DeConick A.D

191
GNOSTIC ALTERED STATES
Z-ÊOOO
Z-ÊSEN Z-ÊSEN
In addition to vowel chanting and snoring mantras, Gnostic liturgies
frequently rely on repeated refrains in their prayers and hymns. In the
Sethian liturgy known as the Three Steles of Seth, initiates repeatedly cry
out such refrains as they attempt to ascend into the three main realms of
the Sethian transcendent world. These appear to have served as mantras
for their transcendent journey (Three Steles of Seth NHC VII.5 121.15–16,
124.10–13, 17–18, 125.24):
“You are perfect! You are perfect! You are perfect!”
“You have heard! You have heard!”
“You have saved! You have saved!”
“We give thanks! We bless you always! We glorify you!”
“We rejoice! We rejoice! We rejoice!”
“We have seen! We have seen! We have seen!”
“You are One! You are One!”
After ascending into the highest realm of the Father, the initiates and the
congregation become collectively silent.
Similar mantra-like phrases are found in Hermetic hymns, in which
initiates sing the refrain “We have known you!” at the beginning of each
line of song (Asclepius 41 [Latin]). In other songs, the repeated refrains
are “Holy is God!” and “Holy are You!” (Corpus Hermeticum 1.31).
The most extensive explanation of Gnostic chanting is known from the
descriptions of the Valentinian Gnostic leader Marcus, who used specific
chants in his congregation to harness the power of the transcendent divinities
and bring about cosmic harmony and personal healing. We will
discuss the chanting practices of his congregation more fully in chapter 8.
Shared Trauma
Gnostic spirituality is a metaphysical orientation that identifies the human
condition as traumatized, not as the result of traumatic events we face in
our lives but because of our essential nature, which exists torn, separated
from the ultimate source of reality. In this isolated state, our essential