The Kybalion: A Study of the Hermetic Philosophy of Ancient Egypt and Greece - Hardcoverby Three Initiates (Author) The Kybalion: Hermetic Philosophy, originally published in 1908 by a person or persons under the pseudonym of "the Three Initiates", is a book claiming to be the essence of the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus. The Kybalion was first published by the Yogi Publication Society. Purportedly based upon ancient Hermeticism, its philosophies, in conjunction with others, have become founding pillars within the New Thought movement