Contemplative Exercises

[Basic familiarity with Gnosticism, some Gnostic texts, and Contemplative practice or meditation will be helpful. The reader is directed to the Basics menu, and in particular the article on Contemplation and Meditation]

The regular practice of contemplation upon a series of concepts, can serve as a fundamental tool for a spiritual path. Such practices can be helpful to developing consistency and commitment. We can make a point to actively invite increasing awareness. We can repeatedly take the time to be receptive and open, to reflect upon spiritual principles. This can be very nurturing, empowering, and illuminating.

Contemplative Cross

Depth in Grace's Fullness
Wisdom and Power in Gnosis

One practice I regularly use for focusing my psyche and centering it upon Spiritual Principles in a harmonious or balanced way, involves these ideas: a Divine Depth Above; the overflowing of Grace available whatever I may experience in the world below; Fullness calling me from my spiritual center and filling me within; Spiritual Wisdom that that may be received; Spiritual Power that may be reclaimed and used wisely; and Illumination by Gnosis at the center of my life and being.

Spending a moment or so with each idea, in silence, while gently returning the mind to the subject if it wanders, is a good introduction to contemplation. These concepts are at the center of Gnostic texts and teachings, and so they serve as a useful basis for Gnostic contemplative practice.

These subjects of contemplation are suggested by readings of the teachings of Valentinians and also by reflection upon texts which are labeled 'Sethian' like the Apocryphon of John.

Depth refers to the awesome transcendence of the primordial spiritual potential and source of goodness that we may participate in, that is beyond comparison to human concepts or ordinary language. It is called Deep in the sense of an ocean far beyond the scope of grandeur any human brain can contain. It may be indicated by terms such as the Hidden Father or the Great Invisible Holy Spirit. (In Greek Depth is Bythos, pronounced 'BEE-THOSS')

Grace is associated with the Divine Idea, the Divine Mind, Forethought or the First Thought that reflects entirely upon such Divine Depth. The Divine Idea, Mind, Forethought, is associated with many concepts in Gnostic texts. Among such concepts are Grace, an overflowing essence of spiritual giving, a giving that gives without loss. The Greek work for Grace forms the basis of the word Charity. It is associated with the nurturing Mother-Father, Womb of the Entirety, Barbelo. It is spiritually nurturing and ever-present to all that is spiritual. It weaves itself within the language and expression of lesser entities. (In Greek Grace is Charis, pronounced with a hard 'Ch' that is like a breathy 'Kh' sound, 'KHA-RISS')

Fullness at once calls to mind all the qualities we might call Divine, and also the fulfillment of all such divine qualities in action, beyond time and space, in fruition. (In Greek Fullness is Pleroma, pronounced 'PLAY-ROWE-MAH')

Wisdom/Sophia is mentioned in many Gnostic texts. Sophia (Wisdom) is said to have lost some of her Spiritual Power or Light to the darkness below. The entire story of Gnostic Salvation is often described as involving the reclamation of this stolen spiritual power or lost light, and the integrating of such power with wisdom, so that wisdom will not be impotent or stuck in a non-spiritual state of lack of fullness. (Sophia, Greek for Wisdom, is pronounced 'SOWE-FEE-AH' as in English)

Power as a spiritual principle of light, is intimately connected to the story of Sophia. Dynamic energy is active in its power. Dynamics describe the relative power of musical passages, and also the processes, essence, and qualities of interaction in relationships between people and things. (Power in Greek is Dynamis, pronounced 'DEE-NAH-MISS')

Gnosis involves this integration of Spiritual Wisdom with the Spiritual Power that belongs to it. It involves the reclaiming of stolen spiritual energy and the empowerment of the Spark within, so that the reflected light may be purified, or so that trapped Light may ascend again. Illumination allows worldliness to be transcended. With such empowerment integrated with wisdom, we do not use power in mere worldly and corrupt ways or abuse power, nor do we dis-empower wisdom by mistaking wisdom with mere worldly craftiness. The wisdom that is spiritually empowered is shaped/formed by that which is spiritually desirable.

Variants:

Focus Upon a Keyword

A variation of this exercise involves simply spending some time in silence with the individual key words: Depth (Bythos), Grace (Charis), Fullness (Pleroma), Wisdom (Sophia), Power (Dynamis), Gnosis (Gnosis). As with contemplative or meditative practice generally, any distraction can be allowed to fade as the mind is gently re-directed to the current concept/focus.

Applying Symbolism

Some forms of contemplation utilize the imagination. One way to utilize imagination is to orient awareness in a direction (above, front, center...), by directing attention above the head or to the side, etc.

The idea of Divine Depths indicates transcendence and suggests an above-ness. The Divine Depths are beyond our minds, over our heads, deeper than our hearts. This can be represented by a symbolic orientation of the imagination upward, above the head. The nurturing overflowing of Grace in our experience, the presence of Grace on a spiritual level, available no matter how far we descend, suggests symbolic representation below, beneath our body, below our feet. The Fullness available to our core being suggests symbolism of the heart or chest. Receptivity to wisdom can be suggested by symbolic association of the left side with receptivity. Spiritual direction of Power can be suggested by symbolic association of activity or strength with the right side. The integrated power of wisdom together in the fullness of Gnosis can be indicated symbolically by a central focus again in the heart region.

I often use these associations to orient my attention above, below, center, etc. I think of the key word for the concept, mentally noting it in silence, receptive, orienting my attention above or below, etc. I suggest this as a regular practice, once the concepts become familiar. It is worth taking some time with each idea and really reflecting on all the associations, and then spending a while in silence, receptive. The key concept can be used as a way to draw the mind back to focus as needed, at each stage. I.e., the mind wanders, and I think again "Depth" and re-orient my attention far above my head beyond the limits of the universe.

Simplified

When discussing such ideas and variations, it is easy to get distracted or bogged down in complexities. Simplifying is often helpful, especially since all the complexity is intended to point the mind beyond the superficial qualities of words. Basic contemplation is very simple, and even with a series of ideas with such complex associations and nuances, the actual practice is one of praying and focusing on a concept and then sitting quietly, receptive, and that's it. It just helps to have something for the mind to do to re-orient itself. For some, a directional focus or image is very helpful, while for others a word is most effective. Others find a combination of symbols useful. But contemplation itself is receptive and silent, it is not busy with such complexities.

The simplest approach is to just use the keywords in sequence, with moments of silence in between:

Depth..., Grace..., Fullness..., Wisdom..., Power..., Gnosis...

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For those who are more comfortable with specific directions, instructions for adding directional symbolism would be:

Above the head -- Divine Depth (Bythos)...
Below the feet -- Grace (Charis)...
Within Heart/Center -- Fullness (Pleroma)...
From Left Side -- Wisdom (Sophia)...
Toward Right Side -- Power (Dynamis)...
At the Heart/Center -- Gnosis...

(For each line orient awareness at the symbolic direction, direct the mind to the idea and use the key word and direction to re-orient the mind if it wanders, and spend some time in receptive silence before continuing)

Beginning and ending such practice with a prayer indicating your spiritual desire to be guided, nurtured, and to manifest spiritual fruit, is suggested.

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Illuminating Diamond

Light Brought Forth
Humanity Uplifted

Several Gnostic texts refer to Luminaries (light sources) and archetypal beings/concepts associated with these Luminaries. A Spark of Light, anointed (Christos) with the kindness (Chrestos) of the Great Holy Invisible Spirit, brings forth four luminaries (the texts often give various spellings of the names Harmozel, Oroiael, Dauethai, Eleleth). Then a diamond-Adam-Human Being of Light (Geradamas), its son Seth, Spirit (Pneuma) Seed of the Generation of Seth, and Souls (Psyche) which are of the Light, are brought forward.

I often reflect upon these concepts together, contemplatively.

Ger-Adamas

In such texts, it is the revelation of an image of the Light of Ger-Adamas that allowed for the reclamation of the stolen Spiritual Light Power of Wisdom. Because of the revelation of this light's image into the lower realms, because of the image of the primordial Ger-Adamas, lesser cosmic rulers were tricked into releasing the stolen spiritual power. Humanity had the power within it, and could take the power back. Reflected light could be purified and returned. It is because of this that the spiritual power would not be lost, that reflected light would not remain dull or tainted.

Seth

Seth the Son of Ger-Adamas (associated on other levels with the concepts of Son of the Human Being/Son of Man/ Third Son of Adam and Eve, Christ, etc.), is described in terms of a seed that grows and brings forth fruit. It is associated with the development of the light brought forth in humanity, the sort of development that then releases light or brings it forward, purifying souls and allowing spirit to return home. It is the seed-sower, the root of the king-less spiritual generation.

Spiritual Seeds of the Generation of Seth

The seeds sown and reclaimed are Spirit (Pneuma), called the spiritual generation of Seth.

Souls that Wander but Return

There are varied nuances of teachings about the nature of the light of Eleleth and its specific relations with reality outside of the Fullness, and of the Souls that eventually arrive inside the fullness after wandering in darkness. Sophia (Wisdom) and Abrasaks are associated with the light of Eleleth. The light of Eleleth is drawn intimately into the story of souls dealing with this world and the effort to reclaim such souls. Perfection is often said to be an Aeon or Quality in the Light of Eleleth. The light of the Souls associated with Eleleth are often said to be purified and then raised towards the Fullness, i.e., they are perfected. Sometimes it is said that seeds of spirit are sowed into souls that are suitable to house spirit. In that context, the Souls associated with Eleleth would be Souls that are of such nature to be able to house Sparks of Spirit, Souls that house Spirit.

Christ anointed with Kindness

The anointing of spirit by kindness and Gnosis, relates to the concept of the light of the Gnostic Christ bringing forward humanity to Spiritual fruit/fruition, through special revelations of Gnosis, through spiritual illumination and initiations in spiritual realities, through the Luminaries and the Archetypes and various Aeons, etc.

Types of Light

Harmozel and Geradamas refer to the light that is associated with the ideal Spiritual Humanity Above, which shines initiating light upon the world below. Oroiael and Seth (Son of Geradamas) refer to the light that is sown, revealed, fruitful, and saving. Dauethai and Spirit (Pneuma) refer to the related sparks that rise, and return. Eleleth and Soul (Psyche) refer to the reflected processes of such activity of purification and reclamation of light. Christ is the light that brought forth such lights and that shapes the fruition of such lights.

I contemplate these concepts while orienting my imagination directionally above, below, left, right, and center, keeping in mind the concept of a diamond.

I begin with the four lights, Harmozel [extending, initiating light] above, Oroiael [generating, revealing light] below, Daueithai [sown light, to be brought forth] on the right, Eleleth (pronounced Ay-Lay-Layth -- reflected light, to be perfected) on the left, Christ (anointing/anointed light, light of kindness) at the center. Receptive silence at each point is important. I follow this series of contemplative key concepts and directions with contemplation of the Archetypes associated with the lights: Geradamas above, Seth below, Spirit (Pneuma) to the right, Soul (Psyche) on the left, Illumination of Gnosis at the center. Again, spendign some time in receptive silence at each point is very important.

Note on pronunciation:

The 'e' at the end of Harmozel is a Greek Eta, which sounds like a long 'a', so it's like 'HAR-MOH-ZAYL'

Oroiael has an Omega as the first letter, which is a long 'o' as in 'owe', with an Eta at the end, so it sounds like 'OWE-RAH-EE-AH-AYL'

Daueithai has a strange sequence of vowels, but it isn't that hard because the 'au' is like the 'ow' in 'dowel', and the 'ei' is like the long 'a' in 'ate', the final 'ai' sounds like a long 'i' as in 'thigh', so it's like 'DOW-AY-THIGH'

Eleleth has three Etas in it, so it sounds like 'AY-LAY-LAYTH'

Christ (anointed), in Greek is Christos. Chrestos (a Greek word for Kindness/Goodness) sounded the same in ancient Greek. Christos and Chrestos are pronounced with a hard 'ch' like a 'K' followed by a breathy 'h' expiration. The 'o' in 'os' is an omnicron, so it is short. Christos sounds like 'KHRIS-TOSS'.

Simplified

The experience of contemplation is often an experience of using a simple focus (like a word, or a word combined with a direction or symbolic action, a small set of symbols, an event, a passage from a text) to orient the mind and heart to an abundance of associations that cannot be contained in such limited forms, with distractions counteracted by returning the attention to the focus of the exercise. The aim is to arrive at moments of receptive silence where the mind and heart are not distracted.

The use of a simple concept to re-direct the mind when it wanders, is not difficult. The concepts used in such exercises, can often be so over-laden with meaning that the attempt to explain their significance makes the entire practice seem more complicated and difficult than it is.

Those who are familiar with specific texts, themes, figures, and events that are important and meaningful in a particular tradition, and who have prayed and sought to learn from such a tradition, can find such nuances and complexities and depth of meaning intuitively.

All of this is much more easily understood after a prayerful reading of Gnostic texts, and some understanding of the basics of Gnosticism and contemplative prayer, as found on this site.

This series of reflections upon the Luminaries and their associated Archetypes can be simplified as follows:

Diamond of Light...
Above -- Harmozel (HAR-MOH-ZAYL)...
Below -- Oroiael (OWE-RAH-EE-AH-AYL)...
Right -- Daueithai (DOW-AY-THIGH)...
Left -- Eleleth (AY-LAY-LAYTH)...
Center -- Christos (KHRIS-TOSS)...
Above -- Ger-Adamas...
Below -- Seth...
Right -- Spirit/Pneuma (NEW-MAH)/Seed of Seth...
Left -- Soul/Psyche (SAI-KEE)...
Center -- Gnosis (NO-SIS)