FOUNDING DOCUMENT

of the

GNOSTIC PAGAN TRADITION

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…”

THE AEONS OF EARTH

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.

PREFACE

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.

Continue THE FOUNDING DOCUMENT

 Return to THE GNOSTIC PAGAN SCHOOL INDEX

Updated 01/07

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