Few phrases can claim to be as influential in human thinking than “As above, so below.”
This idea is central to many cultures, religions and belief systems – though many people do not fully understand the reasons why.
The meaning of “as above, so below” is often lost on people, which is a shame.
It’s a shame because this one phrase can encompass the most authentic nature of almost everything in the universe.
History Of “As Above, So Below”
We can trace this idea back to the Hermetic Texts, specifically the Emerald Tablet.
The oldest surviving copy is in Arabic, though that copy is, in turn, a translation from Greek.
The phrase is less snappy in other translations:
“That which is below is as that which is above, and that which is above is as that which is below.”
We prefer the snappier translation, and so did Renaissance Europe – which is how this idea has endured so long.
To see why it has endured so long, we should dig into what it means.
Spiritual & Physical Duality
The first meaning is a simple one. “As above”, referring to the spiritual realm, “So below”, referring to the physical realm.
The idea is that these two realms are linked, but not adjacently.
They are not two things connected by another thing, not when it comes down to it. Instead, they are one thing – but separated.
Kind of like Twin Flames, split from the same soul energy and forever intertwined because of it.
The consequences are clear: the actions you take on the physical plane have a real effect on your spiritual self – and vice versa, of course.
There is no way to separate the two planes, as they are intricately and inextricably linked.
It shall be below as it is above. Your physical self depends on your spiritual self.
Microcosm & Macrocosm
Another meaning is a little more involved but is central to modern thought surrounding spirituality and metaphysics.
It has become just as important in the social sciences as we try to tackle more massive societal problems.
It involves the idea that the constituent parts reflect the larger whole.
By dealing with the small-scale problems of any system, we discover how to solve the same issues in the more extensive network.
One way of applying this idea will be of great use to healers and Lightworkers:
By living your own life, having your own experiences and making your own mistakes.
By doing this yourself you learn how to heal yourself and bring yourself closer to ascension and enlightenment.
But you want to help humanity ascend, not just yourself!
As above, so below. You are the microcosm, the smaller part of humanity, and by learning to heal yourself, you have also learned how to heal humanity.
There are many, many more applications of the ideas of “As above, so below”.
These include palm reading, chakra healing, and burning incense to cleanse energies – but they also include things like sociological studies, market research and criminal profiling.
Perhaps no other phrase has had as much of an effect on the world than this one.
We suspect it has had quite an effect up there, too.