Centering yourself amidst Chaos: The Art of Hermetic Philosophy

Published on: February 5, 2023

by Art Florentyna

Personal Development Coach

One can bring balance and harmony to their inner world and live in a state of peace and contentment, regardless of the chaos and unpredictability of the external world.

The teachings of Hermetic philosophy

Hermetic philosophy is an ancient spiritual tradition that originated in Egypt and was later developed in Greece and the Hellenistic world. It views the universe as a dynamic and harmonious system, composed of complementary forces that work together to maintain balance and stability. These complementary forces are known as the opposing principles.

For example, in Hermetic philosophy, the universe is composed of complementary forces such as light and dark, male and female, active and passive, and chaos and order. These same forces can be found within each person, and it’s believed that these opposing principles exist in a state of constant tension within the individual.

The belief that each person is a microcosm of the universe is a central tenet of Hermetic philosophy. This means that the individual’s soul is seen as reflecting the universe as a whole, and therefore, the same forces and principles that exist in the universe can be found within each individual.

Balancing the opposing principles within

Every person is like a tiny version of the entire universe. This means that within each individual, there are the same forces and principles present in the universe as a whole, and that a person’s soul mirrors the universe.

The idea of the individual as a microcosm of the universe is significant because it highlights the importance of balance and harmony within the individual. By striving to bring balance to the opposing forces within oneself, one can achieve inner peace and harmony, even amidst the chaos of the external world. This, in turn, can lead to a more fulfilling life, as one is better able to navigate the world and experience a sense of purpose and meaning.

The opposing principles

Light and Dark: Light symbolizes clarity, wisdom, and understanding, while dark represents ignorance, confusion, and obscurity. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must work to increase their understanding and knowledge, while also embracing the unknown and embracing the shadow aspects of oneself.

Male and Female: Male represents the active, assertive, and rational aspects of the universe, while female represents the passive, receptive, and intuitive aspects. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate both assertiveness and receptiveness in equal measure.

Active and Passive: Active symbolizes movement, energy, and action, while passive represents stillness, receptiveness, and reflection. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must work to cultivate both assertiveness and stillness, balancing action and reflection.

Good and Evil: Good represents the positive, virtuous, and uplifting aspects of the universe, while evil represents the negative, destructive, and oppressive aspects. To bring balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate good and virtuous thoughts, emotions, and actions. Additionally, it’s important to acknowledge and recognize one’s negative traits and desires without judgment. By embracing a holistic understanding of oneself, including both positive and negative aspects, the negative loses its power to control and dominate one’s life.

Chaos and Order: Chaos represents unpredictability, disorder, and entropy, while order symbolizes stability, structure, and predictability. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to bring order to the chaos in one’s life, while also embracing the unpredictability of the world and finding comfort in the unknown.

Life and Death: Life represents growth, change, and evolution, while death represents endings, stillness, and completion. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must embrace both the transience of life and the stability of death, recognizing the cyclical nature of existence.

Consciousness and Unconsciousness: Consciousness represents awareness, understanding, and presence, while unconsciousness symbolizes ignorance, confusion, and absence. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate greater awareness and understanding, while also embracing the unknown and shadow aspects of oneself.

Heaven and Hell: Heaven symbolizes tranquility, affection, and joy, while hell stands for misery, apprehension, and agony. Achieving harmony between these two opposing forces requires embracing both the good and bad aspects of life, finding solace in hardships and contentment in happiness.

Spirit and Matter: Spirit represents the intangible, ethereal, and spiritual aspects of the universe, while matter represents the physical, tangible, and material aspects. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate a connection with the spiritual realm, while also embracing the physical reality of the world.

Mind and Body: Mind represents thought, intellect, and reason, while the body represents sensation, emotion, and intuition. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate both reason and intuition, balancing thought and emotion.

Above and Below: Above represents the spiritual, ethereal, and celestial aspects of the universe, while below represents the physical, tangible, and earthly aspects. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must strive to cultivate a connection with the spiritual realm, while also embracing the physical reality of the world.

Fire and Water: Fire represents energy, passion, and action, while water symbolizes stillness, fluidity, and receptiveness. To achieve balance between these two forces, one must cultivate both the energy and passion of fire, while also embracing the stillness and receptiveness of water. This balance can be achieved by finding a healthy balance between action and reflection, passion and calm.

According to Hermetic philosophy, the goal of the individual is to bring balance and harmony to the soul, which is seen as a microcosm of the universe. The soul is seen as a unique and individual expression of the divine, and the goal is to cultivate a harmonious relationship between the soul and the divine. By aligning the soul with the divine, one can find inner peace and stability, even in the midst of the chaos and unpredictability of the external world.

Self-reflection

Self-reflection is a crucial aspect of personal growth and spiritual development in Hermetic philosophy. It involves taking time to reflect on your thoughts, emotions, and actions, and examining how they align with your values and beliefs. This can be done through journaling, meditation, or simply taking a quiet moment each day to reflect on your experiences.

By reflecting on your thoughts, emotions, and actions, you can gain insight into your patterns of behavior and how they may be shaping your experiences. You can also identify areas in which you would like to improve, and make conscious choices to align your thoughts, emotions, and actions with your values and beliefs.

Additionally, self-reflection can help you to understand the root causes of negative thoughts and emotions, and to identify and release any limiting beliefs that may be holding you back. This can be an empowering and transformative process, helping you to live a more fulfilling and authentic life.

Study and practice

Study the principles and teachings of Hermetic philosophy, and practice them in your daily life. This can involve meditation, visualization, or other spiritual exercises.

One common spiritual exercise in Hermetic philosophy is meditation. This can involve sitting quietly in a comfortable and peaceful place, closing your eyes, and focusing your attention on your breath. You can also repeat a word or phrase, such as “peace” or “love,” to help you stay focused and centered. As you meditate, you can imagine light flowing into your body, filling you with a sense of calm and wellbeing. You can also imagine yourself connecting with the divine wisdom that underlies all of creation.

Another exercise is visualization, where you use your imagination to bring a positive idea or concept to life in your mind. For example, you might visualize a beautiful garden or a peaceful beach, and imagine yourself walking through this place, feeling the peace and calm that it brings.

It’s also common in Hermetic philosophy to engage in affirmations, where you repeat positive affirmations to yourself, such as “I am worthy of love and happiness” or “I am in control of my thoughts and emotions.” By repeating these affirmations regularly, you can begin to internalize them and make them a part of your belief system.

Cultivate virtue

Cultivating virtue is an essential part of Hermetic philosophy that involves the development of positive traits and qualities such as compassion, honesty and wisdom. The aim is to purify the soul and bring it closer to the divine.

One must examine how one’s actions align with their values and beliefs. Additionally, one can engage in acts of kindness and compassion towards others, as well as actively seek opportunities for learning and growth.

It’s important to note that the cultivation of virtue is not about becoming perfect but rather making conscious choices that promote positive traits and qualities. It is a journey that requires patience and self-kindness as one works towards purifying the soul and bringing it closer to the divine.

Connect with nature

Connecting with nature is a significant aspect of Hermetic philosophy, as it emphasizes the importance of understanding and appreciating the interconnectedness of all things. By spending time in nature, observing the beauty and complexity of the natural world, one can gain a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of all things and the divine wisdom that underlies all of creation.

Nature can be a powerful source of inspiration and healing, and can help one to reconnect with their inner self and the divine. This can involve simply taking a walk in a park or spending time in a forest, or engaging in activities such as gardening, hiking, or bird-watching.

By connecting with nature, one can learn to appreciate the beauty and majesty of the natural world, and to understand their place within it. This can be a transformative experience, helping one to feel more connected and grounded, and to gain a deeper understanding of their own purpose and place in the world.

Communicate with the divine

Communicating with the divine is an integral part of Hermetic philosophy, as it emphasizes the importance of connecting with a higher power. This can be achieved through prayer, meditation, or other forms of communication.

Prayer can involve speaking directly to the divine, expressing gratitude, asking for guidance, or simply being still and quiet in its presence. Meditation can involve focusing the mind and breathing to achieve a state of stillness and calm, allowing for a deeper connection with the divine.

The goal of communicating with the divine is to deepen one’s connection and understanding, and to receive guidance and wisdom from a higher power. This can bring a sense of peace, clarity, and direction to one’s life, and can help to align one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions with their values and beliefs.

Center all your future actions around attaining balance and harmony within yourself

The focus of our attention can be pulled in two directions: inward and outward. Each direction has its own advantages and disadvantages, but when our focus is overly absorbed by one, it can lead to a never-ending spiral.

When directing our focus outward, we become attuned to the world around us, mindful of our surroundings, and attentive to those around us. However, excessive outward focus can lead to a heightened sensitivity to others’ emotions and expressions, resulting in a loss of personal identity and a detachment from our own sense of self.

Turning inward, we gain valuable insights into our own thoughts and emotions. We process and analyze our experiences, leading to a better understanding of ourselves. However, excessive inward focus can foster self-absorption, cloud judgement, and intensify negative feelings, leading to a loss of control.

Finding balance between these two poles is crucial for maintaining a healthy mental state. Regularly assessing our focus and redirecting it towards areas that need strengthening, rather than fixating on either inward or outward focus, is key.

Hermetic philosophy emphasizes mindfulness as a way to balance these two extremes. Instead of focusing solely on the internal or external world, mindfulness aims to bring about a harmonious balance between the two, leading to a deeper understanding of both ourselves and the world around us.

It’s important to acknowledge our emotions and feelings, but not to become consumed by them. At the same time, being mindful of our surroundings is equally important, but not at the expense of our own identity.

Centering decisions around inner harmony requires a focus on the balance between one’s inner self and external circumstances.

Here are some steps that can help:

Practice self-awareness: Take time to reflect on your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and understand how they impact your inner balance.

Set intentions: Before making decisions, set clear intentions and consider how they align with your values and goals.

Consider both the short and long-term: When making decisions, consider both the immediate and long-term impacts on your inner balance.

Listen to your intuition: Trust your instincts and inner voice, and listen to the guidance they offer.

Take breaks and prioritize self-care: Regularly take breaks and engage in self-care activities, such as exercise, meditation, or spending time in nature, to maintain inner harmony.

Surround yourself with positive influences: Seek out positive relationships and environments that support and enhance your inner balance.

By following these steps, you can make decisions that align with your inner harmony and promote balance and well-being in your daily life.

Published on: February 5, 2023

by Art Florentyna

Personal Development Coach