The Kybalion (Three Initiates)
Worth a Read
[My 4-star Amazon review (NDA) of “The Kybalion” by Three Initiates.]
“The Kybalion,” probably penned by three early twentieth-century occultists, is a short, worthwhile, and inexpensive read. In fact, anyone can read it for free, because as another reviewer writes: “[This book] is in the public domain and the entire text can be downloaded without copyright infringement.”
The book, which explains and elaborates on the Seven Principles of Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender, will be of particular interest to those new to Hermetic or occult thought. But even those familiar with Theosophy and/or Eastern philosophy will probably find it an enjoyable, uplifting, and educational read. Even though I’m a long-time expert on mysticism and yoga, I managed to glean a few nuggets from the text.
On the negative side, the book is big on theory (cosmology and the laws of the universe) and short methodology, not offering any practical tools or techniques for communing with Spirit, which it defines as “Living Mind.” Also, it makes some claims that are difficult to digest. For example, the authors write: “As a matter of fact, none but advanced Mental Alchemists have been able to attain the degree of power necessary to control the grosser physical conditions, such as the control of the elements of Nature; the production or cessation of tempests; the production and cessation of earthquakes and other great physical phenomena. But that such men have existed, and do exist today, is a matter of earnest belief to all advanced occultists of all schools.” If anyone can find anybody who can produce earthquakes please let me know. After I got tired of the Rumba, I moved on to the Earthquake as my dance of choice—and it would be fun shaking my 62-year-old “booty” to shaking planet.
If you can ignore the questionable claims and pseudo-science in this text, you will probably find it a profitable read, because most of the principles explained and elaborated on make sense and hold true. Because the book contains some good material and is a bargain, I give it four stars.
[My 4-star Amazon review (NDA) of “The Kybalion” by Three Initiates.]
“The Kybalion,” probably penned by three early twentieth-century occultists, is a short, worthwhile, and inexpensive read. In fact, anyone can read it for free, because as another reviewer writes: “[This book] is in the public domain and the entire text can be downloaded without copyright infringement.”
The book, which explains and elaborates on the Seven Principles of Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender, will be of particular interest to those new to Hermetic or occult thought. But even those familiar with Theosophy and/or Eastern philosophy will probably find it an enjoyable, uplifting, and educational read. Even though I’m a long-time expert on mysticism and yoga, I managed to glean a few nuggets from the text.
On the negative side, the book is big on theory (cosmology and the laws of the universe) and short methodology, not offering any practical tools or techniques for communing with Spirit, which it defines as “Living Mind.” Also, it makes some claims that are difficult to digest. For example, the authors write: “As a matter of fact, none but advanced Mental Alchemists have been able to attain the degree of power necessary to control the grosser physical conditions, such as the control of the elements of Nature; the production or cessation of tempests; the production and cessation of earthquakes and other great physical phenomena. But that such men have existed, and do exist today, is a matter of earnest belief to all advanced occultists of all schools.” If anyone can find anybody who can produce earthquakes please let me know. After I got tired of the Rumba, I moved on to the Earthquake as my dance of choice—and it would be fun shaking my 62-year-old “booty” to shaking planet.
If you can ignore the questionable claims and pseudo-science in this text, you will probably find it a profitable read, because most of the principles explained and elaborated on make sense and hold true. Because the book contains some good material and is a bargain, I give it four stars.
