AS ABOVE, SO BELOW
Awakening to the presence of a higher power within me, the alchemical maxim “as above, so below” or “as within, so without” came to fruition. My rebirth was leading to a profound shift in my perception of reality; I was reconnecting with my core essence deep within, my true nature – my authentic Self.
My true nature is the only source of vitality and flow; the gateway to the fullness of the oneness that is Being. My outer Self, represented by my sense of identity, will only be a mirror displaying various reflections of my authentic Self.
The journey of awakening your authenticity itself is a spiritual process. It is a form of spiritual alchemy which demands that your old ways dissolve to reveal the beauty of that which is already within you.
That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above.
With origins dating back to the Emerald Tablet sometime between 200 CE and 800 CE, “as above, so below”, the modern simplified version, is an esoteric belief that can feel convoluted to understand. The idea provides the guiding principle that natural processes echo spiritual changes and individuals can work to achieve a higher consciousness.
Hermetic texts provide a condensed description of the planes of existence. Divided into only three categories, there is matter, mind, and spirit, in ascending order. Man appears squarely in the middle: not unthinking matter, but still bound by the physical constraint of having a body. Though, in a limited way, we share in the powers of mind and spirit.
The hermetic worldview is almost like a religion of growth mindset. “As above, so below” refers to the infinite conception of the world. There are infinite layers, infinite realities, infinite forms and forms of consciousness.
With man sharing in the powers of mind and spirit, we have the ability to influence reality with our mind. The upward direction we are meant to go in is the direction of increasing consciousness.
My purpose is now to align with what is “above” / “within” (while loosening my grip on the physical or unthinking matter i.e. what is “below” / “without”). I seek to achieve this by transforming my Self to be more like what is “above”, and better able to channel it into my life. By doing so, I participate in the eternal drama of manifesting heaven on earth.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
As I begin to manifest the divine within my body, my authentic Self becomes a sacred expression of that divine presence. This transformation is an ineffable illuminating process that opens the road to the light beyond the dark walls of my living death.
The kingdom of God is within, yet without, also; God, is but a convenient means to wake the sleeping princess, the soul. Life is her sleep, death the awakening.
One Response
Hmmm..: thought provoking for sure. I will read it again and again to get full understanding as this one is super deep.