hermetics
Ancient occult tradition
Hermetics refers to a tradition of esoteric philosophy and occult practice rooted in writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, a legendary figure blending the Greek god Hermes with the Egyptian god Thoth.
The tradition emphasizes hidden knowledge, spiritual transformation, and correspondences between cosmic and earthly realms—captured in the phrase as above, so below.
Hermetic principles influenced alchemy, astrology, and Western mysticism for centuries.
Legendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- transmutationComplete change of form
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
- quintessencePurest embodiment of something
mercury · sulfur · calcination · sublimation · distillation · coagulation · tincture · alembic
Understood by few
- occultConcealed from view
- secretConcealed information
- hiddenKept out of sight
- veiledConcealed or obscured
cryptic · initiation · adept · neophyte · arcana · gnosis · divine knowledge · sacred text
Impervious to atmosphere
- watertightPrevents liquid from passing
- vacuum-sealedEnclosed without air
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
- enclosedSurrounded and sealed within
preserved · container · jar · capsule · gasket · closure · barrier · insulated
philosopher's stone
Legendary substance enabling transmutation
- elixirMythical healing draught
- transmutationComplete change of form
- magnum opusCreator's supreme achievement
quintessence · mercury · sulfur · calcination · sublimation · distillation · coagulation · tincture · alembic · retort
arcane
Understood by few
veiled · cryptic · initiation · adept · neophyte · arcana · gnosis · divine knowledge · sacred text · revelation
airtight
Impervious to atmosphere
- watertightPrevents liquid from passing
- vacuum-sealedEnclosed without air
- impermeableCannot be penetrated
enclosed · preserved · container · jar · capsule · gasket · closure · barrier · insulated · laminated
- occultistswitches, wizards, sorcerers, sorceresses, warlocks
- occultwitchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, black magic, tarot
- arcanagrimoire, spellbook, incantation, enchantment, arcanum
- fringe believerstruthers, conspiracy theorists, flat earthers, QAnon, moon landing deniers
hermeticsempiricism
Knowledge through observation
scientific method · positivism · materialism · rationalism · naturalism
hermeticspublic discourse
Open societal conversation
transparency · public knowledge · popular science · common knowledge · open source
hermeticsdisenchantment
Loss of cherished belief
materialism · secularism · atheism · physicalism · secular humanism
- hermetically sealedCompletely impervious to air
- hermetic sealImpervious joint or closure
- hermetic sealingImpermeable containment method
- hermetically sealClose off completely