The 7 Hermetic Principles Explained (Beginner’s Guide to Universal Law & Manifestation)
- Darienne
- Apr 30, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 22
Introduction
If you’ve ever gone down the rabbit hole of manifestation, spirituality, or even witchcraft, you’ve probably come across the 7 Hermetic Principles—or at least teachings that are based on them.
I recently started reading The Kybalion, which is rooted in ancient Egyptian wisdom associated with Thoth (also known as Hermes), and it really clicked something into place for me.
Because here’s the truth:
These principles aren’t just “spiritual concepts.” They are the foundation of how reality actually works.
And if you’re trying to manifest, shift your reality, or deepen your spiritual practice without understanding these… it can feel like you’re throwing energy at something without really knowing why it works.
So this is going to be a beginner-friendly breakdown of the 7 Hermetic Principles—but in a way that actually makes sense and can be applied to your life.
I’ll also be going deeper into each principle in future posts, because this is really just the overview.
If you’re more of a visual learner, here’s a short video where I break down the 7 Hermetic Principles in a way you can actually apply in your life:
What Are the 7 Hermetic Principles?
The 7 Hermetic Principles, as outlined in The Kybalion, are universal laws that govern both the physical and spiritual worlds.
They are:
The Principle of Mentalism
The Principle of Correspondence
The Principle of Vibration
The Principle of Polarity
The Principle of Rhythm
The Principle of Cause and Effect
The Principle of Gender
Think of them like the underlying framework of reality—the same way music has structure behind it, even if you don’t consciously think about it.
1. The Principle of Mentalism
"The All is MIND; The Universe is Mental." -The Kybalion
This is the foundation of everything.
What this is really saying is that everything begins in the mind—not just your thoughts, but that reality itself exists within a greater universal mind.
On a personal level, this hits deeper than most people want to admit.
Because it means your life isn’t just randomly happening to you. It’s being shaped through perception, belief, and awareness.
This is why manifestation works.
Not because it’s some trendy concept—but because creation is mental before it is physical. Always.
2. The Principle of Correspondence
"As above, so below; as below, so above." -The Kybalion
This is where you start to see the connection between your inner world and your outer reality.
If something feels chaotic inside of you, you’ll usually see that reflected outside of you. And when you shift something internally, your external world starts to respond.
This principle also shows up in:
manifestation practices
visualization
spellwork and ritual
You’re not just “doing something”—you’re working with the law that everything mirrors everything else on different levels.
3. The Principle of Vibration
"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates." -The Kybalion
Everything is energy.
Even things that seem solid are made up of particles moving at a certain frequency. Your thoughts, your emotions, your body—they all carry vibration.
This is where a lot of manifestation teachings come from.
Because if everything is vibrating, then shifting your internal state actually changes what you experience externally.
So your energy isn’t just a feeling. It’s a signal.
4. The Principle of Polarity
"Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has it's 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
Everything has two sides—but those sides are actually the same thing on a spectrum.
Love and hate. Fear and empowerment. Lack and abundance.
They’re not separate—they’re different degrees of the same energy.
Which means you’re never stuck.
You can shift your experience by moving along that spectrum. That’s where emotional and mental transmutation comes in.
5. 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
Life moves in cycles.
There are phases where things feel expansive and aligned…and phases where things feel heavy or contracting.
This is natural.
A lot of people resist this and think something is wrong when they’re not “up” all the time.
But this principle shows you that there is a rhythm to everything.
The goal isn’t to control it—it’s to understand it and find your balance within it.
6. 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 man planes of causation, but nothing escapes the Law'" -The Kybalion
Nothing is random.
Everything you experience has a cause—whether it’s physical, emotional, or mental.
And this is where things can feel a little confronting… but also empowering.
Because it means: you are not just experiencing reality—you are participating in creating it.
When you start to see where you are the cause, you stop feeling powerless…and you start making different choices.
7. The Principle of Gender
"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes." -Kybalion
This isn’t about male vs female in the way we’ve been taught.
This is about masculine and feminine energy existing in everything.
Masculine energy: structure, action, protection
Feminine energy: intuition, creation, expression
And real balance comes from integrating both.
Being open and vulnerable…but also having boundaries and strength.
This is something I talk about a lot, because it’s not about choosing one—it’s about becoming whole within yourself.
Why the 7 Hermetic Principles Matter for Manifestation
If you’re into manifestation, energy work, or spiritual growth, these principles explain why any of it works.
They are the foundation behind:
the law of attraction
energy alignment
magical practices
mindset shifts
Once you understand the 7 Hermetic Principles, you’re not just guessing anymore.
You’re working with the structure of reality itself.
What’s Next
This is just the overview.
In the next posts, I’m going to break down each of the 7 Hermetic Principles in a deeper, more practical way—so you can actually apply them in your life and your practice.
Final Thoughts
You’ve already been living these principles, whether you realized it or not.
This is just about becoming aware of them.
And once you do…you stop moving through life unconsciously—
and start creating it on purpose.
Understanding these principles is one thing—but integrating them into your daily life is another. If you want guidance on applying the Hermetic Principles to manifest your desires, you can work with me here.
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