
The text below is based on the 1966 FOUNDING DOCUMENT OF THE GNOSTIC PAGAN TRADITION.
It should be noted that the term “TRADITION” indicates a System or School of Ritual, and not necessarily a linear descent from a consistent historical source. The early Gnostics referred to the various groups aligned with a particular Gnostic perspective “Schools.” The term “tradition” today implies a static philosophy that does not appropriately represent modern Gnosticism in general or The Gnostic Pagan Tradition in particular.
The final revision of
THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT
Year of OurSELF
2007

“Now, therefore, I am known to
ye, by my name, Nuit, and to him by
1.22
A secret name which I will give him when at last he knoweth me.
Since I am the Infinite Space, and the Infinite Stars thereof, do ye
also
thus. Bind nothing! Let there be no difference made among you
between any one thing and any other thing; for thereby there
cometh hurt.”
Aleister Crowley
The Book of the Law 777
Aleister
Crowley
(1875-1947)
Renowned and
infamous British occultist who termed his extensive metaphysical philosophy, “Scientific
Illuminism.” An Ikon (Spiritual Image) to some, a degenerate renegade to
others, Crowley was a prolific writer and virtual encyclopedia for those
interested in eastern and western mystical practices and wisdom.
The Gnostic Pagan
School incorporates Aleister Crowley’s interpretation of the New Aeon as being
that of The Conquering Child (Horus). We acknowledge his Kabalistic formulae
and many of his esoteric concepts—despite the fact that they are often tied
into interpretations of the Old Testament, a series of patriarchal documents
that our Tradition primarily reject.
We must distance
ourselves from Crowley’s cult like self-elevation, and his seemingly casual
acceptance of ritual animal sacrifice.
We do not recognize
the validity of the notion that Aleister Crowley was in some way the
personification of “The Beast 666” mentioned in the Jehovian absurdity known as
REVELATION (Apocalypse)—which, in itself, is a bitter
restatement of the Book of Daniel.
However, if we are
to understand Crowley’s meaning, the formula corresponds to “MAN.”
The Gnostic Pagan
accepts that as referring to all and every hu-man or womb-man.
In our opinion, if
666 signify anything “Satantic” in this context, the number is most likely a
coded term referring to the Roman Tyrant, Nero Caesar (37-68 Common Era), or a
composite of Nero, Herod Agrippa I (10-44 C.E.), and Herod Agrippa II (50-93
C.E.)
It would be a
mistake to take Crowley’s hyperbole too seriously, or to accept his eccentric
personality quirks as gospel.
[See also, "666"
& HISTORICAL MATERIALISM]

Animus ad amplitudinem Mysteriorum
pro modulo suo dilatetur; non
Mysteria ad angustias animi constringantur.
Let the mind, so far as it can be open to the fullness of the
Mysteries;
Let not the mysteries be constrained to fit
the narrow confines of the mind.
—Francis Bacon (1561-1626)

Since psyche
and matter are contained in one and the same world,
and moreover
are contained in continuous contact with one another
and ultimately
rest on irrepresentable, transcendental factors,
it is not only
possible but fairly probable, even, that
psyche and
matter are two different aspects of one
and the same
thing.
— Carl Jung
“On the Nature of the Psyche”
The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche
Vol. 8 Collected Works (1981)
Glossary
AEON. Allegorical designation of time
marked in years, millennia and/or astrological ages. According to the GNOSTIC PAGAN
definition, the biological (literal/historic) length of an Aeon intersects
and encompasses 3 astrological Ages. The Legend of Jesus Christ marked
the beginning of the Piscean Age and the final phase of the Osirian Aeon.
This formulation differs significantly from Crowley’s, yet, in Gnostic terms,
the two views complement, rather than necessarily cancel, each other out.
The School recognizes 2001 CE as the 1st Year of OurSELF
2007 & children born from that point on as the 1st Generation of Humanity.
AMUN. Also, Amoun (pronounced Ah-moon). Egyptian primordial god of
creation. In Gnostic Pagan terminology, AMUN is the Ultimate Ground-of-Being;
the Supreme point of the Infinite—Nothingness and Perfect Light; neither Male
nor Female, yet encompassing all duality & beyond human sexual polarity.
MAHASHAKTI.
The
Gnostic Pagan School now prefers the term UNIFIED AWARENESS in place of any
anthropological representation for “God,” The Nameless & Hidden One.
DAEMON. Also: DAIMON. A personal psychic archetype
specific to each individual; variously known as GENIUS, PATRON, GUARDIAN ANGEL,
ATMAN, HIGHER SELF, THE KEEPER and PROTECTOR OF THE INNER REALMS. Personal
union with the Daemon is called TRANSFIGURATION (see below). Also,
MULTI-DIMENSIONL UNIFIED AWARENESS (MAGICK). SHIVA-SHAKTI.
DIVINE
CONSCIOUSNESS. Bipolar
intersection formulating the terrestrial bridge between the human (biological)
and the psychic (daemonic) expressions of physical and spiritual existence.
Multi-dimensional unified awareness (magick). PARAMSHIVA. UNIFIED AWARENESS.
FORMULA. Oral and/or
written magickcal/ancestral tradition utilized to effect physical
transformation (TRANSUBSTANTIATION and TRANSFIGURATION.)
GNOSTIC.
From the Greek gnosis,
knowledge, and signifies knowledge of the mind and of the heart
(understanding). The Union (Yoga) of PURUSHA and PRAKRITI.
THE
GODDESS/THE GOD.
Universal metaphysical principles of Shakti (female) and Shiva (male) polarity.
They become, or cyclically return, through human experience as
archetypes (Archons), yet, paradoxically, pre-exist humanity, representing the
Fundamental Condition required for the Continuation of Existence. The religious
decision of the Gnostic Pagan Tradition to invoke the formulae of The Goddess
and The God is a matter of individual, cultural choice—in contrast to society’s
blind acquiescence to a “spiritual” system, externally imposed by
institutionalized, conformist mandate.
The Gnostic Pagan
Tradition formulates ISIS (North-Earth-Orientation), OSIRIS
(West-Water-Transference/Emotion), HORUS (East-Air-Projection) and MA’AT
(South-Fire-Foundation/Sensation) as the 4 Principle Powers of Manifestation,
capable of transmitting the Gnosis of all intermediaries and cosmic forces—for
the exceptions of NUIT and SET (see below).
[See also, GNOSTIC PAGAN PANTHEON & CORRESPONDENCES]
IKON. Sacred Image of The Goddess or The
God, or other multi-dimensional beings—these Images are often believed to be
endowed with psychic or spiritual power. In fact, it is we as the Celebrants of
Life who endow these images with this power.
INTERNATIONAL
COLLECTIVISM.
Awareness of the necessity to implement an egalitarian and harmonious planetary
economic and social system—and based on an enlightened majority consent.
[See also, 1ST GENERATION SOCIALIST FORUM]
KA. Ancient Egyptian term signifying
the Spiritual Twin, “double,” or soul. Traditionally there are several layers
or forms of the soul, such as the Ba, casual body, astral body, etc. The
Gnostic Pagan Tradition uses the term Ka as an all-inclusive one referring to
the sum total metaphysical or trans-physical characteristics existent in the
human psyche.
The Body of Light.
KALI
YUGA. Hindu concept;
final era of destruction; last stage of the Osirian Aeon represented
spiritually by the tyranny of the Demiurge (MORTAL EGO MIND) and the Old Aeon
Religions represented by Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
KUNDALINI. Biopsychic energy associated with
the practice of yoga. Most Hindu terms utilized in this document are connected
with kundalini yoga, the Serpent Fire Power coiled at the base of the spinal
cord.
MAYA. All-pervasive invisible membrane
of cosmic manifestation emanating from Amun, allowing the appearance and
illusion of the universe.
NUIT
(pronounced new-eet). Creative Reflection of Amun and Maya; Mother of Isis and Osiris.
Nuit represents Infinite Space, the Universal Night Sky and Material Creation.
Her Reality was later vested in the false god Jehovah. DIVASHAKTI.
RADICAL
INDIVIDUALISM. The
fullest extent a person can ideally express non-conformity & true nature in
society within a proactive context.
SET.
Primordial male force (Shiva) of physical manifestation and illusion,
absorbed by Horus as represented in The Conquering Child. The triad of
Osiris-Horus-Set is personified by the transformation-god Anubis, Lord of the
Dead.
TRANSFIGURATION. Personal contact and union with the Daemon. Crowley termed this "Knowledge and Conversation of The Holy Guardian Angel" upon "Crossing the Abyss." The Initiate becomes One with the Daemon (Atman or Christ). Karma (Power of the Archons) ceases with the dissolution of mortal ego-mind (the "Demiurge" of False Values, Glamour and Illusion), and then the Celebrant walks confidently on the Path of Right Action (Samahdi, "the sinless state.") The perceived conflict between Matter & Spirit is reconciled. The battle between “internal” and “external” Consciousness ends in a new Unity.
The
Ancestors in conjunction with Historic Necessity have established the
foundation for this Revolutionary Event—that is, the Self-Generation of a NEW
LIFE FORM, capable of honoring the Past and gathering strength from the Past,
WITHOUT BEING TRAPPED BY IT. The closer we “become as (loving) gods,” the
nearer we get to the Root of PANTHEISM, closing the primordial breech between
Heaven & Earth.
TRANSUBSTANTIATION. The transformation of the Eucharist during the Orthodox and Roman Catholic Mass in which the offertory bread and wine are believed to be mystically converted into the actual body and blood of Jesus Christ (the Dying God, according to the Ancient Mysteries of Egypt and other lands.) The Gnostic Pagan Tradition uses the term to represent the achievement of The Great Work on an individual level—the transformation of the Celebrant physically and spiritually into a self-evolved sphere of consciousness (TRANSFIGURATION). Metaphysical Conversion.
[The School no longer uses the term
TRANSUBSTANTIATION as it implies a mortal ego misconception of duality
inherited from The Ancestors. This perceived split between Spirit and Matter is
resolved through TRANSFIGURATION.]
UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL CULTURE. Ultimate Goal of the New Aeon, elevating the psychic awareness of the Collective Human Race and its revolutionary and harmonious expression on the planet. UNIVERSAL SPIRITUAL CULTURE is a sociological expression of EARTH BASED RELIGION & PANTHEISM.
To
expand on this concept Readers should bear in mind that our concept of Religion
in The New Aeon is solely a process of inner revelation and union with the
Higher Self (Transfiguration). Obviously the Human Race has a very long way to
go before the majority attains this level of individuality & self-creation,
and as the saying goes, “INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (OF SPRITUAL PRACTICE) MAY VARY…”
AEON OF SET. Indeterminate length of terrestrial time connected with the pre-antediluvian age, including the initial appearance of humanoids and non-civilized Homo sapiens. Representing the Fiery Aspect of Earth.
AEON OF ISIS. Civilized, prehistoric matriarchal society intersecting the Cancerian and Taurian Ages. For the most part human society was communistic and an individual male’s role in procreation was generally not known, except to Initiates who were both the first Scientists and Shamans. The Earthy Aspect of Water.
AEON OF OSIRIS. Patriarchal society
intersecting the Taurian and Piscean Ages. Individual male role in procreation
known and jealously guarded. Emergence of private property and laws of
inheritance. The Divine Mysteries degraded and the rise of divisive religious
doctrines. The Watery Aspect of Air.
AS
THE FINAL DAYS of the last millennium and Aeon of Osiris draw to a predictably
sorrowful and violent conclusion, the New Aeon of the Conquering Child begins amidst
the escalating wreckage of Kali Yuga.
The Old Aeon of baptism in blood, pain and ego isolation (i.e. alienation and undeserved feelings of guilt) gives birth to the New Aeon manifestation of Divine Mind-in-Matter, or Scientific Illumination; the philosophy of Pantheism adapted by The Gnostic Pagan School during the unfolding era.
All Consciousness is magickal (Crowley) and potentially revolutionary, and may be likened to a black hole or a supernova—it shadows or enlightens, creates from Nothing and returns to nothing.
Crowley spelled “magickal” with the
added “k” in order to distinguish his philosophy from the performing stage
notion of the word. One of AC’s phrases (formula) regarding “magick” is MAGICK
= THE ART OF LIVING.
The Gnostic Pagan School discourages the use of the term with or without the special spelling, as it tends to be archaic and distracting (in that “magick” to the modern mind suggests triviality, falseness, and illusion—NOT a deeply felt and directly experienced PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE. The School will substitute words like “Ritual” or “Unified Awareness” for “magick” as appropriate.
MAGICK IS
THE ART OF LIVING CHANGE
Thoughts
arise from a perceived conflict within Matter. This is the understanding of
Historical or Dialectical Materialism, and the force responsible for the
scientific development of the Collective Human Race.
It is through Devotion (Bhakti) that
the conflicting and discordant thoughts—so necessary for technological
progress—are reconciled and brought back into Unity (Yoga).
At each thoughtful moment of time we weigh, judge, reason, praise or condemn; we create or destroy—often simultaneously—and by so doing, we collectively shape and fashion the material world around us by the projection of THOUGHT FORMS.
Scientific advancement and technology have provided the material basis to liberate consciousness from the grosser bonds of biological, mortal reality. However, daemonic or psychic reality (the flip-side of mortal reality) remains trapped by individual and collective negative energy—primarily reflected by ignorance, insecurity, violence and possessiveness—maintaining that intense state of violence and spiritual depression invariably associated with the Old Aeon.
No single creed or political program is responsible for the appearance of mass alienation in the world today—rather, it is the culminating result of the thought and belief system of every man, woman, and child who are fixed in reactionary dogma—currently enforced by the dominance of Corporate State Capitalism, and that crumbling perversion of Socialism—Communist Dictatorship.
We Celebrate the
New Child, who conquers through sensual understanding and transcendental
awareness, free from the sense of guilt imposed by organized religion and the
fear inspired by a reactionary social & economic system.
Many Gnostics—particularly those Pagans, Jews and Christians living in the (Gnostic Pagan) Mother City of Alexandria—were materially prosperous, cosmopolitan, and socially respected. They avidly investigated all branches of esoteric tradition, including Kaballah, hermetic teachings, and magick ritual. These early metaphysical pioneers were also interested in scientific and philosophical research. Emulating these classical role models, contemporary Gnostic Pagans do not advocate living outside society. On the contrary, we are gratified to attract society’s most valued members—and critics—as channels for affirmative change.
This is not to claim that there were not charlatans
counted among the Gnostics—as well as among the other religious systems of the
time. The arena of religion and metaphysics has always had its overly abundant
share of manipulative--or simply silly--believers and confidence
tricksters—those who seek only to change physical lead into gold, or who seek
to gain some other mundane benefit. However, there were also the more refined
Initiates—those who sought reunion with the highest spiritual current or vibration.
Celebrants of this caliber exist today, who follow the Sacred Path of the
Magickal Tradition only as a means to elevate the Individual and Collective
Experience.
Traditional Gnostic Christianity thrived briefly 0-400 Common Era (with varying degrees of revival during the Crusades, the Renaissance, and, of course, our own era), during the Aeon of Osiris, and represented a minority faction of believers who grafted Hermetic and other Pagan formulae onto a Early Christian foundation—rejecting the growing materialism of the increasingly powerful (and intolerant) Christian Establishment. As a result of their spiritual integrity and disdain for centralized authority, Gnostic Christians—intuitively brilliant and tragically ahead of their time—were doomed to political and physical extermination
Our Gnostic Pagan Tradition accepts the Symbol of the Dying God (Osiris, Dionysus, Christ, etc.) as a valid revelation, and that the Mystery of Voluntary Body & Blood Sacrifice represents a Path of evolutionary Spiritual Consciousness (Gnosis). Gnostic Christians viewed this tradition in their own way—as did many splinter groups and sects, including the persecuted Cathars and Mandaeans (a non-Christian sect still living a precarious existence in sections of Iran and Iraq. These) Likewise, Theosophists, Rosicrucians, as well as a growing segment of Kabalists, Wiccans, Neo-Pagans, and other sincere individuals and groups incorporate various aspects of Pagan Gnosticism into their metaphysical belief systems.
Certain Gnostic
Christian sects also encouraged sexual equality by the practice of a rotating
priesthood that included men and women—and was philosophically expressed by
their ranking of Mary Magdalene on an equal level with the other apostles, even
ascribing a gospel to her. One tradition asserts that Mary Magdalene married
Jesus and bore at least one child by him. The legend goes on to claim that
after the Crucifixion she then fled from persecution to live out her days in a
section of a country today known as France. The successive generations from
this Mary-Jesus union, the tradition states, form the living basis behind the
Legend of the Holy Grail. Supposedly this cult continues even today, centered
at the allegorical Montsalvat, the Mountain of Salvation, in the Pyrenees.
Recent archaeological discoveries in the Middle East have “rehabilitated” the
character of Mary Magdalene. Most scholars have rejected the idea that “the
historical Mary” was a prostitute and replaced it with the theory that not only
was she an equal to the other disciples; but was in fact a major player. After
all, it was Mary Magdalene who first reported the resurrection of Christ after
seeing him in the form of a Gardener. Mary embodied the true inner meaning of
the Christo-Pagan doctrine: CHRIST HAD RISEN AGAIN WITHIN HER OWN SELF.
Other metaphysical systems have also been known to pass down through ancient bloodlines.
Most Gnostics
rejected the Judaeo-Christian status quo as a deceptive and illusory entrapment
of the “Demiurge” (what we now call mortal ego-mind), and in its place promoted
a belief in salvation by which the individual Celebrant directly unites with
divine or cosmic consciousness, a sacred process metaphorically described as THE GREAT WORK.
JIVANMUKTI is the Hindu form of this process—and only in a strictly allegorical sense does it have anything to do with the transforming of base metal into gold.
As incarnations-in-nature we derive power from the full range of organic and metaphysical (or applied both together we now term Trans-physical) sources; and as partners in the Macrocosmic patterns and currents of reality, we return this power, positively—or negatively—transformed through consciousness, back into the environment.
We believe that the human brain is capable of acting as a conduit for UNIFIED AWARENESS, and we practice Spiritual Ritual as an expression of the essence of our spiritual Birthright.
The decision to practice Gnostic Pagan Ritual is to affirm a psychic commitment to follow a specific formula or discipline in order to achieve a desired result. In the case of The Gnostic Pagan School, that commitment takes the specific form of acknowledging THE GREAT WORK, and to actively encourage not only its personal accomplishment, but a collective one as well.
Unlike the Early Gnosticism, MODERN GNOSTICISM does not disdain or retreat from the physical world or the Collective Plane.
The images, ritual design and symbols we employ reflect the selected parameters we work within in order to channel and release deep rooted archetypal forces or Spiritual Currents, and by so doing, realize our highest state of manifestation in THIS world.
According to Rationalists or Literalists, Celebrants
of Spiritual Ritual are people who are unable to empirically prove the belief
systems they participate in.
This may well be true, but what a dull world it would
be without that sense of magick and mystery. In fact, as Rationalists and
Literalists increasingly dominate, the world threatens to grow shallower and
smaller and more polluted each day.
And
why just pick on Spiritual Celebrants?
NOT ONE FORM OF RELIGION OR SPIRITUAL PRACTICE CAN BE
EMPIRICALLY PROVEN TO BE “TRUE.”
Also,
in terms of empiricism, the theories of evolution and relativity cannot YET be
fully proven; however, most rational and scientifically minded people
(including Modern Gnostics) accept these theories as viable operating concerns.
The
whole point of Spiritual Practice is that it opens vistas beyond so-called
“concrete” reality.
Ritual can be psychologically
cleansing, uplifting—and fun.
Gnostic
Pagans participate in non-empirical, yet esthetically pleasing, Trans-Physical
belief system that can be more fundamentally meaning-full than any strictly
materialistic, “rational” (and often de-meaning) or mechanistic world-view.
Modern
Gnostic Pagan Ritual (freed from a lot of Early Gnostic baggage) enhances a
sense of well-being and psychic unity; and establishes a deeper organic
connection within its Celebrants and the physical, externalized environment.
What
CAN be “proven” regarding the Old Aeon religious beliefs systems promoted by
State Judaeo-Christianity and Islam, is the historic fact that their typically
divisive set of doctrines based on the Old Testament and the Koran, has
inflicted pain on people and created much sorrow, despair, and confusion in the
world.
As
Modern Gnostics, we ENCOURAGE critical thinking.
We
believe that we learn most from those who do not happen to agree with us.
And
we also believe a strong dose of Existentialist Skepticism is A GOOD THING.
The magical belief system we are
exploring seeks only to expand the depth of our relationship with the totality
of existence and, consequently, to enhance our appreciation of Creation to the
fullest extent possible. Gnostic Pagan
Celebrants do this without harming others or trying to convince others that our
Spiritual Path is the only “correct” road on which to travel.
The Gnostic Pagan School recognizes the allegorical
& psychic validity of The Christ Mythos, yet unlike most Christians
(including most contemporary Gnostic Christians), we do not solely practice or
follow the Jesus Cult.
[NOTE: The School teaches that, based on the most
recent information, The Jesus Legend is just that, i.e. a myth.]
Originally the Gnostic Pagan School termed its formula
Pan-Psychic Materialism, but now prefers the phrase Trans-Physics.
This formula differs significantly from the Early Gnostic
worldview. (1) Our Tradition uses the term “Psychic” to include the Unity of
Spirit, rather than a stage of development to be overcome. (2) We seek to
transform the Earth, whereas the vast majority of Early Gnostic sects sought to
escape it.
The Gnostic Pagan Tradition utilizes Graeco-Egyptian
names for the multidimensional Beings we honor and invoke—but this in no way
should be construed as an attempt on our part to revive or mimic the Ancient
Egyptian Religion—although we give reverence to these Ancestors of the
Collective Race. We are reformulating the attributions of these deities for
contemporary psychic working.
The School also ritualizes the deities of other
cultures, seeing in them manifestations of one, or combinations of, The Four Powers—Isis, Osiris, Horus, and Ma’at.
THE GNOSTIC PAGAN SCHOOL respects, or at least
tolerates, the spiritual beliefs of others, provided they remain democratic in
principle and in action—and refrain from reactionary calls for “Holy Wars” or
advocate political oppression based on racial, religious, sexual, or ethnic
bias.
THE SCHOOL celebrates the
Liberation of Consciousness manifesting throughout the unfolding Aeon of The Conquering Child commencing 2001 CE.
Return to THE GNOSTIC PAGAN SCHOOL INDEX

Updated 01/07