Hermetic Principles

This principle teaches us that all is in motion, nothing is at rest. Everything moves; everything vibrates with its own rate of vibration. Everything is in a constant state of movement and change. Objects, plants, and animals have an energy signature that is often perceived as an aura. Interestingly, when we change our energy or mental state, the world around us changes to match the new vibration.

Now, there are two parts to the principle of vibration. First, there is the law of attraction, often called LOA for short. The LOA shows us that “like attracts like.” It proves that what you think—either good or bad—you will attract to yourself. After all, the first principle’s lesson was “thought creates”! This is a simple explanation of thoughtforms (and thoughtforms will be discussed in more detail shortly).

Part two of the principle of vibration is the law of change. Witches embrace change, and change is to be expected as normal. Honestly, when we work our magick, are we not working for positive change? It is also important to

remember that when we change our conscious behavior or attitude to a more positive one, then the world around us changes as well.

This principle teaches us that “As above, so below. As within, so without.” We do exist on all planes—the astral/spiritual, energetic, and physical—so this principle is a lesson in perspective. When most authors try to explain this “lesson

of perspective,” often you will read a riff about holograms, which, I confess, makes me lose whatever is left of my mind.

Holograms? Please.

You’ll have to look within to learn more.

This was when I connected with a line from The Charge of the Goddess: “If that which you seek you find not within yourself, you will never find it without,” which is just another way of saying “As within, so without.” It is all about how

you perceive it. I had to find that answer by looking within before I could find it without—a “light bulb” moment.

Here are the seven classic Hermetic principles. I kept them as straightforward as possible.

The Principle of Mentalism

This is the first principle. It states that “all is mind”—that everything exists in the mind of the God/dess, or the divine consciousness. In her book Power of the Witch, Laurie Cabot writes of the first principle that “all creation is composed by

the Divine Mind.” In other words, the Goddess literally thought us into being. To comprehend this principle, you need to realize that we are filled with unlimited potential. Everything that is apparent to our physical, material senses

is spirit, and everything on the physical and the mental plane is in a process of evolution—which means that we, as Witches, are constantly evolving too. So open up your mind and let the knowledge in. The physical, or mundane, world

works by the laws of nature. However, the true nature of power and matter takes a back seat to the mastery of the mind. If your mind is leading the way, then you too can create anything with the power of your mind (to be continued…)