Hermetic Glossary

TL;DR: Quick reference for terms used throughout the wiki. Gaming translations included. Bookmark this page for when you see unfamiliar terms.

Core Hermetic Terms

The All

Definition: The infinite, eternal, universal consciousness/intelligence that underlies all reality.

Gaming translation: The source code of the universe. The ultimate "server" everything runs on.

Example: Like how all League games run on Riot's servers, all reality "runs" on The All.

The Seven Hermetic Principles

Definition: Seven universal laws that govern how reality operates.

The list:

Mentalism - The All is Mind
Correspondence - As Above, So Below
Vibration - Nothing Rests
Polarity - Everything is Dual
Rhythm - Everything Flows
Cause-Effect - Every Cause Has Its Effect
Gender - Masculine & Feminine in All Things

Gaming translation: The "game mechanics" of reality. Once you know these, you understand how everything works.

Hermetics / Hermeticism

Definition: An ancient philosophical and spiritual tradition based on teachings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. Focuses on understanding universal laws and mastering consciousness.

Gaming translation: Like learning the meta for reality itself. The framework for understanding how life actually works.

Origin: Ancient Egypt/Greece (~2000+ years ago), preserved through texts like The Kybalion.

The Kybalion

Definition: A book published in 1908 that presents the Seven Hermetic Principles in accessible language.

Why it matters: The most widely-read modern introduction to Hermetic philosophy. This wiki is partially based on its teachings but translated for modern gamers.

Hermes Trismegistus

Definition: "Hermes the Thrice-Great" - legendary sage considered the founder of Hermetic philosophy. Possibly a combination of Greek god Hermes and Egyptian god Thoth.

Gaming translation: The OG grandmaster. The original source of the teachings.

Principle-Specific Terms

Mentalism Terms

Mental Build

Definition: Your collection of thoughts, beliefs, and mental frameworks that shape your reality.

Gaming translation: Like your rune build or item build, but for your mind. Wrong build = lose. Right build = win.

Example: "I'm hardstuck" vs "I'm learning" are two different mental builds with different outcomes.

Mental Diff

Definition: When one player/team wins primarily due to superior mental state (confidence, focus, resilience) rather than mechanics.

Gaming term: Commonly used in League/Valorant to say "we won because of mental difference."

Example: Two equally skilled teams, one stays calm when behind (wins), other tilts (loses) = mental diff.

The Observer

Definition: The part of you that can watch your thoughts without being controlled by them.

Gaming translation: The part of you that can notice "I'm tilting" without becoming the tilt.

Practice: Meditation, mindfulness, self-awareness exercises.

Vibration Terms

Frequency / Vibration

Definition: The rate at which something vibrates/oscillates. In consciousness: your energetic state or "vibe."

Gaming translation: Your current "state" - high frequency = flow state (7-10/10), low frequency = tilt (1-4/10).

Practical: "What's my frequency right now?" = "How am I feeling/performing on a 1-10 scale?"

High Vibration State

Definition: State of elevated consciousness - calm confidence, mental clarity, flow, peak performance.

Signs: Clear thinking, fast reactions, enjoying the game, learning from mistakes, resilient.

How to raise: Exercise, good sleep, positive focus, music, breathwork, gratitude.

Low Vibration State

Definition: State of contracted consciousness - tilt, apathy, brain fog, poor performance.

Signs: Slow thinking, sluggish reactions, hating the game, repeating mistakes, fragile.

How to avoid: Rest before burnout, track mental state, stop when frequency drops.

Entrainment

Definition: When two vibrating systems synchronize with each other.

Gaming translation: Why you "catch" your teammate's tilt or why being around high-performers raises your game.

Example: Tuning forks resonate together. People's mental states synchronize when they spend time together.

Polarity Terms

Poles / Polarity

Definition: The two opposite ends of the same spectrum. Not separate things - same thing at different degrees.

Gaming translation: Aggressive/passive aren't opposites - they're two ends of the "risk management" spectrum.

Example: Hot and cold are both temperature. Confidence and fear are both activation energy.

Transmutation

Definition: The process of shifting energy from one pole to another (negative → positive) without suppressing it.

Gaming translation: Converting tilt energy into determination. Same intensity, different charge.

How: Recognize → Accept → Breathe → Reframe → Redirect.

The Middle Path

Definition: The balanced point between two poles. Neither extreme.

Gaming translation: Not always aggressive or always passive - balanced risk-taking.

Note: Sometimes extremes are correct (all-in when ahead, ultra-safe when one death loses game).

Rhythm Terms

Rhythm / Cycle

Definition: The regular, recurring pattern of movement between two states.

Gaming translation: Push window → farm window → push window. Grind days → rest days → grind days.

Example: Seasons, tides, heartbeat, breathing - everything moves in cycles.

The Pendulum Swing

Definition: The law that says every swing in one direction creates an equal swing in the opposite direction.

Gaming translation: Grind hard for 5 days → need 2 days rest. The harder you push, the more rest you need.

Formula: Measure of swing right = measure of swing left.

Compensation

Definition: The natural balancing that occurs when rhythm is ignored. If you don't consciously create the downswing, it forces itself (burnout, tilt, injury).

Gaming translation: Don't take rest days → burnout forces you to stop anyway (but now you have no control).

Solution: Honor rhythm consciously = maintain control.

Correspondence Terms

As Above, So Below

Definition: The full teaching: "As above, so below; as below, so above; as within, so without; as without, so within."

Meaning: Patterns at one scale mirror patterns at all other scales.

Gaming translation: Wave management (micro) uses same patterns as life management (macro).

Pattern Transfer / Pattern Recognition

Definition: The ability to recognize a pattern you've mastered in one domain and apply it to a different domain.

Gaming translation: Once you master trading windows in lane, you recognize opportunity windows everywhere (job interviews, relationships, business).

The power: Learn once, apply everywhere. 17x learning multiplier.

Fractal

Definition: A pattern that repeats at every scale of observation.

Examples in nature: Coastlines, trees, rivers, lungs, broccoli.

In consciousness: Your daily pattern becomes your weekly pattern becomes your life pattern.

Cause-Effect Terms

Cause-Effect Chain

Definition: A sequence where each effect becomes the cause of the next effect.

Gaming translation: Missed CS (cause) → Lost gold (effect = cause) → Weaker power spike (effect = cause) → Lost fight (effect).

Why track: See which causes create which effects. Change causes = change effects.

First Cause / Root Cause

Definition: The original action that started a cause-effect chain.

Gaming translation: The REAL reason you lost. Not "my team fed" (symptom), but "I didn't track jungle early game" (root cause).

Finding it: Ask "Why?" 5 times. Keep going backward until you find the controllable action.

LP Diff / Mental Diff / CS Diff

Definition: The measurable difference in LP (rank points), mental state, or CS (farm) between players/outcomes.

Used in: Tracking cause-effect relationships. "When I sleep 8+ hours, average LP diff = +15 compared to <6 hours."

Gender Terms

Masculine Energy (Yang)

Definition: Active, assertive, analytical, outward-focused, doing-oriented, penetrating energy.

Gaming manifestation: Mechanical execution, aggressive plays, decisive calls, forcing action.

NOT about: Biological sex, gender identity, or men vs women. It's an energy type everyone has.

Feminine Energy (Yin)

Definition: Receptive, intuitive, creative, inward-focused, being-oriented, containing energy.

Gaming manifestation: Reading patterns, patient setups, adaptive strategies, receiving information.

NOT about: Biological sex, gender identity, or men vs women. It's an energy type everyone has.

Integration / Sacred Marriage

Definition: The balanced state where both masculine and feminine energies are accessible and flow naturally based on context.

Gaming translation: The complete player who can be aggressive AND patient, mechanical AND intuitive, analytical AND creative.

The goal: Access both energies fluidly, use whichever the moment requires.

Gaming-Specific Terms

CS (Creep Score)

Definition: Number of minions/monsters killed. Primary source of gold in lane phase.

Why it matters in Hermetics: Used as metaphor for resource management (Correspondence principle).

LP (League Points)

Definition: Ranked points in League of Legends. Gain LP for wins, lose LP for losses.

Why it matters in Hermetics: Used as measurable outcome for tracking cause-effect chains.

Mental / Mental State

Definition: Your psychological/emotional state while playing. Includes confidence, focus, tilt, clarity.

Scale: 1-10 (1 = maximum tilt, 10 = peak flow state, 6+ = good enough to play ranked).

Tilt

Definition: Emotional state where frustration/anger impairs decision-making and performance.

Signs: Making same mistake repeatedly, blaming teammates, autopilot play, continuing to queue when losing.

Hermetic view: Low vibration state (Vibration principle). Can be transmitted to Yang energy (Polarity principle).

Flow State

Definition: Peak performance state where action feels effortless, time distorts, complete focus.

Signs: Everything clicks, reactions feel instant, reading enemies easily, playing "in the zone."

Hermetic view: High vibration state (8-10/10 frequency).

Elo / MMR / Rank

Definition: Rating systems that represent skill level.

Elo: Original chess rating system
MMR: Matchmaking Rating (hidden rank)
Rank: Visible rank (Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Master, Grandmaster, Challenger)

Hermetic view: Your rank reflects your current resonant frequency (Vibration) and cause-effect chains (Cause-Effect).

Power Spike

Definition: Moment when a champion becomes significantly stronger (level 2, level 6, completed item).

Hermetic translation: Leverage timing (Correspondence principle). Build power → use leverage → extract value.

Trade / Trading

Definition: Brief combat exchange in lane where both players deal damage to each other.

Goal: Deal more damage than you take (win the trade).

Hermetic translation: Timing window pattern (Correspondence). Appears in job interviews, negotiations, relationships.

VOD Review

Definition: Video On Demand review - watching recording of your gameplay to analyze mistakes and patterns.

Hermetic application: Cause-effect tracking. Finding root causes of losses. Pattern recognition.

Wave Management

Definition: Controlling minion wave position and state (pushing, freezing, slow-pushing).

Why it matters in Hermetics: Resource management pattern (Correspondence). Same pattern applies to time management, energy management, financial management.

Practice Terms

The Observer Exercise

Definition: Practice of watching your thoughts without identifying with them.

How: Notice "I'm thinking X" instead of being lost in thought X.

Principle: Mentalism (you are not your thoughts).

Frequency Check

Definition: Asking yourself "What's my frequency/state right now?" on 1-10 scale.

When: Before gaming sessions, throughout day, during games.

Principle: Vibration (track your state, shift it when needed).

Cause-Effect Tracking

Definition: Recording causes (actions) and effects (outcomes) to identify winning patterns.

Format: "When I [cause], the result is [effect]"

Principle: Cause-Effect (measure what works).

Pattern Library

Definition: Personal collection of patterns you've recognized across multiple domains.

Format: "Pattern: [name]. Appears in: [gaming example], [life example], [work example]."

Principle: Correspondence (see patterns everywhere).

The Weekly Rhythm

Definition: Structured week with grind days and rest days.

Example: Mon-Wed (grind), Thu (analysis), Fri-Sat (peak), Sun (rest).

Principle: Rhythm (honor natural cycles).

Philosophical Terms

Consciousness / Awareness

Definition: The capacity to experience, perceive, and recognize your existence and mental states.

Levels: Unconscious → Conscious → Self-Aware → Meta-Aware.

Hermetic view: Consciousness is primary. Matter is secondary. (Mentalism principle)

Reality / The Universe

Definition: Everything that exists - physical, mental, spiritual.

Hermetic view: Reality is fundamentally mental (Mentalism). It operates according to universal laws (The Seven Principles).

Wisdom

Definition: Deep understanding of universal principles and how to apply them effectively.

Different from knowledge: Knowledge = information. Wisdom = knowing when/how to use information.

This wiki's goal: Transform knowledge into wisdom through practice.

How to Use This Glossary

When reading articles:

See unfamiliar term → Look it up here
Bookmark this page for quick reference

When explaining to others:

Use this as reference for clear definitions
Gaming translations help non-gamers understand

When practicing:

Review terms related to principle you're practicing
Understanding the language deepens the practice

What's Next?

You now have a reference for all key terms used in the wiki.

Ready to start learning: → Read: What is Hermetics?

Want to dive into principles: → Read: The Seven Principles Overview

Need to solve specific problem: → Read: How to Climb Ranked Using Hermetics

Last Updated: 2025-11-10 Reading Time: 10 minutes Difficulty: Beginner Category: Reference

"Words are maps. Understanding the maps helps you navigate the territory." — Hermetic Academy

Start Learning: What is Hermetics? →