Hermetic texts include the principle "As above, so below" and related formulations that connect inner mental states with outer reality in a way that parallels Law of Attraction claims.

Verified by Lenz · Jul 10, 2026

The Short Version

The Hermetic phrase itself is genuine, but the Law of Attraction comparison rests mostly on later interpretation. Classical Hermetic sources support a correspondence between higher and lower realms, not a clear doctrine that thoughts manifest external reality. Later Hermeticist and occult texts do draw stronger inner-outer links, so the claim contains a real basis but overstates what the original Hermetic texts say.

Caveats

The Emerald Tablet supports macrocosm-microcosm correspondence, not an explicit mental-manifestation mechanism.
The stronger formula "as within, so without" is largely a later occult expansion, not a clear quotation from the core ancient Hermetic text.
Many online explanations rely on low-authority social media or self-help sources that blur historical Hermeticism with modern Law of Attraction ideas.

The Receipts

As above, so below
Wikipedia
As Above, So Below: Meaning & Usage
ProWritingAid
As Above So Below Meaning: Hermetic Principle Explained
Thalira
As above so below. As within so without.
The Winding Stairs
What does “As Above, So Below,” actually mean? : r/Hermeticism
Reddit
The 7 Hermetic Principles: The Ancient Law of "As Above, So Below"
YouTube
Hermes Trismegistus / . "As Above, So Below As Within, So Without ...
Facebook
As Above, So Below: Occult Phrase Meaning and Origin
Learn Religions
Where does the full quote of "As above, so below, As within ..."
Reddit
As Above So Below – Hermeticism, Ancestors & The World Tree
Emma Kathryn Wild Witchcraft

+ 8 more sources — see the full list on Lenz

Filed Under

As Above, So BelowHermeticism Law Of Attraction