What Is Hermeticism?

[link to en.wikipedia.org]

I'm aware of the Wikipedia article and of the dictionary definition of Hermeticism. Thank you.

I'm looking for answers beyond those sources., or perhaps, in an individual's own words.

Nothing you should concern yourself with.

Turn on the TV and watch some Fox News instead.

Okay.

How about this...

Challenge God/The Universe to communicate with you in a way which you can perceive and understand... and preferably in a form of incoming sense datum. For example, choose ten books at random and one common word (at, the, that, no, yes).

Then, ask/demand that the power you're looking to contact show you those words ten times in a row... once from each book... by flipping through each book with your eyes closed and randomly pointing at the text of a page.

If you see the prescribed word ten times in a row across ten different books... welcome to being in touch with a higher power. If not... go back to sleep... because said higher power has no use for you and all your Hermetic research will be in vain!

OK. Let me ask a different question for clarification.

What are the beliefs of Hermeticism? Are there any set of beliefs that are considered essential to Hermeticism?

On a side note, I am aware of The Kybalion and its claim that its 7 Laws are the essence of Hermeticism. To the best of my knowledge, Hermeticists before The Kybalion never believed in a corpus of 7 Laws, or at least they never made that belief clear.

Thank you!

I'm lost though. I'm not sure how to interpret this. Are you saying that Heremticism is Bibliomancy, practice of divination, a term for attempting to contact a higher power, or something else?

There are no strict beliefs... Hermetic "beliefs" are "truths" disclosed to you the individual and are open for you to interpret as you deem fit. Hermetic truth... like all truths... lies in agreement. Only now, instead of interpersonal agreements (you and your friend agreeing that a movie was good), you must take into account "extra-personal truths"... that is to say truth disclosed to you in the process of seeking your hermetic path of enlightenment.

There is no doctrine other than the one you initiate/create and then follow as it is disclosed to you as an individuated soul. How you choose to explore Hermetic truth is up to you to determine. Whatever may come next is highly individuated as it comes from "within" via an/a "extra-personal" source/sources.

No one can explain to you what might come of your individuated path of research/enlightenment.

Stated very clearly. Thank you.

Would you say then that the Hermeticist defines Hermeticism, and not the other way around?

I am saying that Hermeticism is a system which allows for IT (God/The Universe) to show ITSELF as IT IS what IT REVEALS ITSELF to be to you the INDIVIDUAL... or cabal/cult thereof. And as such, it is best to try and have IT reveal ITSELF via ontic/concrete modes as opposed to signs and symbolic thinking. That part comes later as you have such things revealed by whatever IT is that you are in contact with.

No, I would say that which you seek... should you find it (which itself would be a revealing)... will help you/actually define for you what Hermeticism is - and will become - for you the individual who practices whatever "art" or "line of communication" you create/have revealed to you.

But is always the individual who must take the first step... seek and ye shall find (but don't be surprised if you find nothing, for again, if God/The Universe has no need/desire to communicate with you, then such Powers would no more reveal themselves to you anymore than you might acknowledge a random stranger whom you do not wish to speak with... that is what makes it "mystical").

[link to www.kybalion.org]

Everything you need.

I can say for myself, that living alone and distancing myself from others, I am being bombarded with more than one source of influence. Some through numbers on clocks and things, some through manmade media, and others through synchronicity of the combination. Even my dogs are living it. Dreams too are more like controlled by something.

And I would say you are on a path which you might want to consider further exploring (though how you might do so is beyond my ability to speak intelligently on).

Hermeticism and Hermitry (being a hermit, if there is such a word) go hand and hand.

Thank you.

I am still lost though. Please continue to give me insight.

A dictionary definition of "Hermeticism" is "adherence to the ideas expressed in Hermetic writings." ( [link to dictionary.reference.com]

Did you get your idea of Hermeticism from the Hermetic writings? If not, from where did you get your idea?

what's wrong with the etymology of the word hermeticism? it's just a word. you can't pinpoint a single whole definition of hermeticism. it's a broad subject to explore, but the etymology should clear it up, no?

The power is within you OP.

To use for good or evil as you wish. And the consequences thereof.

There.

Hmmm...

Go and read the entirety of the opening paragraph from the wikipedia entry. I know, I know... but just do it and tell me/copy and paste in some of the key words and phrases which stand out to YOU.

I am asking the poster where he gets his idea of what Hermeticism is in essence. If he doesn't get his idea of what Hermeticism is from Hermetic writings, then I would like to know from where.

you're stuck labelling things and putting them in boxes.

"Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus."

Done.

so you need to define 'hermetic writings' first, in order to get a grip on the term hermeticism. how's that working out for you?

From where?

From reading and coming to my own conclusions... conclusions which parallel those of others whilst sill being wholly mine as they were conclusions reached through highly individuated experimentation.

From experimenting (phenomenologicaly based, don't ask) with the hope something might be revealed to me in a way which I can not only understand, but actually partook in the creation of or had a hand in making manifest (go back to my story of the "book pointing", itself a Sufi/Gnostic practice).

It's all very mystical, OP. No one can can you answers which were given unto them for "them" (a person or group) alone under highly specific conditions.

Someone, or a group, asks a question or demands a result and receives an answer or said result... if you have no common frame of reference regarding what occurred to even allow for the framing of the question/demand, how can you expect to understand the answer/result?

Hermeticism is better looked at as a way of life. Adhering to certain principles whereby your entire life focus is spent on endeavors that serve naught but good for others with no concern for self (breaking free of the box of self, so to say) but to sustain the ability necessary to do one's work for the benefit of others.

What the AC is trying to explain is that it won't make sense to you unless you're already near that point in your life. It will read like what you've been told to be a belief system that doesn't draw any clear cut beliefs that can cut through all of the darkness.

It's connecting to that which shows one what is to be believed.

In this cat's opinion... Truth be told I read little of the books compared to many around here.

It's what I've learned from plants that I've applied to the synopsized versions of your topic. Notably several Rosicrucian texts.

What I want to know is what Hermeticism is. There must be a reason that people call certain things Hermetic. If you can give me insight, it would be much appreciated.

your question is flawed. mankind's quest for knowledge, absolute and relative truths, personal and global development, et cetera, isn't limited to some terminology.

OP, why are you obsessed with Hermeticism?

A very very heinously unwise thing to write.

Secondly, nobody could EVER do that.

Watch what you write, AC. Don't blaspheme.


You NEVER 'challenge' God.

Okay, now the paragraph as opposed to the caveat, and please note the bolded portions"

Hermeticism is a set of beliefs and practices whose aim is the influencing of the world through contact with the heavenly forces. It claims descent from a prisca theologica, an original untainted, pure set of doctrines, secretive, which were allegedly compiled in ancient times, in Egypt, and whose undiluted purity guarantees their veracity and efficacy. Much of the importance of Hermeticism is due to its connection with the development of science in the Renaissance and 17th century, because the prominence given to the idea of influencing or controlling nature led many scientists to look to magic and its allied arts (astrology, etc.) in celebrating the idea of experiment--of putting Nature "to the test." Consequently, it is the practical aspect of the Hermetic writings that attracted attention after the Renaissance. Isaac Newton placed great faith in this idea of a "pure tradition," an unadulterated pure ancient doctrine which he studied vigorously, attempting to aid in his understanding of the physical world. Many of Newton's manuscripts--most still unpublished--detail his thorough study of the Corpus Hermeticum, the set of writings allegedly transmitted from ancient times, in which the secrets and techniques of influencing the stars and forces of nature were revealed, he believed. Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs[1] based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. These beliefs have heavily influenced the Western esoteric tradition and were considered greatly important during both the Renaissance[2] and the Reformation.[3] Hermetic beliefs include the division of the universe into four classical elements, and that God created seven intermediary planetary spirits to govern destiny.

Influencing the stars and heavens? Making contact with things which influence destiny? And you want simple answers you can discover from ppl on the net or quasi factual writings (quasi factual due to the fact that "the facts" might not be "your facts" as they do not apply to you)?

And my "god" is not your God... sorry, but modern interpretations of monotheism aren't for me.

You can challenge gods... it's called hubris. And when they challenged back, it isn't always baneful to the individual.

i was gonna respond, but your words are not only sufficient, but superb.

*thumbs up to your brain