The Hermetica

1. Ancient Wisdom, though lost, awaits rediscovery.

Wise words, although written by my decaying hand, remain imperishable through time; Imbued with the medicine of immortality by the All-Master.

Philosophy's true nature. Pure philosophy is a spiritual striving for direct knowledge of Atum (God) through contemplation, not mere intellectual debate or complex sciences. It involves reverent awe at the universe's order, seeing science as devotion.
A prophecy of loss. Hermes foresees a time when this spiritual philosophy is lost, corrupted by opinions and dismissed by science, leaving Egypt, once the home of spirituality, desolate and its wisdom forgotten.
Hidden for the worthy. Out of compassion, Hermes inscribes his sacred wisdom in symbols and hieroglyphs, concealing them like a time capsule for future generations worthy of rediscovering the truth.

2. Creation unfolds from Divine Light and Word.

I am that Light — the Mind of God, which exists before the chaotic dark waters of potentiality.

A mystical vision. Hermes experiences a vision of creation: an all-embracing divine Light (Mind of God) casting a shadow of dark, chaotic water (potentiality).
The ordering principle. An inarticulate cry of suffering arises from the chaos, but the Light utters a calming Word (Son of God), the blueprint of beautiful order and fundamental laws, from which everything springs.
Divine mission. Initiated into these secrets, Hermes is tasked by the Supreme Being to become a spiritual guide, writing down his knowledge to save those living in darkness.

3. Atum is the paradoxical, all-encompassing Mind.

He has no name, because all names are his name.

Oneness and source. Atum is the One-God, the source of all, complete and constant, yet self-moving and everywhere. He is the unity in all things, containing all opposites.
Supreme Mind. Atum is Primal Mind, filled with imperceptible ideas and all-embracing knowledge. The human mind, an image of Atum's Mind, can roam the universe and grasp his nature.
Eternal creation. Everything exists as thoughts in Atum's Mind. His nature is to create continuously, not just in the past, making himself through this all-creative process.

4. Contemplating the Cosmos reveals the Creator.

He created all things so that through them you could see him.

Seeing with thought. God is invisible to physical eyes, but visible through thought. He manifests himself everywhere in the universe so we can see his image and know him.
Cosmic body. The Cosmos is Atum's ancient body, ever prime and new. Contemplating its exquisite order, the necessity governing it, and the goodness of all that is, reveals the Creator's skill.
Marvel of life. From the constant revolutions of stars to the intricate crafting of a human body in the womb, the universe is a gigantic work of art, a miracle that points to a master craftsman, not accidental occurrence.

5. The Universe is a single, living being.

The Cosmos is all Life.

Unity in duality. Primal Mind (Life and Light) gives birth to the Cosmic Mind. The physical Cosmos is a copy of this eternal Cosmic Mind, like a reflection.
Immortal being. As a second god made in Atum's likeness, the Cosmos is an immortal living being. Nothing within it is truly dead; everything is saturated with Soul (Life-Force).
Nourishing whole. Atum is the source of eternal energy, which the Cosmos receives and dispenses as Life to all its parts. The Cosmos is the whole that generates and nourishes everything within it.

6. Time is a cycle, but Eternity is timeless Oneness.

Time is like a circle, where all the points are so linked that you cannot say where it begins or ends, for all points both precede and follow one another for ever.

Change and constancy. Everything in the Cosmos changes according to unalterable natural laws, making the Cosmos both constantly changing and essentially changeless.
Circular time. Time regulates change, measured by the recurring cycles of celestial bodies. It's a circle where past, present, and future are linked, with no clear beginning or end.
Beyond illusion. The past is gone, the future not yet here, and the present fleeting. This reveals the illusory nature of time, a way to glimpse God's Oneness beyond time in eternity.

7. Heavenly powers administer Destiny.

These celestial powers, known by thought alone, are called the gods, and they preside over the world.

Administrators of fate. The Mind of the Cosmos creates seven administrators (planets, sun, moon) from fire and air, who regulate Destiny and preside over the world of the senses.
Governing creation. Ruled by the goddess Destiny, these gods pour Soul-force into matter, causing ceaseless change (living and dying) according to God's will and the law of natural growth.
Ra, the visible god. The sun (Ra) is the greatest god, uniting heaven and Earth, sending energy and light. He is an image of Atum, giving life to the Earth's creatures as Atum gives life to the universe.

8. Man is a divine marvel, bridging spirit and matter.

Man is a marvel, due honour and reverence.

Third great being. Atum is first, the Cosmos second, and man third. Man, an image of both Atum and the Cosmos, is a whole made of diverse parts, created to appreciate and help order the Cosmos.
Dual nature. Man has an immortal Mind (from Atum, divine, free) and a mortal body (from Nature, controlled by Destiny). Only man possesses Mind among living things, enabling knowledge of God.
Above the gods. Man's unique dual nature allows him to ascend to heaven with his mind while remaining on Earth, potentially placing him above the gods confined to their orbits.

9. Destiny governs the body, but Mind can transcend it.

Few can escape their fate or guard against the terrible influence of the Zodiac — for the stars are instruments of Destiny, which bring all things to pass in the world of men.

Zodiac's control. The heavenly gods feared man's power, so Atum created the Zodiac, a secret mechanism linked to inevitable fate, controlling human lives from birth to death.
Fate and necessity. The goddess Destiny supervises the Zodiac, sowing the seeds of fate, while Necessity compels the results, interweaving events in time. Most are driven by these forces.
Transcending fate. If a man's rational soul is illuminated by Atum's Light, the workings of the gods and Zodiac become powerless. Intense contemplation allows detachment from mortal nature and ascent beyond fate.

10. Incarnation brings forgetfulness, but souls are one.

All souls are parts of one Soul, which is the Soul of the Cosmos.

Unity of souls. All souls share one nature, neither male nor female, being parts of the single Soul of the Cosmos.
Journey to embodiment. The Conductor of Souls sends souls into physical incarnation, where Nature, aided by Memory and Skill, fashions a body conforming to universal and individual forms, influenced by the presiding gods.
Forgetfulness and fear. As a soul sinks into a dense, opaque spiritual wrapping and enters the body, it forgets its divine nature, taking on the temperament of the escorting gods. Some souls fear and lament this imprisonment.

11. Death is transformation, not an end.

But death is only the dissolution of a worn-out body.

Cycle of change. Destruction is necessary for creation; the new comes from the old. Earthly forms are illusions because they constantly change, but they arise from underlying permanent reality.
Beyond fear. Birth is the start of individual awareness, death is the end of that awareness and transformation into another state. Ignorance causes fear of death, seen as merely discarding a worn-out body.
Judgment and ascent. After death, the soul is judged. Pure souls go to a fitting realm. Ignorant souls are reincarnated. A soul that knew God becomes all Mind, takes a body of Light, and ascends to commune with Atum, becoming a god.

12. Spiritual rebirth through Knowledge frees the soul.

No one can be saved, until he is born again.

Escaping torment. To escape suffering caused by ignorance and vices (grief, desire, injustice, etc.), one must be reborn in spirit by purifying oneself through understanding.
The path of Gnosis. Rebirth is the knowledge of one's own immortality, attained by mastering passions and developing inner vision to experience the Mind of God. This path is a struggle against the duality within.
Becoming divine. One who is reborn communes with Atum, experiencing deep silence and tranquillity. Believing oneself to be only a body prevents this. Through wisdom and goodness, the soul is transformed into All-Mind, becoming one with eternal Being.

Last updated: May 5, 2025