Hello again, and welcome once more to Wulfhūs!

In our last blog (Gnosis: An Introduction), we examined the surface-basics of what “Gnosis” was in the broader Pagan Community, as well as the difference between verified, unverified, and shared personal gnosis. Additionally, I shared a UPG of my own.

Let’s take a moment and review the basics:

• Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG):
  • Knowledge had or acquired from personal experience and unverified in Lore of a given religion.
• Verified Personal Gnosis (VPG):
  • Knowledge had or acquired from personal experience and verified in Lore of a given religion.
• Shared Personal Gnosis (SPG):
  • UPG that is held by multiple people of a given religion – can be verified or unverified by Lore in a given religion.

Now that we have reviewed the basics once more, I’d like to examine the concept of Gnosis a bit deeper and will open with the questions:

• What is “Gnosis,” truly, and why is it so important – if important at all?
• How is “Gnosis” applicable to modern-day interpretations of what it is or could be?

For starters, the term Gnosis stems from the common, feminine, Greek noun Gnōsis, meaning, quite directly: Knowledge or Awareness.

During Greco-Roman times (where history first claims its origin to be from), the term was utilized most commonly by various Hellenistic religions and philosophies at that time –  it was spiritual knowledge or spiritual insight into humanity’s nature as being “divine.” This interpretation stemmed from Gnosticism, an ancient collection of religious ideas and systems first brought into fruition in the late first century common era from Jewish and early-Christian sects.

For the sake of this post, I won’t go through an entire history lesson on Gnosticism, I’ll perhaps save that for another time, but I at least wanted to share the term’s first-known origin.

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Now, moving on to examining the other questions above: Why is Gnosis so important – if important at all?

This is a complicated question to examine for the fact that – as defined (outside of the philosophies of Gnosticism or religion as a whole), the term Gnosis does not reify divine intervention or related, and we use the term most frequently nowadays for concepts religion-related, at least in the broader Pagan community. However, “Gnosis” is really an umbrella term that implies, by definition, any knowledge, insight, or awareness had or acquired. As a result, for many, Gnosis is important, and, alternatively, not so much for others.

Another important way of examining this is that its importance, respectively, lies with the one who experiences it. It’s important to note, that, what’s important to one may not be important to another – that’s why Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG) is, inofitself, personal.

Reminder: UPG can become VPG, and of which can later become SPG – given each beholder experiences that of the same as the original beholder.

When taking into consideration the part of the question …if important at all…this is open to interpretation. I, myself, interpret any form of Gnosis as important – I will now leave it there for you to interpret as you will.

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How is “Gnosis” applicable to modern-day interpretations of what it is or could be?

This is an interesting aspect to consider because, once again, it is open to personal interpretation. For this question, specifically, I’d like to take a couple steps back once more and discuss UPG briefly.

Let’s take Fyrnsidu (Anglo-Saxon Paganism) into consideration again, as I know more to do with that then general philosophical belief encompassing the concept of Gnosis. Again, UPG means Unverified Personal Gnosis. In Fyrnsidu, this is interpreted more commonly, from modern perspective, as epiphany or theophany – depending on the circumstances of the “UPG”-in-question.

Some Fyrnsidere view UPG with skepticism, whereas others view it with definitive governance – e.g., Christians who believe in literal vs. figurative interpretations of the Holy Bible. This plays an important role in the  interpretation of Gnosis. Gnosticists, in their way of thinking, view(ed) Gnosis as literal divine (spiritual) knowledge or insight (as formerly mentioned).

You may ask: why, then, with skepticism? Well, the cut and dry explanation for this, as in relation to my Fyrnsidere perspective, is that our Gods are unpredictable. They are clever. And, as implicated in various works of Lore, our Gods are deemed to be untrustworthy in some instances and even lie. That, inofitself, more or less summarizes reason for skepticism. For more perspective on this aspect of the concept, I recommend checking out this article from a fellow Fyrnsidere blogger who also puts it fairly cut and dry.

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As I start to bring this blog to a close, I’d like to share a brief summary of what Fyrnsidu (Anglo-Saxon Paganism) is and where it comes from. UPG is, to me, an important aspect to consider within Fyrnsidu, though even still is open to your own interpretation. A deeper explanation of Fyrnsidu as a whole will be given in a study-series I intend to write at a later time, but for now, here is a brief overview:

What is Fyrnsidu? Where did it originate from? Is there a distinct culture, language, or slew of traditions the religion entails?

Fyrnsidu is a modern religion based upon the religion of the pre-Christian Germanic Tribes that settled in Britain in the fifth century of the common era. The people that brought this religion were known commonly as Anglo-Saxons, and their polytheistic religion also entailed worship of one’s ancestors and the wights (spirits) of the land and in our homes.

From a modern standpoint, it is important to note that Fyrnsidu is a Reconstruction. It has been adapted for modern life and ethics – its practices and traditions reconstructed from available textual and archeological records.

The word “Fyrnsidu” is a compound word that combines Fyrn, meaning “ancient” or “old,” and Sidu, meaning “custom” or “habit” from Old English.

The name “Fyrnsidu” was coined by one named Robert “Osric” Holman back in 2001, though Mr. Holman has since separated from Fyrnsidu and now leads a society known as the Ingwine Society. The best website to learn more about Fyrnsidu can be found at Fyrnsidu.faith.

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Closing thoughts on “Gnosis” and UPG:

Gnosis has been around for a long time. Unverified, Verified, or Shared, Gnosis is a concept of personal knowledge. It exists in many forms and in many disciplines.

Fyrnsidu, though adapted to modern practices and traditions, has also been around for a long time – including its language, Old English.

Gnosis stems from a Greek word and came more into common use when Gnosticism came around – so I ask in closing:

• Is Personal Gnosis (whether Unverified, Verified, or Shared) important to you?
• Is it applicable to modern day perceptions?
• Is it worth the sentiments, “praise,” and validity many feel it is worth?

Please feel free to let me know what your thoughts are in the comments below, and thank you for reading!

Cordially,

– E.K.

The Wandering Wolf