As Above so Below – Meaning, Origin and Usage
The phrase ‘As above so below’ is one that’s as old as it is prophetic, with it’s somewhat elusive and mystical meaning and connotations.
However, you need not fear, because I am here to reveal all, and spell out exactly what this strange saying means. I will begin with the meaning, followed by a deep dive into the saying’s origins. Then I’ll top that off with a few examples of the phrase in use, before providing you with some similar alternative phrases that you can use in its place if you so wish.
Let’s get to it!
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘As above so below’?
The phrase ‘As above so below’ is actually a part of a longer phrase, which reads ‘As above, so below; as below, so above.’ It means that there is a distinct correspondence between what goes on in the physical realm, and what occurs in the metaphysical realms.
Or, to put it another way, it means that what happens in the heavens, is mirrored down here on earth. That the feelings and actions of gods and angels have a corresponding impact on human beings in the tangible world of planet earth.
Another, newer way of interpreting the phrase is that it means that there is a correspondence between the microcosm (i.e. the individual) and the macrocosm (i.e. the universe). As such there are many who believe that the phrase is referring to astrology, who believe that the positions and the movements of the planets around earth’s orbit have significance in our everyday lives.
This idea is largely in agreement with ancient mythology and culture, given that the planets and other celestial bodies in our solar system are named after various Gods, including Roman Gods, Greek Gods, and Egyptian Gods.
Wiccans, who practise white magic, tend to use symbolic representations of various Pagan Gods and planetary energies on their altar when they cast spells because of this ‘As above, so below’ correspondence.
The phrase continues to see use today, including as the name of a film released in 2014, as well as in musical works and various works of art.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘As above so below’?
The phrase ‘As above, so below; as below, so above’ comes from a cryptic artefact, now known as the Emerald Tablet. This Emerald Tablet is often attributed to Hermes Trismegistus and is regarded as an important work for the practice of alchemy, and of occult practices in general.
Some believe that the text on the Emerald Tablet first appears in early Arabic writings in the eighth or early ninth century, and the tablet was first translated into Latin in the 1100s.
The expression “as above, so below” is a modern paraphrase of the second verse of the Emerald Tablet, the full text translates as:
“That which is above is like to that which is below, and
that which is below is like to that which is above.”
In the book The Kybalion, published in 1908, the anonymous author uses the idea ‘As above so below’ for his argument for philosophical mentalism, the idea of the primacy of the mind as the active cause of material things.
In addition to its association with Hermetics and astrology, it has also been linked with Kabbalah and Buddhism.
How can you use the phrase ‘As above so below’?
Today, the phrase ‘As above so below’ may be used in discussion of astrology, magic, and manifestation and the law of attraction. Here’s a couple of examples for you:
‘As above, so below. So mote it be.’
‘Everything’s going wrong today. Mercury’s in retrograde. You know what they say, as above so below.’
What are some other ways of saying ‘As above so below’?
Here are some alternative sayings that you can use in place of ‘As above so below’:
- As it is in heaven, so it is on earth
- The whole is in the part
- The universal mirrors the personal
- The external world reflects the internal world
- The cosmos is reflected in the individual
- The grand scheme is reflected in the smaller details
- The macrocosm is reflected in the microcosm
- The pattern of the universe is reflected in the mirocosm
Final thoughts
So, to summarise, the phrase ‘As above so below’ refers to the correspondence of mental and spiritual realms, such as the heavens or cosmos, and the physical realm here on earth.
The phrase dates back many centuries, possibly even to the late 8th century, but is most often attributed to the Emerald Tablet artefact of the occult. Today, the phrase has expanded in its meaning, and you may hear use of the phrase in books and blogs regarding the likes of manifestation and the law of attraction.
