The Gnostic divinities are in the realm of the emanation, in the realm of self knowledge. Gnosis is a quality of the individual emanation, and not a body of knowledge that is fixed and must be accepted. Mandean and Manichean Gnosticism even reached China.
To know yourself is to know God, i.e. all divinities? Yes, exactly.
For if we are all one unless we all go, we can’t really all go or any. No emanation left behind. Yes. Being left behind isn’t possible, but Jehovah does promise even in orthodox Judaism that you can be left in Gehena, the trash heap.
An interesting note about Judaism is they refer to the concept of the Gilgul for short. The cycle of souls. Basically, they believed you reincarnate, but not infinitely. They believe in a region in the heavens which are to Gnostics the shells blocking us from real reality. That there is a place called the Guph, the well of souls. The number of souls are limited, but you are reused.
It is maybe an important realization, but they felt that you were drawn from the well only a few times, and put into incarnation to “fix you” which you can’t do by any means yourself. If you don’t get fixed, you are left in Gehena. This is the opposite of what Gnosticism teaches, and the Gnostic sects of Judaism are seen as heretical.
But Gehena was the town dump? Yes. Gehena was the town dump and Zion the town hall. Very literally.
They did not respect the law of Jehovah, but their morality has a reference in the Bible. “The word of God is written upon the human heart” it is said. So they believed strongly in gnosis/knowledge, and conscience. This is maybe why Gnosticism was so viral and wide spread. Manichaeism once was the most wide spread religion on the planet, and beyond that they were very concerned with “not being addicted” so they engaged in retreat fasting and meditation, and held an aversion for daily life.
They engaged in retreats and meditation so as not to be addicted? Yes. Some Gnostics believed that any material dependency would confine you to this reality, but they recognized they had to have their head clear. Some were not so extreme in their concern over dependency. They had more pistis or “faith” in gnosis. Faith according to Gnosticism isn’t blind belief. It’s realization. If you were emo, you didn’t have more faith in their view. You had less.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~