Hermetic philosophy is a magical occult doctrine, a current that existed in the era of late antiquity and Hellenism, studying texts that contained hidden knowledge attributed to a mythical person - the sage Hermes Trismegistus, personifying the ancient Egyptian god of knowledge and wisdom Thoth, who was called Greek by the Greeks. It is by his name that the doctrine is named.
general information
Hermetic philosophy became the doctrine of European alchemists in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This teaching was of a hidden esoteric nature and combined elements of Chaldean astrology, popular ancient Greek philosophy, ancient Egyptian alchemy and Persian magic.
According to tradition, hermeticism is (in philosophy) a doctrine of the higher laws of nature, based both on the principle of causality and on the principle of analogy.
Adherents of this trend believe that the understanding of any causal connection by virtue of the principle of analogy can also be supplemented by a magical effect on the reality of the personal desires of an adherent of hidden teachings.
Hence, hermetic means "secret", in the usual sense, hermetic - it is tightly closed.
History
In the Middle Ages, hermetic philosophy, or the philosophy of occultism, was developed through the Eastern Christian and Jewish mystics among Muslims, and after the Crusades it appeared in the form of alchemy in Catholic Europe. The works of the early fathers of the church definitely echoed with hermetic tracts, but there was also a tendency toward the demarcation of Christianity and Hermeticism. The first step was taken in this direction in 325, when the Council of Nicaea decided that the doctrine of reincarnation is incompatible with the Bible.
The second important event was the announcement of astrology as a diabolical occupation in 1227. Thus, the hermetic philosophy, which was briefly described by us, was formally banned by the Catholic Church. Centuries of oblivion came next.
Renaissance seal
The doctrine was revived in the West in 1460, when the monk Leonardo, sent by Cosimo de Medici to search for ancient manuscripts lost in European monasteries, brought to Pistoia copies of hermetic treatises written in Greek that were taken from Constantinople. These treatises subsequently, in 1461, were translated by Marsilio Ficino into Latin and contributed to a new outbreak of interest in hermeticism.
The hermetic philosophy of the Renaissance was replenished by the studies of the Swiss philologist Isaac de Casobon, who in 1614 after analyzing hermetic texts from the standpoint of content, language and textual connection with other texts concluded that the works attributed to Hermes Trismegistus were not the works of the ancient Egyptian priest, but were actually created already during the Christian era.
In 1945, Hermetic scriptures in Coptic were found near Nag Hammadi. They were framed as a dedication speech between Asclepius from the Hermetic Corps and Hermes and a text describing the occult school of Hermeticism.
Hermetism is a religion
Not all proponents of the trend were related to religion, a certain part of them considered only the philosophical system.
In Hermetic religion, the highest deity (Principle) is called God (All, One). Also, many adherents of the doctrine ranked their faith and the mystical ideas of other religions: Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Islam and the main line of paganism, as they held the view that all great religions have one heart, similar mystical truths. They believed that every world religion contains an understanding of the esoteric principles of Hermeticism.
Philosophical and religious texts
Although the authorship of many hermetic works is attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, supporters of the doctrine believe that he wrote only forty-two works, but many of them were lost during the destruction of the Alexandria Library.
Today, three main texts are widely known in which hermetism is highlighted. These are the Emerald Tablet, the Hermetic Corps, and Kibalion. Let's talk about each book in more detail.
"Hermetic housing"
This work is the most widely known and fundamental in understanding hermetism. It consists of 16 books, which are the dialogues of Hermes. The first book highlights the discussion between Hermes and Pemander. A distinctive feature is that Hermes acts as a student of Poemander, although in all other treatises he, on the contrary, is the teacher of his opponents.
The Emerald Tablet
This is a short work, which is the primary source of the famous occult axiom, proclaiming that what is below is similar to what is above. In addition, the “Emerald Tablet” hints at the triple authenticity and the triple law, for the possession of knowledge of which Hermes was called Trismegistus. According to historical data, the book was found in Hebron, in the tomb of Hermes, by Alexander the Great.
Kibalion
This work, explaining what hermetism is, was published by three anonymous authors in 1912. They called themselves "three initiates." In Kibalion, seven main principles of hermetism are listed and commented on, namely:
- The principle of mentalism: the universe is a mental image of God.
- The principle of analogy (correspondence): affirms the analogy between the higher and lower worlds, microcosm and macrocosm. The one below is similar to the one above.
- The principle of vibration: everything that exists is just different vibrations (modifications) of the One Original.
- The principle of rhythm: everything is in a two-way continuous movement: it goes down and goes up, goes from one opposite to another.
- The principle of polarity: everything has its own opposite, in fact, opposites - these are the facets of one thing, and they can always be reconciled with one paradox.
- Sex principle: all things combine two principles, and any creativity is the result of the interaction of two principles.
- The principle of cause and effect: everything has a cause and effect, chance is a law that is not recognized.
Hermetic Beliefs
Hermetic philosophy within its belief system combines monotheism, pantheism and polytheism and teaches that there is a Root Cause, of which we ourselves are parts, and in general everything in the Universe. In addition, this teaching is signed under the beliefs about the existence of demons, gods, great teachers and elementals (inhabitants of the primary elements).
Hermeticism is a doctrine arising from the seven principles that we have already voiced above, and the beliefs of its representatives are based on them.
