Overview

The word “Hermetic” is often used loosely to describe anything secret or sealed, but in the context of Western esotericism and the tarot, it refers to a highly specific, ancient philosophical tradition. Rooted in the mythical teachings of Hermes Trismegistus—a syncretic figure combining the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth—Hermeticism posits that the universe is governed by a set of immutable, universal laws. When the tarot was reimagined during the Occult Revival, it was fundamentally restructured to reflect these Hermetic principles. This article explores the deep philosophical mechanics underlying the cards, using the seven Hermetic principles outlined in the influential 1908 text, The Kybalion, as a lens. By understanding these laws—Mentalism, Correspondence, Vibration, Polarity, Rhythm, Cause and Effect, and Gender—we unlock the dynamic, energetic architecture that governs the entire tarot system.

The Philosophy of Hermes Trismegistus

Hermeticism emerged in Greco-Roman Egypt (roughly the 1st to 3rd centuries CE) as a spiritual philosophy emphasizing the direct, personal realization of the universal mind. Its core texts, the Corpus Hermeticum, heavily influenced the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the founders of modern science and psychology.

When 19th-century occultists like Eliphas Lévi and the founders of the Golden Dawn looked at the tarot, they did not just see fortune-telling cards; they saw the “Book of Thoth” (Hermes). They believed the 78 cards were a visual codex of Hermetic philosophy.

While the historical accuracy of the tarot-as-Egyptian-book theory is debunked, the philosophical marriage between the two systems is incredibly robust. The tarot perfectly illustrates the Hermetic worldview: that the universe is a living, interconnected mind, and that by understanding the laws governing this mind, a practitioner (the “Magician”) can consciously participate in their own spiritual evolution.

To understand this mechanics, we turn to The Kybalion, a text that synthesized these ancient concepts into seven accessible principles.

1. The Principle of Mentalism

“The All is Mind; The Universe is Mental.”

This is the foundational principle of Hermeticism. It posits that the underlying reality of the universe is not physical matter, but a living, infinite Mind. Everything we experience—matter, energy, and spirit—is a manifestation of this universal consciousness.

Tarot Expression: This principle is perfectly embodied by The Magician (I). He stands with one arm raised to the heavens (the realm of pure Mind) and one pointing to the earth (manifest reality). He recognizes that his thoughts, intentions, and focused will are the primary tools of creation. The entire suit of Swords also reflects this principle, demonstrating how our thoughts and mental constructs literally shape our experience of reality, for better (Ace of Swords) or worse (Nine of Swords).

2. The Principle of Correspondence

“As above, so below; as below, so above.”

This is perhaps the most famous Hermetic axiom. It states that there is always a correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of being and life (the physical, mental, and spiritual). The microcosm reflects the macrocosm.

Tarot Expression: The entire practice of reading tarot relies on this principle. The cards on the table (the “below”) are a direct, synchronized reflection of the querent’s internal psychological state and the broader archetypal forces at play (the “above”).

Visually, this is represented in The High Priestess (II), who sits between the pillars of light and dark, mediating the flow of knowledge between the hidden, spiritual realms and the manifest world. It is also seen in The Wheel of Fortune (X), where the turning of the physical wheel on earth corresponds to the turning of the celestial zodiac in the heavens.

3. The Principle of Vibration

“Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates.”

This principle dictates that differences between manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind, and Spirit are largely due to varying rates of vibration. The higher the vibration, the higher the position on the scale.

Tarot Expression: The sequence of the Minor Arcana (from Ace to Ten) illustrates the densification of vibration. The Aces represent pure, high-vibrational spiritual potential. As the numbers progress, the energy slows down, becoming more complex and dense, until it reaches the heavy, materialized vibration of the Tens.

In the Major Arcana, The Tower (XVI) represents a sudden, massive shift in frequency. The old, rigid structure is shattered by a high-vibrational influx of truth (the lightning), forcing the querent to rapidly adjust their own frequency.

4. The Principle of Polarity

“Everything is Dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of opposites.”

This principle states that all manifested things have two sides, two aspects, or two poles (hot and cold, light and dark, active and receptive). Crucially, Hermeticism teaches that these opposites are identical in nature, differing only in degree, and that extremes meet.

Tarot Expression: The tarot is built on polarity. The Empress (III) and The Emperor (IV) represent the poles of nurturing nature and structuring law. The Two of Swords and the Two of Pentacles literally depict the balancing act between opposing forces. The Lovers (VI) is perhaps the most meditation on this principle. While often read simply as romance, in a Hermetic context, it represents the dynamic tension and ultimate synthesis of opposites—the conscious and the unconscious, the masculine and the feminine, the human and the transcendent. The card teaches that true creation only occurs when these two seemingly opposed poles are brought into conscious, harmonious relationship.

The ultimate goal of the Hermetic practitioner is not to choose one pole over the other, but to master the art of polarization. This is depicted in Temperance (XIV), where the angel stands with one foot on land and one in water, perfectly balancing and blending the polarities of the conscious and unconscious mind.

5. The Principle of Rhythm

“Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall.”

This principle observes that the universe operates in cycles, rhythms, and pendular swings. What goes up must come down; every action has a reaction.

Tarot Expression: The Wheel of Fortune (X) is the literal embodiment of rhythm. The figures rise to the top of the wheel only to fall back down again. In Hermetic terms, this is the inescapable pendulum swing of the material universe. When you are at the apex of success (the rising figure), the Principle of Rhythm indicates that a descent will eventually follow; when you are at the nadir of despair (the falling figure), rhythm affirms that the energy will eventually swing back upward. Recognizing this rhythm frees the practitioner from the illusion that any state—joy or sorrow—is permanent.

The Hermetic practitioner seeks to understand this rhythm so they are not destroyed by the downward swing. This mastery is shown in The Hanged Man (XII). By voluntarily suspending his ego and entering a state of non-action, he effectively neutralizes the negative effects of the pendulum’s swing, finding peace within the ceaseless turning of the cosmic tides. He does not fight the rhythm; he aligns with it.

6. The Principle of Cause and Effect

“Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect has its Cause; everything happens according to Law.”

Hermeticism rejects the concept of blind “chance.” Every event is the result of a preceding cause, whether recognized or not.

Tarot Expression: Justice (XI) is the primary archetype of Cause and Effect. She holds the scales, representing the objective, inescapable balancing of consequence. She reminds us that our current reality (the effect) is the direct result of our past choices and actions (the cause).

When reading a spread, the relationship between the cards (e.g., a “Past” position leading to a “Present” position) is a study in Cause and Effect. The tarot helps us trace the invisible lines connecting our past psychological states to our current physical circumstances.

7. The Principle of Gender

“Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles; Gender manifests on all planes.”

In Hermetic philosophy, “Gender” does not refer to biological sex. It refers to the universal principles of generation, creation, and regeneration. The “Masculine” principle is active, projective, and structuring (Force). The “Feminine” principle is receptive, nurturing, and form-building (Form). Both are required for creation to occur.

Tarot Expression: The four suits of the tarot are divided by gender: Wands (Fire) and Swords (Air) are active/masculine; Cups (Water) and Pentacles (Earth) are receptive/feminine.

The Major Arcana pairs these principles constantly: The Magician (active focus) and The High Priestess (receptive intuition). True spiritual mastery, as depicted in The World (XXI), requires the perfect, conscious integration of both the active and receptive principles within the individual psyche.

Working with Hermetic Tarot

Applying Hermetic philosophy to a tarot reading shifts the focus from passive prediction to active spiritual engineering.

• Identify the Governing Principle: If a querent is experiencing wild emotional highs and devastating lows (frequent appearance of Cups and The Moon), they are caught in the Principle of Rhythm. The reading can guide them to find the neutral center point (Temperance).
• Utilize Polarity: If a querent is stuck in a negative state (e.g., the poverty mindset of the Five of Pentacles), Hermeticism teaches that the solution is not to fight the negativity, but to consciously shift focus to the opposite pole (abundance, gratitude, the Six of Pentacles).
• Recognize Mentalism: If the suit of Swords dominates a spread regarding a practical issue, it indicates that the primary obstacle is not physical, but mental. The querent’s thoughts (the Cause) are creating the difficult reality (the Effect). The solution requires a shift in consciousness before any physical action is taken.

Reflection

The Hermetic principles remind us that the tarot is not a random collection of evocative images; it is a highly engineered system reflecting the fundamental laws of physics and consciousness. By studying Mentalism, Polarity, and Rhythm, we elevate our tarot practice from mere intuition to a philosophical discipline. The cards teach us that we are not helpless observers, adrift in a chaotic universe. We are active participants in a living, mental cosmos. When we understand the laws that govern the archetypes, we gain the capacity to consciously navigate the tides of our own lives, embodying the true power of the Magician to shape our experience.