Kybalion CHAPTER X

The great Fourth Hermetic Principle–the Principle of Polarity–embodies the truth that all

manifested things have "two sides"; "two aspects"; "two poles"; a "pair of opposites," with

manifold degrees between the two extremes. The old paradoxes, which have ever perplexed

the mind of men, are explained by an understanding of this Principle. Man has always

recognized something akin to this Principle, and has endeavored to express it by such

sayings, maxims and aphorisms as the following: "Everything is and isn't, at the same time";

"all truths are but half-truths"; "every truth is half-false"; ''there are two sides to everything";

"there is a reverse side to every shield," etc., etc.

The Hermetic Teachings are to the effect that the difference between things seemingly

diametrically opposed to each other is merely a matter of degree. It teaches that "the pairs of

opposites may be reconciled," and that "thesis and anti-thesis are identical in nature, but

different in degree"; and that the "universal reconciliation of opposites" is effected by a

recognition of this Principle of Polarity. The teachers claim that illustrations of this Principle

may be had on every hand, and from an examination into the real nature of anything. They

begin by showing that Spirit and Matter are but the two poles of the same thing, the

intermediate planes being merely degrees of vibration. They show that THE ALL and The

Many are the same, the difference being merely a matter of degree of Mental Manifestation.

Thus the LAW and Laws are the two opposite poles of one thing. Likewise, PRINCIPLE and

Principles. Infinite Mind and finite minds.

Then passing on to the Physical Plane, they illustrate the Principle by showing that Heat

and Cold are identical in nature, the differences being merely a matter of degrees. The

thermometer shows many degrees of temperature, the lowest pole being called "cold," and

the highest "heat." Between these two poles are many degrees of "heat" or "cold," call them

either and you are equally correct. The higher of two degrees is always "warmer," while the

lower is always "colder." There is no absolute standard–all is a matter of degree. There is no

place on the thermometer where heat ceases and cold begins. It is all a matter of higher or

lower vibrations. The very terms "high" and "low," which we are compelled to use, are but

poles of the same thing–the terms are relative. So with "East and West"–travel around the

world in an eastward direction, and you reach a point which is called west at your starting

point, and you return from that westward point. Travel far enough North, and you will find

yourself traveling South, or vice versa.

Light and Darkness are poles of the same thing, with many degrees between them. The

musical scale is the same–starting with "C" you move upward until you reach another "C,"

and so on, the differences between the two ends of the board being the same, with many

degrees between the two extremes. The scale of color is the same–higher and lower

vibrations being the only difference between high violet and low red. Large and Small are

relative. So are Noise and Quiet; Hard and Soft follow the rule. Likewise Sharp and Dull.

Positive and Negative are two poles of the same thing, with countless degrees between

them.

Good and Bad are not absolute–we call one end of the scale Good and the other Bad, or

one end Good and the other Evil, according to the use of the terms. A thing is "less good"

than the thing higher in the scale; but that "less good" thing, in turn, is "more good" than the

thing next below it–and so on, the "more or less" being regulated by the position on the

scale.

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And so it is on the Mental Plane. "Love and Hate" are generally regarded as being things

diametrically opposed to each other; entirely different; unreconcilable. But we apply the

Principle of Polarity; we find that there is no such thing as Absolute Love or Absolute Hate,

as distinguished from each other. The two are merely terms applied to the two poles of the

same thing. Beginning at any point of the scale we find "more love," or "less hate," as we

ascend the scale; and "more hate" or "less love" as we descend–this being true no matter

from what point, high or low, we may start. There are degrees of Love and Hate, and there is

a middle point where "Like and Dislike" become so faint that it is difficult to distinguish

between them. Courage and Fear come under the same rule. The Pairs of Opposites exist

everywhere. Where you find one thing you find its opposite–the two poles.

And it is this fact that enables the Hermetist to transmute one mental state into another,

along the lines of Polarization. Things belonging to different classes cannot be transmuted

into each other, but things of the same class may be changed, that is, may have their

polarity changed. Thus Love never becomes East or West, or Red or Violet–but it may and

often does turn into Hate–and likewise Hate may be transformed into Love, by changing its

polarity. Courage may be transmuted into Fear, and the reverse. Hard things may be

rendered Soft. Dull things become Sharp. Hot things become Cold. And so on, the

transmutation always being between things of the same kind of different degrees. Take the

case of a Fearful man. By raising his mental vibrations along the line of Fear-Courage, he

can be filled with the highest degree of Courage and Fearlessness. And, likewise, the

Slothful man may change himself into an Active, Energetic individual, simply by polarizing

along the lines of the desired quality

The student who is familiar with the processes by which the various schools of Mental

Science, etc., produce changes in the mental states of those following their teachings, may

not readily understand the principle underlying many of these changes. When, however, the

Principle of Polarity is once grasped, and it is seen that the mental changes are occasioned

by a change of polarity–a sliding along the same scale–the matter is more readily

understood. The change is not in the nature of a transmutation of one thing into another

thing entirely different–but is merely a change of degree in the same things, a vastly

important difference. For instance, borrowing an analogy from the Physical Plane, it is

impossible to change Heat into Sharpness, Loudness, Highness, etc., but Heat may readily

be transmuted into Cold, simply by lowering the vibrations. In the same way Hate and Love

are mutually transmutable; so are Fear and Courage. But Fear cannot be transformed into

Love, nor can Courage be transmuted into Hate. The mental states belong to innumerable

classes, each class of which has its opposite poles, along which transmutation is possible.

The student will readily recognize that in the mental states, as well as in the phenomena

of the Physical Plane, the two poles may be classified as Positive and Negative,

respectively. Thus Love is Positive to Hate; Courage to Fear; Activity to Non-Activity, etc.,

etc. And it will also be noticed that even to those unfamiliar with the Principle of Vibration,

the Positive pole seems to be of a higher degree than the Negative, and readily dominates it.

The tendency of Nature is in the direction of the dominant activity of the Positive pole.

In addition to the changing of the poles of one's own mental states by the operation of the

art of Polarization, the phenomena of Mental Influence, in its manifold phases, shows us that

the principle may be extended so as to embrace the phenomena of the influence of one

mind over that of another, of which so much has been written and taught of late years. When

it is understood that Mental Induction is possible, that is that mental states may be produced

by "induction" from others, then we can readily see how a certain rate of vibration, or

polarization of a certain mental state, may be communicated to another person, and his

polarity in that class of mental states thus changed. It is along this principle that the results of

many of the "mental treatments" are obtained. For instance, a person is "blue," melancholy

and full of fear. A mental scientist bringing his own mind up to the desired vibration by his

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trained will, and thus obtaining the desired polarization in his own case, then produces a

similar mental state in the other by induction, the result being that the vibrations are raised

and the person polarizes toward the Positive end of the scale instead toward the Negative,

and his Fear and other negative emotions are transmuted to Courage and similar positive

mental states. A little study will show you that these mental changes are nearly all along the

line of Polarization, the change being one of degree rather than of kind.

A knowledge of the existence of this great Hermetic Principle will enable the student to

better understand his own mental states, and those of other people. He will see that these

states are all matters of degree, and seeing thus, he will be able to raise or lower the

vibration at will–to change his mental poles, and thus be Master of his mental states, instead

of being their servant and slave. And by his knowledge he will be able to aid his fellows

intelligently, and by the appropriate methods change the polarity when the same is desirable.

We advise all students to familiarize themselves with this Principle of Polarity, for a correct

understanding of the same will throw light on many difficult subjects.

The Kybalion

RHYTHM.