“Quod est superius est sicut quod inferius, et quod inferius est sicut quod est superius.”

“That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above.” The second verse from the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus

This phrase has been used or paraphrased or added too for 3000 years and used in ritual too. It is not limited to esoteric and occult practices though because Jesus in Matthew 18:18 (ESV) says “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” The principle is also found in the Qabalah and other ancient religious writings.

So what does it mean? The Principle embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life. We achieve our greatest success when we recognise the connection and work in harmony and connect with the higher planes of Manifestation, Life and Being. All that is included in the Universe emanates from the same source, and the same laws, principles, and characteristics apply to each plane.

In my own personal practice I include the extended paraphrase to focus my mind, body and spirit on the higher planes as follows: –

“As above, so below. As within, so without.”

This recognises not only the connection between ourselves and the higher planes but also the connection between the body and inner soul.