The Kybalion

Glossary of Key Terms

Absolute

The ultimate standpoint and the unconditioned nature attributed to THE ALL. See IV-VI; compare Relative.

Adept

An advanced practitioner in the book's hierarchy of instruction. See I, III, VIII.

Alchemy

The traditional art used as the model for transformation; in the practical argument, the alteration of mental states. See III, XV.

Analogy

An explanatory comparison between known and unknown cases. It is the chief working method of correspondence. See V, VII-VIII.

Attention

The sustained orientation of thought that will is said to direct. See XIV-XV.

Axiom

A compact proposition presented as authoritative within the teaching. The attributions to The Kybalion do not identify a separate ancient witness. See I-II, XV.

Cause and effect

The lawful dependence of events on conditions. See II, XII, XV.

Chance

In the author's usage, a name for causes not recognized. See XII.

Compensation

The proposed balance of opposite swings, extended from a pendulum to pleasure and pain. See XI.

Corpuscle

A small particle; the source often uses the term in discussing electrons, sometimes confusing different entities. See IX, XIII.

Correspondence

A relevant likeness of pattern or law across planes. See II, V, VII-VIII.

Degree

A position on a continuous scale of manifestation or development. See II, VIII-X.

Determinism

The thesis that events are determined by conditions; raised but not fully debated in XII. Compare Free will.

Elemental

An invisible class of beings in the book's speculative hierarchy. See VIII.

Energy

A physical term that the author also extends to mental and spiritual activity. The uses require distinction. See VIII-IX, XIII-XIV.

Ether

A proposed subtle medium in the historical physical discussion, not an independently demonstrated medium for thought. See VIII-IX.

Evolution

In this cosmology, a return toward fuller spiritual realization. See VII, XI; compare Involution.

Father Mother Mind

The parental image of THE ALL as the source and support of finite life. See V.

Feminine principle

The receiving and generating function in the author's symbolic model. See II, V, XIII-XIV.

Free will

The problem of freedom within causation; the text chiefly proposes degrees of self-direction. See XII.

Gender

The pair of complementary generative functions extended by the book to all planes. See II, V, XIII-XIV.

Hermes Trismegistus

The traditional authority to whom Hermetic teachings are attributed. The book's sacred biography is distinct from documented history. See Original Introduction and I.

Hermetic

Pertaining to teachings associated with Hermes; the book uses the term for its own modern synthesis. See I-II.

Hierophant

A revealer or instructor of sacred mysteries, used broadly here. See I.

I

The directing and witnessing aspect of self in the model of XIV. Compare Me.

Immanence

The presence of the ultimate source within its manifestations. See VII. The source also prints Imminent in this context.

Immutable

Unchanging in essential nature, a property attributed to THE ALL. See IV-V.

Initiate

A pupil or practitioner admitted to restricted teaching; also part of the authorial name. See Original Introduction, I, III.

Involution

The movement of manifestation toward material limitation. See VII; compare Evolution.

Law

An invariable principle governing manifestation, including the actions of finite masters. See VI, XI-XII, XV.

Masculine principle

The initiating and directing function in the author's symbolic model. See II, V, XIII-XIV.

Master

An advanced being or practitioner with greater understanding and deliberate control, still subject to law. See I, III, VI, XII, XV.

Matter

Physical manifestation, treated as dependent on mental reality while remaining effective within finite experience. See IV, VI, VIII-IX.

Me

The receptive and mentally productive aspect of self in XIV. Compare I.

Meditation

Focused attention; used analogically for the mental creation of the universe. See VII.

Mental Science

A broad historical label here for methods and movements concerned with the formative power of thought. See III, X, XIV.

Mental transmutation

The proposed art of changing mental conditions and, in stronger claims, influencing wider conditions through mind. See III, XV.

Mentalism

The doctrine that THE ALL is mind and the universe mental. See II, IV-VII.

Neutralization

Counterbalancing an effect or adopting a standpoint less subject to a rhythmic swing. See II, XI, XV.

Occult

Hidden or restricted; used for teachings and phenomena beyond ordinary public knowledge. See Original Introduction, I, III.

Plane

A class of degrees or states, rather than a spatial location. See II, VIII.

Polarity

Opposed ends within a shared kind or scale. See II, X.

Polarization

The proposed movement of a mental state toward a chosen pole. See X, XV.

Relative

The standpoint of finite life, in which laws and consequences remain effective. See VI; compare Absolute.