This book should be included in the library of anyone seriously interested in western esoteric philosophy.This stands as one of the most important books I've read about the nature of reality and the supersensible universe. Whether or not you agree with Hermeticism, this book and/or the material from the original 'Kybalion' served as important source material for many of the key Hermetic writers of the 20th and late 19th centuries. (For those not familiar with them, the principles include such ideas as 'As above, so below as below, so above,' 'opposites are identical in nature, but different in degree,' 'nothing rests, everything moves,' 'the measure of the swing to the right is the measure of the swing to the left,' 'every cause has its effect every effect has its cause Chance is but a name for Law not recognized,' 'the universe is mental, held in the mind of The All,' and 'the Laws governing the nature of the universe can be used to transmute the undesireable into what is worthy.') Quotations taken from the source material ('The Kybalion') are given, and then explained very clearly. We herein give you many of the maxims, axioms and precepts of THE KYBALION, accompanied by explanations and illustrations which we deem likely to render the teachings more easily comprehended by the modern student, particularly as the original text is purposely veiled in obscure terms.' (Note: as is common in many books of this era, the author(s) make extensive use of what today would be considered non-standard capitalization and punctuation.) The Hermetic principles, familiar to any who have done basic readings in western esoteric philosophy, are outlined and then examined in depth. It was merely a collection of maxims, axioms, and precepts, which were non-understandable to outsiders, but which were readily understood by students, after the axioms, maxims, and precepts had been explained and exemplified by the Hermetic Initiates to their Neophytes. Its precepts have never been written down, nor printed, as far as we know.

This teaching, however, is known to many to whom it has descended, from mouth to ear, throughout the centuries.

Chapter 1 provides background on Hermetic philosophy, and describes the overall purpose of this book: 'In the early days, there was a compilation of certain Basic Hermetic Doctrines, passed on from teacher to student, which was known as 'THE KYBALION, ' the exact significance and meaning of the term having been lost for several centuries. The Kybalion, originally published in 1912, is a short volume (223 pages, 7.5' x 5' hardcover) that presents, with commentary, the basic Hermetic principles. This concise work on 'The Hermetic Philosophy' outlines seven universal principles: Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender.

The kybalion original