CHAPTER X

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 other is merely a matter of degree.  It teaches that “the pairs of opposites may be reconciled,” and that “thesis and anti-thesis 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 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.