Chapter 8 - Planes of Correspondence - The Kybalion

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Episode Transcript

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Chapter eight, Planes of correspondence,as above, so below, as below,
so above. The cobalion, thesecond great Hermetic principle, embodies the
truth that there is a harmony,agreement, and correspondence between the several planes

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of manifestation, life, and being. The truth is a truth because all
that is included in the universe emanatesfrom the same source, and the same
laws, principles, and characteristics applyto each unit or combination of units of
activity, as each manifests its ownphenomena upon its own plane. For the

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purpose of convenience of thought and study, the Hermetic philosophy considers that the universe
may be divided into three great classesof phenomena, known as the three great
planes, namely one the great physicalplane, two the great mental plane,
three the great spiritual Plane. Thesedivisions are more or less artificial and arbitrary,

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for the truth is that all ofthe three divisions are but ascending degrees
of the great scale of life,the lowest point of which is undifferentiated matter,
and the highest point that of spirit. And moreover, the different planes
shade into each other, so thatno hard and fast division may be made
between the higher phenomena of the physicaland the lower of the mental, or

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between the higher of the mental andthe lower of the physical. In short,
the three great planes may be regardedas three great groups of degrees of
life manifestation. While the purposes ofthis little book do not allow us to
enter into an extended discussion of orexplanation of the subject of these different planes,

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still we think it well to givea general description of the same at
this point. At the beginning,we may as well consider the question so
often asked by the neophyte who desiresto be informed regarding the meaning of the
word plane, which term has beenvery freely used and very poorly explained in

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many recent works upon the subject ofoccultism. The question is generally about as
follows. Is a plane a placehaving dimensions or is it merely a condition
or state? We answer no,not a place nor ordinary dimension of space.
And yet more than a state orcondition. It may be considered as

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a state or condition. And yetthe state or condition is a degree of
dimension in a scale subject to measurement. Somewhat paradoxical, is it not,
But let us examine the matter.A dimension, you know, is a
measure in a straight line relating tomeasure. The ordinary dimensions of space are

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length, breadth, and height,or perhaps length breadth, height, thickness,
or circumference. But there is anotherdimension of created things or measure in
a straight line, known to occultistsand to scientists as well, although the
latter have not yet applied the termdimension to it. And this new dimension,

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which by the way, is themuch speculated about fourth dimension, is
the standard used in determining the degreesor planes. The fourth dimension may be
called the dimension of vibration. Itis a fact well known to modern science
as well as to hermetists, whohave embodied the truth in their third Hermetic

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principle that everything is in motion,everything vibrates, nothing is at rest.
From the highest manifestation to the lowesteverything, all things vibrate. Not only
do they vibrate at different rates ofmotion, but as in different directions and
in different manner. The degrees ofthe rate of vibrations constitute the degrees of

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measurement on the scale of vibrations,in other words, the degrees of the
fourth dimension, and these degrees formwhat occultists call planes. The higher the
degree of rate of vibration, thehigher the plane, and the higher manifestation
of life occupying that plane, sothat while a plane is not a place,

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nor yet a state or condition,yet it possesses qualities common to both.
We shall have more to say regardingthe subject of the scale of vibrations
in our next lessons, in whichwe shall consider the Hermetic principle of vibration.
You will kindly remember, however,that the three great planes are not

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actual divisions of the phenomena of theuniverse, but merely arbitrary terms used by
the Hermeticis in order to aid inthe thought and study of the various degrees
and forms of universal activity in life. The atom of matter, the unit
of force, the mind of man, and the being of the archangel are

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all but degrees in one scale,and all fundamentally the same, the difference
between solely a matter of degree andrate of vibration. All are creations of
the All, and have their existencesolely within the infinite mind of the All.
The Hermetis subdivide each of the greatplanes into seven minor planes, and

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each of these latter are also subdividedinto seven subplanes, all divisions being more
or less arbitrary, shading into eachother, and adopted merely for convenience of
scientific study and thought. The GreatPhysical Plane and its seven minor planes,
is that division of the phenomena ofthe universe which includes all that relates to

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physics or material things, forces,and manifestations. It includes all forms of
that which we call matter, andall forms of that which we call energy
or force. But you must rememberthat hermetic philosophy does not recognize matter as
a thing in itself, or ashaving a separate existence, even in the

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mind of the All the teachings arethat matter is but a form of energy,
that is, energy at a lowrate of vibrations of a certain kind.
And accordingly, the hermetist classify matterunder the head of energy and give
to it three of the seven minorplanes of the Great Physical Plane. These

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seven minor physical planes are as follows. One the plane of matter A.
Two the plane of matter B threethe plane of matter C. Four the
plane of ethereal substance, five theplane of energy A, six the plane

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of energy B seven the plane ofenergy C. The plane of matter A
comprises the forms of matter in itsform of solids, liquids, and gases,
as generally recognized by the text bookson physics. The plane of matter
B comprises certain higher and more subtleforms of matter, of the existence of

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which modern science is but now recognizingthe phenomena of radiant matter in its phases
of radium, et cetera. Belongingto the lower subdivision of this minor plane,
The plane of matter C comprises formsof the most subtle and tenuous matter,
the existence of which is not suspectedby ordinary scientists. The plane of

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ethereal substance comprises that which science speaksof as the ether, a substance of
extreme tenuity in elasticity, perbating alluniversal space and acting as a medium for
the transmission of waves of energy suchas light, heat, electricity, et
cetera. This ethereal substance forms aconnecting link between matter so called and energy,

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and partakes of the nature of each. The hermetic teachings, however,
instruct that this plane has seven subdivisions, as have all of the minor planes,
and in fact there are seven ethersinstead of but one. Next above
the plane of ethereal substance comes theplane of energy A, which comprises the

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ordinary forms of energy known to science, its seven subplanes being respectively, heat,
light, magnetism, electricity, andattraction, including gravitation, cohesion,
chemical affinity, et cetera, andseveral other forms of energy indicated by scientific

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experiments but not yet named or classified. The plane of energy B comprises seven
subplanes of higher forms of energy,not as yet discovered by science, but
which have been called nature's finer forces, and which are called into operation in
manifestations of certain forms of mental phenomena, and by which such phenomena becomes possible.

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The plane of energy C comprises sevensubplanes of energy so highly organized that
it bears many of the characteristics oflife, but which is not recognized by
the minds of men on the ordinaryplane of development, being available for the
use of beings. On the spiritualplane alone, such energy is unthinkable to

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ordinary man, and may be consideredalmost as the divine power. The beings
employing the same are as gods,compared even to the highest human types known
to us. The great mental planecomprises those forms of living things known to
us in ordinary life, as wellas certain other forms not so well known

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except to the occultist. The classificationof the seven minor mental planes is more
or less satisfactory and arbitrary and lessaccompanied by elaborate explanations which are foreign to
the purpose of this particular work,but we may as well mention them.
They are as follows. One theplane of mental mind, two the plane

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of elemental mind A, three theplane of plant mind, four the plane
of elemental mind B. Five theplane of animal mind, six the plane
of elemental mind C. Seven theplane of human mind. The plane of

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mineral mind comprises the states or conditionsof the units or entities, or groups
and combinations of the same which animatethe forms known to us as minerals,
chemicals, et cetera. These entitiesmust not be confunded with the molecules,
atoms, and corpuscles themselves, thelatter being merely the material bodies or forms

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of these entities, just as aman's body is but his material form and
not himself. These entities may becalled souls in one sense, and are
living beings of a lower degree ofdevelopment, life and mind, just a
little more than the units of livingenergy, which comprise the higher subdivisions of

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the highest physical plane. The averagemind does not generally attribute the possession of
mind, soul, or life tothe mineral kingdom, but all occultists recognize
the existence of the same, andmodern sciences rapidly moving forward to the point
of view of the hermetic. Inthis respect, the molecules, atoms,

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and corpuscles have their loves and hates, likes and dislikes, attractions and repulsions,
affinities and non affinities, etc.And some of the more daring scientific
minds have expressed the opinion that thedesire and will, emotions and feelings of
the atoms differ only in degree fromthose of men. We have no time

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or space to argue this matter here. All occultists know it to be a
fact, and others are referred tosome of the more recent scientific works for
outside corroboration. There are the usualseven subdivisions to this plane. The plane
of elemental mind a comprises a stateor condition and degree of mental and vital

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development of a class of entities unknownto the average man, but recognized to
occultists. They are invisible to theordinary senses of man, but nevertheless exists
in play their part of the dramaof the universe. Their degree of intelligence
is between that of the mineral andchemical entities on the one hand, and

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of the entities of the plant kingdom. On the other there are seven subdivisions
to this plane. Also, theplane of plant mind, in its seven
subdivisions, comprises the states or conditionsof the entities comprising the kingdoms of the
plant world, the vital and mentalphenomena of which is fairly well understood by

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the average intelligent person. Many newand interesting scientific works regarding mind in life
and plants have been published during thelast decade. Plants have life, mind,
and souls, as well as havethe animals man and superman. The
plane of elemental mind being in itsseven subdivisions, comprises the states and conditions

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of a higher form of elemental orunseen entities playing their part in the general
work of the universe, the mindand life of which form a part of
the scale between the plane of plantmind and the plane of animal mind,
the entities partaking of the nature ofboth. The plane of animal mind,

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in its seven subdivisions, comprises thestates and conditions of the entities beams or
souls animating the animal forms of lifefamiliar to us all. It is not
necessary to go into details regarding askingdom or plane of life, for the
animal world is as familiar to usas our own. The plane of elemental

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mind c in its seven subdivisions,comprises those entities or beams invisible, as
are all such elemental forms which partakeof the nature of both animal and human
life. In a degree, andin certain combinations. The highest forms are
semi human in intelligence. The planeof human mind, in its seven subdivisions,

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comprises those manifestations of life and mentalitywhich are common to man in his
various grades, degrees, and divisions. In this connection, we wish to
point out the fact that the averageman of today occupies but the fourth subdivision
of the plane of human mind,and only the most intelligent have crossed the

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borders of the fifth subdivision. Ithas taken the race millions of years to
reach this stage, and it willtake many more years for the race to
move on to the sixth and seventhsubdivisions and beyond. But remember that there
have been races before us which havepassed through these degrees and then on to
higher planes. Our own race isthe fifth, with stragglers from the fourth,

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which has set foot upon the path. And there are a few advanced
souls of our own race who haveoutstripped the masses, and who have passed
on to the sixth and seventh subdivision, and some few being still further on.
The man of the sixth subdivision willbe the superman. He of the
seventh will be the over man.In our consideration of the seven minor mental

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planes, we have merely referred tothe three elementary planes in a general way.
We do not wish to go intothis subject in detail in this work,
for it does not belong to thispart of general philosophy and teachings.
But we may say this much inorder to give you a little clearer idea
of the relations of these planes tothe more familiar ones. The elementary planes

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bear the same relation to the planesof mineral, plant, animal, and
human mentality in life that the blackkeys on a piano due to the white
keys. The white are sufficient toproduce music, but there are certain scales,
melodies and harmonies in which the blackkeys play their part, and in

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which their presence is necessary. Theyare also necessary as connecting links of soul,
condition, entity, states, etc. Between the several other planes,
certain forms of development being attained thereinthis last fact, giving to the reader
who can read between the lines anew light upon the processes of evolution and

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a new key to the secret doorof the leaps of life between kingdom and
kingdom. The great kingdoms of elementalsare fully recognized by all occultists, and
the esoteric writings are full of mentionof them. The readers of Bulwer's Sonani
and similar tales will recognize the entitiesinhabiting these planes of life, passing on

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from the great mental plane to thegreat spiritual plane. What shall we say?
How can we explain these higher statesof being life and mind to minds
as yet unable to grasp and understandthe higher subdivisions of the plane of human
mind? The task is impossible.We can speak only in the most general

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terms. How may light be describedto a man born blind? How sugar
to a man who has never tastedanything sweet? How harmony to one born
death? All that we can sayis that the seven minor planes of the
Great spiritual plane, each minor planehaving its seven subdivisions, comprise beings possessing

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life, mind, and form asfar above that of man to day as
the latter is above the earthworm,mineral, or even certain forms of energy
or matter. The life of thesebeings so far transcends ours that we cannot
even think of the details of thesame. Their minds so transcend ours that

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to them we scarcely seem to think, and our mental processes seem almost akin
to material processes. The matter ofwhich their forms are composed is of the
highest planes of matter. Nay,some are even said to be clothed in
pure energy. What may be saidof such beings? On the seven minor
planes of the great spiritual plane existbeings of whom we may speak of as

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angels, archangels, demigods. Onthe lower minor planes dwell those great souls
whom we call masters and adepts.Above them come the great hierarchies of the
angelic hosts, unthinkable to man.And above those come those who may,
without irreverence, be called the gods. So high in the scale of being

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are they, their being, intelligenceand power being akin to those attributed by
the races of men to their conceptionsof deity, these beings are beyond even
the highest flights of the human imagination, the word divine being the only one
applicable to them. Many of thesebeings, as well as the angelic host,

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take the greatest interest in the affairsof the universe and play an important
part in its affairs. These unseendivinities and angelic helpers extend their influence freely
and powerfully in the process of evolutionand cosmic process. Their occasional intervention and
assistance in human affairs have led tothe many legends, beliefs, religions,

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and traditions of the race past andpresent. They have superimposed their knowledge and
power upon the world again and again, all under the law of the All,
of course. But yet even thehighest of these advanced beings exists merely
as creations of and in the mindof the All, and are sub to

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the cosmic processes in universal laws.They are still mortal. We may call
them gods if we like, butthey are still but the elder brethren of
the race, the advanced souls whohave outstripped their brethren, and who have
foregone the ecstasy of absorption by theAll in order to help the race on
its upward journey along the path.But they belong to the universe and are

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subject to its conditions. They aremortal, and their plane is below that
of absolute spirit. Only the mostadvanced hermatists are able to grasp the inner
teachings regarding the state of existence andthe powers manifested on the spiritual planes.
The phenomena is so much higher thanthat of the mental planes that a confusion

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of ideas would surely result from anattempt to describe the same. Only those
whose minds have been carefully trained alongthe lines of hermetic philosophy for years.
Yes, only those who have broughtthem from other incarnations the knowledge acquired previously
can comprehend just what is meant bythe teachings regarding these spiritual plans, And

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much of these inner teachings is heldby the hermitis as being too sacred,
important, and even dangerous for generalpublic dissemination. The intelligence student may recognize
what we mean by this when westate that the meaning of spirit as used
by the hermitis is akin to livingpower, animated force, inner essence,

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essence of life, etc. Whichmeaning must not be confounded with that usually
and commonly employed in connection with theterm ie religious, ecclesiastical, spiritual,
ethereal, holy, etc. Etc. To occultist, the words spirit is

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used in the sense of the animatingprinciple, carrying with it the idea of
power, living energy, mystic force, and occultists know that that which is
known to them as spiritual power maybe employed for evil as well as good
ends, in accordance with the principleof polarity, a fact which has been

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recognized by the majority of religions intheir conceptions of satan fields above the devil,
lucifer, fallen Angels, etc.And so the knowledge regarding these planes
has been kept in the Holy ofHolies, in all esoteric fraternities and occult
orders in the secret Chamber of theTemple. But this may be said here

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that those who have attained high spiritualpowers and have misused them have a terrible
fate in store for them, andthe swing of the pendulum of rhythm will
inevitably swing them back to the furthestextreme of material existence, from which point
they must retrace their steps spirit wordalong the weary rounds of the path,

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but always with the added torture ofhaving always with them a lingering memory of
the heights from which they fell owingto their evil actions. The legends of
the Fallen Angels have a basis inactual facts. As all advanced occultists know,
the striving for selfish power on thespiritual planes inevitably results in the selfish

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soul, losing its spiritual balance andfalling back as far as it had previously
risen. But to even such asoul, the opportunity of a return is
given, and such souls make thereturn journey, paying the terrible penalty according
to the invariable law. In conclusion, we would again remind you that according

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to the principle of correspondence, whichembodies the truth as above, so below,
as below so above, all ofthe seven hermetic principles are in full
operation on all of the many planes, physical, mental, and spirit ritchell
The principle of mental substance, ofcourse, applies to all the planes,

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for all are held in the mindof the all. The principle of correspondence
manifests in all, for there iscorrespondence, harmony, and agreement between the
several planes. The principle of vibrationmanifests on all planes. In fact,
the very differences that go to makethe planes arise from vibration. As we

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have explained, the principle of polaritymanifests on each plane, the extremes of
the poles being apparently opposite. Incontradictory, the principle of rhythm manifests on
each plane, the movement of thephenomena having its ebb and flow rise and
flow, incoming and outgoing. Theprinciple of cause and effect manifests on each

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plane, every effect having its cause, and every cause having its effect.
The principle of gender manifests us oneach plane, the creative energy being always
manifest and operating along the lines ofits masculine and feminine aspects. As above,
so below, as below so above. This centuries old hermetic axiom embodies

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one of the great principles of universalphenomena. As we proceed with our consideration
of the remaining principles, we willsee even more clearly the truth of the
universal nature of this great principle ofcorrespondence. End of Chapter eight