Gnostic Path

Perception-Reception-Imaging-Integration-Impulse

2006-08-15T03:23:00.000-05:00

There are better and worse ways to deal with the confusions and distortions of our mixed up experiences.

In The Apocryphon of John (an excellent translation is found in Bentley Layton's Gnostic Scriptures, and also in Barnstone/Meyer's Gnostic Bible) there are glimpses of the wholesomeness and goodness of the Divine Fullness which are contrasted with the nature of experience of Lack.

Perception is both an Aeon of the Spiritual Fullness, and also the worldly domain of forces of ignorance and perversion in this world of the flesh and bondage of the psyche. Spiritual reception is demonstrated in the spiritual realms repeatedly, and is also listed after perception in the realms of lack, and contrasted with the Demiurge's theft of power from Wisdom. Similarly the Image which is an Annointed Spark, Christ, corresponds to the distorted reality in the world of lack in various ways. The wholesomeness and Fullness of Spiritual integration of Aeons is again contrasted with the strife and confusion of the combined actions of rulers below. The impulse of Spiritual Will has its corrupted reflection in the impulses of the bodies of flesh and confused psyches and powers-that-be outside of the Divine Fullness.

Together the process of perception, reception, imaging, harmonizing/integrating images, and impulse to action, can be more or less dominated by lack outside of the Divine Fullness, or illuminated by light of insight. We can persistently work through these ideas, day by day, integrating new insights into our lives. By exploring such subjects and applying insights that are based firmly in our growing experience and increasing clarity, we may grow in Gnosis.

Perception

Reception

Imaging

Integration/Harmonizing of Images

Impulse to Action

[The reader is also directed to Against Archons June 2006 Archives and also the Against Archons July 2006 Archives, which offer additional reflections on these subjects, sometimes as counterpoint or as poetic reflection, sometimes simply as a reflection of my mundane concerns at the time I was making these posts on Gnostic Path. Against Archons is a bit more anarchistic in its approach, and a bit more personal in the sense of venting mundane frustrations and poetic fancy. I try to keep the two separate because I want Gnostic Path to be more focused and more free from such distractions and my personal ideosyncrasies. But often there is counterpoint or relevance, and in this case Against Archons addresses some of the problems of the realm of Lack very directly in terms of the confusion and frustration of perception, etc.]

Spiritual Desire/Will

2006-07-28T21:47:00.000-05:00

Apocryphon of John Study

The impulses to action that arise from this world, the flesh, and the activation of our psyche/soul in this cosmos of lack, can be contrasted with the examples of spiritual desire and will in the Spiritual reality beyond this world. The Apocryphon of John deals repeatedly with this theme.

In the spiritual reality, there is pure light, a wellspring of good and spiritual qualities that wills/desires good and spiritual things, discloses them, and then brings them forth out from itself. The Divine Forethought requests and the Invisible Spirit consents. The Invisible Spirit gazes, the Divine Forethought conceives, and a Spark is begotten. The Spark requests and the Invisible Spirit consents again. The Divine Thinking desires something to come from the Word/Verbal Expression/Logos/Seed of Spiritual Reason. Will becomes deed, will is expressed in word/logic/blueprint/seed/reality. The desire and the gift of the invisible spirit is bestowed upon its offspring. By the will of the holy spirit the spiritual entirety is strengthened.

Such expressions of spiritual desire, spiritual will, flowing from the great wellspring of goodness and spirituality of the invisible Spirit, demonstrate something of the Divine Fullness to us. In contrast to this world of lack (the realm of confusion in flesh and traps of the psyche), the Spiritual Desire is for good and spiritual things illuminated in forethought as opposed to mere worldly things in the dim light of ignorance; the Spiritual way is request and consent as opposed to domination and bondage; the Spirit gazes and the receptive Womb receives, and a Spark is begotten, as opposed to ignorant solipsism/egotism/narcissism that masturbates alone as if there were no other half-making partial dim reflections; the Spiritual expression of Spiritual Will is a gift of things like loveliness, love, form, and prudence, as opposed to worldly manipulation through carrot and stick; the will of the holy spirit strengthens and illuminates while the will of the worldly powers that be dis-empowers and blinds.

In the world of lack there is bondage to impulses; in Spiritual Fullness there is Spiritual Will which is in accord with Spiritual Qualities, and such qualities are in integrated relationships that surpass the lower 'harmony' of material nature, or the limited 'harmony' of the psyche; the images of such Spiritual reality surpass the corrupt images below; the reception of Spiritual qualities is qualitatively different than reception from this world; the perception of Spiritual and Good realities brings light and insight and molds us in the direction of Spiritual Perfection.

The actions flowing from the Invisible Spirit are not whimsical, are not described as a matter of arbitrary choice. Spiritual reality is disclosed, when a request for a spiritual and good reality is made and the Invisible Spirit consents to disclose such a reality. Such desire, such will, arises from Spiritual Being. It is the nature of the good and spiritual source, the Invisible Holy Spirit, to bestow goodness, mercy, and grace, from itself; it is super-abundant in these things, and it gives without suffering any loss whatsoever. Its gaze is on an image of its spiritual reality, illuminated perfectly, and from such a gaze, such potentials proceed.

The Invisible Spirit's Will
Thought Disclosed

"For it is this that gazes at its own self in its light around it, that is, the wellspring of living water; gives unto all the aeons; and in every way thinks of its image, beholding it in the wellspring of the spirit and exercising will in its watery light, that is, the wellspring of the pure, luminous water around it. And its thinking produced something, and the thinking was disclosed, standing plainly in its presence in the brilliance of its light. This is... the perfect forethought of the entirety ... the glory of the Barbelo..."

Divine Forethought's Request
The Invisible Spirit's Consent

"And the emanation, that is, the Barbelo, made a request of the invisible virgin spirit, that it be given prior acquaintance (prognosis). And the spirit consented. And when it had consented, prior acquaintance became disclosed. [...] And furthermore, the Barbelo made a request that it be given incorruptibility. And the spirit consented. While it was consenting, incorruptibility became disclosed. [...] And the Barbelo made a request that it be given eternal life. And the invisible spirit consented. And while it was consenting, eternal life became disclosed. [...] And furthermore it made a request that it be given truth. And the invisible spirit consented. And truth became disclosed."

The Begotten Spark, its Will and Word
Expression of Anointing by Kindness

"And the invisible spirit gazed at the Barbelo ... and the Barbelo conceived by it, and it begot a luminous spark consisting of light in an image that was blessed. ... This was the only-begotten offspring of the mother-father which appeared ... And it made a request that it be given a co actor, namely intellect. And the spirit consented [...]. And while the invisible spirit was consenting, intellect was disclosed. ... And thinking wished to make something by the Word (or verbal expression) of the invisible spirit. And its will became deed, and was disclosed along with intellect and the light ... And Word (or verbal expression) followed after will. For by the Word, the anointed (Christ) divine self-originate made the entirety. Now, eternal life is with its will. And intellect is with prior acquaintance (prior knowledge/prognosis)."

Qualities Belonging to The Entirety
By Gift out of Light
Through the Will and the Word

"For by the gift of the spirit, out of the light that is the anointed (Christ) and out of incorruptibility, the four luminaries from the divine self-originate gazed out so as to stand before it. And the thee: will, thinking, and life. And the four powers: intelligence; loveliness; perception, prudence.

...with ... [Harmozel] are three additional aeons: loveliness; truth; form. ... with ... [Oroiael] are three additional aeons: afterthought; perception; memory. ... with ... [Daueithai] are three additional aeons: intelligence; love; ideal form. ... with ... [Eleleth] are three additional aeons: perfection; peace; wisdom (Sophia).

Those are the four luminaries that stand before the divine self-originate, and those are the twelve aeons that stand before the offspring of the great self-originate anointed (Christ), through the desire and the gift of the invisible spirit. The twelve aeons belong to the offspring of the self-originate. And it was by the will of the holy spirit that the entirety became strong through the self-originate"

The Perfect Human Being

"Then-- deriving from prior acquaintance (prognosis, prior knowledge, prior gnosis) and perfect intellect through disclosure of the desire of the invisible spirit and the desire of the self-originate Â the perfect human being, the first manifestation and true person, was named Âthe Ger-Adamas [unyielding/steel/diamond human]Â by the virgin spirit."

Impulse to Action?

2006-07-17T02:29:00.000-05:00

Having attempted to sort out perceptions, those that are more or less accurate, those that are more or less spiritual...

Having attempted to receive more consciously, that which is more fruitful in one's Path, more helpful Spiritually, more Wisely Desired-For, more accurately reflective of the light that is within and without...

Having attempted to be illuminated by higher images, which may refine lower images...

Having attempted to integrate all the insights one has available, into one's life, one's path, one's understanding of others, one's interaction with others...

***

There is yet the question, what dynamic impulses arise, what seeds have sprouted such impulses, which impulses ought one to act upon? Are we to be impelled by shadow?

Not all impulses are Spiritual, not all are intuitive, and not all intuition is clear or pure enough.

Impulses that are likely to lead to what which is clearly gratifying to the flesh or the lower aspects of the psyche, may be identified easily enough. Those impulses which cater to higher patterns/idols/tendencies of the psyche, may be less easily assessed.

Integrating Images of Others, and An Other

2006-07-06T01:48:00.000-05:00

Having both eyes open, to faults and strengths, to see wisdom as well as folly, in friends as well as those who are not friends, can help sort out and integrate our view of our experience in life.

It can be difficult to see reality when our expectation of people's past tendencies, or their role in life, or our assumptions, get in the way automatically. We can try to become more aware of our blindspots and expand our viewpoint, integrating more information into our view of reality.

As an example, we might view someone who has a bad temper as if they are a hot head. But that may only be their flesh, more specifically, a hormonal imbalance, it isn't necessarily the core reality of that person. This may become clear if we find they have a much better temper after taking antidepressants or medicine for a thyroid condition.

As another example, we might view a person who is moralistic, as if they were conscientious. But that may be a mere habit or a pattern that mimics something that was in their environment at a formative stage of life, only some illusion made by their psyche and its idiosyncrasies. We may discover this to be the case when certain situations happen and we find that they are not so conscientious.

By integrating experiences and observations of flesh and matter into an understanding of the physical and biological world(s), and integrating experiences and observations of the psyche into an understanding of the philosophical, sociological, cultural, and psychological world(s) -- and further by leaving a remainder for something ELSE or to put other experiences that may fit elsewhere into various other remaining speculative categories -- we can try to integrate a view of life that can embrace more of the complexity that is found in life experience, our view can be more integrated into such complexity.

Perhaps something ELSE may appear simple and beautiful, empowering, wonderful, and wise. Perhaps then we can integrate more of THAT into our lives, into our image of our lives. Perhaps we can integrate something that moves us more towards a sense of Spiritual Fullness.

Integrating the Path

2006-07-03T04:01:00.000-05:00

The enchantment of synchronicity, of comprehensive conceptual sophistication, of the power of synergy, can be a very dangerous worldly lure, may not be spiritual at all, despite appearances.

And yet as we walk a spiritual path and integrate it into our lives, we may note how some things happen, how some ideas 'click' and are amazingly relevant in different areas of our life, and feel a sense of fullness when different aspects of reality are put together in a spiritually fruitful manner.

Antidotes to Counterfeits

One antidote to confusion is to be aware of the possibility that we are not getting what we think we are getting, to be aware of imitation coincidences, imitation insight, imitation integrity. Other antidotes include awareness of the nature of the flesh's lures and awareness of the nature of our psyche's confusion and patterns.

Instead of seeking confirmation from events, coincidences, and possible messages, we might reflect upon how this world also can dominate us with its own messages from it's deceptive and tyrannical forces of fate. If confirmation seems to come to us, it may be wise to doubt.

Instead of becoming enchanted with cohesive, comprehensive presentations about 'reality' from whatever source, we might reflect upon how the human mind is often impressed by any significantly cohesive and comprehensive view, when it 'clicks'. We might consider that there are other views which may also 'click' for us, at different times.

Instead of over-emphasizing the power of synergy, instead of standing in awe of an idol of power and energy, we might reflect upon stories about how Wisdom's power was stolen and used by an ignorant Ruler, and note that the appearance of mystical or spiritual power, can be Lacking when compared to the Divine Fullness it is Wise to Spiritually Desire.

Some Success

Then perhaps, with some testing and personal insight, we might focus our efforts at integrating our path, on applying insights more comprehensively to our own life, and see if we can reunite what Dynamism we may perhaps find, with Wisdom.

Perhaps we will see strange events line up, perhaps everything will seem to 'click' together in our understanding on some issues, perhaps we will feel we are thriving on such integrated spiritual activity and insight in our lives. Perhaps we will be able to re-claim some spiritual Power and use it Wisely, to further our journey to our Spiritual Home in the Divine Fullness, or to assist us while we are here.

Perhaps this will truly be very spiritual. Perhaps we will have bypassed many such traps, delusions, distortions, and distractions.

Keeping our Eyes Open
For Something Better

One function of dualist teachings, is to remind us that there is better and worse. There is something that may be an image from above that we ought to seek to Know, and then there is something that may be a distortion or from below, that we ought to try to see through with clarity, so that we might avoid a trap or seek something that is better.

We can always seek what is better. When we think we have an insight, when we think we are being guided, when we think intuition is telling us something, we can seek something more spiritually fruitful, more integrated with the Divine Fullness.

We can seek to understand what it means to be integrated with all the Spiritual Aeons mentioned in Gnostic texts, beyond the Rulers of This World. We can seek greater illumination that partakes of peace instead of worldly comfort, love instead of worldly pleasure, loveliness instead of mere cosmic harmony, prudence instead of a confident answer that pleases our psyche that is agitated by the flesh, etc.

Extending the Scope of our Paths

We may pray from time to time, regularly. We might also make listening compassionately to others, into a prayer. We might try to make our work or play, prayers.

We may contemplate texts and teachings now and then. We might also contemplate them and put them into practice, as we go about our day.

We may recognize personality flaws, and spiritual fruit, and other things, in texts and teachings, that remind us of other people, of ourselves. We might also apply such insights to challenge us to bring forth, to participate in, the Aeonic Spiritual qualities of the Divine Fullness to compensate for the Lack in our life and in the lives of people around us.

Our entire life may become more inter-woven into a Gnostic Path. Do you hear the call? If so, what is your answer?

Light In Life

2006-07-02T02:58:00.000-05:00

From the Apocryphon of John:

the heavens opened, and all creation shone with light [...] And the [...] world moved. For my part, I was afraid, [...] saw within the light a child standing before me. When I saw [...] like and elderly person. And it changed its manner of appearance to be like a young person. [...]in my presence. And within the light there was a multiform image. And the manners of appearance were appearing through one another. And the manner of appearance had three forms.

It said to me, John, John, why do you have doubts, and why are you afraid? Are you alien to this kind of thing? This is to say, to do not be timid. It is I who am with you always. It is I who am the father; it is I who am the mother; it is I who am the son. It is I who am the undefiled and the unpolluted.

Within the forms of life, light is multiform and manners of appearance appear through one another. Are you foreign to such light, or is it always present with you? We are called to rise up out of the multiform darkness that dominates life. In perfect illumination by the manners of appearance that are beyond this world, we are challenged not to act as if we were strangers to such light, which is from our real home.

Spiritual Integration

2006-06-30T01:25:00.000-05:00

From the Apocryphon of John:

For from the light, which is the Christ, and the indestructibility, through the gift of the Spirit the four lights appeared from the divine Autogenes (self-generated). He expected that they might attend him. And the three are will, thought, and life. And the four powers are understanding, grace, perception, and prudence.

May we perceive some of what it means to have Will, Thought, and Life spiritually integrated and dynamically productive.

May we participate in some measure of the Divine Fullness of Loveliness (Grace), Perception, Understanding, and Prudence (Wisdom) in harmony, integrated into our will, our thought, and our life.

May we begin to appreciate the difference between such hints of Spiritual Fullness and the worldly condition of Lack.

Integration of Images

2006-06-29T03:10:00.000-05:00

Whether we do things with inspiration from the Spiritual Fullness, or whether we are Lacking in this, has a lot to do with how things turn out.

We may try to integrate experiences, insights, images, etc., with our eyes focused so much on the world that we are in a grave state of lack of spirituality, the result will resemble such a focus and state.

We might also try to integrate our experiences, insights, images, etc., with our eyes focused on a Spiritual Fullness, an Idea of the Spirit of Archetypal Humanity, the Seed of Light that shapes and guides the reason and expression (Logos) of our development.

As with our perception, reception, and imaging, the integration of images can be understood by turning up our sensitivity to the contrast between what is better and worse.

Our experience of better and worse gives us images/impressions that sorely need Spiritual Integration. By Spiritual Integration I do not mean denial of what is worse, and I do not mean neglect of the difference between better and worse. I mean a progressively more comprehensive understanding of our experiences and insights of different kinds, and how to sort these so that our understanding of who we are and where we are going, becomes more fruitful and insightful on our path.

What have we learned about what is worse, and how are we seeking what is better, and using our experience productively on our path? That sort of thing is the integration of insight into daily life as we set our gaze on our spiritual home.

A Hint of an Image in Darkness

2006-06-28T03:56:00.000-05:00

Arising out of dim distortion, something takes form -- but it is tainted by the substantiality of its thing-ness, its very essence inevitably warps the process of formation -- and yet there is still a hint.

To bring out more of a likeness, from such hints, as much as possible with a given substance, is one of the difficulties of art.

To begin to see what might be hinted, beyond, is perhaps to be known.

Such is the call.

Images in Experience with This World

2006-06-26T04:04:00.000-05:00

From the Apocryphon of John:

Higher Image
Lower Shaping

And it (the first ruler) put all things in order (or, fashioned all things), according to the image of the original aeons that had come to exist, so as to make all things in the incorruptible manner: not that the ruler itself had seen the incorruptible, but rather, the power within it, which it had gotten from its mother, and which had begotten within it the image of the ordered world.

[...] Now, the arrogant (ruler) had gotten [stolen] power from its mother.

Darkened Image
Wisdom Lacking

Then the mother began to move. She knew about the lack when the radiation of her light diminished. And she grew darker, for her consort had not come into harmony with her.

[...] in the darkness of lack of Gnosis, forgetfulness came over her. And she began to be ashamed, moving back and forth. And she did not rashly try to return, but rather she went back and forth.

Image of Wisdom's repentance
Something of the Fullness

But when the mother learned that the garment of darkness had not come to exist perfectly, she knew accordingly that her consort had not been in harmony with her, and she repented with much weeping.

And the entirety of her repentance was heard, and all the fullness lifted up praise on her behalf unto the invisible virgin spirit, and it consented/gazed out. And while the holy spirit was consenting/gazing out, the holy spirit poured over her something of the fullness of all. For her consort did not come to her in person; rather, it came to her through the fullness, in order to rectify her lack.

Revealed Image
Shakes the Rulers Realm of Lack

And the holy mother-father (or holy perfect parent) and complete, perfect forethought, the image of the invisible, i.e. of the parent of the entirety in whom the entirety had come to exist, the first human being, showed them (all the rulers) that it had revealed its image in a representation like a portrait statue. And all the eternal realm of the first ruler trembled, and the foundations of the abyss moved. And through the waters that are over the material realm, the bottom shone because of the appearance of its image that had appeared.

And when all the authorities and the first ruler were dumbfounded, they saw that the whole lower part shone; and by the light, they saw in the water the representation of the image.

(emphasis added)

Spiritual Shaping, a Blessed Image

2006-06-22T23:20:00.000-05:00

From the Apocryphon of John:

I was very distressed, saying ... what is that realm like, to which we shall go? For what [...] he told us that this realm [...] has been stamped in the mold of that incorruptible realm, and did not tell us what that other one is like.

[...]

And it (the Parent, the invisible Spirit) gazed at the Barbelo, who was in the uncontaminated light around the invisible Spirit and in its radiation. And the Barbelo conceived by it, and it begot a luminous spark consisting of light in an image that was blessed, though not equal to its parent's magnitude. This was the only-begotten offspring of the mother-father which appeared, and the mother-father's only begetting; it was the only-begotten of the parent, the uncontaminated light.

And the invisible virgin Spirit rejoiced at the light that had come to exist and that had been shown forth out of the first power of the Spirit's Forethought, who is the Barbelo. And the spirit Anointed it (the spark) with its own Kindness until it became perfect, needing no further Kindness since it had been anointed with the Kindness of the invisible Spirit. And it stood at rest in the presence of the Spirit, which was pouring upon it. And the moment that it received from the Spirit it glorified the holy Spirit and perfect Forethought, because of which it had become disclosed.

(emphasis added)

The Image that Remains when False Images Fade

2006-06-22T01:50:00.000-05:00

What image remains when false images are dissipated?

Perhaps it is best to be silent.

Imagining Spiritually / Spiritual Images

2006-06-21T02:03:00.000-05:00

Sometimes we are held back because we do not imagine ourselves differently, we do not think to imagine ourselves as free of some habit, or living in a different way.

Other times we are limited because we imagine we are better able to handle something than we really are, or we do not imagine the very real limits and problems that reality will bring our way.

When we create an image of what we would like to happen, the image may exist in some realm of the mind, it may be a beautiful principle that deserves to exist, and it may exist in some realm of the mind or spirit, but it may yet be unable to ever exist in this world or among human beings bound by human bodies in this world.

Gazing at an image that is beyond this world, it can be frustrating to return our gaze to this world and to realize that this world cannot compare. And yet if we do not understand the limits of this world, our image of it will be distorted, it may turn into an idol. And if we imagine a limit that isn't as limiting as we imagine it to be, we may hem ourselves in and miss and opportunity.

Images are tricky to deal with. We can keep that in mind. And yet, some images are amazingly clear, and if we doubt them too much, we loose the power of transformation, motivation, and beauty that comes through such images.

We can ask for our imaging faculty to be able to be guided so it is better at discerning such matters. We can ask to be careful, and also to take advantage of some risks, as we imagine what we may grow into or what may be possible with some help from the Spiritually Desired-for Wisdom.

Many things are not as they seem, but maybe when it so happens that we have insight, maybe in such moments things are much like what they seem to be.

May we be able to imagine a light beyond the light we are tempted to think is the light. May we be able to imagine a wisdom that is beyond the wisdom we are tempted to think is wisdom. May we be able to imagine desires that are beyond the desires we are tempted to think are desirable. And may we be able to be shaped into an image beyond the images of this world. Amen.

Another Visionary Image

2006-06-20T00:19:00.000-05:00

The image arose and it said to me: "look how finely wrought am I"
I said: "you were made in ignorance"

The image said in reply: "look at my light how it brightens your eye"
I said: "it is dim"

The image, confused, asked: "who are you to decry?"
Said I: "one who has seen a hint of the Divine Fullness"

The image, in consternation, whisked by...
Not wishing to be further disturbed by such Light

Making an Image

2006-06-19T22:19:00.000-05:00

Experiences and programs build up images in our minds, images of who we are, images of what we are, images of where we came from, images of where we are going.

But we can chisel away extraneous superficial details, constraints limited by this world, qualities that only matter here, and arrive at a truer image.

Image leading to Image

2006-06-19T02:30:00.000-05:00

In the Apocryphon of John, there are several references to images, from the Spiritual Realms of Aeons to the Psychic/Soulish realm of the Archons, to the bodily and material realm.

Early descriptions of the spiritual world include the spiritual image of light, of mother-father-child, the concept of images of light from the wellspring of spirit, the image of the invisible great spirit, the image of the Human Being, the great Geradamas which trembles the realm/age of the Archons.

The soul/animate body of humanity, which contains power stolen from Sophia, but which also traps light, was shaped by Archons who are ignorant, into a lesser image. The flesh also, and the realms of matter, were also shaped in ignorance, subjected to the constraints of materiality, a poor image, a very dim reflection of spiritual reality.

And yet the hand of Wisdom, the influence of higher Aeons, influenced these Psychic/Soulish processes so that some resemblance to the higher images would grace the lower world, enabling the purification of such dim reflections, so that spiritual seeds might be sown into the realm of soul/psyche, and so that more light may illuminate, shape, and recover such reflected light.

We can seek to recognize such dim reflections as potentially containing hints of higher images, and we can seek to be receptive to the higher images, to bask in light beyond this world.

We can orient to the spiritual light and ask for illumination that we are daily shaped more by the Logos of Zoe, the Seed/Blueprint/Form that shapes the Essence of Spiritual Life on our Path. That we may know more of such higher images, and be less constrained by the distortions of dim, lesser images.

Initial Reflections Upon Imaging

2006-06-16T23:28:00.000-05:00

What is an initial reflection, what are images?

First impressions are bound to be deceptive unless perhaps the first impression sufficiently encapsulates something very potently about the source of the image, and the reception is clear, and perception is not distorted.

To make an image for our use, what of our first impression of the image, as it compares with the resulting image after it is developed? Development can deteriorate as well as enhance.

Vision of the Moon

2006-06-16T02:14:00.000-05:00

Blood covered everything. As the dying heart stopped beating the cycle of blood slowed. Before it all stopped, it was frozen in the wastes that the process would be slowed -- that the echo of the reality would be preserved in Cosmic time to rule over Chaos.

Tension between the horror of decay and the relief of release from the pain of constraint in prior form -- more fixed and solidified -- the waters panicked into paralysis. Reflected light gleamed dimly.

A power was called forth from deep within, the name 'Kindness' (Chrestos) was given.

A mirroring process unknown to the one who called forth the power catalyzed the process. Then there was the emergence of the animate element -- the soul -- of bone.

***

And then, peering within what was contained by Achamoth and illumined by Sophia:

THIS is the corpse of the lamb without Goodness
THIS is the waters of death left behind at baptism
THIS is the head of blasphemy:
Rumor herd
tumbling off the cliff into the abyss of ignorance

Call Kindness from deep within your bones
and brace for the fall
all ye who would seek blessings under the moon
from the writings of the sages
or the pens of the scribes...

For without the Anointing of Goodness, Kindness
the scribe's inkwell is dry as bone
bone without soul

And so it is written

Ankh Aten Hotep Amente
Athoth Haoth Atho
Christos Chrestos
Atho Athoth Agathos

Receiving From Spirit

2006-06-15T00:25:00.000-05:00

May we seek to be more aware of what is received

May we become more aware and receptive to what is good and spiritual

May we become more fully oriented toward spirituality

May we Seek and Find the Truth, the Spiritual Life, and the Path

Receiving Aeons

2006-06-13T23:52:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you recognized as partaking in Sacred Time?

Where was the last realm you recognized as partaking in a Sacred Realm?

Whose consciousness was the last consciousness you recognized as partaking in a Sacred consciousness?

We may receive from Aeons, we may partake in Aeons, we may receive and partake in times, realms, and consciousnesses, that are Sacred.

Have you seen some of THAT time, place, and consciousness, within?

Seek and find.

There is spiritual essence, womb of manifestation, participation in the nurturing and development of spiritual fruit, but it is barren without its corresponding spiritual seed -- there is spiritual seed, blueprint of spiritual form, participation in the shaping and directing of spiritual fruit, but it is without substance without its corresponding spiritual essence. Such is the teaching of Aeon-pairs, female and male, the bride uniting with bridegroom, the merging with the spirit twin, the fruitful shaping of sparks and their reflections, the salvage operation that brings forth hidden light.

Gracious Reception

2006-06-13T01:34:00.000-05:00

Not all reception is a comfortable experience. Not everything that is beneficial to receive is obviously beneficial. Great gifts can provoke anxiety, inadequacy, and a sense of onerous debt. Gifts that do not meet expectations can provoke disappointment, willfulness, arrogance, defiance.

Sometimes we have received, long ago, deeply within us, mistaken assumptions about who we are or what the world is. Clearing away some of what we have received that is clogging up our spiritual reception, can be very helpful.

But then there is the issue of simply appreciating gifts, recognizing everything that bears good and spiritual fruit as a wonderful gift.

And to realize that the source of such good and spiritual gifts is ultimately essentially giving, that such a source looses nothing by giving... to realize that its giving is not tainted by worldliness or the games that the flesh and psyche play, to realize some reflection of this in the giving of human beings in our lives, to honor the intention of those who give in our lives -- this can help us to be less anxious about spiritual reception, can help us understand what such reception is all about.

But before we can expect to become comfortable asking, perhaps it is best to spend a little time getting used to giving graciously, and appreciating the receptivity of others, what they are asking to receive, what they benefiting from receiving. As we get comfortable being in tune with other's reception by being a giver, then perhaps we will appreciate more fully what people are doing when they give to us and we receive, and maybe we will be comfortable asking sometimes, too, and receive graciously.

And then let us not forget to ask of the greatest things from the greatest giver, and receive graciously, and overflow giving unto others as we have been given, that they may also know the wonders we have received from Divine Grace.

Clarifying Reception

2006-06-12T02:33:00.000-05:00

Ignorance of our own tendencies, habits, blindspots, patterns, fantasies, cravings, nightmares, and failings, has the potential interfere with spiritual reception.

Illusions, enchantments, and delusions brought about by strong desire or addiction, revulsion or prejudice, or confusion of the mind or body, also has such potential to interfere.

Perceptions of how well we or others are spiritually receptive, are also likely to be distorted to some degree or another, and can interfere.

Even our understanding of what it means to clarify our spiritual reception or to have clear spiritual reception, is likely to be distorted and may interfere with reception.

So what is Spiritual reception about?

Is this about clearly hearing a distinct message through words and visions? And what if such words and visions turn out to be delusions? What if such words and visions are distractions from deeper growth on our Path? To answer these questions, it would be wise to have a good idea of what the Path is.

While we may want to be guided by clear messages all the time on all sorts of worldly matters, while our fantasy about spiritual life may include somewhere within it the vision of someone receiving clear-cut signals and teachings all the time which they can follow and repeat confidently without any doubt at all, with perfect certainty, where do such ideas come from?

Many assumptions about spiritual reception are influenced by movies, books, legends, and folklore. Also, people we may meet from many backgrounds, have met someone who they think has a special connection of some kind.

Many people CLAIM to be so certain, to have such a clear channel to spirits, to a god, to information. No one reason explains all such claims.

It seems to me that some may have a fairly clear channel of some kind to something, but they may be in a religious tradition or group that doesn't suit me or interest me.

Or perhaps it is what they are connected to that may be a problem. Others may have a fairly clear channel of some kind to something, but their way of interacting with others, or the way the people around them handle the subject, doesn't seem healthy to me.

It seems to me that certain poetry, certain spiritual texts, do speak to me, I am so receptive to them. It seems the writers were rather spiritually receptive and clear when they wrote some of these materials.

Asking such questions is helpful in sorting out the wheat from the chaff, the spiritually fruitful from the worldly or the delusional. All that glitters isn't gold, even when the subject is merely material. Not all that is enchanting is anything more than an enchantment.

Whatever spiritual reception is, it is not gullible, shallow, arrogant, or delusional. Whatever the fruits of spiritual reception are, we can expect the fruits to be something less worldly or carnal, more spiritual.

Influence of the Psyche

Perhaps a channel is rather clear but limited.

Just because someone seems to be actually channeling something, that doesn't mean it is outside their own mind or unconscious. Appearances can be very deceptive. Just because someone may be channeling something outside their own mind, that doesn't mean it is bypassing their mind and unconscious.

Is it possible to bypass the Psyche?

If lips are moving (or AHEM, fingers are typing), that's a rather clear sign that the Flesh is being used as a vehicle. If Flesh is being utilized, what is utilizing it?

Psyche utilizes the flesh, it can utilize it more or less wisely or foolishly, but psyche still is what it is, and it filters and distorts things, it reflects light imperfectly. Claims that there is no filtering of the Psyche, need not be accepted without skepticism.

It is very likely that the brain that mediates between idea and verbal or written expression, is also mediating between the idea and language itself, and even when translating or referring messages, the brain itself can distort things. The conscious and unconscious aspects of mind, whether traceable to the brain or whether they are beyond the brain, can likewise distort things.

Influence of the Flesh

Our flesh may WANT things to be very clear and simple, for the sake of survival, worldly gain, or worldly approval that soothes the body's anxieties about survival. Our flesh may WANT a message that is clear about who and when to fight and how, or how to avoid a fight, or how to win allies who can defend us.

But the reality may be more slippery than the flesh wants it to be.

Being more aware of how our flesh pressures us, and how we respond to reactions, and being aware of our relative ability to handle such pressures and reactions, creatively trying different approaches, can help us to see when perhaps we are being lead by the nose or pressured or confused about something.

Such insight can slow us down, maybe we can see past an enchantment, lure, or trap. This can help clear up reception.

Reception of Spiritually Desired-For Wisdom

What do we want to receive?

In the Apocryphon of John, many things are asked and received by Barbelo. Many qualities of character are seen as associated with higher spiritual reality, or such qualities of character are identified as helpful powers that can liberate us from the traps of Archons.

Moving toward spiritual character will help us understand what spiritual reception is. Contemplative prayer and meditation helps us to orient toward reception.

Good qualities can be seen as goals in themselves. With contemplation upon them may come a practical intuition, or an insight, or a sense of a word or image, or an understanding of some passage.

But then such intuitions may also be fantasy. Sometimes fantasy is very useful, sometimes fantasy can be channeled into useful intuition. So it isn't bad if it is just fantasy, but we do not want to receive fantasy as if it were something we had to obey or else.

The sense that something must be obeyed or else, the sense that something is against our conscience, the sense that something is harmfully foolish, should be listened to as a warning. They may actually be the reception of Spiritual Wisdom, while the fantasy/intuition/word/vision might be interference of some kind or another.

Let us welcome the challenge

There are no easy answers to these questions. Lots of people have opinions and truisms, that's not the same as Spiritual Wisdom.

No matter how many words I write, no matter how my words may appeal to you, your reception of the highest most spiritually desired-for wisdom from them is what is important. And that is a matter that is itself beyond any letters, and will involve filtering and interpretation and application of insight and some effort at clarifying reception.

The limits of language restrict what I write. Do not misunderstand me for my letters or make idols out of any letters. Please receive what is spiritual from these poor letters. Take whatever you need to hear spiritually, whatever is fruitful.

Conscious Reception

2006-06-11T00:51:00.000-05:00

Every opportunity to share an idea need not be taken.

Every invitation to fight need not be accepted.

Every comment that is meant to demean or harm or manipulate us need not be welcomed deep within our soul.

Every book or magazine or pamphlet in our home need not be allowed to influence us.

We can become more conscious of what we receive and of what our choices seem to be about such matters.

***

We could go so far as to not make a choice to receive anything until we first prayed to the hidden spirit and dwelled in silence for a moment receptively, and then follow what seems best.

We could make a point not to get into a fight without first asking for spiritually Desired-For Wisdom.

We could insist on carefully noting when we are obsessing or ruminating or reacting or taking comments personally, withdraw and observe. We can ask for spiritual insight and ask that our soul be spiritually illuminated so that we can see what our soul really is and so that we can be challenged in a spiritually fruitful and healthy manner so our soul can grow and be nurtured and healed.

We could make a point to put all questionable books in a special area that we specially bless and consecrate and guard with our prayers, that Lower Wisdom (Achamoth) lead us to Higher Wisdom (Sophia), to filter such writings, to guide our reading so we may be receptive to Spiritually Desired-for Wisdom (Theletos Sophia). Any book that we seem to have issues with, that seems to confuse us or disturb or challenge us in a way that may not be healthy, we could put there.

***

We can try to make better distinctions about how and when we receive, if we are more aware of what is going on, and if we invite receptivity to higher spiritual insight.

Toward Receiving Self-Knowledge

2006-06-09T23:04:00.000-05:00

I am not the 'me' they project.

You are not the 'you' we imagine.

So what am I, what are you?

What are we not?

Will we resist such questions?

We are not such resistance itself, are we?

Is the conclusion of such questions the truth itself, or an approximation of a potential insight, or mere ignorant speculation?

Why ask such questions?

There are real problems that are faced in experience. Perhaps it is best to address such problems when we ask such questions. Perhaps if our answers lead to no useful insight in our experience, we could seek other questions or other answers.

But what problematic aspects of experience get to the root of liberating insight?

And what liberation is sought?

Liberation from various distinction-making faculties of the mind, can be arrived at by sleep, coma, or lobotomy, if that is all we seek.

Liberation from illusions of concepts can be arrived at by mindlessness, if that is all we seek.

Liberation from feelings of separation from others or from gods, can be arrived at by narcissism that projects ourselves everywhere and identifies ourselves with everyone, and projects onto everything according to our own personal needs, if that is all we want.

Liberation from feeling trapped or separate or meaningless can be arrived at by grandiose fantasies, if that is all we want.

Liberation from all sorts of things can be arrived at through denial or fantasy, if that is all we want.

Might we seek something else, might we seek insight into troubling realities, so that a clearer understanding might help us deal with them? Might we seek insight that is fruitful? Might we seek spiritually desired-for wisdom that helps us to be receptive to grace and mercy and love and other good things?

Spiritual Reception vs Worldly Reception

2006-06-09T00:48:00.000-05:00

Not all reception is avoidable. It is not clear that it is either possible or desirable to have even near-complete control over receptive faculties.

The perceptive faculties at rest are simply the ignorant matrix out of which passions, confusion, psychic shackles, and various enchantments arise. [See yesterday's post, This Too Shall Pass]

Higher Reception

It is higher perception that is desired. And likewise there is a higher reception we can seek.

Fullness and Lack

Mere lack of perception, and mere lack of reception, might actually be ignorance, lack of knowledge, lack of Gnosis, lack of personal spiritual insight. It depends on what one is lacking perception of, or what one is failing to receive. If one is lacking perception, or unable to receive something that could illuminate a psychic trap so that one might become more liberated, then such lack of perception or reception is itself a trap.

Lack is not Fullness.

But we should question what kind of Fullness we ought to seek.

And so with Perception as well as Reception.

Seeking to participate more in Divine Fullness (Pleroma), it is spiritually desirable to receive wisdom which is related to spiritual grace, love, insight, understanding, perception, intelligence, etc.

Such received spiritual insight might in fact illuminate the psyche so that it can more adequately understand the nature of the psyche and its sense perceptions (whether those sense perceptions are in an agitated or dulled state), and clearer understanding of the nature of the various fleeting thoughts and feelings that come and go.

Blocked Reception

Whatever blocks such good and spiritually fruitful reception, whatever distracts such reception, may perhaps be dealt with in some other way, so that the blockage is less obstructive, or so that the blockage disappears.

Unhealthy Reception

Reception that pertains to distorted and damaging messages of who we are, enchantments that encourage us to lack insight or to become addictive, compulsive, or worldly, may not be easily suppressed or repressed.

Suppression and repression have been observed by psychologists rather carefully. Observing experience and gaining personal insight is important to Gnosis. It has been demonstrated that denial and other psychological defense mechanisms can serve a more or less healthy purpose for a time, but when they become rigid or are over-used, or when circumstances change the nature of the demands on the psyche, such defenses may become problematic.

Spiritually Fruitful Reception

Gnostic texts emphasize the receptivity of the First Thought (Barbelo), and the Christ, to the grace, the goodness, the kindness, of the Great and Holy Invisible Spirit. May we also be receptive of these spiritual qualities.

May our concerns about worldly reception or psychological reception be realistic as to the nature of our situation dealing with our psyche/character/soul, and our body.

May we be oriented towards the greater goods which may be received, spiritual fruit.

May we be less receptive to whatever is interfering with the grace, mercy, kindness, healing, wisdom, and other positive qualities that may be available to us.