on this Spiritual Plane. And many of these Secret Teachings are
regarded by the Hermetists as sacred, important, and dangerous for
dissemination to the general public. Intelligent students may recognize that we
mean by this the idea that the meaning of the word Spirit, as employed by the
Hermetists, is similar to that of Living Power, Host Force, Hidden Essence,
Essence of Life, etc., which should not be confused with the usual and
commonly used term in relation to the terms, that is, religious, spiritual
ecclesiastical, ethereal, holy, etc. To occultists the word "Spirit" is used in the
sense of "The Animated Principle," thus understanding the idea of Power, Living
Energy, Mystical Force, etc. And occultists know that what is known to them as
"Spiritual Power" may be used for evil as well as good (in accordance with the
Principle of Polarity), a fact which has been recognized by most religions in their
conceptions of Satan, Beelzebub, the Devil, Lucifer, fallen Angels, etc. And so
the knowledge regarding these Plans has been preserved in the Holy of Holies,
in the Secret Chamber of the Temple of all Esoteric Fraternities and Occult
Orders.

But we can say here that he who has reached the higher spiritual powers and
employed them badly has a terrible fate for himself in history, and the vibration
of the pendulum of Rhythm will inevitably throw him to the lowest extreme of
Material existence, from whose point he must make his journey of spiritual
imprisonment, through the many turns of the Path, but always with the torture of
always having oonsigo a slight memory of the heights from which he fell
because of his evil deeds. The legend of the Fall of Angels has a basis in
current facts as all advanced occultists know. Efforts for selfish powers on the
Spiritual Plane inevitably bring as a result in the selfish spirit the loss of its
spiritual balance and the Fall in the same way that it was previously elevated.
But still for such a soul, the opportunity is given to return, and it takes the path
back, paying the terrible penalty according to the unvarying Ui.

In conclusion let us now remind you that relatively (according to him) to the
Principle of Correspondence, which contains the truth: What is above is like
what is below, and what is below is like what is above, all Seven Hermetic
Principles are in many operations on all the various Physical, Mental and
Spiritual planes. The Principle of Mental Substance applies to all planes, for all
is born in the Mind of THE ALL. The Principle of Correspondence manifests on
all, because there is a correspondence, harmony, and correlation between the
various planes. The Principle of Vibration manifests on all planes- indeed, the
real difference between the planes results from Vibration, as we explain. The
Principle of Polarity manifests on all planes, because the extremes of the Poles
are apparently opposites and counter-dictories. The Principle of Rhythm
manifests on all planes, the movement of phenomena having their ebb and flow,
their high and low. O
The Principle of Cause and Effect manifests on all Planes, each Cause having
its Cause, and each Cause having its Effect. The Principle of Gender manifests
on all Planes, the Creative Energy being always manifested, and operating
along the lines of the Masculine and Feminine Aspects.
What is above is like what is below, and what is below is like what is above.
This hermetic axiom of hundreds of years comprises one of the great Principles
of Universal Phenomena. As we proceed with our considerations of the
permanent Principles, we will have even more clearly the truth of the universal
nature of this great Principle of Correspondence.

Chapter 9
The
Vibration
"Nothing is still, everything moves, everything vibrates." CAIBALION
The Third Great Hermetic Principle-the Principle of Vibration-understands the
truth that Motion is manifest in everything in the Universe, that nothing is still,
that everything moves, vibrates and circulates. This Hermetic Principle has
been recognized by many of the greatest Greek philosophers who introduced it
into their systems. But then, for many centuries, it was lost by those thinkers
who were outside the hermetic ranks. But in the ninth century physical science
again discovered truth, and the scientific discoveries of the twentieth century
added the proofs of accuracy and truth of the centuries-old Hermetic doctrine.
The Hermetic Teachings are that not only is everything in motion and constant
vibration; but also that the differences between the various manifestations of
universal power are due entirely to variation in scale and mode of vibrations.
Not only this, but that THE ALL itself manifests a constant vibration of such an
infinite degree of intensity and rapid movement that it may be practically
regarded as standing still. The instructors direct the student's attention to the
fact that, still on the physical plane, an object which moves rapidly (like a
spinning wheel) appears to be stationary. The Teachings are that in effect Spirit
is on one side of the Pole of Vibration, and the other Pole is a certain extremely
coarse form of Matter. Between these two Poles are millions of scales and
modes of vibration.
Modern Science has proved that what we call Matter and Energy is simply a
 mode of vibratory motion, and many of the more advanced scientists are
moving rapidly for those occultists who maintain that the phenomena of Mind
are similar modes of vibration and motion. This has allowed us to examine what
science has said about -the question of vibrations in matter and energy.

Finally, science teaches that all matter manifests, in a few degrees, the
vibrations coming from temperature or heat. Whether an object is hot or cold -
both being simply degrees of the same thing - it manifests certain hot vibrations,
and in this sense is in motion and vibration. Then all the particles of Matter are
in circular motion, from the corpuscles to the suns. The planets revolve around
the suns, and many of them revolve on their axes. The suns move around the
great central points, and believe that these move around larger ones, and so on,
to infinity. The molecules of which the particular species of Matter are
composed are in a state of constant vibration and movement around each other.
The molecules are composed of Atoms, which, similarly, are in a state of
constant motion and vibration.
Atoms are composed of corpuscles, often called electrons, ions, etc., which are
also in a state of rapid movement, rotating one around the other, and which
manifest a truly rapid state and mode of vibration. And so we see that all forms of
Matter manifest Vibration, in accordance with the Hermetic Principle of Vibration.
And so it is with the various forms of Energy. Science teaches that Light, Heat,
Magnetism and Electricity are simply forms of vibratory movement probably
emanating from Ether. Science has not so far sought to explain the nature of
the phenomena known as Cohesion, which is the principle of Molecular
Attraction, nor Chemical Affinity, which is the principle of Atomic Attraction, nor
Gravitation (the greatest mystery of these three), which is the principle of
attraction by which a particle or mass of Matter is attracted to another particle.
These three forms of Energy are not yet understood by science, yet the writers
incline to the opinion that these three are manifestations of the same form of
vibratory energy, a fact which the Hermetists discovered and said in past times.

The Universal Ether, which is postulated by science without its nature being
clearly understood, is considered by the Hermetists to be a high manifestation
of what is erroneously called matter, that is, Matter at a high degree of vibration,
is called by them "The Ethereal Substance. The Hermetists teach that this
Ethereal Substance is of extreme tenuity and elasticity, and penetrates
universal space, serving as a means of transmission of the waves of vibratory
energy, horn heat, light, electricity, magnetism, etc. The Teachings are that the
Ethereal Substance is a link between the forms of vibratory energy known as .
Matter, on the one hand, and Energy or Force, on the other; and also that it
manifests a degree of vibration, in an entirely particular scale and manner.

Scientists have offered the example of a wheel, spinning top or to show the
effects of the rapidly moving cylinder increasing vibration scales. The example
supposes a wheel, spinning top or cylinder, turning on a small scale of
lightness. Suppose the object moves slowly. It can be seen easily, but no sound
of its movement penetrates the ear. The lightness is gradually increased. In a
few moments its movement takes so fast that a deaf noise or a low note can be
heard. Then as the scale is increased the note rises further on the 'musical'
scale. The movement being further increased, the last higher note is better
heard. There', one after the other, all the notes of the musical scale appear,
rising more and more as the movement is increased. Finally, when the
movement has passed a certain scale, the final note perceptible to human ears
is reached, a shrill sound sounds dying away, and silence follows. No sound of
the revolving object is heard, the degree of movement being so high that the
human ear cannot register the vibrations.

Then the perception of the rising degrees of heat begins and after a while the
eye perceives a glimpse of the object that becomes a reddish colored darkness.
As the degree increases, the red becomes lighter. As the lightness is further
increased, the red becomes orange. The orange turns to yellow. Then the
representations of green, blue, indigo, and finally violet follow, as the degree of
lightness increases. Then the violet color disappears, and all colors disappear,
the human eye not being able to register them. But there are invisible rays
emanating from the revolving object, the rays used in photography, and other
subtle rays of light. Then the peculiar rays known as the X-rays, etc. begin to
manifest, as the constitution of the object is transformed. Electricity and
Magnetism are emitted when the appropriate degree of vibration is reached.
When the object reaches a certain degree of vibration its molecules disintegrate
and revolve by themselves in the original elements or atoms.
The atoms in turn, following the Principle of Vibration, are separated into the
small corpuscles from which they are formed. And finally, even the corpuscles
disappear, and it may be said that the object is composed of the Ethereal
Substance. Science does not go on by example, but the hermit scholars teach
that if the vibrations were to increase continuously, the object would rise through
the successive states of manifestation, and could manifest the various mental
degrees towards the Spirit; then it could finally re-enter THE ALL, which is the
Absolute Spirit. The object, however, would have ceased to be an object as long
as it had ascended to the step of the Ethereal Substance, and yet the illustration
is correct because it shows the effect of the constantly increasing degree and
mode of vibration. It must be remembered in the above illustration that in the
degrees in which the object exudes vibrations of light, heat, etc., it is not at
present resolved in these forms of energy (which are very high in scale), but
simply reaches a degree of vibration in which these forms of energy are
liberated, to a certain degree, from the restrictive influences of their molecules,
their atoms and corpuscles, as may be the case. These forms of energy, though
much higher in scale than matter, are imprisoned and limited in material
combinations, for the reason that the energies manifest and employ the material
forms, but are restricted and limited in their creations of these forms, so that
these are, to a degree of understanding, the truest of all creations, the creative
force being involved in their creation. But the Hermetic Teachings go far beyond
those of modern science. They teach that every manifestation of thought,
emotion, reasoning, will, desire, any contention or state, is accompanied by
vibrations, a portion of which is expelled and tends to affect the minds of other
people by induction.

This is the principle that produces the phenomena of telepathy, mental influence
and other forms of action and of the Power of the mind with which it is rapidly
becoming accustomed, because of the complete dissemination of occult
knowledge by the various schools, cults and instructors at the present time.
Every thought, every emotion or mental state has its degree and mode of
vibration. And by an effort of the will of the person, or of other people, these
mental states can be reproduced, just as musical tone can be reproduced
through the vibration of an instrument to a certain degree, and just as color can
be reproduced in the same way. By the knowledge of the Principle of Vibration,
applied to Mental Phenomena, one may polarize his mind to whatever degree
he wishes, thus acquiring a perfect mastery over his mental states, dispositions,
etc. In the same way it may affect the minds of others, producing in them the
desired states. Finally, it may produce on the Mental Plane what science
produces on the Physical Plane, primarily, Vibrations at Will. This power may be
acquired only by the proper instruction, exercises, practices, etc., of the science
of Mental Transmutation, one of the branches of the Hermetic Art.
A little reflection on what we have said will show the student that the Principle of
Vibration comprises the admirable phenomena of the power manifested by the
Masters and Adepts, who are apparently able to destroy the Laws of Nature, but
who in reality simply use one law against another, one principle against another;
and who obtain their results by changing the vibrations of material objects or
forms of energy, and then perform what is commonly called a miracle.

Says one of the old airtight writers: "He who understands the Principle of
Vibration has reached the scepter of Power.

Chapter 10

The Polarity
"Everything is double; everything has two poles; everything has its pair of
opposites; similar and dissimilar are one; opposites are identical in nature, but
different in degree; extremes touch each other; all truths are half-truths; all
paradoxes can be reconciled. - THE CAIBALION -
The Fourth Great Hermetic Principle-the Principle of Polarity-contains the truth
that all things manifested have two sides, two aspects, two opposite poles, with
many degrees of difference between the two extremes. The old paradoxes,
which still perplex the minds of men, are explained by knowledge of this
Principle.

Man has also recognized many things-similar to this Principle, and has tried to
express it by these maxims and aphorisms: Everything exists and does not exist
at the same time; all truths are half-truths, all truths are half-truths, there are two
sides to everything, every verse has its reverse, etc.
The Hermetic Teachings are, in fact, that the difference between things that
seem diametrically opposed is simply a matter of degrees. They teach that pairs
of opposites may be reconciled, and that the universal reconciliation of
opposites is effected by knowledge of this Principle of Polarity. The instructors
say that the examples of this Principle may be given to anyone, and by an
examination of the real nature of things. They know this because they affirm that
Spirit and Matter are but two poles of the same thing, the intermediate planes
being but degrees of vibration@ They affirm that All and Much are the same
thing, the difference being but degrees of mental manifestation. Thus Law and
Law are the two poles of one thing. So are the Principle and Principles, the
Infinite Mind, and the Finite Mind.

Then moving on to the Physical Plane, they explain the Principle by saying that
Heat and Cold are identical in nature, the differences being simply a matter of
degrees. The thermometer marks several degrees of temperature, calling the
pole the lowest cold, and the highest heat. Between these two poles are many
degrees of heat or cold; call them either, and you will make no mistake. The
highest of the two degrees is always the hottest, while the lowest is always the
coldest. There is no absolute demarcation; it is all a matter of degree. There is
no place in the thermometer where heat ceases and cold begins. This is a
matter of higher or lower vibrations. Even the high and low terms (lower and
upper), which 'we are obliged to use, are only poles of the same thing; the terms
are relative. As are the East and the West; travel about the world, and in the
direction of the East, and you shall reach a point which is called the West, your
starting point, and you shall return from this eastern point. Travel to the North
and you will seem to travel to the South, or vice versa.
Light and darkness are poles of the same thing, with many degrees between
them. The musical scale is the same thing: by vibrating the point "C" I move it
up until you find another point "C", and so on, the difference between the two
ends of the string being the same, with many degrees between the two ends.
The scale of the colors is the same: the highest and lowest vibrations are simply
differences between the upper violet and the lower red. The Big and the Small
are relative. So too are Noise and Silence, Hard and Flexible. Such are the
Sharp and the Smooth. The Positive and the Negative are two poles of the
same thing, with many degrees between them.
Good and evil are not absolute; we call one end of the scale Good and the other
Evil. One thing is worse than the highest thing on the scale, but this thing
-worse, in turn, is better than the thing immediately below it; and so on, the
more or less being regulated by the position on the scale.

And so it is in the Mental Plan. Love and hate are generally regarded as things
diametrically opposed to each other, entirely different, irreconcilable. But we
apply the Principle of Polarity, and suppose that there is no such thing as
Absolute Love, or Absolute Hatred, as distinct from each other. Both are simply
terms applied to both poles of the same thing. Starting at one point on the scale
we find more love or less hate, as we ascend the scale; and more hate and less
love, as we descend: it being true that there is no matter of whose point, upper
or lower, we may admire. There are degrees of Love and Hate, and there is a
middle point where the like and the dissimilar become so insignificant that it is
difficult to distinguish between them. Courage and Fear follow the same rule.
The pairs of opposites exist everywhere. Where you find one thing you will find
its opposite: the two poles.

And it is this fact that enables the Hermetist to transmute one mental state into
another, along the lines of Polarization. Things belonging to different classes
may not be transmuted into another, but things of the same class may be
transmuted, that is, may have their polarity changed. Thus Love may be West or
East, Red or Violet, but it may become and immediately becomes Hate, and
likewise Hate may be transformed into Love, by changing its polarity. Courage
can be changed into Fear and vice versa. Hard things can get soft. Sharp things
can become smooth. Cold things can get hot. And so on, transmutation being
always between things of the same nature, but of different degrees. Let us take
the case of a fearful man. By raising his mental vibrations in the line of Fear and
Courage, he can achieve a higher degree (and Courage and Intrepidity). And
likewise a lazy man may change into an active, energetic individual simply by
polarizing in the direction of the desired quality.

The student who is familiar with the processes by which the various schools of
mental science, etc., produce modifications in the mental states of those who
employ their teachings, may not understand the principle that operates these
changes. But when the Principle of Polarity is understood, he sees that the
mental changes are caused by a change of polarity, a descent on the same
scale: the subject is easily understood. The change is not in the nature of a
transrnutation of one thing into something else entirely different, but is simply a
change of degree in the same things, a very important difference. For example,
taking an analogy from the Physical Plane, it is impossible to change Heat into
Sharpness, Noise, Height, etc., but Heat can be transmuted into Cold, simply by
diminishing 'vibrations. In the same way hate and Love are mutually
transmutable; so too is Fear and Courage. But Fear cannot be changed into
Love, nor Courage into Fear. Mental states belong to innumerable classes;
each class has two opposite poles, between which transmutation is possible.
The student will easily recognize that in the mental states, as well as in the
phenomena of the Physical Plane, the two poles can be classified as Positive
and Negative, respectively. Thus Love is Positive for Hatred, Courage for Fear,
Activity for Indolence, etc. And it may also be said that to those who are not
familiar with the Principle of Vibration, the Positive pole appears to be of a
higher degree than the Negative pole, and to dominate it immediately. The
tendency of Nature is in the direction of the dominant activity of the Positive
pole.
To add something else to the changing of the poles of one's own mental states
by the operation of the art of, Polarization, the phenomena of Mental Influence,
in its various phases, show us that this principle can extend to the phenomenon
of the influence of one mind upon another, of which much has been written in
recent years. When it is understood that Mental Induction is possible, that is,
that these mental states are produced by the induction of others, then one can
immediately see how a certain degree of vibration, or polarization of a certain
mental state, can be communicated to another person, and thus his polarity in
this class of mental states changes. It is according to this principle that the
results of many mental treatments are obtained. For example, a person is blue,
melancholic and full of fear. A mental scientist training his or her own mind in
the desired vibration by his or her own will, obtains the desired polarization in
his or her own case, then produces a similar mental state in the other by
induction, the result being that the vibrations are elevated and the person
polarized on the Positive side of the scale instead of the Negative side,
transmuted into and his or her Fear and other negative emotions are, Courage
and in similar positive mental states. A small study will show you that these
mental changes are almost all in accordance with the line of Polarization, the
change being of degree and not of species.
Knowledge of the existence of this great Hermetic Principle will enable the
student to better understand his own mental states, and those of other people.
He will see that these states are all a matter of degrees, and seeing this, he will
be able to raise or lower the vibration at will, to change his mental poles, instead
of being his servant and slave. And by this knowledge he can intelligently assist
his fellow men, and by the proper method change the -polarity whenever he
wishes.
We advise all students to familiarize themselves with this Principle of Polarity,
for an accurate understanding will indeed enlighten many difficult matters.

Chapter 11
The Rhythm
"Everything has flow and reflux; everything has its tides; everything goes up and
down; everything is manifested by compensated oscillations; the measure of the
movement on the right is the measure of the movement on the left; rhythm is the
compensation". THE KYBALION
The Fifth Great Hermetic Principle-the Principle of Rhythm-contains the truth
that in everything there is manifested a proportional movement, a movement
from one place to another, a flow and ebb, a forward and backward movement,
a pendulum-like movement, a low tide and a high tide between the two Poles
which manifest on the physical, mental and spiritual planes. The Principle of
Rhythm is in relation to the Principle of Polarity described in the preceding
chapter. Rhythm is manifested between the two Poles established by the
Principle of Polarity. This does not mean, however, that the pendulum of
Rhythm vibrates at the extreme poles, for this rarely happens; indeed, in most
cases it is very difficult to establish the opposite polar end. But the vibration
goes first to the side of one Pole and then to the side of the other.
There is always an action and a reaction, a march and a retreat, a high and a
low, manifested in all tones and phenomena of the Universe. Suns, worlds,
men, animals, plants, minerals, forces, energy, mind, matter, and even Spirit
manifest this Principle. The Principle manifests in the creation and destruction of
worlds, in the rise and fall of nations, in the historic life of all things, and finally in
the mental states of Man.

Beginning with the manifestations of the Spirit, or THE ALL, one may say there
is Elusion and Infusion; the "Expiration and Inspiration of Brahm," as the
expression of the Brahmans says. Universes are created; they reach the lowest
point of materiality, and soon begin their upward vibration. The suns are born
into existence, and when their greatest force is reached, the process of retreat
begins, and after eons of time they become inert masses of matter, waiting for
another impulse that again puts their inner energies into activity and a new solar
life cycle begins. And so it is with all worlds; they are born, they live and they
die: it is only to be reborn. And, asitn is with all things of figure and form; they
vibrate from action to reaction, from birth to death, from activity to inactivity they
turn back.
So it is with all living things; they were born, they grew, they died, and then they
took to be born. So it is with all great movements, philosophies, creeds,
customs, governments, nations and all other things: to be born, to grow, to
mature, to decay, to die and then to be reborn. The vibration of the pendulum is
always in evidence.

Night follows day, and day follows night. The pendulum vibrates from autumn to
winter, and then back again. The corpuscles, atoms, molecules, and all masses
of matter vibrate around the circle of their nature. There is no such thing as
absolute inertia or cessation of motion, and every movement -participation in
Rhythm. The principle is of universal application. It may be applied to any
question or phenomenon of any of the various planes of life. It may be applied
to all phases of human activity.
There is always the rhythmic vibration from one pole to another. The Universal
Pendulum is always in motion. The tides of Life rise and fall according to the
Law.

The Principle of Rhythm is well understood by modern science, and is regarded

as a universal law applied to material things. But the Hermetists take the
Principle far beyond, and know that its manifestations and influences extend to
the mental activities of Man, and that this is explained by the continuous
succession of conditions, states, emotions, and other disturbing and
embarrassing changes we observe in ourselves. But the hermit, by studying the
operations of this Principle, have learned to escape their activity by
Transmutation.
The Hermetic Masters have long since discovered that, while the Principle of
Rhythm is invariable, and always in evidence in mental phenomena, there are
still two planes of its manifestation as much as mental phenomena are included.
They have discovered that there are two general planes of Consciousness, the
Lower and the Higher; knowledge of this fact enables them to ascend to the
Higher Plane, and thus escape the vibration of the rhythmic pendulum which
manifests on the Lower Plane. In other words, the pendulum vibration takes
place on the Unconscious Plane, and the Consciousness is not affected. This
they call the Law of Neutralization. Their operations consist in elevating the Ego
above the vibrations of the Unconscious Plane of mental activity, so that the
negative vibration of the pendulum is not manifested in the consciousness, and
for this reason they are not affected, It is similar to elevating above a thing,
letting it pass under you. The Hermetic Masters, or the advanced students,
polarizing themselves at the desired pole, and by a process similar to the
refusal to participate in the downward vibration, or, if you prefer, the denial of its
influence upon them, hold fast to their polarized position, and let the mental
pendulum vibrate backward on the unconscious plane. All persons who have
attained all degrees of self-mastery realize this more or less unconsciously, and
refusing to leave their conditions and their negative mental states to dominate
them, apply the Law of Neutralization.
The Master, however, leads them to a very high degree of progress, and by the
use of his Will attains a degree of Balance and Mental Firmness almost
impossible to be believed by those who let the mental pendulum of conditions
and emotions move right and left.

The importance of this can be appreciated by any thinker who understands that
most people are creatures of conditions, emotions and sensations, and that they
only manifest a very insignificant self-control. If you will pause and examine a
moment, you will see how many movements of Rhythm have affected you in
your life, how a period of Enthusiasm has invariably been followed by a feeling
and condition of Depression. Likewise, your conditions and periods of Courage
have been followed by equal conditions of Fear. And so it has always happened
to most people: times of sensation have always appeared and disappeared with
them, but they have not suspected the cause or reason of the mental
phenomenon. Understanding the operations of this Principle will give one the
key to mastering these rhythmic movements of emotion, and will enable him to
know himself better, and to avoid being carried away by these flows and
refluxes. The Will is superior to the conscious manifestation of this Principle, yet
the Principle itself cannot be destroyed. We may escape its effects, but the
Principle is nevertheless in operation. The pendulum always moves, but we can
escape being carried away by it.
There are other kinds of operations of this Principle of Rhythm,c- that we want to
talk about now. One finds in its action what is known as the Law of
Compensation. One of the definitions or meanings of the word "Compensation" is
"counterbalance," which is the sense in which the Hermetists use the term. It is
to this Law of Compensation that Caibalion refers when it says:
"The measure of movement to the right is the measure of movement to the left;
rhythm is the compensation".
The Law of Compensation is that the movement in one direction stops the
movement in the opposite direction, or to the opposite pole; one balances or
counterbalances the other. In the Physical Plane we see many examples of this
Law. The pendulum of the clock moves at a certain distance to the right, and
then at an equal distance to the left. The seasons swing each other in the same
way. The tides follow the same Law. And the same Law is manifested in all
phenomena of Rhythm. The pendulum moves with brevity in one direction, and
with the same brevity in the other; an extensive movement to the right invariably
represents an extensive movement to the left. An object thrown up at a certain
height has equal distance to cross on its return. The force with which a projectile
is thrown one mile up is reproduced when the projectile returns to earth. This
Law is constant in the Physical Plane, as a reference to the model authors will
show you.
However, the hermetists take it much further. They teach that the mental states
of a man are subject to the same Law. The man who enjoys subtly is subject to
subtle sufferings; while he who feels few sorrows is only able to feel little joy.
The pig suffers but very little mentally, and also enjoys very little: he is
compensated. And on the other side, we have other animals that enjoy subtly,
but whose nervous organism and temperament make them suffer strange
degrees of feathers. And so it is with man. There are temperaments that allow a
much lower degree of enjoyment, and also a lower degree of suffering, while
there are others that allow more intense enjoyment, but also more intense
suffering. The truth is that the capacity for suffering or jouissance is
counterbalanced in each individual. The Law of Compensation is in constant
operation there.
However, the Hermetists go even further in this matter. They teach that before
one can enjoy a certain degree of pleasure, one must have moved,
proportionally to the other pole of sensation. They say, however, that the
Negative is from the Positive, in this matter, that is to say that experiencing a
certain degree of pleasure does not follow that one must pay for it with a
corresponding degree of suffering; on the contrary, pleasure is the rhythmic
movement, in accordance with the Law of Compensation, to a degree of
suffering previously experienced in the present life, or in a preceding direction.
This brings new light to the Problem of Suffering.

The Hermetists consider the chain of lives as continuous, and as forming part of
an individual's life, demodo that, therefore, the rhythmic movement by this form
is understood while it would have no meaning without the truth of reincarnation
being admitted.
However, the Hermetists preach that the Master or the advanced student is
qualified' in a high degree, to escape the movement to Suffering, by the process
of Neutralization mentioned above. By rising to the higher plane of the Ego,
many of the experiences which occur to those who live on the lower plane are
avoided and escaped.

The law of compensation takes an important part in the lives of men and
women. It is well known that a person usually pays the price of everything he or
she owns or lacks. If you have something, you need something else: the
balance is balanced. No one can keep their money and have the bread crumb
at the same time. All things have their pleasant and unpleasant sides. The
things you earn are always paid for by the things you lose. The rich possess
much of what the poor lack, while the poor also possess things that are beyond
the reach of the rich. The millionaire may be inclined to many feasts, and the
opulence with which to sustain all the delights and lusts of the table, but lacks
the appetite to enjoy it; he envies the appetite and digestion of the laborer, who
lacks the opulence and inclinations of the millionaire, and who takes more
pleasure in his simple food than the millionaire might have, if his appetite were
not bad, nor his digestion ruined, because his needs, habits and inclinations
differ. And so it is through life. The Law of Compensation is always in action,
striving to swing and counterbalance, and always coming in time, and it takes
several lives to move him back from the Pendulum of Rhythm.
Chapter 12

Causality

"Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; all things happen
according to the Law; Chance is simply a name given to an unrecognized Law;
there are many planes of causality, but nothing escapes the Law. - THE
CAIBALION -
The Sixth Great Hermetic Principle-the Principle of Cause and Effect-contains
the truth that Law dominates the Universe, that nothing happens by chance, that
this is merely a term to indicate the existing, but unrecognized or perceived
cause; 'that the phenomena are continuous, without interruption or exception.

The Principle of Cause and Effect is concealed in all ancient and modern
scientific ideas, and was announced by the Hermetic Teachers in the early
days. When many and varied disputes arose between the various schools of
thought, these disputes were mainly about the details of the operations of the
Principle, and more often than not about the meaning of certain words. The
obscure Principle of Cause and Effect has been accepted as accurate by
practically every appointed thinker in the world. To think otherwise would be to
subtract the phenomena of the universe from the dominion of Law and Order,
and to proscribe it from the dominion of an imaginary cause which men have
called Chance.

A -small consideration will show everyone that in reality there is no such thing
as pure. Chance. Webster defines the word Chance as follows: "An alleged
agent or period of activity different from force, law or purpose; the operation of
activity of such an agent; the alleged elected of such an agent; a fortuitous
event, a causality, etc.". But a little examination 'will show you that there is no
such thing as an agent as Chance, in the sense of something outside the law,
something outside Cause and Effect. How could it be a thing acting in the
phenomenal universe, independent of the laws, order and continuity of the
latter? Such a thing would be entirely independent of, and therefore superior to,
the orderly movement of the universe. We cannot imagine anything outside of
THE ALL that is outside of Law, and this only because THE ALL is LAW itself.
There is no place in the universe for anything outside of, and independent of
Law. The existence of such a Thing would take no effect on all Natural Laws,
and plunge the universe into chaotic disorder and illegality.
A careful examination will show that what we call Chance is simply a way of
expressing the dark causes; the causes we cannot understand. The word
Chance is derived from a word which means to fall (like the falling of the dice) 1
giving the idea that the falling of the dice (and of many games of chance) is
simply an event which has no relation to any cause. And this is the sense in
which the term is generally used. But when the matter is examined secretly, it is
seen that there is no chance in the fall of the dice.i Every day 'cal a death, which
displeases a certain number of people; it obeys a law of the infallible like that
which governs the revolution of the planets around the sun. Behind the coming
of death are causes, or chains of causes, moving beyond the place which the
mind can reach. The position of death in the Box, the reduction of muscular
energy expended in blows, the condition of the table, etc., etc., are all causes,
the effect of which may be seen. But behind these observed causes there are
chains of causes of unobserved origin, all of which have an influence upon the
number of the predominant death.
(If a death lasts a great amount of time, it will come from that the numbers
manifested will be almost equal) that is, there will be an equal number of one
stain, two stains, etc., which are predominant. Flip a coin, and it will fall on any
heads or tails, but make a good number of flips and the heads and tails will fall
soon. This is the operation of proportional law. But though the proportion and
the simple pitches are under the Law of Cause and Effect, if we were able to
examine in the preceding causes, it would be clearly observed that it was simply
impossible for death to come otherwise, under the same circumstances and at
the same time. Given the same causes, the same results will come.
There is always a cause and a why for all events. Nothing happens without a
cause, or a chain of causes. There has been much confusion in the minds of
people who have considered this Principle, because they were unable to explain
how one thing could cause something else, that is, be the creator of the second
thing. Indeed, as matter, no thing can cause or create anything else. Cause and
Effect are distributed simply as eventualities. An eventuality is that which
happens or comes, as a result or a consequence of various coming events. No
event creates another event, but it is simply a preceding link in the great
ordained chain of events proceeding from the creative energy of THE ALL.
There is a continuity between all preceding, consequential and subsequent
events. There is a relationship between all that came before, and all that comes
now. A stone is displaced from a mountainous place, and breaks the roof of a
hut down in the valley. At first we consider this to be a chance event, but when
we examine the matter we find a great chain of causes. In the first place is the
rain that softened the earth that supported the stone and that dropped it; in the
second place behind it is the influence of the sun, other rains, etc., that
gradually disintegrated the piece of rock from a larger piece, are the causes that
motivated the formation of the mountain and its lifting by the convulsions of
nature, and so to infinity.

Then we could look for the causes behind the cause of the rain, etc. We could
consider the existence of the ceiling. Finally, we would soon be involved in a
network of events, causes and effects, from whose intricate meshes we could
not get rid of.
Just as a man has two fathers, four grandparents, eight great grandparents,
sixteen great grandparents, and so on until in forty generations the number of
grandparents is calculated to be many thousands. So it is with the number of
causes that are hidden under the most trivial event or phenomenon, such as the
passage of a thin soot through your eyes. It is no pleasant thing to describe the
piece of soot from the early period of the world's history when it formed a part of
a massive tree trunk, which was first turned into charcoal, and then passed
through your eyes on its way to other adventures. And a great chain of events,
causes and effects, has brought him to his present condition, and the latter is
simply a chain of events that may produce other events hundreds of years after
this moment. A series of events coming from the small piece of soot was the
writing of these lines which made the master typographer reform a certain word,
the proofreader do the same thing, and which will produce certain thoughts in
your mind, and others, which in turn will affect others, and so on according to
man's ability to reason: and all this from the passage of a small piece of soot,
which shows the relativity and association of things, and the previous fact that
"there is no great thing, no, small thing, in the mind which causes everything.
It stops you from thinking for a moment. If a certain young man had not found a
certain girl in the dark period of the Stone Age, you, who are now reading these
lines, would not now exist. And perhaps, if the same couple had not met, we
who wrote these lines, would not exist now either. And the true act of writing, on
our part, and the act of reading, on yours, may not only affect our respective
lives and yours, but may also have a direct or indirect influence on many other
people who now live and will live in future ages. Every idea we think about,
every act we do, has its direct or indirect result that adapts to the great chain of
Cause and Effect.

We don't want to enter into consideration about Free Will or determinism, in this
work, for several reasons. Among the various reasons, the main one is that no
side of the controversy is entirely true; indeed, both sides are partially true,
according to the Hermetic Teachings. The Principle of Polarity shows that both
are Half-truths: opposite poles of Truth. The Precepts are that man may be
Free, and at the same time limited by Necessity, depending upon the meaning
of the terms, and the elevation of Truth whose meaning is examined. The
ancient writers express this matter thus: "The creation which is farthest from the
Center is the more limited; the closer it comes to the Center, the Freer it is.
Most people are more or less slaves to heredity, those around them, etc., and
manifest very little freedom. They are guided by their opinions, customs and
ideas, the outside world, and also by their emotions, sensations and conditions,
etc. They manifest no dominion, worthy of name. "They unworthily repudiate
this assertion, saying: For I am certainly free to act and do as I please; I do
exactly what I want to do," but they should better explain what I want and how I
please. What makes them want to do one thing rather than another; what
makes them happy to do this and not that? Why is it not for their pleasure and
desire? The Master can change these pleasures and desires in Others on the
Opposite side of the Mind Pole. He is able to Want by wanting, without wanting
because of conditions, emotions half, without tendency or desire. Most people
are dragged along like the falling stone, obedient to the environment, external
influences, and internal conditions and desires, not to mention the desires and
wills of others stronger than themselves, the heredity, the suggestion, which
carry them without resistance on their part, without the exercise of the Will.
Moved, like the pawns in the chess game of life, they take part in it and are
abandoned after the game is over. But the Masters, knowing the rule of the
game, rise above the plane of material life, and placing themselves in relation to
the highest forces of their nature dominate their own conditions, characters,
qualities, and polarity, as well as the environment in which they live, and thus
become Motors instead of Pawns: Causes instead of Effects. The Masters do
not escape the Causation of the higher planes, but agree with the higher laws,
and thus dominate circumstances on the lower plane. They form a conscious
part of the Law, without being mere instruments. As they serve us
Higher Plans, govern the Material Plan.
However, both in the superior and the inferior, the Law is always in action.
There is no such thing as chance. The blind goddesses were abolished by
Reason. Now we can see with enlightened eyes by the knowledge that all is
governed by the Universal Law-the infinite number of laws is simply a
manifestation of the One Great Law-the LAW that is THE ALL. It is true,
however, that not even a sparrow is neglected by the Mind of THE ALL, as the
hair of our head is counted, as the scriptures have said. There is nothing
outside the Law; nothing that happens is contrary to it. But do not make the
mistake of supposing that, because of this, Man is simply a blind automaton.
The Hermetic Teachings teach that Man may use the Law against the Law, and
that the higher will prevails against the lower, until at last he seeks refuge in the
Law itself, and looks down upon the lower laws with contempt. Are you able to
understand the innermost meaning of this?

Chapter 13
The Gender
"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles;
Gender manifests on all planes. - THE KYBALION
The Seventh Great Hermetic Principle-the Gender Principle-contains the truth
that there is Gender manifested in everything, that the Masculine and Feminine
Principles are ever present and at work in all phases of phenomena, and all
planes of life. At this point we think it good to draw your attention to the fact that
Gender, in its Hermetic sense, and Sex in the ordinarily accepted use of the
term, are not the same thing. The word Gender is derived from the Latin root
which means to generate, to procreate, to produce. A momentary consideration
will show you that the word has a more extensive and general meaning than the
term Sex, the latter referring to the physical distinctions between male and
female living things. Sex is simply a manifestation of Gender on a certain plane
(the Great Physical Plane: the plane of organic life). We wish to fix this
distinction in your minds, because certain writers, who have acquired a simple
notion of the Hermetic Philosophy, have sought to identify this seventh Hermetic
Principle with the foolish, fantastic, and often reprehensible theories and
teachings regarding Sex.
The office of Gender is only to create, produce, generate, etc., and its
manifestations are visible on all planes of phenomena. It is somewhat difficult to
give proof of this on scientific lines, for the reason that science has not yet
recognized this Principle as of universal application. But yet various proofs have
come from scientific sources. In the first place, we find a distinct manifestation of
the Principle of Gender among the corpuscles, ions, or electrons, which
constitute the basis of Matter as science knows it last, and which forming
combinations form the Atom, which until recently was considered final and
indivisible.

The last word of science is that the atom is composed of a multitude of

corpuscles, electrons or ions (being applied several names by different
authorities), which rotate around each other and vibrate at a high degree of
intensity. But the following explanations show that the formation of the atom is
really due to the grouping of negative corpuscles around a positive; it seems
that the positive corpuscles exert a certain influence on the negative corpuscles,
causing them to form certain combinations and thus create or generate an
atom. This is in relation to the older ones
Hermetic precepts that have always identified the male principle of Gender with
the Positive pole, to the Female with the Negative pole of Electricity.

Now a word about this identification. The mind of the public has formed an
entirely erroneous idea regarding the qualities of the so-called Negative pole of
magnetized or electrified Matter. The terms Positive and Negative are in fact
erroneously applied to this phenomenon by science. The word Positive means
all that is real and strong, compared with Negative unreality and weakness.
Nothing is further from the real facts of electrical phenomena. The so-called
Negative pole of the battery is really the pole in which and through which the
generation or production of new forms of energy is manifested. Nothing is
Negative around it. The greatest scientific authorities now use the word Cathode
"in place of Negative. From the Cathode pole come the immensity of electrons
or corpuscles; from the same pole come out these marvelous rays that have
revolutionized scientific conceptions in the last ten years. The Cathode pole is
the mother of all the strange phenomena which have made the old books
useless, and which have made many admitted theories proscribed from the
program of scientific speculation. The cathode pole, or negative pole, is the
Mother Principle of electrical phenomena, and of the more subtle forms of
matter, already known to science. Thus you see that we are right to refuse to
use the term Negative in our considerations of the subject, and to insist upon
the replacement of the word Feminine with the old term. The facts of the
condition lead us to this, without even taking into consideration the Hermetic
Teachings. And so we shall use the word Feminine in place of Negative in
speaking of this pole of activity.

The latest scientific teachings are that the creative bodies or electrons are
Feminine (science says they are composed of negative electricity, and we say
they are composed of Feminine energy). A female corpuscle abandons a male
corpuscle and takes a new direction. It actively seeks a union with a Masculine
corpuscle, being urged to do so by the natural impulse to create new forms of.
Matter or Energy. A writer even uses the phrase "he at a given time seeks, from
his own volition, a union", etc.
This detachment and this union form the basis of most activities in the chemical
world. When the Female corpuscle unites with a Male corpuscle, a certain
process begins. The Feminine particles vibrate rapidly under the influences of
the Male Energy, and revolve around the latter. The result is the birth of a new
atom. This new atom is really composed of the union of the Male and Female
electrons or corpuscles, but when the union is formed, the atom becomes a
separate thing, having certain properties, but not manifesting much of the
property of independent electricity. The process of detaching or separating the
Female electrons is called ionization. These electrons, or corpuscles, are the
most active workers in Nature's field. Coming from their unions or combinations,
the various phenomena of light, heat, electricity, magnetism, attraction,
repulsion, chemical affinity, and the reverse, and other similar phenomena, are
manifested. And all this proceeds from the action of the Principle of Gender on
the plane of Energy.

The part of the Masculine principle seems to be to direct certain inherent energy
to the Feminine principle and thus put into activity the creative process. But the
Feminine principle is always the only one that does the active creative work,
and this is so on all planes. And yet each principle is incapable of operative
energy without the other. In many forms of life, the two principles are combined
into one organism. For this reason, everything in the organic world manifests
both genders: there is always the Masculine in the Feminine form, and the
Feminine in the Masculine form.
The Hermetic Teachings contain much about the action of the two principles
of Gender in the production and manifestation of the various forms of energy,
etc., but we do not deem it convenient to go into detail about them at this
point, because we cannot sustain them with scientific proof, for the reason
that science has not yet progressed as far as is necessary. But the example
we have given you of the phenomena of electrons or corpuscles shows you
that science is on the right path, and could also give you a general idea of the
principles concealed.

Several leading scientific researchers have stated their opinion that in the
formation of crystals something has been discovered that corresponds to
sexual activity, which is another bagatelle showing the direction in which the
scientific winds blow. And each year brings other facts to corroborate the
accuracy of the Hermetic Principle of Gender. It would be established that
Gender was in action and constant manifestation in the field of inorganic
matter, and in the field of Energy or Force. Electricity is now generally
regarded as something in which all other forms of Energy seem to dissolve.
The Electrical Theory of the Universe is the latest scientific doctrine, and it is
growing rapidly in popularity and general acceptance. And so it follows that if
we can discover in the phenomena of electricity-drawn to its principle and
source of manifestation-a clear and infallible evidence of the presence of
Gender, and its activities, we are justified in making you believe that science
has finally given proof of the existence in all universal phenomena of this
great Hermetic Principle: the Principle of Gender.

It is not necessary to spend our time with the well-known phenomenon of

attraction and repulsion of atoms, chemical affinity, the loves and hates of
atomic particles, the attractions or cohesions between the molecules of
matter. These facts are very well known to require extensive comments from
us. But would you ever consider that all these things are manifestations of the
Principle of Gender? Do you not see that these phenomena go together with
those of the corpuscles or electrons? And even more than this, do you not
see the rationality of the Hermetic Teachings which state that the true Law of
Gravitation-this strange attraction by which all particles and bodies of matter
in the universe tend toward others is simply another manifestation of the
Principle of Gender, which operates in the direction of attracting Masculine
energy to Feminine, and vice versa? We will not be able to give you scientific
proof of this now; but we will examine the phenomena in the light of the
Hermetic Teachings on the subject, and see if you will not have a more useful
hypothesis than those offered by physical science. Submit all physical
phenomena to the text, and you will always see in evidence the Principle of
Gender.
I now permit us to move on to consideration of the action of the Principle in the
Mental Plan.
Many interesting ideas have in him his examination.