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Every Friday 6.30pm (UK). RECORDINGS available: click this link, enter password Wine – https://vimeo.com/showcase/virtualmembersbar
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Reply To: A Gnostic creation myth – May 21
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NOTES
Source: “Secret book of John”, Translation and commentary: Stevan Davies
A Gnostic creation myth
1. Observation of the world – its laws are not what a beneficent deity would have constructed. Something went wrong.
2. It’s not all the fault of humans. They don’t seem to be wired correctly in the first place.
3. The fault is in the system where we find ourselves. We may be more the victims rather than the cause. What is our task then? (BIG QUESTION).
Kabballah, Gnosticism, Cathars all begin with a transcendent deity. Indescribable, beyond imagining, loving, – What existed before the Big Bang – PLEROMA – pure consciousness
PLEROMA formed an image, conception of itself – Virgin Spirit – Divine Feminine.
Foreknowledge – Life
Truth – Incorruptibility
Formed by reflection
Father looked at Barbelo, in a spark conceived the only begotten (Christ)
12 aeons with names such as:
Mind – Will
Word – Goodness
Grace – Truth
13thaeon – Sophia (Wisdom)
Pleroma is complete, perfect, balanced, each power works in consort with its partner
The universe in its early stages
Sophia – conceived a thought. Wanted to create without the participation of her partner.
Creation – formless, an abortion. Face of a lion, lightning from the eyes.
Yaldabaoth
Her light went into it.
She is expelled from the Pleroma along with Yaldabaoth
1. He knows nothing of the Pleroma
2. Has a creative light
3. Thinks he is the only god.
4. Without an inspired plan, he creates the cosmos. Planets, and then Man
Sophia repents – is received below the 13thaeon. But cannot return to the Pleroma
Her light ends up in human beings. Yaldabaoth was tricked into breathing life into Adam and Sophia’s light ended up there. Our task is to make that light conscious, and to release it – so that the Pleroma can be restored. We have help – release it
Origin of Humanity
The Powers see the image of Man (androgynous) in the waters. Man was conceived by Barbelo. They decided to make a form in that image. Installing qualities that they saw, or thought they saw. They build his body – the best they can. Adam is lifeless.
Sophia misses her light. She wants it back. So she turns to the father/mother for help. The Father/Mother sends the Five Lights. The Five Lights whisper to Yaldabaoth, blow some of your spirit into Adam. Adam starts to glow, he is filled with Sophia’s light. The powers know that Adam is more powerful than they and cast him to the bottom of the world.
Father/Mother, sorrowing for the loss of Sophia’s light, sends a spirit to help man. Zoe (Epinoia). She teaches Adam how he descended to the world, and of the way of ascent. Epinoia was hidden in Adam so the rulers couldn’t find her.
Rulers took Adam and placed him in Paradise. Tree of Knowledge (of good and evil) is the tree of Epinoia. Yaldabaoth made Adam unconscious, forgetful, hoping to steal his light. He looked for Epinoia, but couldn’t find her. Finally he separated Eve out of Adam, modeled after Epinoia. Adam saw the light-filled Epinoia, and woke up. That light is his insight, that guides him to his home.