Sethian Practice
"The Sethian texts provide strong evidence for the existence of a baptismal rite which at some point involved immersion in ordinary water, for which I can think of no more likely origin than the priestly lustrations connected with service in the temple. The Barbeloite rite was also the occasion for a vision of the heavenly realm and immersion in the heavenly light or living water that radiated from the supreme deity, in much the same way as apocalyptic visionaries saw the intense light radiating from the divine throne and chariot and streams of living water flowing from the heavenly temple."
- John D. Turner
"In the Sethian tradition, the way to get back to him [God] involved a cluster of elaborate initiation rituals they called the "Five Seals." These rituals released the spirit so that it could practice ascending out of the cosmic realms, and journey into the Aeons of the Pleroma."
- April D. DeConick
"What should Gnostic prayer be? A call to the self, perhaps, to wake up, in order to be made free by the Gnosis."
- Harold Bloom
The religious and spiritual practice of the early Sethian Gnostics is well poised for resurgence in our complicated age, it is highly personal, mystical, and firmly rooted in ancient mythology.
Just like our current time period, the first few centuries of the Common Era were a time of spiritual and cultural experimentation, learning, and blending. The area of Alexandria was witnessing a merger of Judaic, Platonic, and Christian ideas and practices. Some of these spiritual seekers, now recognized as Sethians, were assembling a creative, syncretic blend of religion that became highly adaptable to innovative spiritual discoveries. We believe their practices can be adapted for today's use.
- Baptism in Light -
Baptism is the first of the Sethian sacraments. These early Gnostics developed a unique form of baptism to initiate its members into a spiritually focused lifestyle that prioritized Gnosis. These ancient "seekers" yearned to surpass the mundane world and know God in a deeply personal manner.
April D. DeConick defines Gnosis in The Thirteenth Apostle:
“This form of “knowing” is what they called ‘gnosis.’ This gnosis is not an intellectual knowledge, but knowledge by acquaintance – as in ‘getting to know’ someone through an interpersonal relationship. This relationship is what changes us, they thought. It transforms us, they argued, and transfigures us. The God-Self relationship – gnosis – was an experience of transcendence, moving us from a state of separation, from the sinful mortal condition, to an eternal spiritual body and life united with God.”
-Meditation, Contemplation -
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- Prayer, Rhythmic Chant, Praise -
As they incorporated Christianity and Platonism into their worldview, they advanced a sacramental form of meditation and contemplation that helped one reach an ecstatic ascent to the Divine. This ritual also appears to have fully utilized prayer, chanting, and the singing of hymns as part of this practice.
- Repentance & Psycho-Spiritual Inquiry -
Similar to the Hebrew term teshuvah, Gnostic repentance can be viewed as a return to our relationship, or acquaintance, with God. Just as Sophia repented and returned to the Pleroma for help, we, too, can identify where we have, once again, become ignorant of Divine pursuits and return our "hearts and minds" to God. We all know that our culture offers many distractions and false gods that can lure us into poor discernment and an inflated egoism. Maintaining this Divine relationship takes hard work.
- Dreams, Visions -
Apocalyptic Judaism was the foundation for Sethian Gnosticism, therefore the spiritual importance of dreams, visions, and imagery traces back to our earliest days. Gnostics continue to place special value on these Divine moments when the veil between the worlds is penetrated.
- Service -
"Fighting the powers" is an oft repeated theme in Sethian literature. Whether the archons are external, as in faulty systems, or internal, as with personal addictions, they create much pain and suffering. Helping others overcome these powers can often precipitate further spiritual awakening.