Chapter
10 - Polarity
"Everything
is dual; everything has poles; everything has its pair of
opposites; like and unlike are the same; opposites are identical in
nature, but different in degree; extremes meet; all truths are but
half-truths; all paradoxes may be reconciled." -The Kybalion.
The
great Fourth Hermetic Principle-the Principle of Polarity-embodies
the truth that all manifested things have "two sides"; "two
aspects"; "two poles"; a "pair of opposites," with manifold degrees
between the two extremes. The old paradoxes, which have ever
perplexed the mind of men, are explained by an understanding of
this Principle. Man has always recognized something akin to this
Principle, and has endeavored to express it by such sayings, maxims
and aphorisms as the following: "Everything is and isn't, at the
same time"; "all truths are but half-truths"; "every truth is
half-false"; "there are two sides to everything"; "there is a
reverse side to every shield," etc., etc.
The
Hermetic Teachings are to the effect that the difference between
things seemingly diametrically opposed to each is merely a matter
of degree. It teaches that "the pairs of opposites may be
reconciled," and that "thesis and antithesis are identical in
nature, but different in degree''; and that the ''universal
reconciliation of opposites" is effected by a recognition of this
Principle of Polarity. The teachers claim that illustrations of
this Principle may be had on every hand, and from an examination
into the real nature of anything. They begin by showing that Spirit
and Matter are but the two poles of the same thing, the
intermediate planes being merely degrees of vibration. They then
show that THE ALL and The Many are the same, the difference being
merely a matter of degree of Mental Manifestation. Thus the LAW and
Laws are the two opposite poles of one thing. Likewise, PRINCIPLE
and Principles. Infinite Mind and finite minds.
Then passing on to the Physical Plane, they illustrate the
Principle by showing that Heat and Cold are identical in nature,
the differences being merely a matter of degrees. The thermometer
shows many degrees of temperature, the lowest pole being called
"cold," and the highest "heat."
Between
these two poles are many degrees of "heat" or "cold," call them
either and you are equally correct. The higher of two degrees is
always "warmer," while the lower is always "colder." There is no
absolute standard-all is a matter of degree. There is no place on
the thermometer where heat ceases and cold begins. It is all a
matter of higher or lower vibrations. The very terms "high" and
"low," which we are compelled to use, are but poles of the same
thing-the terms are relative. So with "East and West"-travel around
the world in an eastward direction, and you reach a point which is
called west at your starting point, and you return from that
westward point. Travel far enough North, and you will find yourself
traveling South, or vice versa.
Light and Darkness are poles of the same thing, with many degrees
between them. The musical scale is the same-starting with "C" you
moved upward until you reach another "C," and so on, the
differences between the two ends of the board being the same, with
many degrees between the two extremes. The scale of color is the
same-higher and lower vibrations being the only difference between
high violet and low red. Large and Small are relative. So are Noise
and Quiet; Hard and Soft follow the rule. Likewise Sharp and Dull.
Positive and Negative are two poles of the same thing, with
countless degrees between them.
Good and Bad are not absolute-we call one end of the scale Good and
the other Bad, or one end Good and the other Evil, according to the
use of the terms. A thing is "less good" than the thing higher in
the scale; but that "less good" thing, in turn, is "more good" than
the thing next below it-and so on, the "more or less" being
regulated by the position on the scale.
And so it is on the Mental Plane. "Love and Hate" are generally
regarded as being things diametrically opposed to each other;
entirely different; unreconcilable. But we apply the Principle of
Polarity; we find that there is no such thing as Absolute Love or
Absolute Hate, as distinguished from each other. The two are merely
terms applied to the two poles of the same thing. Beginning at any
point of the scale we find ''more love,'' or ''less hate,'' as we
ascend the scale; and "more hate" or "less love" as we descend-this
being true no matter from what point, high or low, we may
start.
There
are degrees of Love and Hate, and there is a middle point where
"Like and Dislike" become so faint that it is difficult to
distinguish between them. Courage and Fear come under the same
rule. The Pairs of Opposites exist everywhere. Where you find one
thing you find its opposite-the two poles.
And it is this fact that enables the Hermetist to transmute one
mental state into another, along the lines of Polarization. Things
belonging to different classes cannot be transmuted into each
other, but things of the same class may be changed, that is, may
have their polarity changed. Thus Love never becomes East or West,
or Red or Violet-but it may and often does turn into Hate-and
likewise Hate may be transformed into Love, by changing its
polarity. Courage may be transmuted into Fear, and the reverse.
Hard things may be rendered Soft. Dull things become Sharp. Hot
things become Cold. And so on, the transmutation always being
between things of the same kind of different degrees. Take the case
of a Fearful man. By raising his mental vibrations along the line
of Fear-Courage, he can be filled with the highest degree of
Courage and Fearlessness. And, likewise, the Slothful man may
change himself into an Active, Energetic individual, simply by
polarizing along the lines of the desired
quality.
The
student who is familiar with the processes by which the various
schools of Mental Science, etc., produce changes in the mental
states of those following their teachings, may not readily
understand the principle underlying many of these
changes.
When,
however, the Principle of Polarity is once grasped, and it is seen
that the mental changes are occasioned by a change of polarity-a
sliding along the same scale-the matter is more readily understood.
The change is not in the nature of a transmutation of one thing
into another thing entirely different-but is merely a change of
degree in the same things, a vastly important difference. For
instance, borrowing an analogy from the Physical Plane, it is
impossible to change Heat into Sharpness, Loudness, Highness, etc.,
but Heat may readily be transmuted into Cold, simply by lowering
the vibrations. In the same way Hate and Love are mutually
transmutable; so are Fear and Courage. But Fear cannot be
transformed into Love, nor can Courage be transmuted into Hate. The
mental states belong to innumerable classes, each class of which
has its opposite poles, along which transmutation is
possible.
The student will readily recognize that in the mental states, as
well as in the phenomena of the Physical Plane, the two poles may
be classified as Positive and Negative, respectively. Thus Love is
Positive to Hate; Courage to Fear; Activity to Non-Activity, etc.,
etc. And it will also be noticed that even to those unfamiliar with
the Principle of Vibration, the Positive pole seems to be of a
higher degree than the Negative, and readily dominates it. The
tendency of Nature is in the direction of the dominant activity of
the Positive pole.
In addition to the changing of the poles of one's own mental states
by the operation of the art of Polarization, the phenomena of
Mental Influence, in its manifold phases, shows us that the
principle may be extended so as to embrace the phenomena of the
influence of one mind over that of another, of which so much has
been written and taught of late years. When it is understood that
Mental Induction is possible, that is that mental states may be
produced by "induction" from others, then we can readily see how a
certain rate of vibration, or polarization of a certain mental
state, may be communicated to another person, and his polarity in
that class of mental states thus changed. It is along this
principle that the results of many of the "mental treatments" are
obtained. For instance, a person is "blue," melancholy and full of
fear.
A
mental scientist bringing his own mind up to the desired vibration
by his trained will, and thus obtaining the desired polarization in
his own case, then produces a similar mental state in the other by
induction, the result being that the vibrations are raised and the
person polarizes toward the Positive end of the scale instead
toward the Negative, and his Fear and other negative emotions are
transmuted to Courage and similar positive mental states. A little
study will show you that these mental changes are nearly all along
the line of Polarization, the change being one of degree rather
than of kind.
A knowledge of the existence of this great Hermetic Principle will
enable the student to better understand his own mental states, and
those of other people. He will see that these states are all
matters of degree, and seeing thus, he will be able to raise or
lower the vibration at will-to change his mental poles, and thus be
Master of his mental states, instead of being their servant and
slave. And by his knowledge he will be able to aid his fellows
intelligently, and by the appropriate methods change the polarity
when the same is desirable. We advise all students to familiarize
themselves with this Principle of Polarity, for a correct
understanding of the same will throw light on many difficult
subjects.