As Above, So Below: The Reflective Nature of Reality
How the Magician, the Tao, and ancient Hermetic principles guide us back to our oneness.
Throughout my esoteric journey, one symbol has stood out above the rest: The Magician in Tarot. He stands with one hand pointing up (to the divine) and the other pointing down (to the earthly realm), embodying the ancient philosophy of As Above, So Below.
This phrase is a cornerstone of Hermetic thought and speaks to the profound relationship between different levels of existence: the universal and the personal, the spiritual and the material, the macrocosm and the microcosm.
As Above, So Below is more than a mystical saying. It is a key to understanding reality itself.
Origins: The Emerald Tablet, The Kybalion, and the Birth of a Principle
As Above, So Below originates from the Emerald Tablet, an ancient and mysterious text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary figure behind Hermetic philosophy. Hermetic philosophy (or Hermeticism) is a blend of ancient Egyptian and ancient Greek mystical traditions that explores the interconnectedness of all things.
The Emerald Tablet reads: “That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below…’ 1
What this is essentially saying is that all planes of existence reflect one another. The structure of the universe (macrocosm) can be seen in a single human life (microcosm). This idea became one of the Seven Hermetic Principles in the book The Kybalion.
The Principle that embodies As Above, So Below (The Principle of Correspondence) tells us that when one realizes that the existence of the universe is within themself, one will unlock great spiritual development and manifestations. “Just as a knowledge of the Principles of Geometry enables man to measure distant suns and their movements, while seated in his observatory, so a knowledge of the Principle of Correspondence enables Man to reason intelligently from the Known to the Unknown”.2
This principle is a map to self-awareness and a functional law of reality, one that mystics, philosophers, and alchemists have explored for centuries.
The Magician in Tarot
Back to the Magician. The Magician in Tarot is the most direct representation of this philosophy. His stance of one hand reaching to the sky and the other down to the earth is a visual manifestation of As Above, So Below.
"He signifies the divine motive in man, reflecting God, the will in the liberation of its union with that which is above."
– The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, A.E. Waite, 1910
His tools on the table: the wand, cup, sword, and pentacle symbolize mastery over the elements and the ability to shape existence from what already exists. He teaches that our internal alignment with higher knowledge allows us to manifest real change in our lives. When the mind is concentrated, there are limitless capabilities!
The infinity sign above his head represents spiritual enlightenment. He is the bridge between the seen (conscious) and unseen (subconscious), reminding us that understanding universal truths empowers us to shape our own destiny. In other words, we can channel divine wisdom into physical reality. The ouroboros can also be seen around his waist, symbolizing unity and the interconnectedness of all things. The snake devoured its own tail signifying destruction and the snake shedding its skin signifying rebirth… the cyclical nature of life.
The Hermetic Magician isn't the only symbol that teaches us how to bridge the divine and material.
Taoism
While the exact words "as above, so below” don’t appear in Taoist texts, the idea is very present in its teachings.
Taoism teaches that everything in existence arises from the Tao, the eternal, unnameable source behind all things. The Tao is both the origin and the order of the universe. It flows through the stars, the mountains, the seasons, and ourselves. To live in accordance with the Tao is to live in harmony with the entire cosmos.
“Man follows the earth. Earth follows heaven. Heaven follows the Tao. The Tao follows what is natural.”
– Tao Te Ching, Chapter 25
Everything arises from the Tao and returns to it. This mirrors the Hermetic idea that the microcosm (individual) reflects the macrocosm (universe).
“He who knows others is wise; he who knows himself is enlightened.”
– Tao Te Ching, Chapter 33
This line also expresses the Hermetic idea that inner and outer worlds are not separate. To understand yourself is to begin to understand the universe.
Taoism teaches that there is no true separation between self and world, spirit and matter, heaven and earth. Everything is part of the same process. By attuning to this rhythm through stillness, contemplation, and action in harmony, we step into our natural place in the cosmos.
The Magician channels divine energy into the earthly plane and the Taoist sage embodies the flow of Heaven and Earth. Both tell us: we are not just observers of reality. We are expressions of it.
A World Out of Sync
It seems that ancient wisdom viewed life as deeply interconnected. How is it that modern society often feels disconnected when we’ve come from profound teachings?
Science has given us amazing insight, yet it drives to measure and dissect. We've lost sight of the whole as intuition and the sacred gave way to analysis and the provable.
The rise of organized religion and the later Industrial Age further distanced us from nature and the esoteric. Time once spent in contemplation became consumed by production and survival. Today, modern technology and social media leads to further disconnection.
Initiation traditions that once guided people into deeper wisdom have faded. Without them, many are left seeking direction. We are searching for something we instinctively feel is missing.
But the Hermetic saying reminds us “as within, so without.” When we feel disconnected internally, the world around us mirrors that chaos. Our movements towards collective healing and reclaiming our inner wisdom is helping us realign to the greater rhythm of life.
The Renaissance of Ancient Wisdom
Even in this era of disconnection, a spiritual renaissance is taking place. There are a growing number of spiritual wisdom seekers who are getting more in touch with esoteric and ancient practices. There is a rediscovering of Astrology, Tarot, Hermeticism, Gnostic teachings, I Ching, Indigenous teachings, plant medicine & Shamanic practices, Numerology, Tantra, and Alchemy. Jungian psychology explores the meaning of symbols, archetypes, and the depths of the unconscious mind. Quantum physics entertains truths long held by sages: that consciousness and reality are intertwined.
As Above, So Below is more than a mystical phrase. It teaches that by observing the patterns of the cosmos, we gain insight into ourselves, and by exploring the self, we begin to understand the universe. We are not apart from the divine, from nature, or from the great unfolding… we are expressions of it. And in that recognition lies our power to transform.
The Magician reminds us that the tools are already on the table.
The Tao teaches us that in returning to nature, we return to ourselves.
And if the universe is a mirror… what do you see reflected back?
