the Principle of Correspondence

“That which is below is like that which is above,

and that which is above is like that which is below.”

Sir Isaac Newton

Essentially, this maxim means that everything, all planes of existence, are connected and in correspondence. The macrocosm is in the microcosm and vice versa. In other words, solar systems, societies, and life on Earth are all the same. This second hermetic principle establishes that there is harmony between the physical plane, the mental plane, and the spiritual plane, in every creative aspect of the universe.

Whatever we do at the micro level, we also do at the macro level. Even the smallest of acts influences the grand scheme of our behavior. By doing anything, we also do everything. By neglecting one area of our life, we affect everything else. So, it has somewhat of a wave or butterfly effect.

Taking it one step further, we can affirm that the outer world is an accurate reflection of our inner world. Thus, the thoughts and images that we have in our consciousness, and in many cases subconsciously, ultimately appear in our external world. The mind takes everything as it is. It’s difficult for the mind to distinguish between illusion, faith, and reality, so it confuses interpretations with facts and begins to recreate exactly what we are focusing on the most.

The outer world reflects our inner scenery. Consider everything that’s going on and that’s good in your life. Take a look at the beauty around you. Consider the joy, the love, the light, and the life that surrounds you. All this is precisely a reflection of what’s inside you. Likewise, we can say the same for whatever you consider bad in your life. Therefore, unless we learn to face our own shadows, we’ll continue to see the very same shortcomings in others because the outside world is only a reflection of the world within.

The inner world is the cause, the outer world is the effect. So, in order to change the effect, you must change the cause. It's just how the universe works. Therefore, if there’s chaos in your outer world, that means there’s chaos in your inner world. Likewise, if there is very little love in your outer world, you probably don’t have too much in your inner world either.

Forget about changing the outside world until you have done the inner work. Begin controlling your inner world if you want to control your outer world. Think about your inner world as the place where you have absolute power. The principle of correspondence allows us to stop looking for outside reasons to explain what happens to us in the world. Instead, it helps us realize that we can find the real answers only by looking within.