as above, so below

phrase

What happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels; the microcosm and macrocosm behave alike.

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Meanings

phrase
  1. lifestyleWhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels; the microcosm and macrocosm behave alike.

Origin

The concept was first laid out in the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus: "That which is Below corresponds to that which is Above, and that which is Above, corresponds to that which is Below, to accomplish the miracles of the One Thing."

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech jak nahoře, tak dole
  • jak nahoře, tak dolewhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Esperanto kiel supre, tiel malsupre
  • kiel supre, tiel malsuprewhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
French ce qui est en haut est comme ce qui est en bas
  • ce qui est en haut est comme ce qui est en baswhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Greek όπως πάνω, έτσι και κάτω
  • όπως πάνω, έτσι και κάτω (ópos páno, étsi kai káto)what happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Hungarian ahogy fent, úgy lent
  • ahogy fent, úgy lentwhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Italian come in alto, così in basso
  • come in alto, così in bassowhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Latin quod est superius est sicut quod est inferius
  • quod est superius est sicut quod est inferiuswhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Polish jak wyżej, tak niżej
  • jak wyżej, tak niżejwhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Portuguese como em cima, assim embaixo, como é em cima, assim é embaixo
  • como em cima, assim embaixowhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
  • como é em cima, assim é embaixowhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Spanish como arriba, así abajo
  • como arriba, así abajowhat happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Turkish Yukarıda nasılsa, aşağıda da öyledir.
  • Yukarıda nasılsa, aşağıda da öyledir.what happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Yiddish ווי אויבן, אַזוי אונטן
  • ווי אויבן (vi oybn)what happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
  • אַזוי אונטן (azoy untn)what happens on a higher level of reality also happens on lower levels
Cite this entry
APA

as above, so below. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20above%2C%20so%20below

MLA

“as above, so below.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20above%2C%20so%20below. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “as above, so below,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20above%2C%20so%20below.

Source: as above, so below on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.