New Path

[personalreality]

Hey, PR is it typical gnosticism your into?

The gnostic movement did a workshop in my city but I was only able to go to the first night. They've disapeared back to London now and dont plan on coming back. It's a shame because it sounded like the stuff they were into could have helped me.

I've been wanting to buy a book on it but the ones on amazon look like they might just be talking about the history of it and such rather that the actual techniques and meditations.

I dont suppose you know of any really good books on the subject that you could reccomend?

I wouldn't say that gnosticism is my thing.

It's a lot closer than many other paths though.

I guess Hermetism has had the most influence on me lately. 

The book that I recommended to CFT (Walkers Between the Worlds by John and Caitlin Matthews) talks a little bit about Gnosticism.  But really, that book explains the two major eras of consciousness evolution on earth.  In the "before time", consciousness was related to nature, it was communal consciousness. This is typical tribal consciousness.  In the tribe, the shaman was the spiritual leader, but the whole tribe functioned as a spiritual whole.  Then we moved into a transitional period (which we are still partially in now) where consciousness was individual.  The community was broken down and the reign of individual consciousness entered.  The modern era of consciousness evolution is cosmic or universal consciousness. 

So this book breaks down spiritual practice into two sections, tribal and universal (shamanism and hermetism).  Unfortunately, during this period of individual consciousness, we have lost touch with the ancestral consciousness of our fore-bearers.  This book first teaches you practical techniques for going into the "underworld" (the realm of ancestors and nature, the dark feminine).  The second part of the book goes into the modern mystery traditions (Hermetism) and teaches modern practical exercises. 

Beyond the practical exercises, this book helps you to understand what spiritual practice is really about and how consciousness is evolving.  I have to be honest, it is probably one of the best books i have ever read, and that's saying a lot (i have a library of nearly 300 books, and that's not counting books that i've read and passed on to others over the years).

I would also recommend The Kybalion.  It's a cheap and relatively short book that you can get on amazon or even probably download somewhere free.  It's a primer on the basic tenets of Hermetism, which is really the beginning of modern mystery traditions and what most modern occult traditions are born out of.  Ever hear "As above, so below"?  That came from Hermes.  The law of polarity, Hermes.  The Law of Correspondence, Hermes.  Law of Attraction, Hermes.  All of these new age fads, they are just regurgitated hermetism.  if you are in the right time on your path, this simple book puts a lot into perspective.  I highly recommend it.