Today we’re discussing the origins of Hermeticism and Alchemy. What are the 7 main Hermetic principles? What are the 7 stages of Alchemy? How can we apply these ideas to find spiritual enlightenment? Discover practical exercises that you can do today to help you navigate your journey.
Hermetic philosophy is based on seven core principles, known as the Hermetic Laws or The Seven Hermetic Principles, which are derived from the teachings in the Kybalion. These principles describe the fundamental workings of reality and can be used for spiritual growth, self-mastery, and alchemical transformation.
Origins of Hermeticism: The Wisdom of Hermes Trismegistus
Hermeticism is an esoteric philosophical and spiritual tradition based on the teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary figure who is a fusion of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth. It blends Greek, Egyptian, and later Gnostic, Neoplatonic, and Kabbalistic influences, forming a mystical worldview that influenced alchemy, astrology, magic, and spirituality.
1. Egyptian Roots: Thoth, the God of Wisdom
- Thoth was the Egyptian god of wisdom, writing, magic, and the moon. He was believed to have written sacred texts containing divine knowledge.
- The Greeks identified Thoth with Hermes, their god of communication, intellect, and travel.
- During the Hellenistic period (after Alexander the Great’s conquest of Egypt in 332 BCE), the two deities merged into Hermes Trismegistus (“Thrice-Great Hermes”).
2. Hellenistic Egypt & the Birth of Hermeticism (3rd Century BCE – 3rd Century CE)
- Hermeticism took shape in Alexandria, a major center where Greek, Egyptian, and Jewish wisdom blended.
- The Hermetic Corpus (also called Corpus Hermeticum) was written in Greek between the 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE.
- These texts present philosophical, mystical, and esoteric teachings on:
- The nature of God, the cosmos, and the human soul.
- Gnosis (spiritual knowledge) as the key to enlightenment.
- Theurgy (divine magic) and alchemy for spiritual transformation.
Key Hermetic Texts
- The Corpus Hermeticum – The main collection of mystical writings.
- The Emerald Tablet – A short text that teaches alchemical principles, including “As above, so below.”
- The Asclepius – Focuses on magic, prophecy, and divine knowledge.
3. Gnostic & Neoplatonic Influence (2nd-4th Century CE)
- Hermeticism shares themes with Gnosticism, which teaches that the material world is an illusion and that salvation comes through secret knowledge (gnosis).
- Neoplatonism, led by philosophers like Plotinus, shaped Hermetic thought by emphasizing the One (God), the divine mind, and the soul’s return to divinity.
4. Medieval Islamic & European Renaissance Revival (8th-16th Century)
- During the Islamic Golden Age (8th-12th centuries), Hermetic texts were translated into Arabic, influencing Islamic alchemists like Jabir ibn Hayyan.
- The Renaissance (15th-16th centuries) revived Hermeticism when scholars rediscovered Greek manuscripts.
- Thinkers like Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno saw Hermeticism as a path to divine wisdom and magic.
- The Rosicrucians and Freemasons incorporated Hermetic principles into their secret teachings.
5. Modern Influence (19th-21st Century)
- The Theosophical Society and New Thought movements adopted Hermetic ideas.
- The Kybalion (1908), written by Three Initiates, simplified Hermetic laws into seven universal principles (Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, etc.).
- Carl Jung saw Hermeticism as an early form of psychological and spiritual alchemy, focusing on the transformation of the self.
Core Beliefs of Hermeticism
- The All (God) is unknowable and infinite.
- “As above, so below” – The microcosm (human) reflects the macrocosm (universe).
- Reincarnation and spiritual evolution.
- Alchemy as a spiritual path to enlightenment.
- Divine magic and theurgy connect humans to higher realms.
The 7 Main Hermetic Principles
1. The Principle of Mentalism 🧠
“The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.”
🔹 What it Means: Everything in existence originates from the Divine Mind or Universal Consciousness. Reality itself is a manifestation of thought.
🔹 Application:
✅ Meditation and visualization to manifest reality.
✅ Awareness that thoughts shape your life—mastering your mind means mastering your world.
2. The Principle of Correspondence 🔄
“As above, so below; as within, so without.”
🔹 What it Means: There are hidden connections between different planes of reality—the macrocosm (universe) and the microcosm (individual) reflect one another.
🔹 Application:
✅ Studying astrology, alchemy, and the way patterns repeat at all levels of existence.
✅ Aligning your inner world with the external reality you wish to create.
3. The Principle of Vibration 🌊
“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”
🔹 What it Means: Everything in the universe is in a constant state of vibration. Different frequencies create different levels of reality—from dense matter to spiritual energy.
🔹 Application:
✅ Using sound healing, music, and chanting to raise vibration.
✅ Understanding that thoughts and emotions carry frequency—positive energy attracts higher experiences.
4. The Principle of Polarity ⚖️
“Everything is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites.”
🔹 What it Means: Light and dark, hot and cold, love and hate—all opposites are actually the same thing at different degrees. Mastery comes from transmuting one state into another.
🔹 Application:
✅ Alchemy of emotions—transforming fear into courage, sadness into wisdom.
✅ Finding balance and neutrality rather than being stuck in extremes.
5. The Principle of Rhythm 🔄
“Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall.”
🔹 What it Means: Life follows natural cycles, like the seasons, breath, and energy shifts. Mastering rhythm means working with the natural flow, rather than resisting it.
🔹 Application:
✅ Understanding that low moments will pass—life moves in waves.
✅ Working with moon cycles, planetary transits, and nature’s rhythms.
6. The Principle of Cause and Effect 🎯
“Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause.”
🔹 What it Means: Nothing happens by chance—everything has a cause, whether visible or hidden. What you put into the world returns to you.
🔹 Application:
✅ Taking full responsibility for your actions (karma).
✅ Being intentional with thoughts, words, and deeds to create desired outcomes.
7. The Principle of Gender ⚧️
“Gender is in everything; everything has its masculine and feminine principles.”
🔹 What it Means: Masculine (active, logical, giving) and Feminine (receptive, intuitive, nurturing) energies exist in all things. Balance of these energies leads to enlightenment.
🔹 Application:
✅ Honouring both intuition (feminine) and logic (masculine) in decision-making.
✅ Sacred Union practices, tantra, and working with divine archetypes.
By understanding and applying these seven principles, one gains mastery over reality, shifting from a passive participant to a conscious creator of life. These teachings form the basis of alchemy, astrology, mysticism, and all esoteric traditions.
Hermetic alchemy, especially in the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods, integrated the 7 hermetic principles as metaphysical guidelines for transmutation—both physical (turning base metals into gold) and spiritual (turning the soul into its highest form).
Alchemy, particularly in Western esoteric traditions, was influenced by:
- Ancient Egyptian and Greek thought
- Gnostic and Neoplatonic philosophy
- Medieval Islamic alchemy
- Renaissance occultism and Kabbalah
The idea behind applying the 7 Hermetic Laws to alchemy is that transformation happens according to these universal principles—whether it’s changing lead into gold or evolving the human soul into enlightenment.
Origins of Alchemy: A Blend of Science, Spirituality, and Magic
Alchemy is an ancient philosophical and proto-scientific tradition that aimed at the transmutation of matter and the refinement of the soul. It has roots in Egypt, Greece, India, China, and the Islamic world, each adding unique elements to its development.
1. Egyptian Alchemy (Khemia) – The Oldest Foundations
- The word “alchemy” comes from the Arabic al-kīmiyā, derived from the Greek khemeia, which is linked to Khem/Kemet, the ancient Egyptian name for Egypt, meaning “black land” (possibly referring to fertile soil or the mysterious “prima materia” of alchemical transformation).
- The Egyptian god Thoth (Hermes Trismegistus in later traditions) was considered the father of alchemy, writing the Emerald Tablet, which contains the famous phrase “As above, so below.”
- Egyptian alchemists sought immortality, preservation of the body (mummification), and spiritual transformation.
2. Greek Influence – The Birth of Hermetic Alchemy
- Hellenistic Egypt (circa 300 BCE – 400 CE), especially in Alexandria, was a melting pot of Egyptian, Greek, and Babylonian wisdom.
- The Hermetic tradition emerged, linking alchemy with philosophy, astrology, and the transmutation of the soul.
- Zosimos of Panopolis (3rd-4th century CE) was an early Greek alchemist who wrote about spiritual purification through fire.
3. Chinese Alchemy – The Taoist Tradition
- Chinese alchemy (4th century BCE onward) focused on internal alchemy (Neidan) and external alchemy (Waidan).
- It was deeply connected to Taoism, seeking immortality through elixirs and breathing techniques.
- Key elements: Yin-Yang balance, Qi (life force), and the Five Elements.
4. Indian Alchemy – Rasayana and Tantra
- In India, alchemy was known as Rasayana, linked to Ayurveda and Tantric practices.
- Indian alchemists sought elixirs of immortality (Amrita) and spiritual liberation (Moksha).
- Mercury (Parada) played a key role in Indian alchemical transformation.
5. Islamic Alchemy – The Scientific Bridge to the West
- After the fall of the Roman Empire, alchemical knowledge was preserved and expanded by Islamic scholars (8th-12th centuries CE).
- Jabir ibn Hayyan (Geber, 8th century CE) laid the foundation for modern chemistry with his works on distillation, purification, and transmutation.
- Islamic alchemists refined Greek and Egyptian ideas, preparing the way for European alchemy.
6. Medieval and Renaissance Alchemy – The Search for Gold and God
- European alchemy (12th-17th centuries) became an obsession with the Philosopher’s Stone, believed to turn base metals into gold and grant immortality.
- Alchemists like Paracelsus (16th century) focused on alchemy as medicine, leading to early pharmaceutical chemistry.
- Isaac Newton and Robert Boyle studied alchemy in secret, blending it with emerging scientific methods.
7. Modern Alchemy – Psychology & Esotericism
- Carl Jung (20th century) saw alchemy as a symbolic process of psychological transformation, linking it to the individuation process.
- Alchemy now influences esoteric traditions, spirituality, and self-development rather than just physical transformation.
The 7 Steps of Spiritual Alchemy
1. Calcination 🔥
Chakra: Root Chakra (Muladhara)
- Planet: Saturn ♄ – Hell
- Metal: Lead
- Day: Saturday
- Spiritual Meaning: The destruction of the ego, false beliefs, and attachments. This is the dark night of the soul where material illusions burn away. It represents the beginning of spiritual purification, where one faces their deepest fears and limitations.
✅ Journalling on limiting beliefs
– Write down what fears, conditioning, and negative patterns hold you back. Burn the paper as a symbolic act of release.
✅ Fasting or detoxing
– Purify the body by eliminating toxins and breaking attachments to food, substances, or habits.
✅ Fire rituals
– Sit by a fire or candle and meditate on letting go of your false self.
✅ Dark Night of the Soul meditation
– Reflect on your deepest fears and allow them to surface for transformation.
2. Dissolution 💧
Chakra: Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana)
- Planet: Jupiter ♃ – Ocean of Chaos
- Metal: Tin
- Day: Thursday
- Spiritual Meaning: The dissolving of old structures and identities. After the ego is burned, emotions and subconscious patterns rise to the surface. This stage washes away rigid mental constructs and allows for fluidity, adaptability, and deeper inner exploration.
✅ Breathwork & Water Immersion
– Engage in deep breathing exercises or float in water to symbolize surrender.
✅ Crying as cleansing
– Allow suppressed emotions to be released through crying or expressive movement.
✅ Psychedelic/Shamanic Journeying
– Use meditation, sound healing, or plant medicine (if appropriate) to dissolve mental barriers.
✅ Stream-of-consciousness journalling
– Let emotions flow onto paper without overthinking or censoring.
3. Separation 🌬️
Chakra: Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
- Planet: Mars ♂️ – Battlefield of the Soul
- Metal: Iron
- Day: Tuesday
- Spiritual Meaning: The process of discernment and refinement. The alchemist extracts what is pure from what is impure, distinguishing the true self from conditioned programming. It requires courage, inner strength, and the willingness to cut away what no longer serves.
✅ Martial arts or physical exercise
– Engage in boxing, qigong, yoga, or running
to build discipline and self-mastery.
✅ Cord-cutting ritual
– Visualize cutting energetic ties with people or habits that no longer serve you.
✅ Making bold life decisions
– Take action on something you’ve been avoiding, such as leaving a toxic situation or setting firm boundaries.
✅ Solar Plexus meditation
– Visualize a golden fire in your belly, fueling your confidence and inner strength.
4. Conjunction 🌍
Chakra: Heart Chakra (Anahata)
- Planet: Venus ♀️ – Garden of the Soul
- Metal: Copper
- Day: Friday
- Spiritual Meaning: The merging of opposites—masculine and feminine, spirit and matter, intuition and logic. This is a moment of inner harmony where the heart opens to love, unity, and creative expression. The self becomes whole, grounded in both spiritual and physical reality.
✅ Sacred Union Meditation
– Imagine the divine masculine and feminine energies merging within you.
✅ Tantric practices
– Work with breath, movement, and intimacy to balance polarities.
✅ Gratitude journalling
– Write down five things you love about yourself and five things you love about life daily.
✅ Spending time in nature
– Walk barefoot, connect with the earth, and cultivate inner harmony.
5. Fermentation 🍷
Chakra: Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
- Planet: Mercury ☿ – The Alchemical Mountain
- Metal: Mercury (Quicksilver)
- Day: Wednesday
- Spiritual Meaning: The death and rebirth of the soul. Fermentation represents inspiration, divine insight, and the birth of new consciousness. It is where the higher mind awakens, and intuition strengthens. This phase brings mystical experiences and connection with higher realms.
✅ Chanting & Sound Healing – Take my FREE COURSE the Academy of Sacred Sound online by clicking HERE
– Work with mantras or singing to activate your throat chakra.
✅ Automatic writing
– Let your subconscious or spirit guides speak through you by writing without thinking.
✅ Lucid dreaming & astral travel
– Practice conscious dreaming techniques to receive divine messages.
✅ Psychedelic/spiritual vision quests
– Engage in altered states of consciousness for divine insight.
6. Distillation ☀️
Chakra: Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
- Planet: Moon ☽ – Hall of Purification
- Metal: Silver
- Day: Monday
- Spiritual Meaning: The purification of the soul. The mind and spirit are refined, clearing away illusions and distortions. Distillation brings clarity, wisdom, and the ability to perceive reality beyond the material world. The self aligns with divine truth.
✅ Fasting or minimalist living
– Strip away distractions and external dependencies to refine your soul.
✅ Silent meditation retreats
– Remove external noise to cultivate deep inner clarity.
✅ Third Eye activation
– Use blue lotus, mugwort, or visualization techniques
to enhance intuition.
✅ Celestial journaling
– Write down dreams and divine messages received in meditation.
7. Coagulation ✨
Chakra: Crown Chakra (Sahasrara)
- Planet: Sun ☉ – Heaven
- Metal: Gold
- Day: Sunday
- Spiritual Meaning: The final stage of enlightenment. The perfected self emerges, embodying divine wisdom and cosmic consciousness. This is the realization of the Philosopher’s Stone—a state where spirit and matter unite, and the individual becomes fully aligned with their divine nature.
✅ Light body activation meditation
– Visualize yourself as a being of pure golden light.
✅ Surrender & ego transcendence
– Contemplate the infinite nature of consciousness
and detach from personal identity.
✅ Acts of service & compassion
– Share wisdom and love with others to embody unity.
✅ Contemplation of sacred texts
– Read and reflect on The Tao Te Ching, Hermetic texts, or Upanishads, study the Bible to integrate divine wisdom.