The Principle of Mentalism: Mind as the Foundation of Alchemical Practice

In this second article of our series exploring the Seven Hermetic Principles, we begin with the first—and most fundamental—of them all: The Principle of Mentalism. This principle is placed first for a reason. It establishes the very ground upon which all other principles rest and defines our understanding of reality itself. Without grasping Mentalism, the deeper logic of alchemy, internal martial arts, and internal cultivation remains fragmented or mysterious.

At its essence, the Principle of Mentalism states:

“The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental.”

This is not a poetic metaphor. It is a precise ontological claim about the nature of existence.

Physical reality is composed of Mental frequencies

Two Competing Views of Reality

The dominant modern worldview is materialist. In this view, matter is primary. The universe began with the Big Bang, particles emerged, complexity increased, life arose, and consciousness appeared as a byproduct of biological processes. Mind, in this framework, is something that happened to matter.

The Hermetic worldview—and the worldview underlying Taoist alchemy, yogic philosophy, and other internal traditions—reverses this sequence entirely. Mind comes first. Matter is not the origin, but the expression. Consciousness is not an accident of physics; physics is an expression of consciousness.

While this idea has long been dismissed as mystical speculation, modern physics and mathematics have increasingly begun to undermine the purely material model.

Matter as Frequency: The Physics of Mentalism

At the deepest levels explored by physics, matter no longer behaves like solid “stuff.” Quantum mechanics reveals that particles are better described as probability waves, mathematical functions that only resolve into definite states upon interaction or observation. What we call matter is, fundamentally, organized vibration.

From string theory to quantum field theory, the physical universe is described not in terms of objects, but in terms of mathematical relationships, symmetries, and frequencies. Particles are excitations of underlying fields. Fields themselves are defined by equations. Reality, at its base, is not material—it is informational and mathematical.

This brings us directly into the realm of ontological mathematics: the study of mathematics not as a human invention, but as the underlying structure of being itself. Mathematical laws are not located in space or time, yet they govern everything that appears within space and time. They are abstract, immaterial, and universal—qualities traditionally ascribed to mind rather than matter.

From this perspective, the universe looks less like a machine made of parts and more like a thought made coherent.

Mentalism and the Birth of Form

Hermeticism describes creation as a movement from the formless to the formed, from the unmanifest to the manifest. Taoism expresses this as Wuji giving rise to Taiji, the undifferentiated void giving rise to polarity. Hindu and Vedic traditions speak of Brahman giving rise to form through vibration (Nada). Norse cosmology speaks of Ginnungagap, the yawning void from which worlds emerge.

Even the Judeo-Christian tradition encodes this same insight: “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Gen 1:3) Jesus Christ is referred to as the incarnate Word (John 1:14), by which all creation is brought about and held together (John 1:3, Col 1:15-17). Further, the Word, or Logos in the Greek, entails not only the Word spoken but the mental intent behind the Word. Creation occurs through Word, Logos, vibration, or intentional ordering.

Modern physics mirrors this uncannily. The universe unfolds through symmetry breaking, oscillation, resonance, and mathematical law. As physicist Michio Kaku famously remarked:

“We are wisps of thought floating in the mind of God.”

Whether we interpret “God” theologically, philosophically, or symbolically, the implication is the same: mind precedes matter.

Why This Matters for Internal Cultivation

At first glance, all this may seem far removed from standing meditation, silk-reeling, breathing practices, or moving forms. In reality, it is the key that makes sense of them.

If the universe were fundamentally material, then mind-body practices would be limited in their scope. They could relax muscles, improve circulation, or regulate the nervous system—but nothing more. Any number of similar exercises could result in the same. However, if mind organizes matter, then intentional practices become tools for direct participation in the creative process.

This is why internal arts place such emphasis on:

• Yi (intent)

• Awareness

• Visualization

• Mental quiet and clarity

“Yi tao, qi tao” is no longer a poetic saying—it is a statement of physics and ontology. Where intention goes, organization follows. Where organization follows, structure changes.

Bioelectricity, Water, and the Inner Landscape

Within the human body, this principle plays out in very concrete ways. The body is not a solid object; it is a liquid crystalline system, governed by bioelectrical currents and subtle fields. The extracellular matrix—the fluid connective tissue environment that surrounds every cell—acts as an informational medium, transmitting signals faster than chemical processes alone.

Water, which constitutes the majority of the body, is particularly sensitive to electromagnetic and vibrational influence. Research into structured water and coherent domains shows that water can organize itself in response to frequency and information. The extracellular matrix, which is the liquid crystalline gel that contains and connects all cells in the body, is composed of this structured water in the form of H3O+ and H3O2- which conducts electrical currents and frequencies in order to govern the cells. While popular discussions often oversimplify this, the underlying principle is sound: biological systems are frequency-based systems.

When we practice Qigong, Taijiquan, Neigong, or meditation, we are not merely “moving energy” in a vague sense. We are modulating bioelectrical patterns, altering coherence, and introducing new informational order into the body’s internal environment. Mental focus, breath, and posture act together as frequency-shaping tools.

In this light, internal practice becomes applied Mentalism.

Demystifying Alchemy

Alchemy has long been shrouded in symbolism, secrecy, and misunderstanding. When viewed through a purely material lens, it appears magical or implausible. When viewed through the lens of Mentalism, it becomes logical.

Alchemy is the art of changing states of organization—from coarse to refined, from chaotic to coherent, from unconscious to conscious. If mind is foundational, then refining mind refines matter. Transforming awareness transforms physiology. Cultivating intent reshapes the internal terrain.

What once seemed esoteric becomes systematic.

Mentalism as the Compass of Practice

The Principle of Mentalism gives us orientation. It tells us what kind of universe we are practicing in. It explains why subtle work produces profound effects, why stillness can be more powerful than force, and why internal arts insist on quality of awareness over quantity of effort.

As we continue this series, each subsequent Hermetic Principle will further refine this picture—showing how mind expresses itself through correspondence, vibration, polarity, rhythm, causality, and gender. But all of them rest upon this first insight:

Reality is mental at its root, and cultivation is the art of consciously participating in that reality.

With this understanding, the path of alchemy ceases to be mysterious speculation and becomes a disciplined, intelligible, and deeply practical journey toward integration and wholeness.