As Above, So Below

"As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul." ~Hermes Trismegistus

This week’s quote is a reminder that the quest for harmony is an inside job. According to this philosophy, there is no difference between the infinite, eternal, divine world above and the earthly, finite, material world below- it’s all one and the same. The Earth is not merely a stepping stone on the way to Heaven, rather the Earth is Heaven itself. This seemingly ordinary world we all take for granted is actually the Divine in physical form.

This quote can also be interpreted on a more personal level, with “above” referring to the mind and thoughts, and “below” representing the body and its actions. Your thoughts (above) shape your reality (below). Your reality is a reflection of your inner state. That which resides "within" you- your thoughts, emotions, and intentions- inevitably manifests "without," shaping the reality you perceive and the life that you create. 

The final part of this quote touches on your relationship to the universe at large. It states that the microcosm and the macrocosm are intrinsically connected. That the invisible animating force within you is the same force that is found within all of life. That you are not separate from the whole, rather you are an expression of the same infinite energy and intelligence that is our universe.

Therefore, strive to bring your inner and outer worlds into alignment. How you feel on the inside is going to influence the world you experience on the outside and vice versa. Whether you experience the world as hostile or harmonious really depends on your ability to maintain your internal balance. As Ram Dass once said, “The real work you have to do is in the privacy of your own heart. All of the external forms are lovely, but the real work is your inner connection.”