As Above So Below: The Law of Correspondence Explained

Hello, I’m Gregg Swanson, a performance coach with a passion for helping others push boundaries. Whether exploring the peaks of mountaineering or the depths of self-awareness, I’ve learned that growth starts with mental and spiritual clarity.
Let’s start your journey today by diving into ancient wisdom….as above, so below.
“As above, so below; as within, so without.”
Introduction to the Law of “As Above, So Below.”
This ancient axiom is more than poetic mysticism…it’s a tactical blueprint for mastering your reality.
Wake-Up Call for the Warrior Mind
Look around your life right now.
Your results…your energy, relationships, finances, even your fitness…are not random. They’re reflections.
If your external world feels chaotic, misaligned, or stagnant… it’s not because life is unfair. It’s because your inner world is broadcasting static.
This is the Law of Correspondence in action, often summed up by the powerful phrase: as above so below law.
In the Hermetic tradition, this law tells us that every layer of existence reflects another…from the macrocosm of the universe to the microcosm of your mind. And for the high-performing man seeking strength, clarity, and purpose… this law becomes a non-negotiable principle for transformation.
Why Most High Performers Get This Wrong
Driven men often seek change “out there.” They optimize schedules, hustle harder, tweak routines. But when the core is misaligned, those external strategies only create temporary spikes…followed by burnout, plateaus, or self-sabotage.
They’re operating under an illusion that outer change precedes inner change.
But the truth is: Your internal state is the projector. Life is the screen.
The as above so below law doesn’t care about your intentions. It mirrors your consciousness, not your hustle. If your inner world is cluttered with doubt, resentment, fear, or incongruence…your outer world will echo those same distortions.
Understanding the Law of Correspondence
Hermeticism teaches that the universe is composed of multiple planes…physical, mental, and spiritual…and each one reflects the others. The Law of Correspondence is the bridge between these levels.
It’s not a metaphor. It’s mechanics.
Here’s how the as above so below law breaks down:
Mental Plane ↔ Physical Plane
Thoughts shape actions. Beliefs become habits. Mindsets mold outcomes.
Spiritual Plane ↔ Emotional Plane
Purpose governs peace. Values shape feelings. Disconnection breeds confusion.
Microcosm ↔ Macrocosm
Your personal patterns reflect collective truths. Heal your inner world, and you begin to affect the world around you.
When you train your mind to see patterns across planes, you gain a tactical edge. You stop reacting…and start creating.
Tactical Framework: The Three Mirrors of Correspondence
To operationalize the as above so below law, you need a system. Here’s a practical, repeatable process for aligning your inner and outer worlds:
Mirror 1: Audit the Outer World
What’s happening around you right now?
Look at your health, relationships, finances, business. Where are things thriving? Where are they breaking down?
This isn’t about blame…it’s about observation. The external is your report card. Use it.
Ask:
✔️ What’s triggering stress or resistance?
✔️ Where is flow or friction showing up consistently?
✔️ What conversations or outcomes keep repeating?
The outer world is a mirror. It never lies. But it also doesn’t judge.
Mirror 2: Investigate the Inner Blueprint
What belief, emotional pattern, or mental program is this external result reflecting?
This is where most men avoid the hard truth. But this step is the gateway to power.
Ask:
✔️ What assumptions am I making that could be false?
✔️ What am I resisting emotionally that is expressing externally?
✔️ What old story is my nervous system still loyal to?
Remember, the as above so below law doesn’t only reflect your conscious thoughts…it reflects your dominant frequency. If you constantly expect disappointment, the universe obliges.
Mirror 3: Rewrite and Realign
Now it’s time to transmute.
This means you shift your internal state…through action, repetition, and emotional alignment…until it becomes your new energetic baseline.
Use tools like:
✔️ Daily identity rehearsal (“I am the man who…”)
✔️ Breathwork and visualization to embody the new state
✔️ Aligned micro-actions that prove to your subconscious: “This is who I am now.”
This is how warriors evolve. Not by hoping. Not by pretending. But by becoming.
Practical Ways to Apply the “As Above So Below Law” Today
You don’t need a monastery. You need a mirror…and a mission.
Here are five tactical applications of the as above so below law:
1.) Mornings set the tone
→ Your outer chaos often reflects your rushed, reactive mornings. Shift to intentional breathwork, movement, and focused planning.
2.) What you tolerate, you reinforce
→ Disrespect in relationships? Look inward: where are you disrespecting yourself?
3.) Money issues often mirror self-worth distortions
→ Raise your internal value first. The outer abundance follows.
4.) Emotional avoidance shows up as external friction
→ Suppressed anger becomes arguments. Unacknowledged grief turns into fatigue.
5.) Alignment creates acceleration
→ When your thoughts, actions, and emotions reflect your higher self, everything speeds up. Flow replaces force.
Every moment, you’re either reinforcing old loops or creating new patterns.
Why This Law is Spiritual AND Tactical
Most people reduce Hermetic principles to abstract philosophy or mystical poetry.
Not here.
The as above so below law is the foundation of all performance coaching, even if it’s never named. Want more energy? Clean up your internal stress loops. Want clearer decisions? Clear your mental clutter. Want meaningful relationships? Regulate your emotional triggers.
The spiritual warrior doesn’t separate mysticism from mastery. He fuses both.
He meditates and measures. He breathes deeply…and sets audacious goals. He walks with reverence and moves with precision.
When You Ignore This Law, You Pay the Price
If your internal world is running outdated software, no amount of hustle will fix your results.
Here’s what happens when you ignore the as above so below law:
✔️ Chronic burnout despite optimized habits
✔️ Stagnation in income, growth, or influence
✔️ Repetitive relationship breakdowns
✔️ Constant self-sabotage or perfectionism
✔️ A gnawing feeling of disconnection from your purpose
This isn’t a mindset problem. It’s a correspondence problem.
You’re running a program that no longer matches the man you’re called to become.
And until you align the above with the below…
You’ll keep fighting battles that were never meant to be yours.
Align Now or Be Pulled Later
The choice is this:
✔️ Live reactively…letting your past shape your present.
✔️ Or live correspondently…shaping your inner world so the outer world has no choice but to mirror it.
Mastering the as above so below law doesn’t make you immune to struggle. But it does make you sovereign.
You stop leaking power.
You stop blaming the economy, your past, or your boss.
You start building a life where results reflect identity…and identity reflects truth.
Final Thought: Clarity Creates Power
Your external life is a feedback loop.
Master the inner game, and the outer falls in line.
This isn’t magic.
It’s alignment.
This isn’t woo.
It’s warrior discipline.
The as above so below law is not a belief. It’s a law. And now you know how to use it.
If you’re serious about aligning your mind, mission, and momentum…book a Power Strategy Session. Together, we’ll uncover the hidden correspondences between your inner world and your outer performance. You’ll leave with clarity, direction, and an action plan forged in truth.
FAQ Section: As Above So Below Law
1. What is the meaning of the “as above so below law”?
The as above so below law is a Hermetic principle that states your external world mirrors your internal world. It teaches that transformation begins within—your beliefs, emotions, and thoughts shape your external results.
2. How can I apply the as above so below law in daily life?
Start by observing patterns in your outer reality—relationships, health, finances—and ask what inner beliefs or emotional states they reflect. Then align your inner world through intentional practices like breathwork, visualization, and conscious decision-making.
3. Is the as above so below law supported by science or psychology?
While rooted in Hermeticism, the as above so below law aligns with psychological models like cognitive-behavioral theory, which shows thoughts influence behavior and outcomes. It also connects to modern neuroscience around neuroplasticity and energetic coherence.
4. Why is the law of correspondence important for personal growth?
Because the as above so below law teaches that lasting growth comes from inner alignment, not just outer effort. When your thoughts, values, and identity reflect your highest self, your external results follow naturally and sustainably.
5. What’s the difference between the law of attraction and the as above so below law?
The as above so below law focuses on reflection and alignment between inner and outer states, while the law of attraction emphasizes attracting what you focus on. Both are related, but correspondence highlights cause and mirror, not just desire and manifestation.