The Essence book series is a series of concise books exploring the essential wisdom of various spiritual traditions. Here are sample chapters of The Essence of Druidry and The Essence of Gnosticism. Other books are to come.
The Essence of Druidry Druids Bardcraft Druidry and the Natural World The Celts Celtic Mythology The Wheel of the Year Sacred Sites Druid Healing The Ogham Tree Alphabet Divination Druid symbols and their meeanings Druid Prayers Druids Druids are not all Celtic but are considered a Celtic priesthood. They are not only priests; they are also traditionally storytellers, singers, healers, lawyers, historians, poets, judges, scientists, seers, teachers, astronomers, astrologers, psychologists and magicians. Those roles became divided with more Druids specialising in a few of them. Druids today are often bards, seers, healers, astrologers and magicians too. The walking of a Druid path is a walking in the way of the open heart of nature, at one with the forces of nature. It gives access to a realm where everything is magical and sacred and alive. Druids work with trees, plants, water, fire, air, earth and other natural forces, bridging the gap between this world and the spirit world. Druidry is a path of nature spirituality akin to Shamanism. Like Shamans they use methods to access the spirit world, but for Druids they see the higher aspect of the things in this world so this world and the spirit world are not so far apart, they see the spirit world in this world. |
The Essence of Gnosticism
Gnosis Christian Gnosticism Gnostic Groups Sophia Hermeticism Gnostic Prayers Gnostic Texts “I tell you the truth when I say that only when you perceive shadows as shadows, and search the Light, will you perceive the Reality which is God… If you continue to acquire gnosis through me and live by the principles I teach, you will be my true disciples. Then you will learn of Truth, and Truth will set you free“ (Testimony of St. John 8:31-32) Gnosis Gnosticism is based on the Greek word ‘Gnosis‘, which means knowledge. It is higher, revealed, intuitive, experiential knowledge rather than logical, read, heard or inferred knowledge. It is profound wisdom rather than information, knowledge of the divine mysteries, knowledge that transforms us. The light of truth frees us from the darkness of illusion. Jesus promoted Gnosis in saying “The Truth shall set you free” (1). Gnosticism is a broad term with branches such as Hermetic Gnosticism and Sophian Gnosticism, which have much in common with Christian Gnosticism (or Gnostic Christianity), which is the largest branch. Gnostics believe that salvation comes from the enlightenment of Gnosis in self-realisation. The apprehension of Gnosis is higher truth, an expansion of consciousness to connect with the universe and understand deeper truths with your heart not just the rational side of your brain or the five senses, but higher insight, spiritually evolving to unite with the mind of God, Christ the Logos, the Word of God, and Sophia the embodiment and mother of all Wisdom. Gnosis is not focused on the material plane but awakening to a higher reality. Not ignoring physical reality but raising awareness to see the higher aspect of it, bridging Heaven and Earth. Gnosis is single-mindedness, as Jesus said “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light“ (2). Gnosis being a personal experience means Gnosticism is less authoritarian; the truth is apprehended by the individual in their own way. As such the Gnostic groups varied in their beliefs. Some say Christ was the embodiment of Gnosis, that he was God, some say he became God, showing us how to achieve divinity through Gnosis, others say he was just a prophet, others that he was only spiritual and not physical. Gnostics were mystics who believed in esoteric truth revealed directly from Godhead, apprehended though a pure soul focused on spirit. Gnosis includes self-knowledge as per the famous quote from above the door to the temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece: “Man, know thyself, and you shall know the universe and the gods” (3). This is echoed in the Gospel of Thomas: "Examine yourself and understand who you are, how you exist, and how you will come to be." (4) |
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