Delving into the Enigma of The Kybalion
Authored by Mitch Horowitz, Esteemed Expert
My affinity for The Kybalion runs deep, resonating with the ancient Greek-Egyptian wisdom it encapsulates. Published in 1908 under the enigmatic pseudonym “Three Initiates,” The Kybalion is a work whose profundity is often overlooked. It’s easy to dismiss it as a mere curiosity of early 20th-century occult literature, a perspective I once shared.
However, I’ve come to recognize that this book safeguards precious remnants of age-old truths – truths that predate our current understanding by centuries. This isn’t a whimsical assertion but a deeply considered conviction. Within this study guide, I meticulously trace the historical roots of The Kybalion, offering concrete evidence of its venerable origins.
In essence, The Kybalion acts as a vessel, however fragile the connection may seem now, linking us to the esoteric philosophies of Ancient Egypt. Modern seekers are indeed connected, albeit through fragmented threads, to the insights of those ancient minds who discerned a reality beyond the purely physical. Life, they understood, extends beyond the mundane – farming, trade, daily chores, and family life, crucial as these are. Instead, traditions spanning from Egyptian to Taoist to Vedic philosophies recognized our existence as part of a grander cosmic tapestry, transcending the material and cognitive realms. This perspective is beautifully encapsulated in the age-old Hermetic axiom, “as above, so below,” the very cornerstone of The Kybalion.
It invigorates me to re-examine this book, one shrouded in myth and speculation, yet possessing an undeniable core of profound wisdom. Our contemporary world is quick to embrace fantasy. Conspiracy theories and doomsday scenarios abound, often clouding judgment and fostering division. Amidst this fascination with the fantastical and apocalyptic, we risk losing sight of genuine wonders. One such wonder, as I’ve hinted, is our enduring connection to the wisdom of ancient seekers.
It’s truly remarkable how wisdom conceals itself, waiting to be discovered. These primordial concepts, particularly the mirroring relationship between the psyche and the cosmos, are nestled within this concise yet impactful volume, ripe for rediscovery through The Kybalion A Study Guide.
Above all, my aim for this study guide is practicality. Therefore, I begin by inviting you to a personal reflection. Consider something you deeply desire in life. Be honest with yourself, without embarrassment, about this aspiration. It’s a desire for your contemplation alone.
Acknowledging our true desires isn’t always straightforward. I believe contemporary spiritual culture sometimes hinders us by overemphasizing concepts like non-attachment, ego, and identification. These terms can become spiritual dogmas, dictating what’s deemed “right” or “wrong” on a spiritual journey. We’re sometimes taught that desires are illusions, samsara. Similarly, undesirable traits are labeled “personality,” while appealing ones are called “essence.” I question these rigid divisions – attachment/non-attachment, essence/personality, consciousness/ego, inner/outer. They are constructs, linguistic agreements that can limit our understanding and potential.
So, when I ask you to consider a deep desire, it needn’t be spiritually “approved” or socially acceptable. Honesty is key. Ethical consideration is crucial – life is reciprocal, and we honor this by respecting others’ pursuit of their highest potential. This, to me, defines ethics.
This exercise is designed to ignite your emotional drive, a powerful force for direction and energy. As you delve into this guide, I hope you’ll connect with and apply Hermetic principles to your cherished aspiration. Passionate desire sharpens focus and enhances learning and practice.
Earlier, I mentioned my initial dismissal of The Kybalion. A superficial reading led me to believe it was merely New Thought ideas dressed in Egyptian garb, theatrical and superficially appealing due to the “Three Initiates” byline.
While I won’t dwell on authorship, historical evidence confirms William Walker Atkinson (1862–1932), a prolific New Thought writer, publisher, and philosopher, as the author. Atkinson himself acknowledged this in Who’s Who in America (1912). The book originated from his Yogi Publication Society in Chicago. “Three Initiates” was his best-known pseudonym, among others like Yogi Ramacharaka and Theron Q. Dumont. He also published extensively under his own name.
The mystery surrounding the “Three Initiates” certainly enhanced the book’s allure. A popular theory suggested collaboration with occultist Paul Foster Case (1884–1954). While both were in Chicago, Case, at 24 during publication, was unlikely to have been Atkinson’s literary equal. Atkinson was incredibly productive, authoring around a hundred New Thought books by his death in 1932.
Authorship clarified, I viewed The Kybalion as another of Atkinson’s projects, adapting New Thought principles with an Egyptian theme. It held some good ideas, but that was it. Life, however, often surprises us. A strange event led me back to The Kybalion with renewed appreciation, and it has since become profoundly important to me.
Prompted by intuition, I read it five times in a row one summer, becoming captivated. I began to see genuine connections to classical Hermeticism, recognizing vestiges of Greek-Egyptian philosophy. It felt like a first encounter, echoing The Kybalion‘s own words: “The lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of understanding.”
This “curveball” that returned me to The Kybalion involved spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti (1895–1986), who observed that the desire for respectability is the greatest obstacle to personal exploration. This insight became my guiding principle. My intellectual background often dismissed books like The Kybalion and New Thought ideas as unserious, associating seriousness with tradition and scholasticism. I reject this. True seriousness lies in an idea’s impact. A philosophy’s success is measured by its effect on our lives.
“Does it work?” became my sole criterion for evaluating any philosophy. Ethical considerations aside – ensuring it doesn’t promote violence or hinder others’ potential – efficacy is paramount. With this in mind, I’ll share the story of my return to The Kybalion.
During research for my 2013 book, One Simple Idea, a history of New Thought, I made an intriguing discovery. Comedic actor Sherman Hemsley, known for playing George Jefferson in The Jeffersons, was a devoted admirer of The Kybalion. I found this connection personally amusing, as I was nicknamed “Mr. Bentley” after George’s neighbor in fifth grade. Actress Marla Gibbs, who played Florence in The Jeffersons, is also deeply involved in Science of Mind, a philosophy close to my heart. I even met Franklin Cover, who played Tom Willis, and his son Bradford Cover is a respected actor.
While researching New Thought history, Philip Deslippe, a scholar of metaphysical movements with expertise on The Kybalion, pointed me to a remarkable TV Guide article from 1982. The Jeffersons was then a top show, reaching millions of homes. Hemsley, a private man, rarely gave interviews.
The February 6, 1982, TV Guide cover story, “Don’t Ask How He Lives or What He Believes In: A Rare View of ‘The Jeffersons’ Star Who Works Hard to Hide an Unorthodox Lifestyle,” subtly credited a book and teacher for transforming his youth. The profile mentioned “the man with the book,” unnamed by Hemsley to “not advertise any book.” He remained mysterious about the man’s identity.
Hemsley’s housemate, André Pavon, revealed to TV Guide that the book was The Kybalion. Pavon stated, “[He] gave me that and others… It changed my life. He told me, ‘You got to read it, man.’” Despite being seen as reclusive, Hemsley simply prioritized values derived from The Kybalion, meditation, and Kabbalah. Asked about avoiding Hollywood events, he said, “Nothing goes on there. The most exciting things happen in the mind.”
I was surprised to see this in a mainstream publication. I’m often drawn to ideas through the individuals who embrace them. Here was a successful, unconventional man who credited The Kybalion as pivotal, even if he kept it private. This resonated deeply.
I reread The Kybalion, shedding preconceptions, and was reignited by the quality of its ideas and their historical integrity.
This brings me to Hermeticism, the ancient philosophy underpinning The Kybalion. Understanding The Kybalion necessitates understanding Hermetic literature.
In the decades after Christ’s death, Alexandria, Egypt, was a global cultural hub, a melting pot of African, Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, Greek, Roman, and even Indian influences. It was a center of commerce, religion, and learning.
Egypt was then under Roman rule, but Greek officials administered the government, identifying as Egyptian. Cleopatra (69–30 BC), though Greek, considered herself Egyptian, reviving ancient Egyptian religion and temple practices flourishing in Alexandria post-Christ. Many temple priests were Egyptian but also spoke Greek.
The Greek administrative class, while intermarrying, deeply identified with Egyptian religion, history, iconography, mythology, worship, and magic. Greco-Egyptian intellectuals began transcribing ancient Egyptian philosophies into Greek. Egyptian hieroglyphs, while having phonetic elements, were primarily symbolic, making direct interpretation challenging, even today when translation is expected to be transparent. Translation often loses nuances. Even with the King James Bible, scholars comparing Aramaic, Greek, and Latin texts found significant losses in translation, with ongoing debates about meanings and context. Imagine the complexity of deciphering a language based on symbols with layered meanings.
The Greco-Egyptian intellectual circle began the process…
Alt Text: Mosaic of Hermes Trismegistus in Siena Cathedral, Italy, representing the legendary figure associated with Hermeticism.
