Hermetic Problem-Solving Framework: Step-by-Step Guide

BY NICOLE LAU

Any problem can be solved systematically using the seven Hermetic Principles.

This is your step-by-step framework. Follow it for any challenge—business, personal, health, creative.

The 7-Step Framework

Step 1: Mentalism - Define Information Structure
Question: What information defines this problem?
• What are the key variables?
• What data do I have? What's missing?
• What beliefs or assumptions underlie this?

Step 2: Correspondence - Find Patterns
Question: Have I seen this before?
• Does this pattern appear elsewhere?
• What solutions worked in similar situations?
• Can I apply cross-domain insights?

Step 3: Vibration - Analyze Frequencies
Question: What's oscillating?
• What are the frequency components?
• Is there a resonance or dissonance?
• What needs to vibrate differently?

Step 4: Polarity - Identify Imbalances
Question: What's out of balance?
• Which pole is excessive? Which is deficient?
• What's the complementary opposite?
• How can I restore balance?

Step 5: Rhythm - Map Cycles
Question: Where are we in the cycle?
• What's the period?
• Is this a temporary phase or permanent state?
• When will the next phase begin?

Step 6: Causality - Trace Causes
Question: What causes what?
• What's the causal chain?
• What are root causes vs symptoms?
• What interventions will change outcomes?

Step 7: Gender - Identify Generators
Question: What generates this?
• What active and receptive forces are at play?
• What complementary actions are needed?
• How can I generate desired outcomes?

Synthesis: Create Comprehensive Solution

Combine insights from all seven steps into integrated action plan.

Example: Business Problem

Problem: Customer churn rate increasing

Step 1 - Mentalism:
• Key variables: Churn rate (15% → 22%), customer satisfaction (7/10 → 5/10)
• Missing data: Why are customers leaving?
• Assumption: Product quality is fine (needs validation)

Step 2 - Correspondence:
• Similar pattern: Competitor had same issue last year
• Their solution: Improved onboarding
• Cross-domain: Employee retention uses same principles

Step 3 - Vibration:
• Customer engagement frequency declining
• Used to interact weekly, now monthly
• Need to increase touchpoint frequency

Step 4 - Polarity:
• Imbalance: Too much acquisition focus, not enough retention
• Excessive: New customer marketing
• Deficient: Existing customer care

Step 5 - Rhythm:
• Churn spikes at 3-month mark (end of trial period)
• Currently in Q4 (historically high churn quarter)
• Natural recovery expected in Q1

Step 6 - Causality:
• Root cause: Poor onboarding → Low engagement → Churn
• Causal chain: Trial ends → No value perceived → Cancel
• Intervention point: Improve onboarding

Step 7 - Gender:
• Active: Proactive customer success outreach
• Receptive: Better listening to customer feedback
• Generate: Loyalty through both

Comprehensive Solution:
1. Improve onboarding (Causality, Correspondence)
2. Increase engagement frequency (Vibration)
3. Balance acquisition/retention spending (Polarity)
4. Implement 3-month check-in (Rhythm)
5. Launch customer success program (Gender)
6. Track satisfaction metrics (Mentalism)

Example: Personal Problem

Problem: Feeling burned out

Step 1 - Mentalism:
Belief: "I must work constantly to succeed"

Step 2 - Correspondence:
Same pattern in health (neglecting exercise), relationships (no time for friends)

Step 3 - Vibration:
Energy frequency too high, no downtime

Step 4 - Polarity:
Extreme work pole, zero rest pole. Severely imbalanced.

Step 5 - Rhythm:
No recovery cycles. Working 7 days/week for 3 months.

Step 6 - Causality:
Belief → Overwork → Burnout → Decreased productivity

Step 7 - Gender:
All active (doing), no receptive (being/recovering)

Solution:
1. Change belief (Mentalism)
2. Apply rest to all domains (Correspondence)
3. Schedule downtime (Vibration)
4. Work/rest balance (Polarity)
5. Weekly recovery day (Rhythm)
6. Break causal chain (Causality)
7. Practice receptivity (Gender)

Quick Reference Checklist

□ Mentalism: Information structure defined?
□ Correspondence: Patterns identified?
□ Vibration: Frequencies analyzed?
□ Polarity: Imbalances found?
□ Rhythm: Cycles mapped?
□ Causality: Causes traced?
□ Gender: Generators identified?
□ Synthesis: Comprehensive solution created?

Conclusion

Every problem can be solved using this framework. Seven steps. Seven principles. Comprehensive solution.

Don't skip steps. Each principle reveals different insights. Together, they give complete understanding.

Use this framework for every challenge. It works.