Hello and welcome once more to Wulfhūs!

Today, we will examine the concept of Gnosis (Knowledge) as applicable to the Pagan Community, as well as a personal testimonial I wish to share related to the topic-at-hand.

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There is a concept in the broader Pagan community known as personal gnosis (knowledge), and there are three types:

• Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG)
• Verified Personal Gnosis (VPG)
• Shared Personal Gnosis (SPG)

What does Verified vs. Unverified mean? And how do they relate to Shared?

Well, a Verified Personal Gnosis is knowledge had, or acquired, that can be wholly supported by Lore encompassing a given religion (in this case, I’d like to refer to Anglo-Saxon Paganism).

An example: an Anglo-Saxon Pagan (or – Heathen – both terms are used interchangeably nowadays, and, i.e. ASH or ASP) has a vision of something they feel is important and applicable to them. Later on, this ASH then comes across an Anglo-Saxon Paganism (Fyrnsidu) specific text that perfectly resonates, and reflects, with exactly that of which they had envisioned. As a result, this then is a Verified Personal Gnosis (VPG).

This leads well into what a Shared Personal Gnosis (SPG) entails, though gets a bit complicated.

If, say, this ASH decides to share what he had envisioned with his fellow AS companions or kinsmen, then it becomes Unverified once more, as unless his companions or kinsmen also experience the very same personal gnosis, it cannot be verified.

The Personal Gnosis imbued by this initial ASH remains personal and unverified if it can not be verified by Lore, and is not shared if the others shared with do not experience the same personal gnosis.

For the record, though – this concept can also go another way:

Both a UPG and an SPG can become a VPG.

How so, you may ask?

The answer lies with another example:

– A group of Archaeologists are at a new dig-site. While they are digging, they come across a new Fyrnsidu text of old, and in this text, it exhibits information that was previously unknown to the Fyrnsidu community.

As a result, any UPG(s) (a) Fyrnsidere may have had encompassing content for whatever was in that text (or, collectively, if shared) has now become a VPG.

As you can see, this is quite the intriguing concept, at least in my opinion, so its ‘ebb’ and ‘flow’ is definitely as volatile as a flowing river.

Now. Without further adieu, I’d like to move on into sharing a personal UPG of my own, and perhaps such an example, will help to elaborate on what a UPG is, and how important its concept is, to the broader Pagan community.

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| The Testimonial: My Pilgrimmage UPG |

I was born and raised Roman Catholic, and that was what I carried with me up to the age of around 16/17, when I had matured a bit and began to think for myself. As an adoptee, my pilgrimage is a route that may differ from many, and my pilgrimage into this faith was long-coming and not solidified until I reached my early 20s.

When I later discovered my ancestral and ethnic roots, a process that was full of emotion, surprise and, initially, skepticism. I, several times during my initial pilgrimage of faith, bounced between Agnostic, Spiritual, Norse Heathen, Norse Wiccan, and finally, Fyrnsidu.

I had spent hours, initially, researching various different cultures, religions, and ancient peoples’ history; it took months before I finally settled on Fyrnsidu as my final declaration of faith from there-on-out. I started to delve more into Viking culture and history, focusing more attention on my ancestral roots. With fairly consistent updates to my ethnicity and heritage developing as science and technology continued to advance, I took all that of which I had indulged myself with a grain of salt.

I later decided to take a gambit and delved as deep as I could into Anglo-Saxon Heathenry (from what little is known modern-day about that people) and history, and then between various feelings, a couple visions, and among other factors in my life at the time; I found Anglo-Saxon Heathenry (Fyrnsidu) to be a faith I began to wholly accept, believe in and study. Finally, I felt at home and within what seemed to be my ‘niche’.

As I began small practices (first with just prayers offered to the Gods), I began to take note of noticeable changes in home and life, both relationship-wise, and, financially – amoung other things.

This all was good and well enough of a wake-up call and ‘epiphany’ if you will for me and where my own UPG (self-truth and awakening) took place.

From this point on, my relationship with the Gods, Wights, Omens, and Praxis only grew stronger by nature.

This is my truth, a sentimental UPG of my own.

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We may have only breezed over the surface of this concept this time, more is to come, but for now, I hope this was an informative introduction to the concept.

As I bring this post to a close, I would like to thank you all for joining me, and I look forward to exploring more of these concepts, and more, with you all in due time. Stay Tuned for more!

Save Travels!

– E.K.

The Wandering Wolf