Acceptance: A Hermetic Perspective on Embracing Life’s Flow
Atalanta Fugiens by Michael Maier Emblem 31. From Furnace and Fugue, (c) Brown University.
2024 was a year I intentionally dedicated to deep internal healing, radical self-care, and embracing my femininity with a steady, nourishing rhythm. And I followed through with devotion.
I built consistent self-care rituals that supported my physical and emotional well-being—early morning Pilates, monthly acupuncture and massage appointments, and meaningful changes to my diet. I’ve learned to treat myself with more love and respect, and in turn, I’ve seen a profound shift in how I think, feel, and show up in the world.
I also committed to serving others in a more structured and aligned way. I launched a new website and began hosting guided meditations on the New and Full Moons—sacred spaces where I witness true transformation in those I serve. This offering has been one of the most rewarding parts of my year.
Beyond that, I’ve started speaking to myself with more kindness. I’ve become far less tolerant of unkindness from others. I’ve grown more discerning about where—and with whom—I invest my energy.
These are real, meaningful milestones. And I’m proud of the woman I’ve become through this process.
But as the new year dawned and I came up for air to set fresh goals, I realized something: despite all this progress, life was still challenging my sense of control. It’s been difficult—sometimes heartbreaking.
I’ve wondered: Haven’t I done enough inner work? Shouldn’t things feel easier by now?
And yet… isn’t that the lesson?
When we commit to evolving, life doesn’t necessarily get easier—but it becomes more truthful. More real. What I’ve been wrestling with is this: striving to “be better” often brings with it more responsibility, deeper emotions, and the uncomfortable shedding of the old self. It’s messy and humbling. But maybe that's the point.
If I were to define what “being a better person” means to me, it would be this: someone who lives with integrity, humility, compassion, and generosity. Someone who is committed to creative expression, joy, and healing. Someone who honors the past, lives in the present, and takes empowered action toward the future.
That’s the person I’m becoming. And yet, as I’ve done this work, external changes have naturally followed—shifts in work, relationships, even home. At times, it’s felt destabilizing. But in reflecting on it all, I keep coming back to one word: acceptance.
From a Hermetic perspective, acceptance is a vital part of self-mastery and personal growth. Acceptance in this context is not about passivity or resignation—it’s about aligning with the natural flow of life. It’s a spiritual art form, one that allows us to move with grace through change.
Here are five practical insights from Hermetic wisdom that have helped me embrace acceptance and find greater peace:
1. Acceptance Aligns You with Divine Order
Hermetic philosophy teaches that the universe follows laws and patterns that naturally lead to harmony. When we resist reality, we disrupt that harmony—within ourselves and in our lives. Acceptance means trusting that even when life feels chaotic, there’s an underlying intelligence at work.
Pause and reflect on how challenges in your life might be guiding you toward growth. When faced with resistance, ask, “How is this teaching me something I need to learn?”
2. Acceptance is the Path to Inner Alchemy
Personal transformation is an alchemical process - it takes time and effort to push against the resistance that comes with growing into a new level of your potential. Just as base metals are refined into gold, our resistance can be transmuted into wisdom and clarity when we embrace what is. Practicing acceptance allows us to integrate life’s experiences rather than fighting against them.
The next time you encounter frustration or disappointment, try journaling about how this moment might lead to a better version of yourself. Transformation often begins with a shift in perspective.
3. Acceptance Requires Non-Attachment
Our suffering often stems from attachment—whether to specific outcomes, identities, or ideas of how things should be. By consciously releasing these attachments, we open up space for trusting the unfolding process of life. Acceptance doesn’t mean we don’t care; it means we’re willing to let go of the need for control.
Practice non-attachment by focusing on effort rather than outcome. Ask yourself, “What can I do with integrity in this moment?” Then release the rest.
4. Acceptance is Active, Not Passive
True acceptance isn’t about throwing up your hands in defeat. It’s about acknowledging reality as it is while choosing to respond intentionally rather than react emotionally. This is part of the mastery of the self—moving from a place of grounded awareness.
When faced with a challenge, take a moment to breathe deeply and center yourself. Instead of reacting immediately, ask, “What is the most aligned response I can offer here?”
5. Self-Acceptance Reflects Universal Harmony
The Hermetic Principle of Corespondance (“…as within, so without”)- reminds us that our inner world shapes our outer experience. Acceptance of the self—your strengths, imperfections, and everything in between—is the foundation for finding peace in the world around you.
Spend time each day acknowledging something you appreciate about yourself. This could be as simple as, “I handled that conversation with grace,” or, “I am proud of the effort I made today.” Small acts of self-acceptance ripple outward into all areas of life.
Embracing Life’s Flow
Acceptance isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a lifelong practice. It invites us to soften our grip, to surrender to life without giving up on our dreams. Growth often requires dismantling old structures—outdated beliefs, patterns, and identities—so that something new, more aligned, can emerge.
The ongoing practice of acceptance allows life to flow through you, rather than holding onto attachments of how things “should” be. By softening resistance and integrating the lessons life brings with openness, we’re able to receive the wisdom and clarity embedded in each moment. You can extract the fruits of hidden lessons almost like a treasure hunt. Over time, this creates resilience. Balance. Inner peace.
Acceptance doesn’t giving up on your dreams or settling for less. It means collaborating with the universe instead of fighting against it. And in that collaboration, we find the flow that carries us forward. This process requires patience and trust. By embracing acceptance as a practice, you align with life’s natural rhythm—finding the flow that carries you forward.