The Emerald Tablet: As Above, So Below Explained

BY NICOLE LAU

The Emerald Tablet: As Above, So Below Explained

You've heard "As Above, So Below." You've seen it quoted everywhere. But do you actually know what it means?

The Emerald Tablet is the foundational text of Hermetic philosophy - a cryptic, powerful document that contains the secrets of alchemy, manifestation, and universal truth. And "As Above, So Below" is its most famous principle.

This is your complete guide to the Emerald Tablet and the principle that changed mysticism forever.

What is the Emerald Tablet?

The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina) is an ancient Hermetic text attributed to Hermes Trismegistus - the legendary "Thrice-Great Hermes," a fusion of the Greek god Hermes and Egyptian god Thoth.

Legend says it was discovered in a cave, clutched in the hands of Hermes' corpse, inscribed on a tablet of emerald in Phoenician characters.

Historical reality? The text first appeared in Arabic sources around 6th-8th century CE, then translated into Latin in the 12th century, becoming the cornerstone of Western alchemy and Hermetic philosophy.

The Full Text of the Emerald Tablet

Here is the complete Emerald Tablet (Isaac Newton's translation):

"Tis true without lying, certain and most true.

That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, to do the miracles of one only thing.

And as all things have been and arose from one by the mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

The Sun is its father, the moon its mother, the wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth is its nurse.

The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.

It ascends from the earth to the heaven and again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world and thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

Its force is above all force, for it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.

So was the world created.

From this are and do come admirable adaptations whereof the means is here in this.

Hence I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.

That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended."

"As Above, So Below" - What It Really Means

This is the most quoted line from the Emerald Tablet, but it's often misunderstood.

The Literal Meaning:

"That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below."

Translation: The macrocosm (universe) mirrors the microcosm (individual). The patterns of the cosmos are reflected in the patterns of your life, your body, your mind.

The Deeper Layers:

• Cosmic-Personal Mirror: What happens in the universe happens in you. The laws governing stars govern cells.
• Spiritual-Material Unity: The spiritual realm and material realm are reflections of each other, not separate.
• Inner-Outer Correspondence: Your inner world creates your outer reality. Change within, change without.
• Universal Patterns: The same patterns repeat at every scale - fractals, spirals, cycles exist in galaxies and in DNA.

Practical Application:

If you want to understand the universe, study yourself. If you want to change your external reality, transform your internal state. The microcosm is the key to the macrocosm.

The Seven Hermetic Principles (From the Emerald Tablet)

The Emerald Tablet is the source text for the Seven Hermetic Principles, later codified in The Kybalion:

1. Mentalism: "All is Mind" - The universe is mental, consciousness is primary
2. Correspondence: "As Above, So Below" - Patterns repeat across all levels
3. Vibration: "Nothing rests, everything moves" - All is energy in motion
4. Polarity: "Everything is dual" - Opposites are identical in nature, different in degree
5. Rhythm: "Everything flows" - The pendulum swing, cycles, tides
6. Cause and Effect: "Every cause has its effect" - Nothing happens by chance
7. Gender: "Gender is in everything" - Masculine and feminine principles in all creation

Want to dive deeper into these principles? Explore our Seven Hermetic Principles Tapestry and Hermetic Principles Journal.

The Emerald Tablet in Alchemy

For alchemists, the Emerald Tablet was the master formula for the Great Work - the transformation of lead into gold, both literally and spiritually.

The Alchemical Reading:

• "The Sun is its father, the moon its mother" = Masculine and feminine principles (sulfur and mercury)
• "Separate the earth from fire, the subtle from the gross" = Purification process, distillation
• "It ascends from earth to heaven and descends again" = The alchemical circulation, solve et coagula (dissolve and coagulate)
• "Its force is above all force" = The Philosopher's Stone, the ultimate transformative power

The Emerald Tablet describes the creation of the Philosopher's Stone - the substance that transmutes base metals into gold and grants immortality.

But the real gold? Spiritual transformation. The real immortality? Awakening.

The Emerald Tablet in Modern Spirituality

Today, the Emerald Tablet is the foundation of:

• Law of Attraction: "As within, so without" - your inner state manifests externally
• Manifestation: Aligning microcosm (you) with macrocosm (universe) to create reality
• Energy Healing: Understanding that spiritual and physical are mirrors
• Sacred Geometry: Patterns that repeat "as above, so below"
• Astrology: "The stars above reflect the soul below"

How to Work with the Emerald Tablet

1. Meditate on the Text

Read the Emerald Tablet slowly. Let each line reveal its layers. This is not a text to understand intellectually - it's a text to absorb spiritually.

2. Apply "As Above, So Below"

• Study the cosmos to understand yourself
• Study yourself to understand the cosmos
• Recognize patterns repeating at every scale
• Align your inner world with universal laws

3. Practice Hermetic Manifestation

The Emerald Tablet teaches: to create in the outer world, you must first create in the inner world. Your thoughts, beliefs, and energy are the "above" that creates the "below" of your reality.

4. Create Sacred Space

Surround yourself with Hermetic symbols. Our Emerald Tablet Tapestry brings this ancient wisdom into your space as a daily reminder of universal truth.

The Emerald Tablet's Influence on Western Mysticism

This short text influenced:

• Alchemy - The master formula for transformation
• Rosicrucianism - Core Hermetic teachings
• Freemasonry - Hermetic symbolism and philosophy
• Theosophy - Universal correspondence principles
• New Thought - Mental creation and manifestation
• Modern Occultism - Foundation of Western esoteric tradition

Isaac Newton translated it. Carl Jung studied it. Countless mystics, scientists, and philosophers have been transformed by it.

The Mystery Remains

Despite centuries of study, the Emerald Tablet remains cryptic. Its brevity is intentional - it's not meant to be fully understood, but to be contemplated, meditated upon, lived.

Each generation discovers new layers. Each seeker finds their own truth within its lines.

The Tablet doesn't give answers. It gives a map. The journey is yours.

You Are the Emerald Tablet

"As Above, So Below" means you contain the universe. The cosmos is not separate from you - it's reflected in you, expressed through you, experienced as you.

The Emerald Tablet is not just an ancient text. It's a mirror. Look into it, and you see the truth:

You are the microcosm. You are the macrocosm. You are the mystery and the revelation.

As above, so below. As within, so without. As the universe, so the soul.

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Bring the wisdom of the Emerald Tablet into your sacred space with our Emerald Tablet Tapestry. Ancient truth, modern design, eternal wisdom.