What are Hermetics? Some believe this esoteric work contains the Kybalion principles and meaning. Is it possible that all the great Sages were teachers of this knowledge? Is it available? If so, where can we find it?
History gives us glimpses of an ancient body of esoteric knowledge called Hermetics. Sages talk in riddles about it. Many teachers and sects claim to hold the secrets to this wisdom, which prompts several questions: How can I access this knowledge? What are Hermetic connectors? Do hermetic teachers still exist?
There are hints of this ancient wisdom in the traditions of many cultures. So, is this a type of universal knowledge? Is it possible that so many cultures independently discovered it? Or does it result from one significant discovery that later led the elite thinkers to preserve the knowledge?
What Are Hermetics?
Hermeticism, or Hermetism, (1) is a knowledge system for advancing human potential. The name comes from “Hermes Trismegistus,” Hermes Trismegistus, (2) a legendary Hellenistic Greek. It combines two Greek God names, Hermes, the Greek god of interpretive communication, and Thoth, the Egyptian god of wisdom.
This knowledge must be more than a philosophy (3) and contain methods that affect change. The philosophical elements point to the goal or results. The core of Heremtics must be more concrete. Some believe it must be methods and processes that affect real change. Tradition says this knowledge is the essence of alchemy and the home of real magic. Could this knowledge be more prolific than we think? We find methods of altering and changing consciousness all over the world.
We find the philosophy of Hermetics in Gnosticism and Neoplatonism. (4) And its namesake, Hermeticism. Interestingly, this is the thread from the earlier mystery religions. These were the religious cults from Egypt, Persia, Assyria, Summaria, and Babylon.
The fundamental process for salvation comes from the dying-god cult sects of Egypt and Persia. Here, we see the process of salvation in Christianity follows a model known as “mystical, magical, mental appropriation.” It’s an esoteric process (5) whereby one reaches out mystically and mentally with the power of the mind.
The Christians landed on membership in an exclusive club as its primary tenant. Selling the afterlife became more important. The knowledge of enlightenment was forgotten, perhaps because they did not understand it, or maybe because they wanted it, kept only for the elite.
What Are Hermetic Connectors?
The term refers to a device that restricts airflow or liquid in the modern world. This description isn’t that far from how Hermetic philosophy uses the word relating to knowledge. It involves two primary practices: restricting knowledge and access to qualified Hermeric teachers.
Restricting this kind of powerful knowledge is a frequent practice. In this way, only those who are “worthy and ready” can learn the secret knowledge. It makes sense on several levels. One of the first learning theory principles is ensuring the learner is “ready to learn.”
If you are not ready, powerful technologies are ineffective. They can be harmful, so many cultures have strict practices to ensure learner readiness. Additionally, if you have this powerful knowledge, you want to limit it to those who will not misuse it. One of the best ways to restrict access is to disguise it and then hide it in plain sight—more about this technique.
You can trace the philosophical remnants of many cults and religions. All the great sages spoke of the importance of keeping knowledge pure. They warned against allowing the Secret Doctrine to become part of religious dogma. When we study history, the wisdom of this caution is clear.
The preparatory processes for learning are hermetic connectors. These benchmarks ensure the initiate is ready to learn the next phase or level. Sometimes, it may be as simple as demonstrating a level of loyalty. The teacher must be confident in the student’s readiness.
The Hermetic Teachers
This hidden knowledge comes from the writings of Hermes Trismegistus (“Thrice Great”). These ancient writings are a powerful influence in all Western mystical traditions. These esoteric teachings became prominent during the Renaissance (6) and the Reformation. (7)
Furthermore, this knowledge traces its genesis to Prisca Theologia (8), a doctrine that asserts a single, true theology. This philosophy is supposedly the basis for all true religions inspired by the Creator. Hence, the question. Is it possible all the great sages were hermetics teachers?
We searched for connections between all great spiritual teachers to see if this idea had any truth. Are there philosophical and symbolistic connections between many modern religions and hermetics? There are some philosophical links. We can trace these back to Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, and Assyrian mystery religions. These mythologies are the bedrock of modern Western organized religion.
The philosophy and superstition of these earlier systems still exist within Western thought. However, Western theology lacks methods or processes to achieve its mystical goals. If these traditions hold hermetic knowledge, it is not in the public versions or holy texts. If we ask, what are hermetic connectors? Perhaps the answer is this thread of esoteric knowledge.
“The Christian cross comes from Egypt and India; the triple miter from the Mithraic faith; the shepherd’s crook from the Hermetic Mysteries in Greece, the immaculate conception from India; the transfiguration from Persia; and the trinity from the Brahmans. The Virgin Mary, as the mother of God, is found in a dozen different faiths. There are over twenty crucified world saviors. The church steeple is an adaptation of Egyptian obelisks and pyramids, while the Christian devil is the Egyptian Typhon with certain modifications” ― Occult Anatomy of Man; Occult Masonry, Manly P. Hall
So, was the Jesus of the Bible a conglomeration of earlier Sages? What about Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu? Is it possible that all the great sages were Hermetic teachers? The philosophical principles of public texts contain a similar theme. They all claim that this knowledge is the only way beyond philosophy and religion. The popular versions of their sacred books are absent from any processes or methods to apply these principles.
If this knowledge exists in written form, they are not available to the public. However, it is more probable that the crucial aspects of the knowledge were communicated orally from teacher to student.
Questions about the Esoteric Knowledge
When poses the question, what are Hermetics? We know for sure what it is not. We know it is not the mythology of Western organized religion. Hermetics is more than contradictory doctrines and superstitions. It must be something more concrete, something with substance.
If it is a tangible form of magic, it must produce results. The knowledge must be actionable and repeatable. This level of information is missing from the sacred texts made public. What happened to the actionable part? We think it does exist, but not in the holy books of Western religious mythology.
When people ask, what are Hermetics connectors? They are asking, how do I find this knowledge? How do I know if I am ready to learn it? These are good questions. The idea behind this knowledge gave rise to the principle of alchemy. What is needed is a tool that connects the dots between philosophy and the fragments of data we find in documents like the Kybalion.
Dilution of Knowledge
India and Persia were once gardens of this knowledge. However, most of the Hermetic wisdom from these cultures is lost. Many of the ancient Hermetic teachers became priests and prefects of religions. They mixed religious mythology with hermetic wisdom to preserve knowledge. Unfortunately, this dilution made the wisdom ineffectual. Those who possess it are much more selective and secretive in teaching this knowledge.
We see the same dilution in Greek and Rome cultures. The Hermetic Teachings of the Gnostics from Persia did not reach the Roman Catholic Church’s public version. Some believe the Church still holds and practices these esoteric methods, but they are only available to a select few.
The masterful social architect Constantine is responsible for this loss. His unification strategy combines the mythologies of the dying-god cults into one religion. He could achieve higher cash flows with religion and lower costs than keeping an army in the field. Keeping the cults intact reduced any risk of an insurgency while ensuring control of the region through faith.
This dilution resulted in the loss of any real alchemy. Christianity replaced effectual knowledge with mythological, religious superstition, cults, creeds, and gods. It became the universal religion of the Christian Church.
Is the substitution of mythology for knowledge a mistake, or is it part of their strategy to restrict it? Did they intentionally set back humankind? Is the teaching of the dying-goy mythology just a cover? We know it was necessary to make its customers dependent upon the Church. However, do they still possess this knowledge?
One thing is certain: the Abrahamic religions do not provide tools for enlightenment. It does not satisfy the individual’s hunger for spiritual knowledge. But it gives these regions control and cash flow. They will defend their position through increasing fear.
Are these roadblocks? Is it simply a way of keeping the information secret?
Requires Personal Instruction
There are always a few faithful teachers who keep the flame of knowledge alive. They tend to it carefully. Ancient knowledge is still with us, thanks to a few teachers.
Most interesting is that attempts to document this esoteric knowledge always fail. What we find is nothing more than philosophical ramblings. Perhaps this is why all the great sages teach their students through personal instruction.
A knowledgeable teacher must assess the student’s readiness and guide them along at the right pace of learning. It’s the only way to provide the correct teaching at the right time. It requires the right Mantra and Sutra at precisely the right time.
The meaning of this knowledge is powerful and dangerous in the hands of the person who is not ready to handle it. So, instruction is often shrouded in parables and analogy. In this way, only those who understand can use esoteric knowledge. It is the difference between seeing a picture of someone kissing and kissing someone you love.
Maintaining the secrecy of the oral tradition is a practical necessity. It is required to avoid persecution and keep the knowledge intact. Those who follow mythology seek to destroy the information by any means. It is hard to find reliable books on hermetic philosophy. Even though there are countless references to these works, it seems more probable that this information is given one-on-one through personal instruction.
Kybalion Principles and Meaning
The Kybalion is the name given to one of the early oral traditions of Hermetics. We have lost the exact significance and meaning of the term. However, the writings contain some interesting things. There is a collection of mantras, sutras, maxims, axioms and precepts, and parables. These reflect comment Eastern precepts, not Western ideology.
These writings contain analogies that are guideposts for those who understand them. Understanding them requires an understanding of someone already familiar with the underlying knowledge. The esoteric and poetic form of the Kybalion principles and meaning is not exact. The writings lack the key that would allow us to understand them.
“The Art of Hermetic Alchemy” is part of this tradition. However, it does not discuss the transformation of Material Elements. It deals with the mastery of mental forces and opening the doors of consciousness.
Likewise, the “Philosopher’s Stone” legends are understood as an analogy. They do not refer to turning base metal into gold. Instead, they are an allegory relating to hermetic philosophy. All students of true Hermeticism would understand this. Many of the ancient parables and allegories find their roots here.
The later writers of the Abrahamic texts plagiarize these works to bolster their credibility. The Church appropriates these stories and parables to reinforce its authenticity. Even the Abrahamic says that authentic spirituality is not available in any religion. Jesus was not a Christian; he was Jewish. The wilderness is where he finds enlightenment.
Common Knowledge of all the Great Sages
Are the secrets closer than we think? Is this a universal body of knowledge? Is it available from other sources? Or can we reveal these secrets in some way? Perhaps the key to solving the mystery of Hermetics lies in processes rather than philosophy. Some believe this. That means this ancient knowledge is hiding in plain sight.
Things like space and time do not constrain our consciousness. We are part of the pure awareness, the vibration of life in the Universe. We all need the proper tools or spiritual technologies to help us explore this inner world and access our spiritual gifts. These gifts answer the question, what are hermetic connectors?
Spiritual Technologies
The methods for expanding awareness and exploring consciousness are found all around the globe. So, they are hidden in plain sight. We divide these tools into four major categories:
These tools can enrich your life and develop your potential. Click the links above to learn more about them.
In Conclusion
What are Hermetics? Our investigation leads us to the methods and processes of spiritual exploration. That means the esoteric knowledge of the ancients is hiding in plain sight. You can find it if you know what to seek. It leads us through the virtues of the spirit to our truth. Learn as many spiritual technologies as possible. You’ll find the right one which will open these doors.
What are hermetics connectors? They are the benchmarks of consciousness that protect us until we are ready to learn. Then, the right hermetic teachers will make themselves known to guide you. You decide if you are prepared to take the first step.
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References
See Wikipedia for the following references:
(1) Hermetics and Hermetism.
(2) Hermes Trismegistus.
(3) Hermetic Knowledge.
(4) Gnosticism and Neoplatonism.
(5) Esoteric Traditions and Western Esotericism.
(6) The Reformation.
(7) The Renaissance.
(8) Prisca Theologia.