DiotimosReading Desk

Scientific words and explanations

Energy and force

Energy; Force; Forces; Energies

Energy and force name the operative power of nature in much of the exposition.

From the book

The Kybalion

Three Initiates · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Orientation

At a Glance

  • The wordEnergy and force name the operative power of nature in much of the exposition.
  • In The KybalionIV says that matter is no longer final and is instead a form of energy or force.
  • In this editionEnergy, force, power, and mind are not silently substituted for one another.
  • A place to readIV.19: … “Matter—that what we call Matter is merely "interrupted energy or force," that is, energy or force” …

Meaning

Energy and force name the operative power of nature in much of the exposition. The book often groups them together and interprets their differences through vibration; at other moments it calls the ultimate source an infinite living energy.

Use in the book

IV says that matter is no longer final and is instead a form of energy or force. VI accepts Spencer's language about an infinite and eternal energy while adding that this source is living mind. VIII arranges familiar and hidden energies into a hierarchy of physical planes.

XIII describes light, heat, electricity, magnetism, attraction, and chemical affinity as products of gender at the particle level. The vocabulary thus connects a modern scientific register to the metaphysical and occult account of the whole.

Places to read

  1. IV THE ALL · Block 19… “Matter—that what we call Matter is merely "interrupted energy or force," that is, energy or force at a low rate of vibration. As a recent writer has said "Matter has melted” …
  2. VI The Divine Paradox · Block 13… “is "Material"; or (of late) that it is "Energy" at the last analysis. The Hermetic Teachings have no fault to find with Herbert Spencer's basic principle which postulates the existence of” …
  3. VIII Planes of Correspondence · Block 11… “all that relates to physics, or material things, forces, and manifestations. It includes all forms of that which we call Matter, and all forms of that which we call Energy or” …
  4. VIII Planes of Correspondence · Block 15… “Plane of Ethereal Substance comes the Plane of Energy (A), which comprises the ordinary forms of Energy known to science, its seven sub-planes being, respectively, Heat; Light; Magnetism; Electricity, and Attraction” …
  5. VIII Planes of Correspondence · Block 16“The Great Mental Plane comprises those forms of "living things" known to us in ordinary life, as well as certain other forms not so well known except to the occultist. The” …
  6. XIII Gender · Block 7… “negative electricity"-we say they are composed of Feminine energy). A Feminine corpuscle becomes detached from, or rather leaves, a Masculine corpuscle, and starts on a new career. It actively seeks a” …

In this edition

Energy, force, power, and mind are not silently substituted for one another. Capitalization is preserved in quotations, while the entry explains the changing levels at which the words operate.

Reading the argument

Energy and force have distinct technical meanings in modern physics. The source's freer grouping should be read historically. Calling a psychological effort energy likewise does not by itself make it a measurable physical quantity or demonstrate control of a remote object.

Energy

“Energy” — 78 occurrences in 36 text blocks: II.7, 13, 19; IV.4, 19–21; V.2; VI.13; VII.9–12; VIII.11, 13–15, 18, 27, 30–31; IX.4, 6–7, 9, 12; XI.3; XII.5, 7; XIII.7–9; XIV.8–9, 14, 18.

Force

“Force” — 29 occurrences in 20 text blocks: Intro.8; II.13; III.7, 12; IV.19–20; V.4; VI.7, 11, 15; VII.11; VIII.9, 11, 30; IX.7, 9; XI.10; XII.4; XIII.9; XIV.17.

Forces

“Forces” — 11 occurrences in 11 text blocks: I.9; IV.3, 22; VI.1, 11, 16; VII.11; VIII.11, 15; XI.3; XV.1.

Energies

“Energies” — 4 occurrences in 4 text blocks: IX.9; XI.4; XIII.6, 10.