Gleanings from The Kybalion

A couple of years ago I came across this text called The Kybalion while looking up info on Summum which some refer to as a Sex Cult. A writer friend of mine mentioned them and it sounded too interesting to not look into further. They are based out of Salt Lake City, Utah and have built a full scale pyramid which apparently all are welcome to visit. They are also very big into mummification.

Anyway, the Kybalion is an important book to Summum and is available in full in the public domain (I am a huge fan of all books about spirituality in the public domain). The book is traced back to William Walker Atkinson who also wrote under the psuedonym Yogi Ramacharaka among many other aliases, and is widely known for his law of attraction book Thought Vibration. The Kybalion is said to be very similar to another book which he wrote called The Arcane Teachings.

Regardless of its origins I found the laws stated in the Kybalion to be easy to understand and instantly applicable even if they all really just appeared to be reworked concepts around the age old Law of Attraction teachings. At that time I set to writing some of my own thoughts on the book and today came across them as I continue to organize and develop a system to house all of my computer files. In the interest of not holding back and in openly sharing the wisdom sitting in my hard drive I decided to post some of them here. With that being said what follows is a  a short rundown on 2 of the laws: Vibration and Polarity.

The 3rd Hermetic Law of Vibration tells us that everything is perpetually in motion. Presuming you buy into this fact (which I certainly do and thus feel no need to convince anyone or harp on any detailed explanation of proofs of this truth) then the dual question becomes:

• How do we choose to Vibrate?
• How do we align ourselves to pick up beneficial Vibrations from the world?

I feel that we are on an ever expansive journey with many things to be revealed along the way. A teacher once advised us to treat the teachings as an "open filing cabinet." Our present understanding will evolve and deepen as we continue to apply ourselves toward learning life's truths. As practitioners we must remain skillful and approach life with a sense of service. There is great danger in falling into the trap of puffed up ego and thinking we are the end-all of the universe.

The 4^th Hermetic Law of Polarity talks about how all things contain their opposites. By use of this law when you find yourself caught in an unwelcome situation you can flip the circumstance to its opposite on a dime. This is because they are of the same class, and only differ by their degrees. Once we begin to realize how these poles relate to each other we can transmute them in a way that we are no longer bound to seeing ourselves trapped in one extreme or the other.

The true test comes from trying these things out in daily lives. If we don't take this leap then all we have is a pile of words, and ideas with no bite to them. If you want to be in the vibration of life then you must actively engage in the ideas set forth in the teachings that you encounter. This will enable you to determine which ones work for you, what makes sense, and what doesn't need to be adopted into your personal belief system. Action always trumps belief. Belief can put you on the road, but it is the act of doing that will move your cart along life's highway.

By applying the antidote and moving into an embodied or felt sense we can radically shift the experiences of our daily life. We could practice this both in the fire of the everyday as well as back at the lab with our minds and body through meditative repetition.

Non-Theistic Affirmations

I really enjoy the writings of Ernest Holmes known primarily for his Science of Mind book. I do struggle with the belief in God as taught by most religions and common interpretations. This caused me to slightly modify some of the affirmations he suggests in his book How To Change Your Life so that I could be feel more in tune with their message.

This brings to mind a discussion I once had with the deacon at the St. Marks Church where he advised that if you have trouble with the word God then find a word that works for you. He suggested love. You can find that conversation embedded in Episode 5 of Norm Scott's Audio Zine Lo-fi Confessional. All you have to do is scroll down and click the bar to listen. One thing you are guaranteed to find out is that I laugh a lot. There are plenty instances on there of me cackling away. That tape is one of my favorites of his very impressive body of archival works. It captures an important moment in time, the protests surrounding the 2004 NYC Republican National Convention, but I digress.

Another important teacher that brought home the power of a minor semantics makeover is Emma Curtis Hopkins. She is commonly referred to as the teacher of teachers for the string of students that went on to become household names within the new thought movement. In her later years she even taught Mr. Holmes himself. As a matter of fact she forced him to recognize something he had been hesitant to embrace his whole life - that he was a mystic. Although she heavily used the word God in her own work, she also likens it to "good" stating that "God is Love" and also "My Good is my God." It is in the service of these concepts that I began to work with the appearance of the word God I keep coming across in New Thought literature as "My Good" and "Love." Perhaps blasphemy to some but a lifeboat to others. There is no reason why we can't work with the power of spirit even if we have a lot of questions. I now present to you the aforementioned affirmations:

Abundance
I identify myself with abundance; I surrender all fear and doubt. I let go of all uncertainty. I know there is no confusion, no lack of confidence. The Presence of All Good is with me. The Mind of All Good is my mind. The Freedom of All Good is my freedom. The power of All Good is my power. The abundance of All Good fills my every good desire right now.

Success
I know exactly what to do in every situation. Every idea necessary to successful living is brought to my attention. The doorway to ever-increasing opportunities for self-expression is open before me. I am continually meeting new and larger experiences. Every day brings some greater good. Every day brings more blessings and greater self-expression. I am prospered in everything I do. There is no deferment, no delay, no obstruction or obstacle to impede the progress of right action.

How to Attract Good Things
I know accepting only good in my life penetrates any unbelief in my mind, casts out fear, removes doubt and clears away obstacles, permitting that which is enduring perfect and true to be realized. I have complete faith and acceptance that all the worthwhile ideas I now affirm will be fulfilled as I have believed. I do everything with a sense of reliance upon the Law of Mind, therefore I know that my word shall not return unto me void. I accept this word and rejoice in it. I expect complete and success fulfillment of the thoughts of increased good which I now establish.

Creative Mind Success

The following is a summary of the Ernest Holmes book, Creative Mind and Success. It is a combination of my own words and his. I originally took notes on this book which is in the public domain in August and today felt compelled to craft them into the summary you see here. I know that with the proper application of your thought process you will find this summary of value.

We are all surrounded by an atmosphere of thought. As we conform our lives to a greater understanding of this basic principle we will bring into our experience what we wish, let go of what we don't want to experience, and take in the things we desire. In order to do this we must only speak and think words that we wish to create. We must not think, speak, read, or listen to limitation of any kind. It is also important not to dwell on past mistakes. We are better served learning forgiveness of ourselves and others.

Know that you are a success now and that nothing can hinder you from accomplishing your good. Like weeding a garden it is your charge to eliminate all negative thoughts, false beliefs, and any ideas of limitation. See only what you wish to experience and declare that you are in union with Infinite Mind. You attract what you first become in your mind, and feel to be reality. It is imperative that you hold this one pointedly, and with ease.

Learn to love everyone, and send this thought out to the entire world. Refuse to see the negative side of anyone. Know that everyone wants you to have the best. Continue to affirm this everywhere you go and you will find things just as you wish them. By controlling your thoughts you can have and do what you wish to have and do. The creative flow is for you to use but not to possess.

Thinking sets into motion creative power which from an idea sets the path in motion. Learn to use this for a definite purpose, and speak it forth. Don't just see what you desire, know you "are" what you think. When looking for next steps wait in silence expectantly as the inner power supplies you with good. Know the power of words, they are sacred.

Pray with conviction as if you already possess what you need. Have a received attitude, and once again do this single pointedly clearing your mind of any separation from the Divine Mind. We all are better served applying more backbone and less wishbone to our daily lives.

Imagine yourself surrounded by a mind so receptive that it receives the slightest impression of your thoughts. Feel that every thought is received and acted upon. Center on what you want to become, what you want to accomplish, and then keep it to yourself. Say, "I am that thing" many time a day, and develop a perfect mental picture of it. Do not feel it is ever too late to start. Know that life is consciousness and is not contingent on years.

Every day give to the great Creative Mind exactly what you want to happen by seeing only what you desire, while in the silence of your soul speaking it and then it will be done unto you. Money is an effect so in order to acquire it we must find its cause which is consciousness, thus we must acquire a money consciousness. Do not be fooled into thinking of money as material, it is spiritual. Make our unity with supply by daily that all the power in the universe is bringing to us all we can use. Feel this presence of supply, and know that it is yours now. Realize your omnipotent power, speak it forth, and feel that it responds to you. Whenever you see that someone has more than you, at once affirm that you have as much as them. Whenever you see anything big say, "That means me." In this way you learn to unify with the law.

All activity comes from the mind, and doesn't mean that it comes with struggle. We must learn to comply with the Law of Activity. Use this law in our business by constantly remaining in motion. Action is life so stay alert and apply mental awareness which precedes physical activity. Think while you work, move with confidence, and a sense of Supreme Guidance to make you work more intelligently. Stay out of ruts, remain fresh. Be interested in life if you want life to be interested in you. Act in life and life will act through you.

In order to receive from the infinite, first quiet your mind within yourself and without any confusion from outward appearance. Do not be disturbed by effects. Realize the presence of Absolute Intelligence surrounding you as a mind that knows. Second get a clear picture of what you desire, and put your mind in touch with the Universal Mind saying precisely what you are waiting for. Ask for it, believe you are receiving it, and wait for it to arrive. After a few minutes declare that you now know even if it may seem that you don't. Give thanks for receiving this knowing. Do this every day until you find the direction you are seeking. A good time to do this practice is right before you go to sleep so that your subconscious has an opportunity to work on your declaration. When the direction arrives act on it with conviction, and prefect assurance.

Proceed with self-reliance by listening to your own voice and holding to your principal witness. We can't demonstrate life beyond our mental ability to embody our thoughts. We must create the mental equivalent inside us before we can hope to create it in the outside world. Destroy old thoughts with new thoughts. Know that limited thinking has no place in your mind. Sit and realize you are the center of Divine Attraction, and that all good things are coming to you. Feel your power within going out as you draw back in all that you need. Stick with this process even if you don't see immediate results.

Ask yourself, "Do I really want this thing I ask for?", "Am I willing to take for myself what I ask of other people?" When an undesired thing happens drop it, forgive ourselves, and start fresh, never to think about it again. Realize everyone is your friend by exercising absolute forgiveness and eliminating any sense of limitation. See only good never evil.

Every victory strengthens you. You will no longer have to say, "I hope" or "I believe" but will utter, "I know." Follow these instructions with absolute belief. Work on these things alone unless you are completely certain that those you are working with are in harmony with us. In order to attract larger things we must think larger thoughts. This is why we must work every day to expand our thoughts. Get a hold of the biggest thing and claim it as your own.

Always be gathering more, expecting more, and never allowing for small thoughts. Keep the main thing in your mind, and destroy all thoughts you don't wish to experience. Know "I AM," and that "All is Well." Never again say, "I fear" but instead say, "I trust"

In order to achieve prosperity hold or think of your product or service and declare into the only mind that they will accomplish that for which they are sent out. Know that every word written on them is truth, and that they carry their own conviction. See your products reaching their location with gladness, and interest. Declare this as NOW, and feel it to be true. Mentally assert that they will reach their destination safely and benefit the receiver. When the word is spoken always feel that the mind at once takes it up and never fails to act upon it.

Guard you mind by knowing that no negativity or thoughts of limitation can enter. Clothe yourself in the great realization that all power is yours. Fill the atmosphere of your homes and businesses with streams of positive thought. As you do this you will invite others in and continually draw in only the best.

When surrounded by inactivity, mentally see and declare that you are in the midst of activity. Feel this to be true, and mentally see the pace as being busy. Declare and see that your word perpetually draws in fullness. Stop all striving and struggle within your soul by knowing the truth and absolutely trusting.

To bring people into your life unite with the principle of life, not people. This is called working from the center. Realize life is your friend, and feel the Divine Companionship. Always be cheerful and do not allow your feelings to be hurt. Humanity is what they think they are. Big thoughts yield big things. Through thinking believe in truth, and what you wish to have returned to you. Eliminate negative thoughts and hold only to positive thoughts. Give thanks to the spirit of life, never argue with yourself or others, and through demonstration you shall know.