The Emerald Tablet of Hermes was first translated into Latin in the twelfth century, but an earlier Arabic version dates to between the eighth and tenth centuries. One commonly cited Latin version reads: "That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above, to accomplish the miracles of one thing." This Hermetic-alchemical text presents a doctrine of correspondence between higher and lower levels of reality, the macrocosm and the microcosm.

The Emerald Tablet (Tabula Smaragdina) is a short Hermetic text that first appeared in an Arabic source from the late eighth or early ninth century. "As above, so below" is a popular modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Emerald Tablet. The paraphrase is based on one of several existing Latin translations, in which the second verse appears as: "That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above, to accomplish the miracles of the one thing." The occultists who were responsible for the popularization of the paraphrase generally understood it in the context of Swedenborg's doctrine of correspondence between different planes of existence, a strongly elaborated version of the classical macrocosm–microcosm analogy.

The phrase "as above, so below" is an ancient quote to describe the idea that what happens in a higher realm or plane of existence also happens in a lower realm. It comes from an ancient piece of writing called the Emerald Tablet. Here's the original English translation: "That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above." The phrase is a parallelism that shows that things in the celestial realm are the same in the earthly realm.

The full passage from the Emerald Tablet reads: "That which is above is like to that which is below, and that which is below is like to that which is above, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing." Some modern spiritual traditions expand it further: "As above, so below; as within, so without; as the universe, so the soul." The extended version, while widely quoted, is a later interpretive addition rather than part of the original Emerald Tablet text. The Kybalion states the principle this way: "As above, so below; as below, so above," and explains that this principle "embodies the truth that there is always a Correspondence between the laws and phenomena of the various planes of Being and Life."

The Hermetic principle of correspondence is a principle that states that there is a connection or correspondence between the microcosm and the macrocosm, or between the smaller and the larger scales of the universe. This principle is based on the idea that the universe is a single, interconnected whole, and that the same laws and principles that govern the larger universe also apply to the smaller parts of it. It is found in many ancient texts, including the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus, and is commonly phrased as "As above so below. As within so without."

The expression originates from the Emerald Tablet, often paraphrased as: "What is above corresponds to what is below, and what is below reflects what is above, to achieve the wonders of the One Thing." This encapsulates the principle of correspondence: the same laws and patterns that govern the universe apply at all levels, including within individuals. In essence, it suggests that the Macrocosm (representing the heavens, the spiritual realm, or the vast universe) reflects and impacts the microcosm (which pertains to human existence and the human body), and vice versa.

This video describes the Emerald Tablet as a cryptic Hermetic text containing the famous axiom "as above, so below" – presented as a distillation of the Principle of Correspondence. The Principle of Correspondence, encapsulated in the phrase "As above, so below; as below, so above," is said to illuminate the holographic nature of existence, revealing that patterns replicate across different scales and dimensions of reality, and establishing relationships between macrocosmic and microcosmic realms.

This quote is derived from the Emerald Tablet, a foundational text in Hermeticism. The specific phrase "As Above, So Below" is a popular modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Emerald Tablet, which emphasizes the correspondence between the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual). This principle suggests that the patterns and laws governing the cosmos are reflected in the human experience and vice versa, and that our internal reality mirrors our external circumstances.

The phrase comes from a Hermetic text known as the Emerald Tablet. The Hermetic texts are almost 2,000 years old and have been incredibly influential on Western esoteric traditions. The Emerald Tablet, attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, contains a line typically translated as: "That which is above is like to that which is below," which has been shortened in occult usage to "As above, so below" and taken to express the idea that the microcosm (human, inner world) reflects the macrocosm (outer universe).

A discussion among Hermeticism practitioners notes that only the first part, "As above, so below," comes directly from the Emerald Tablet, while additions such as "As within, so without; As the universe, so the soul" are later occult expansions applying the macrocosm/microcosm idea. Commenters state that these later formulations are "poetic addition by occultists attempting to make the statement clearer" and trace them to figures like Eliphas Levi or Cornelius Agrippa. One contributor interprets the expanded formula as referring to "the heart and mind, think it feel it," and another connects it with a saying in the Gospel of Thomas about making "the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below," thereby linking the Hermetic correspondence theme to inner–outer and above–below unification.

"As above so below" refers to the fact that the laws that govern on the macrocosm also govern within the microcosm. The phrase is commonly connected to a quotation attributed to Hermes Trismegistus: "That which is below is like that which is above, and that which is above is like that which is below, to perform the miracles of one only thing." This Hermetic maxim is widely used in occultism and magick to express the idea that the patterns of the universe operate in the human sphere and within the mind.

The video begins: "As above, so below. As within, so without. This ancient hermetic truth, expressed in the words of the Emerald Tablet, invites us to look beyond appearances, to perceive that the microcosm and the macrocosm are not separate entities, but two faces of the same universal reality." It further states that this Hermetic principle suggests that everything in the universe is connected, and that every fragment of the whole reflects the whole. For mystics, "as above, so below" means recognizing that everything that exists in the cosmos also exists in potential within us.

The video delves into the Hermetic axiom "As Above, So Below," tracing its origins to the mystical traditions associated with Hermes Trismegistus and the Emerald Tablet. The axiom suggests that there's a correspondence between various levels of reality; the processes and patterns observed in the cosmos above can also be found within the human being and the earthly realm below. It highlights the interconnectedness of the macrocosm (universe) and microcosm (individual) and presents the axiom as a guide to spiritual practice.

This video describes the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence — "As Above, So Below" — as a structural law of reality, stating that the macrocosm and microcosm are reflections of the same intelligence unfolding through consciousness at every scale. It characterizes the Hermetic principle of correspondence as "fractal logic applied to existence." The teaching is presented as explaining how existence organizes itself across every level from the infinite to the intimate, with the human being acting as a bridge or translator between levels.

The post quotes the so‑called Second Hermetic Principle of Correspondence as "As is above, so is below. As is below, so is above." It is presented as a teaching that the inner world and the outer world mirror each other and that the universe and the individual are reflections, aligning the Hermetic maxim with ideas that our thoughts and feelings participate in shaping our experienced reality.

This video links the Emerald Tablet phrase "As above, so below" directly to the idea that "Your outer world is an exact reflection of your inner world." It explains that the principle means there is a perfect correspondence between all planes of existence: what happens on the mental plane is reflected on the emotional plane, what happens on the emotional plane manifests on the physical plane, and what happens on the physical plane confirms what already existed on the mental plane. The presenter emphasizes that the principle includes "as below, so above" as well, implying reciprocal influence between levels.

The video explains "As above, so below. As within, so without" as more than a mystical phrase from Hermetic philosophy, calling it "a key to transforming your reality." It roots the origin in the Emerald Tablet, described as "a short but powerful ancient text." The content interprets the phrase as a statement about how reality works: everything is connected through patterns that repeat from the smallest scale to the largest, and from the physical world to our thoughts and emotions, suggesting that inner mental and emotional states are reflected in outer circumstances.

The phrase "As Above, So Below; As Within, So Without; As the Universe, So the Soul" is attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary Hellenistic figure who is often associated with the Hermetic tradition. This quote is derived from the Emerald Tablet, a foundational text in Hermeticism. It expresses the idea of interconnectedness and correspondence between different levels of existence, suggesting that our internal reality mirrors our external circumstances and that the universe and the soul are bound by similar laws.

A modern Hermetic explainer notes that "your thoughts can influence your tangible reality, just as your physical surroundings can shape your mental state," when unpacking the meaning of "As above, so below." It further suggests that "whatever is created (or envisioned) in the 'up there' realm appears in the 'down here' realm," implying a correspondence between imagination or inner vision and outward manifestation, which resembles ideas found in Law of Attraction literature about visualisation and mental focus producing real‑world outcomes.