Hermeticism

Hermeticism is a stream of Western esoteric thought associated with the writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus.
It combines philosophical reflection, cosmology, and practical spiritual work.

Core ideas

• Correspondence: reality is patterned across levels ("as above, so below").
• Living cosmos: nature is meaningful and symbolically intelligible.
• Transformation: knowledge is not only informational; it is initiatory.

Practice orientation

Hermetic practice usually combines study, contemplation, and disciplined self-reflection.
In modern contexts, it often intersects with ritual, alchemy, meditative prayer, and symbolic interpretation.

Reading pathway

1. Start with the Corpus Hermeticum and the Emerald Tablet.
2. Compare late-antique Hermetic ideas with Neoplatonism and Gnosticism.
3. Trace Renaissance revival through Ficino and later esoteric movements.