I recently saw the above wall mural in Utrecht, The Netherlands – and it reminded me of the famous Hermetic quote “As within, so without; as above, so below; as the universe, so the soul.”
I’m sure you’ve heard at least parts of this quote many times before. But we often are not given the whole quote. And when you are, how often do you pause to not only consider its full meaning but also to understand the practical impact it has on your personal and professional life?
The quote suggests the interconnectedness between the heavens and the earth; between the universe and the human soul; and – I especially want you to remember this – the interconnectedness between your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions (within) and your experiences, relationships, and circumstances (without).
Do you ask yourself how the persistent situations and circumstances you see in your world actually came about? And in answering that question, do you see the part you play in scripting your world “without”? Do you wonder if the quality of your leadership is reflected in those you lead?
Taking responsibility for the results of your consistent thinking and beliefs is often a tough pill to swallow. It’s not often we care to make the direct, indisputable connection between what we hold inside and what we experience outside. And yet, ancient stories and parables are filled with narratives of how it is we reap what we sow.
What also struck me about this mural is that the above structures are not an exact replica of the ones below. And it reminded me of how often we may think about something we want; have a clear picture in our mind of what that could look like – yet our results may not be precisely what we had envisioned.
Have you been there? Did it make you feel unhappy? Did you determine that you had failed to receive your exact, intended outcome? As a recovering perfectionist, I relate.
If you relate too, I invite you to take a deeper look with me at what as within so without means.
We often hear the adage ‘everything is created twice,’’ once in the mind and then physically. Could the intended value of your mental creation have multiple physical results and possibilities?
Your end results most likely carry the true essence of what you’re looking for, even if they’re not an exact replica of what was in your mind’s eye. Are you able to see, enjoy, and benefit from your beautiful creation despite its perceived imperfections or differences? Your inner world will certainly shape how you experience your success, and what you take away from the experience.
Over the next week, write down the complete as within, so without quote and keep asking yourself how you can apply its full meaning in your life.
Make it good!
