Prayers to the Holy Mary Magdalene

Today, July 22, is the Catholic Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. While I’m not Catholic, I have no issue celebrating Mary Magdalene. Here is a prayer involving Mary which is from the book “A Manual for the Gnostic: Doctrines, Prayers, & Practices of the Gnostic Church” issued by the L’Eglise Gnostique Apostolique of North America.

O Mary Magdalene,
Beloved of the King of the Universe, Sacred Daughter,
Queen of the Earth who is one with the Mother of Heaven,
Immersed in the ethereal Light,
Consort Eclipsed for Centuries,
We pray for you coming in Fullness,
Mystical Magdalene, prophetess,
Emerge from the Shadows,
Let your time come now,
Through these your mysteries we would draw you nearer to us,
Sister most dear to us,
You who were most faithful to the Gnosis,
Mistress of the Brightest Day, coming Virgin of the Light,
Let your brilliance illuminate the night,
And bring us closer to the heavenly Light,
Amen.

Holy Mary Magdalene,
woman of many sins, who by conversion
became the Holy Consort of Jesus,
thank you for your witness
that Christ forgives
through the miracle of love.
You, who possessed the Gnosis
please intercede for me, so that some day
I may share in the same everlasting joy and grace.
Amen.

Gnostic Prayerbook

What is nice about “Gnosticism” is the lack of a dogmatic approach. However, people do like their theatrics/ceremonies and prayer for their spiritual beliefs, as do I (to an extent). Looking for “Gnostic” related prayers, I picked up the book “A Gnostic Prayerbook: Rites, Rituals, Prayers and Devotions” by J. Puma. In this book, the author has put together various practices and prayers using gnostic related texts as a source. I wanted to share a few of the prayers from the book.

This particular prayer is one I perform quite often. It’s a take on the sign of the cross prayer. Do the following: touch forehead and state “NOUS” (mind), touch solar plexus and state “CHRISTOS” (Christ), touch shoulder and state “PISTIS” (Faith), touch other shoulder and state “SOPHIA” (Wisdom) and finally touch your heart and state “AMEN.”

Simple, yet effective!

Here are two other prayers from the book I wanted to share:

Prayer to the Mother Barbelo

Holy Mother, You are the life within all. With you we share the fall into ignorance, and it is with you that we share the ascent into life and light. Resurrect us. Awaken us to our true selves. Initiate us into your mysteries – the mysteries of the Christos. Help us to see the spark in all who come across our path, and serve them as a spark of God. Amen.

Prayer for Divine Guidance

Holy Sophia, grant me your Divine Wisdom and guidance. Shed your light on the path before me and keep me from stumbling. Guide my feet as you guided the feet of the Aeons who ascended and descended the shining ladder of Jacob, and lead me to the best and finest Path of gnosis. Nous, Christos, Pistis Sophia, Amen.

These are just a few of the many prayers included in the book. I have not included any of the rituals and rites that are listed but if you would like to incorporate such practices into your routine, I recommend this book!

The Thirteenth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

We have come to an end here with the thirteenth repentance translation comparison. I hope you have enjoyed reading the comparisons. The point of this exercise is to show that one needs to check out various translations, if possible, of various works to get a full understanding of what the text is trying to say.

MacDermot Translation:

1. ‘Hear me as I sing praises to thee, 0 Light of Lights. Hear me as I say the repentance of the thirteenth aeon, the place from which I came down, so that the thirteenth repentance of the thirteenth aeon be completed. These (aeons) I against which I have transgressed, from them I came down.

2. Now at this time, 0 Light of Lights, hear me as I sing praises to thee in the thirteenth aeon, my place from which I came forth.

3. Save me, 0 Light, in thy great mystery and forgive my transgression in thy forgiveness.

4. And give me the baptism and forgive my sins and purify me from my transgression.

5. And this my transgression is the lion-faced power, which was not hidden from thee at any time, for on account of it I came down.

6. And I alone among the invisible ones, in whose place I existed, transgressed, and I came down to the Chaos. I transgressed before thee so that thy ordinance should be fulfilled.’

Mead Translation:

1. Hearken unto me singing praises unto thee, O Light of lights. Hearken unto me uttering the repentance for the thirteenth æon, the region out of which I have come down, in order that the thirteenth repentance of the thirteenth æon may be accomplished,–those [æons] which I have overstepped and out of which I have come down.

2. Now, therefore, O Light of lights, hearken unto me singing praises unto thee in the thirteenth æon, my region out of which I have come down.

3. Save me, O Light, in thy great mystery and forgive my transgression in thy forgiveness.

4. And give unto me the baptism and forgive my sins and purify me from my transgression.

5. And my transgression is the lion-faced power, which will never be hidden from thee; for because of it have I gone down.

6. And I alone among the invisibles, in whose regions I was, have transgressed, and have gone down into the chaos. Moreover I have transgressed, that thy commandment may be accomplished.

Simon Magus diagram

Here is another diagram from the 1926 book “Gnosticism.” This one is named after Simon Magus, a figure who some of you may be aware of. Below is the quote from the book:

“This one is not within the egg, but emphasizes the Aeons as perfections in their several spheres and planes. On the plane of fire we have the Universal Principle, the Father; the Universal Root, the Mother; and the Son, the Supreme Treasure-House, “He who has stood, stands and will stand,” the Four-Faced Brahma, the Upper Tetractys. Then we have the middle distance or Invisible Sphere expressed as an Aeon. It is Incomprehensible Air without beginning and without end…moving on the Waters. The lowest region is also represented as a sphere or perfect whole in itself though born from above. This is called the manifested Sphere, “the world made by Angels, the world of men.” Within the Invisible Sphere we find a more elaborate development. Each plane, as we have already mentioned, according to the law of three, is in turn divided into three, and each of the three divisions has three aspects. The middle triangle (marked D) is the reflection of the triangle with the point, of the Region of Fire above, the Upper Tetractys, the three and the four. The lowest triangle of this region is the reflection of this archetypal triangle, and the lettering gives a further key to the inverted method of reflection of this lowest manifestation. The intermixture of air and water is symbolized by the seal of Solomon, the point within the interlaced triangle completing the symbol of the seven of the lowest plane of manifestation. Thus we have the key to open the doors to all the chambers within the double-Pyramid, the Ogdoad or Natural World, or the mystic thread to guide us on the way through the labyrinthine mazes of the Temple of Life, for the way is long and difficult to follow till the Inner Shrine of Initiation is reached.”

More to come!!

Ophite diagram

This diagram is from the 1926 book “Gnosticism” by Mary W. Barrie. Here is the description from the book:

“Another diagram from an Ophite pre-Christian community is more complex, and shows, it seems to me, the eclecticism of the pre-Christian Gnosticism. We have the egg of Brahm, the three aspects of the One and the three manifesting stages in the first of the three divisions of the oval. Here, too, are the five attributes of perfection which bring the perfect man into this region. The gate is guarded by the flaming sword, and below in the middle region is the Greek name of the lord of this region, Saturn. The Aeon or perfect circle of Jupiter, called Ialdabaoth, has the seven planets with their ancient Hebraic names. On the lower plane, the muddy region from which the Leviathan is born, the nine (the reflection of the three on all planes); and the old animal symbolism coming possibly from Chaldea, show, perhaps, the seven lines of evolution.”

More to come!

The Twelfth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

We’re almost to the end. This is a long one.

MacDermot Translation:

I. ‘0 Light, forget not my song of praise.

2. For the Authades and his lion-faced power opened their mouths against me, they dealt cunningly with me.

3. And they surrounded me, wishing to take away my power; and they hated me because I sang praises to thee.

4. Instead of loving me, they slandered me, but I sang praises.

5. They planned to take away my power because I sang praises to thee, 0 Light. And they hated me because I loved thee.

6. Let the darkness come over the Authades, and may the archon of the outer darkness remain at his right hand.

7. And when thou dost judge him, take his power away from him; and that which he thought – to take away my light from me – do thou take his from him.

8. And may all his powers of his light within him diminish; and may another one take his greatness in the three triple-powered ones.

9. May all the powers of his emanations become without light; and may his matter be without light in it.

I0. May his emanations remain in the Chaos, and may they not be allowed to go to their place; may their light which is in them diminish, and Iet them not be allowed to go up to the thirteenth aeon, their place.

11. May the paralemptes, the purifier of the lights, purify all the lights which are in the Authades; and may he take them from them.

12. May the archons of the darkness below rule over his emanations, and Iet not anyone receive him to himself in his place; and Iet not anyone hear the power of his emanations in the Chaos.

13. May the light which is in his emanations be taken away, and may their name be removed from the thirteenth aeon; indeed rather may his name be taken away from that place for ever.

14. And upon the lion-faced power, may there be brought the sin of him who emanated it in the presence of the light; and may the iniquity of the matter which brought him (the Authades) forth not be erased.

15. And may their sin immediately be in the presence of the eternal light; and may they not be allowed to see, and may their name be removed from every place;

16. Because they did not spare me, and they oppressed the one whose light and power they took away. And afterwards they put me among them, wishing to take away all my light from me.

17. They loved to come down to the Chaos; may they be within it, and not be brought forth from this time hence. They did not want the place of righteousness as dwelling place, and they will not be taken to it from this time forth.

18. He put on the darkness Iike a garment; and it (the darkness) went into him like water, and it went into all his powers like oil.

19. May he wrap himself in the Chaos like a garment, and gird himself with the darkness like a leather girdle at all times.

20. While these things happen to those who brought these things upon me on account of the light; and they said: Iet us take away all her power.

21. But thou, 0 Light, have compassion on me, on account of the mystery of thy name; and save me in the beneficence of thy mercy.

22. Because they have taken away my light and my power, and my power is shaken within me, and I have not been able to stand upright in their midst,

23. I have become like matter which has fallen; I have been cast on this side and that, like a demon which is in the air.

24. My power has been destroyed, for I possess no mystery; and my matter has faded because of my light, for they took it away.

25. And as for me, they mocked me; they looked at me as they winked about me.

26. Help me according to thy compassion.’

Mead Translation:

1. O Light, forget not my praise-singing.

2. For Self-willed and his lion-faced power have opened their chops against me and have acted craftily against me.

3. They have surrounded me, desiring to take away my power, and have hated me, because I have sung praises unto thee.

4. Instead of loving me they slandered me. But I sang praises.

5. They plotted a plot to take away my power, because I have sung to thee praises, O Light; and hated me, because I have loved thee.

6. Let the darkness come over Self-willed, and let the ruler of the outermost darkness abide at his right hand.

7. And when thou passest sentence, take from him his power; and the deed which he hath plotted, to take from me my light,–mayest thou take his from him.

8. And may all his powers of his light in him finish, and let another of the three triple-powers receive his sovereignty.

9. May all the powers of his emanation be lightless and may his matter be without any light in it.

10. May his emanations remain in the chaos and not dare to go to their region. May their light in them die away and let them not go to the thirteenth æon, their region.

11. May the Receiver, the Purifier of the lights, purify all the lights which are in Selfwilled, and take them from them.

12. May the rulers of the lower darkness rule over his emanations, and let no one give them shelter in his region; and let no one hearken to the power of his emanations in the chaos.

13. Let them take away the light in his emanations and blot out their name from the thirteenth æon, yea rather take his name for ever out of that region.

14. And on the lion-faced power let them bring the sin of him who emanated it, before the Light, and not wipe out the iniquity of the matter which hath brought him [sc. Selfwilled] forth.

15. And may their sin be altogether before the Light eternally, and may they let them not look beyond [the chaos] and take their names out of all regions;

16. Because they have not spared me and have oppressed him whose light and whose power they have taken away, and also conformably with those who set me therein, they desired to take away my whole light from me.

17. They loved to descend to the chaos; so let them abide therein, and they shall not be brought up [therefrom] from now on. They desired not the region of Righteousness for dwelling-place, and they shall not be taken thither from now on.

18. He put on darkness as a garment, and it entered into him as water, and it entered in into all his powers as oil.

19. Let him wrap himself into the chaos as into a garment, and gird himself with the darkness as with a leathern girdle for ever.

20. Let this befall them who have brought this upon me for the Light’s sake and have said: Let us take away her whole power.

21. But do thou, O Light, have mercy upon me for the sake of the mystery of thy name, and save me in the goodness of thy grace.

22. For they have taken away my light and my power; and my power hath inwardly tottered, and I could not stand upright in their midst.

23. I am become as matter which is fallen; I am tossed hither and thither as a demon in the air.

24. My power hath perished, because I possess no mystery; and my matter hath become dwindled because of my light, for they have taken it away.

25. And they mocked me; they looked at me, nodding at me.

26. Help me according to thy mercy.’

The Mnemonic Diagram of Valentinus

I recently picked up and read the 1926 book “Gnosticism” by Mary W. Barrie. This book was published pre-Nag Hammadi, so I was curious to how it portrayed Gnosticism. It is a rather small book, just a little over 100 pages. The book gives a history of the Gnostic sects and touched upon some of the literature that was available at it’s publishing (Pistis Sophia, Books of Jeu, etc…). Overall, I thought it was interesting and worth a read though nothing really ground breaking was revealed. However, what I really liked about the book was the diagrams that were included in the back of the book. I love seeing such diagrams and decided to share some of them here on the site. This first diagram I am posting about is the “Mnemonic Diagram of Valentinus.” I have copied the text from the book that describes this diagram:

In this diagram emphasis is laid on the Fulness, the circle from which the three fiery ones are born. The two aspects of Spirit and Matter are represented as separate spheres within the Fulness. Then we find the Divine or Upper Tetractys and the Lower Tetractys together making the mystic eight or Ogdoad. The interlacing of the archetypal and sensible worlds is symbolised in the interlacing triangles. Lastly there is the five-pointed star, the symbol of the goal of liberation and perfection, with its apex within the first triad. All is beautifully simple and clear.

More to come!

The Eleventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Here is the translation comparisons of the Eleventh Repentance of Pistis Sophia.

MacDermot Translation:

I. ‘Why has the strong power risen among the wicked?

2. Its thought took the light away from me at all times. And Iike sharp iron they took power from me.

3. I preferred to come down to the Chaos more than to remain in the place of the thirteenth aeon, the place of righteousness.

4. And they wanted to take me by cunning, that they might swallow all my light.

5. Because of this now, the light will take all their light, and also their whole matter will be destroyed. And he will take their light, and he will not Iet them exist in the thirteenth aeon, their dwelling place, and he will not Iet their names be in the place of those that will live .

6. And the 24 emanations will see what has happened to thee, 0 lion-faced power, and they will fear and they will not be disobedient, but they will give what is purified of their light.

7. And they will see thee, and they will rejoice over thee and they will say : Behold an emanation which has not given what is purified of its light, that it might be saved, but it boasts of the magnitude of the light of its power, because it did not emanate the power within it; and it said: I will take away the light of the Pistis Sophia, this which will be taken from her.’

Mead Translation:

1. Why hath the mighty power raised itself in evil?

2. Its plotting taketh away the light from me all the time, and as sharp iron have they taken away power from me.

3. I chose to descend into the chaos rather than to abide in the thirteenth æon, the region of Righteousness.

4. And they desired to lead me craftily, in order to consume my whole light.

5. For this cause then will the Light take away their whole light, and also their whole matter will be made naught. And it will take away their light and not suffer them to abide in the thirteenth æon, their dwelling-place, and will not have their name in the region of those who shall live.

6. And the four-and-twenty emanations will see what hath befallen thee, O lion-faced power, and will be afraid and not be disobedient, but give the purification of their light.

7. And they will see thee and will rejoice over thee and say: Lo, an emanation which hath not given the purification of its light, so that it may be saved, but boasted itself in the abundance of the light of its power, because it did not emanate from the power in it, and hath said: I will take away the light from Pistis Sophia, which will now be taken from it.

Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1

What is the “Papyrus Oxyrhynchus 1” you may ask? It is a piece of papyri discovered by papyrologists Bernard Pyne Grenfell and Arthur Surridge Hunt on their second day of excavation, January 12, 1897, in the garbage mounds of the town of Oxyrhynchus, Egypt. Their total find amounted to 1,000s of various texts including some religious related material. This particular papyri I am highlighting today is a Greek version of the “Gospel of Thomas.” It is not complete, just a few sayings, but what is important is that the Greek language is more closer to the original source than the Coptic version that was found at Nag Hammadi. It is always good to have these alternate translations, so I present this particular version.

Below, the sayings that are ITALIC are from the Greek source. The BOLD sayings are from the Coptic source.

Saying 27:

Jesus saith: Except ye fast to the world, ye shall in no wise find the Kingdom of God; and except ye sabbatize the Sabbath, ye shall not see the Father.

Jesus said, “If you do not fast as regards the world, you will not find the kingdom. If you do not observe the Sabbath as a Sabbath, you will not see the father.”

Saying 28:

Jesus saith: I stood in the midst of the world, and in flesh was I seen of them, and I found all drunken, and none found I athirst among them. And My soul grieveth over the souls of men, because they are blind in their heart and see not. . . .

Jesus said, “I took my place in the midst of the world, and I appeared to them in flesh. I found all of them intoxicated; I found none of them thirsty. And my soul became afflicted for the sons of men, because they are blind in their hearts and do not have sight; for empty they came into the world, and empty too they seek to leave the world. But for the moment they are intoxicated. When they shake off their wine, then they will repent.”

Saying 30 + part of 77:

Jesus saith: Wheresoever there be two, they are not without God; and wherever there is one alone, I say, I am with him. Raise the stone, and there thou shalt find Me; cleave the wood, and there am I.

Jesus said, “Where there are three gods, they are gods. Where there are two or one, I am with him.”

Split a piece of wood, and I am there. Lift up the stone, and you will find me there.”

Saying 31:

Jesus saith: A prophet is not acceptable in his own country, neither doth a physician work cures upon those that know him.

Jesus said, “No prophet is accepted in his own village; no physician heals those who know him.”

Saying 32:

Jesus saith: A city built on the top of a high hill and stablished can neither fall nor be hid.

Jesus said, “A city being built on a high mountain and fortified cannot fall, nor can it be hidden.”

Saying 33:

Jesus saith: Thou hearest with one ear (but the other thou hast closed).

Jesus said, “Preach from your housetops that which you will hear in your ear. For no one lights a lamp and puts it under a bushel, nor does he put it in a hidden place, but rather he sets it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters and leaves will see its light.”

Sources: The Greek translations taken from “Fragments of a Faith Forgotten” by G.R.S. Mead; Coptic translations from gnosis.org. Also, more fragments of the “Gospel of Thomas” were found during that excavation but this post is in regards to this one particular fragment.

The Tenth Repentance of Pistis Sophia

Almost there! This is a rather short passage. Below are the comparisons.

MacDermot Translation:

1. ‘I have cried out to thee, 0 Light of Lights, in my affliction, and thou hast heard me.

2. 0 Light, save my power from unjust and iniquitous lips, and from cunning snares.

3. The light which was taken away from me with a cunning snare will not be brought to thee.

4. For the snares of the Authades are widespread, with the traps of the merciless.

5. Woe to me, for my dwelling was far off and I was in the dwellings of the Chaos.

6. My power was in places which were not mine.

7. And I flattered those merciless ones, and when I flattered them, they attacked me without cause’.

Mead Translation:

1. I have cried unto thee, O Light of lights, in my oppression and thou hast hearkened unto me.

2. O Light, save my power from unjust and lawless lips and from crafty traps.

3. The light which was being taken from me in crafty snaring, will not be brought unto thee.

4. For the traps of Self-willed and the nooses of the merciless [one] are spread out.

5. Woe unto me, that my dwelling was far off, and I was in the dwellings of the chaos.

6. My power was in regions which are not mine.

7. And I entreated those merciless [ones]; and when I entreated them, they fought against me without a cause.