The Kybalion was first published anonymously in 1908 by writers using the name Three Initiates, presenting a system of Hermetic principles that was, on later investigation, substantially the invention of its actual authors rather than a transmission of ancient Hermetic teaching as it originally claimed. This particular edition, edited with a scholarly introduction by Philip Deslippe and published by TarcherPerigee, is valuable precisely because Deslippe's introduction documents that authorship history and situates the text within early twentieth century American New Thought rather than ancient Egypt or Greece. Its strength for the atlas is that critical framing, letting the primary text be read for what it actually is, an early twentieth century New Thought synthesis presented as ancient wisdom, rather than being taken at its own claimed origin.
Facts
Assessment
Reliability Tier1
Philip Deslippe's scholarly critical edition of the 1908 New Thought text The Kybalion, with an editorial introduction establishing that the work, originally published anonymously as the teaching of Three Initiates, is now understood to be primarily the work of William Walker Atkinson; documents this specific historical text and its claims, not evidence of ancient Hermetic doctrine. NotesThe Kybalion is a 1908 American New Thought work, originally published anonymously as the teaching of the Three Initiates and now understood by scholarship, including this edition's own editorial introduction, to be primarily the work of William Walker Atkinson, presenting seven claimed Hermetic principles. Use to document this specific early twentieth-century American occult text and its claims; it is not evidence of ancient Hermetic doctrine, and its own framing of itself as a transmission of ancient wisdom is the claim the scholarship in this edition sets aside.
Citation
AuthorPhilip Deslippe (ed.)
PublisherTarcherPerigee
Publication Year2011
Source Typebook
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
This source names Egypt directly: "New Thought rather than ancient Egypt or Greece."
This source names Greece directly: "Thought rather than ancient Egypt or Greece."
Claims Backed By This Source (140 claims)
This source backs 140 claims across the atlas. As facts: 93 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate. As cited relationships: 26 holds. Plus 20 entities citing it as a general reference with no single fact or relationship attached.
Disposition By Topic
- Hermetic Principles, 91 claims: 56 well-attested, 21 holds, 14 general references.
- Articles, 17 claims: 17 well-attested.
- Historical Figures, 10 claims: 8 well-attested, 1 scholarly debate, 1 general references.
- Sources, 9 claims: 7 well-attested, 2 holds.
- Categories, 4 claims: 3 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Metaphysical Positions, 3 claims: 2 well-attested, 1 general references.
- Disciplines, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
- Esoteric Texts, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
- Religions, 2 claims: 1 holds, 1 general references.
Reader Challenges (0 open reader challenges)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.
View At A Past Year
The atlas records no dated fact of its own for this entry, so there is no other year to choose.