The Kybalion

[Teheuti]

I recently came across a short essay from 1885 which presents the same laws or principles that appear in The Kybalion by "Three Initiates" (probably just William Walker Atkinson).

I was wondering if anyone else knew of earlier sources for the 7 Hermetic Principles discussed there.

The 1885 material is in an introductory essay to Anna Kingsford & Edward Maitland's The Virgin of the World. You can find a comparison of the two on my tarot blog.

BTW, the "Hermetic" in The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" probably was due to the influence of Anna Kingsford and her Hermetic Society.

Mary Greer

[mac22]

Originally Posted by Teheuti

I recently came across a short essay from 1885 which presents the same laws or principles that appear in The Kybalion by "Three Initiates" (probably just William Walker Atkinson).

I was wondering if anyone else knew of earlier sources for the 7 Hermetic Principles discussed there.

The 1885 material is in an introductory essay to Anna Kingsford & Edward Maitland's The Virgin of the World. You can find a comparison of the two on my tarot blog.

BTW, the "Hermetic" in The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" probably was due to the influence of Anna Kingsford and her Hermetic Society.

Mary Greer

William Walker Atkinson - Paul Foster Case & ???? There are many candidates for #3.... my best guess probably Manly Palmer Hall.

ETA: As for source of the principles I've found them in many traditions Indian, Buddhist & Chinese.

Mac22

[Teheuti]

Originally Posted by mac22

William Walker Atkinson - Paul Foster Case & ???? There are many candidates for #3.... my best guess probably Manly Palmer Hall.

ETA: As for source of the principles I've found them in many traditions Indian, Buddhist & Chinese.

Mac22

Manly Palmer Hall would have been 11 years old - that's quite a feat!

Paul Foster Case is a possibility. He was in Chicago at that time and he knew Atkinson. But the similarity to The Arcane Teachings puts it primarily in the hands of Atkinson. The Arcane Teachings was later republished as The SEcret Doctrine of The Rosicrucians by Magus Incognito. The publishing house of both, the "Yoga Publication Society," belonged to Atkinson.

As to the Indian, Buddhist and Chinese sources - do you know of any specific texts that delineate precisely these seven Hermetic principles? Or, are you just saying that the sentiments are similar?

The source I found names (but doesn't number) them and describes each law or principle in similar terms and both call these laws or principles "Hermetic."

[mac22]

Originally Posted by Teheuti

Manly Palmer Hall would have been 11 years old - that's quite a feat!

Paul Foster Case is a possibility. He was in Chicago at that time and he knew Atkinson. But the similarity to The Arcane Teachings puts it primarily in the hands of Atkinson. The Arcane Teachings was later republished as The SEcret Doctrine of The Rosicrucians by Magus Incognito. The publishing house of both, the "Yoga Publication Society," belonged to Atkinson.

As to the Indian, Buddhist and Chinese sources - do you know of any specific texts that delineate precisely these seven Hermetic principles? Or, are you just saying that the sentiments are similar?

The source I found names (but doesn't number) them and describes each law or principle in similar terms and both call these laws or principles "Hermetic."

I've seen the 7 principles listed with & w/o the term "Hermetic."


What is your old source text if I may ask?

Mac22

[Teheuti]

Originally Posted by mac22

I've seen the 7 principles listed with & w/o the term "Hermetic."

This is the kind of thing I am looking for. Can you give me any specifics?

What is your old source text if I may ask?

As I said in the opening post to this thread: "The 1885 material is in an introductory essay to Anna Kingsford & Edward Maitland's The Virgin of the World. You can find a comparison of the two on my tarot blog."

Is that what you were asking?

I was surprised to find that this eight page essay contained the same principles found in The Kybalion - since no sources were given in either the 1909 version or in the 1912 one.

On my blog I itemize the 7 Hermetic Principles along with quotes from the equivalent text in the Kingsford and Maitland essay.

[mac22]

Originally Posted by Teheuti

This is the kind of thing I am looking for. Can you give me any specifics?

UHHH....I was suppose to have notes.... hehe

Originally Posted by Teheuti

As I said in the opening post to this thread: "The 1885 material is in an introductory essay to Anna Kingsford & Edward Maitland's The Virgin of the World. You can find a comparison of the two on my tarot blog."

Is that what you were asking?

Yes.

Originally Posted by Teheuti

I was surprised to find that this eight page essay contained the same principles found in The Kybalion - since no sources were given in either the 1909 version or in the 1912 one.

On my blog I itemize the 7 Hermetic Principles along with quotes from the equivalent text in the Kingsford and Maitland essay.

Thanks.

mac22