What does it mean to truly know the divine — not through books or belief, but through direct experience? In this episode, we journey into the heart of gnosis, direct, experiential insight into the divine. We explore the paths that may lead to this state as well as its results, from meditation to magic, and ask how gnosis differs from spiritual ecstasy or the concept of no-mind found across religious traditions. Finally, we share our own encounters with gnosis — what it felt like, and how those moments changed our understanding of the sacred.

Episode Resources & Easter Eggs:

People:

• A fitting beginning to any list: Plato.
• Discover Catholic mystic St Teresa of Avila.
• Explore the life and times of artist and occultist Austin Osman Spare.

Religions:

• Gno a bit more about Gnosticism.
• Learn about one of the world’s oldest religions, Zoroastrianism.
• Interested in direct revelation? Check out mysticism.
• Dive into the esoteric teachings of Hermeticism.

Concepts:

• Learn more about transcendence (or ditch the Wiki and try it yourself!)
• Explore or practice chaos magic (based on Spare, above).
• Delve into Ein Sof, the infinite in Jewish mysticism.
• Practice samadhi, a state of consciousness.
• Looking for ecstasy? (Not that kind!) Fall into spiritual ecstasy.
• Explore asceticism, a lifestyle based on abstinence.
• Learn about the Black Mass (not exclusively tied to Satanists…+5 to update the Wikipedia page).

Books:

• Read Peter Carroll’s Libernull and Psychonaut for free (you’re in for a ride!)
• Want to up the ante? Read The Psychick Bible (also free).
• The free trio ends with Alan Chapman’s Advanced Magick for Beginners (+9 to read all three).

Repeat Characters:

• Drumroll…you guessed it! Aleister Crowley is baack!
• And yes, Jung returns.

Click the links above to explore the magic. Please sponsor us, Wikipedia. :)

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Music Credit: “Subway Cell,” from silvermansound.com (2023).