The Kybalion by The Three Initiates [PDF]
by InfoBooks
The Kybalion claims to reveal the essence of Hermetic philosophy in just over 200 pages. It has quietly shaped how millions think about the nature of mind, matter, and the universe.
Here you can download a free PDF copy and explore these seven principles at your own pace. No registration, no fees; just the book and your curiosity.
Written under the mysterious pen name 'The Three Initiates,' the true authorship remains debated to this day. That mystery is part of what keeps readers coming back.
The Kybalion by The Three Initiates
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Information: The Kybalion
- Author: The Three Initiates
- Publication Date: 1908
- Main Characters:
- The Three Initiates: The anonymous authors who compiled and interpreted the Hermetic teachings for a modern audience.
- Hermes Trismegistus: The legendary figure, part Greek god Hermes, part Egyptian god Thoth, credited as the source of Hermetic wisdom.
- The Kybalion (text): Referenced as an ancient, lost Hermetic text from which the seven principles are said to derive.
- William Walker Atkinson: American author and occultist widely believed to be the primary writer behind the pen name.
- Brief Summary: The Kybalion presents seven Hermetic principles said to originate from the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. These principles cover mentalism, correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, cause and effect, and gender. The book argues that understanding these laws allows a person to navigate life with greater awareness. It blends philosophy, proto-psychology, and mysticism into a concise framework. At roughly 200 pages, it reads more like a practical manual than an academic treatise.
- Thematic Analysis: The central theme is that 'The All is Mind,' meaning the universe is fundamentally mental in nature. From this foundation, the book builds a system where every phenomenon, from gravity to emotion, follows predictable patterns. It bridges Eastern and Western thought in a way that was ahead of its time.
- Historical Context: Published in 1908 by the Yogi Publication Society in Chicago, The Kybalion appeared during a surge of interest in New Thought and occult philosophy. The pen name 'The Three Initiates' is widely believed to refer to William Walker Atkinson, though this is still debated. The book drew on the Hermetic tradition attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a figure blending Greek and Egyptian wisdom.