Who are the Archons - The Rulers of the Cosmos in Gnosticism & their Origins in Cosmology and Magic

Gnosticism is infamous for its conception of the cosmos as the creation of the satanic Demiurge. But along with this entity is a retinue of demonic cosmic powers or Archons that act as co-creators and wardens of this prison universe. Join me as I explore the origins, nature and function of the Archons. From their terrible origins as primeval excretions of the Demiurge, to their dreadful creation of the human physical and psychical body - even a renegade Archon that defied the Demiurge and is even said to have created Jesus Christ. The Archons are an often overshadowed aspect of Gnosticism. Let's trace their origins in the demonization of Yahweh, the Cosmic Daimons and Greco-Egyptian Magic.
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Thumbnail art by Zdzisław Beksiński
Recommended Readings:
Layton & Brakke - The Gnostic Scriptures - 978-0274754151
Litwa - The Evil Creator: Origins of an Early Christian Idea - 978-0197566428
Jackson - The Origin in Ancient Incantatory "Voces Magicae" of Some Names in the Sethian
Gnostic System - Source: Vigiliae Christianae , Mar., 1989, Vol. 43, No. 1 (Mar., 1989), pp. 69-79
van den Broek - Gnostic Religion in Antiquity Reprint Edition - 978-1107514799

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Consider Supporting Esoterica! Patreon - www.patreon.com/esotericachannel Paypal Donation - www.paypal.me/esotericachannel Merch - kzbin.info/door/oydhtfFSk1fZXNRnkGnneQstore

[@johnnyisdead]

What's your favorite band, sir?

[@cosmic_sky_mountain]

the most fully explained digestivve storey on archons ive seen

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

​@@johnnyisdeadI mostly listen to baroque and black metal. Most listened to varies. Been on a dark synth and chip tune bender recently.

[@rcapracp3867]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Are you hip to Igorrr (and associated projects Corpo Mente, Oxxo Xoox, Whourkr, etc.)?

[@NuisanceMan]

@@TheEsotericaChannel Baroque + black metal = gnostic? Or am I missing something?

[@samizdatbroadcasts7654]

Old gnostic texts are an absolute gold mine for black metal band names, and names for mythical beings for use in role-playing games and fantasy novels.

[@JamesDecker7]

Ima go write some horror poem based on these beings.

[@breannathompson9094]

Meshuggah sings a whole bunch of songs from the perspective of the demiurge lol

[@theeccentrictripper3863]

Japan is way ahead of you

[@throbalot]

A medical typist I used to work with in diagnostic imaging used to use baby autopsy terminology for metal band names for friends.

[@pixelcount350]

It feels like a lot of cthulhu mythos is based of off Gnostics.

[@Mike28625]

I think the gnostic scholars were the Warhammer40,000 nerds of their day. They probably traded scrolls like they were miniatures.

[@madProgenitorDeity]

they fanfic'd the old testament genesis story

[@lunarlightasmr4660]

@@madProgenitorDeity and WH40k Fanfic’d Rome, the cycle continues

[@madProgenitorDeity]

@@lunarlightasmr4660 I mean, the gnostics fanfic'd the genesis story so that the snake was the good guy

[@HereComeTheTrainComingBlues]

I'm a 40k junkie.

[@aspieanarchist5439]

@@madProgenitorDeity I mean even in the canon version of Genesis, The Serpent was the only one telling the truth. Think about it. What is Yahweh`s standard for truth vs. deception in The Bible?" Who omitteth but one single truth lieth absolute."What did he tell Adam and Eve in the garden. "On that day ye eat of the tree, ye shall surely die." If Yahweh had spoken more carefully, perhaps there could be benefit of the doubt but The Bible repeatedly stresses the importance of "Exact words"!If he said, "Ye will eventually die", or "Ye will be able to die " that would be accurate but instead he just said "Ye will surely die" which was an exaggeration and made it seem as though it might happen at any moment or right after they disobeyed. What did the snake say?" Ye shall not surely die for God knoweth in the instant thou tasteth of the fruit of the tree, ye will be as gods, knowing good from evil." And for that, the couple who I remind you would not have known on an ethical level why they should have obeyed God`s instruction if they had not first disobeyed were thrown out of paradise and their bloodline cursed to be rapists, cannibals and murderers which is yet another example of Yahweh disregarding his own Commandments where they inconvenience him! Not only that, he forced the snake to crawl on its belly and eat dust all its days, this is supernatural animal abuse!Taking away the snake`s voice so it could no longer tempt humans was understandable, however Yahweh`s punishment of The Serpent was an unjustified act of animal cruelty!

[@gedoplanet]

“Before there was anything, there was nothing. And before there was nothing, there were monsters.” -The Lich

[@TheTotemToter]

@@Samuel42069 🤓

[@jaredbledsoe-sams1361]

@@Samuel42069 no, it's not bullshit, it's an accurate quote. No reason to throw a pissy fit cause you dislike or disagree.

[@user-sl6gn1ss8p]

@@Samuel42069 sounds like something an archon would say

[@user-sl6gn1ss8p]

@@Samuel42069 sure, but at 1:383, I think I'll take my odds : )

[@jaredbledsoe-sams1361]

@@Samuel42069 *in your opinion* it is. You aren't the lone arbiter of what is a good or bad quote. Surely you can be adult enough to state your OPINION of disagreement without the arrogance of assumed authority?

[@kuulalaak3ri]

High-quality lectures from an expert on fascinating topics, completely for free. Thank you for doing this.

[@360addict70]

I firmly believe that these stories originate from a hierarchy of extraterrestrial life.

[@Truth_Hurts_Bad]

@@360addict70 Same, only not so firm yet, as I haven't dove into the literature. I always consider the extraterrestrial angle when historical topics are presented. The biblical stories clearly state certain aspects of it, but books like Enoch, which were removed from the Nicaean-scrubbed modernized version, indicate the likelihood in more detail. I've been connecting dots, and it definitely corroborates the plausibility of such a reality.

[@360addict70]

@@Truth_Hurts_Bad To me it sounds like we're just a Minecraft world to beings that live forever and want to create and nurture life as their religion (professional gamer Gods). Then you got the beings that try the same thing but keep failing, get salty, and secretly try to halt the progress of life in subtle ways that snowball into self destruction (trash at the game troll Gods).

[@G5VX]

i agree thanks for educating me more so

[@stephenlamley541]

Absolutely I couldn't sub fast enough.

[@els1f]

5:05 "this is all a kind of prison" honestly feels right lol

[@FishDoExist]

Seriously! Point to the lie 😂

[@MavonEast]

Agreed.

[@gillbenjamin47]

It sure is

[@janeslater8004]

Yes

[@LambGoatSoup]

"...Ruled over by a host of planetary demons bent on nothing less than the torture and enslavement of the divine spark, hidden, within each human being..." -Esoterica

[@DianaRowanBrightWay]

aka the daily news.

[@qlippoth13]

That being even close to true, I find it most ironic that Avalokitasvara would have chose the ability to sense it all until the last is emancipated rather than just accepting the demonic award of emancipation and exiting this realm. At least this is my understanding of this bodhisattva and how that story integrates into a gnostic perspective.

[@qlippoth13]

@@BlitZkrieG988 I find etymology stimulating, so yet I did know that. What I didn't know is why the holy sea comitted genocide on the Cathars for the crime of having a different opinion about this world.

[@lightbird27]

​@@BlitZkrieG988 All "gods" are evil. He will make you go back down here through any means possible like he did me and so many others. Only if you can resist him will he allow you to go, or try to get you on his side. Here's my only warning : when you die and see a tunnel of light, go the other way. Or go on another ride on Earth, and be cattle again for possibly hundreds of years more ... as you see fit.

[@twibute1512]

@@BlitZkrieG988 It is a tempting road that I find myself drawn too quite often, thinking the more knowledge I have the better equipped I will be. But remember the search for knowledge is far from the search for God. Ecclesiastes 1 says : 16 I said to myself, “Look, I have increased in wisdom more than anyone who has ruled over Jerusalem before me; I have experienced much of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 Then I applied myself to the understanding of wisdom, and also of madness and folly, but I learned that this, too, is a chasing after the wind. 18 For with much wisdom comes much sorrow; the more knowledge, the more grief.” When I am able to step from this pull and draw for knowledge and understanding I see it’s effect on me. I think it’s important to have balance and realize the part we play in Creation

[@rikhenry9701]

Alternatively, "Religious Cosmic Horror"

[@willjapheth23789]

I typically don't like cynical stories where all is evil but the gnostic story is kind of inspirational with how good is the underdog, rather than good being super powerful but just ignores a world full of suffering for reasons that are unexplained.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Yes!!

[@agnoopinni]

I find it both inspiring and disheartening

[@willjapheth23789]

Ye it's not a story you want to live in, but it's not completely hopeless like Warhammer 40k or HP Lovecraft type stuff.

[@VVabsa]

​@@agnoopinniI think it makes fighting for the good even more worth it. Instead of staving off evil, you actively try to improve an already evil world.

[@ZeroHxC07]

It is explained. Man sinned, therefore we fell. Suffering is out punishment.

[@thesinfultictac5704]

The one thing I know about Archons other than their role in Early Gnostic Christianity, is "YOU MUST BUILD ADDITIONAL PLYONS" to even get them in you base.

[@ShangaelThunda222]

"Power Overwhelming"

[@capealio]

You must combine two lesser beings to create one archon

[@nuetrino]

watch out for that zerg rush

[@capealio]

I just remembered they're called templars

[@kylerocco7467]

YOU MUST CONSTRUCT ADITONAL PYLONS TO PLACE YOUR FLEET BACON.

[@ryanprince5824]

An Esoterica video with a Zdzisław Beksiński thumbnail is the highlight of the day 👌🏻

[@eljefeamericano4308]

I can't imagine the tantrum my phone would throw if I tried to type that name out right now...!

[@ryanprince5824]

@@eljefeamericano4308 ngl I did google it to make sure I was spelling correctly 😅

[@eljefeamericano4308]

@@ryanprince5824 Yeah, I can hardly blame ya!

[@krystynanapieraa4821]

polish alphabet@@eljefeamericano4308

[@miglek9613]

​@@eljefeamericano4308you just need to switch your keyboard to polish, same with any other languages with extra latin inspired letters (speaking as a native speaker of a language with many latin inspired letters)

[@jason1440]

It's been a while since I've heard mention of the Archons. These dark entities seem to go under the radar far too easily.

[@Spino-hx2mr]

Gnosticism is UNDERRATED in Storytelling!

[@freigeistvonlebenskunst1982]

The Archons could psychologically represent the animalistic drives of the human psyche. The daimonium of our instinctive underconsciousness, that needs to be faced and mastered - then the animal in us will carry us well on our spiritual evolution into divine superconsciousness. Elsewise our inner demons will drive us passionate through hell on Earth and feed from our emotional desasters, while keeping us imprisoned in unconsciously selfcreated life dramas. Interesting is the rebelling Archon, who appears like an awakend animalistic archetype, the self-reflecting animal in us. Who knows - since Jung and Freud it should be clear, that religious archetypes often represent archetypes of the human psyche.

[@SloochMaGooch]

The Archons are the planets

[@AlfredMorganAllen]

I would agree they're clearly intended to represent animalistic impulses derived from our material origins, at least as the video presents it, which I would regard as the thing that original sin is a metaphor for. The difference is that conventional Christianity and other religions teach that you can overcome your baser impulses with the help of God/the Gods/scripture and perform other moral duties in this world, and thereby earn eventual entry to a rosier afterlife. Whereas in Gnosticism you have to exit the world directly to have any hope of redemption.

[@so_what_else_is_new]

Freud was a big fabulator

[@TheSarahJane33]

👏🏼 all of what mankind creates is metaphor and allegory for our experience. As within, so without. We are storytellers and we tell story to pass on wisdom and lessons learned. Humans also tell stories as a means to control narratives and situations. Be careful little ears what you hear 🌀

[@travcollier]

Or could be some cool fantasy stories that folks started to take a bit too seriously. I mean, that has happened repeatedly in relatively modern times. Still happening

[@lapurta22]

I always enjoy your videos on gnosticism. In the past the subject has made my head spin until it hurt due to there being so much convoluted modern BS out there. Your study of the original texts, and more importantly your amazing ability to clearly share your understanding with wit, helps to pull the subject matter into laser focus for me. Kudos Dr. Justin. I raise an absinthe to you, sir.

[@ecreacher3515]

Actually absinthe? With wormwood? Just interested in what it's like. I've had it in America and it's just strong black licorice booze.

[@VicSaidThat]

Are you trying to kill off intestinal parasiter or just lubricate your mind ? Serious question.

[@9ahlou592]

Might is well have some cow poop mushroom tea lol

[@AnnoyedGreyCat-ib2hg]

I've actually had those mushrooms.

[@willbass2869]

​@@AnnoyedGreyCat-ib2hgah....getting into Terrence McKinnon territory

[@PatriceBoivin]

This business of constructing the Adamic body and then the female deity breathing life into them reminds me of the notion that when idols or statues were created, because of their form in the likeness of the deity, a part of that deity was sucked down into the statue and resided there. Hence the broken noses all over the place, to stop this from happening. The Gurdjieff Work talks about people being hypnotized or distracted by a swarm of I's which carries people from one day to the next. That most people never "self-remember."

[@qlippoth13]

I wonder if Gurdjieff Work was inspiration for John Carpenter's "They Live" film. Also the disfigured effigy is most likely similar to the indigenous (American) death ritual of burning a body face down so it's soul will not be able to reincarnate back into this world.

[@alinandrei6484]

@@joshsmith2629 agree , brilliant comment

[@Rick-gm6wo]

Thank you. I've been delving into the realm of "prisoner" status my entire life. The last two decades have brought this revelation into acute focus. John Lamb Lash's work has been particularly enlightening as well. Your contributions are welcome and helpful. Thank you for your research and contributions to our collective awareness.

[@SirPhilosopher]

We battle not against flesh and blood but of the spirits of this world-the archons.

[@harryhoofcloppen]

Fascinating how much of this is echoed in the overall universe in The Matrix; that this is not the "real" cosmos, this physical realm was created by malevolent entities including a creepy serpent-like thing... with them creating us to use us as their slaves and their source of power, and that it is the responsibility of every soul to realize all this and use the divine spark in each of us to transcend the physical realm and return back to the real world. Or maybe I'm giving the Wachowskis too much credit...?

[@ThatOliveMrT]

I've been told online they very much subscribe to it

[@mr.jamster8414]

say more?

[@irkallaLustre]

Gnosticism is deeply human. It finds its way into all sorts of stories. Often by accident.

[@alive2583]

Listen, you are a part of that invisible hand. Your literally speaking the language they speak.

[@carlosandleon]

In the matrix, people are supposed to be used as data storage and cpus rather than batteries

[@chiefindisguise]

Just discovered this channel, loved the way the host explains very complex and saturated info, his pace and the humor. Excellent content🔥

[@StCrimson667]

Delving into the history and philosophy of Gnosticism has really helped me heal a lot of my own religious trauma growing up in a very rigidly Christian family as an LGBT person. I was told my entire life that being different, that doing things in a way other than what the Bible described, and that doubting whether any of this was right or not was bad and shouldn't be allowed, that basically having free will was in itself evil, but, for some reason, it just never gelled with me, I just couldn't bring myself to believe that free will, intelligence, differences and the ability to choose was anything other than a gift and, as a result after 26 years of going to church ever single Sunday, I stopped and haven't been back since. Learning that there was a time when there were strains of Christianity which not only rejected orthodoxy and control, but also embraced free will, the Adam and Eve leaving the garden was not a punishment, but a triumph, it's done a lot to soothe the pain and take heart that those who use this faith to harm, abuse, and control others have always been questioned from the very beginning. It's no wonder the Gnostics were all burned, there will always be a certain type of person who loathes it when orthodoxy is questioned.

[@Dowlphin]

I find it very peculiar that you refer to yourself as "an LGBT person". Which one is it? You make it sound like the ideological adherence that it also is, like when someone says they're a Democrat, with capital D, referring to the political party. And/or maybe implying that it can change any time?

[@sillyobserversilly]

im glad you can finally heal from such things. God bless(i dont mean the demurge)

[@Pallasathena-hv4kp]

William Blake’s artwork is such a perfect accent to your presentation. Thank you for your generosity. Sharing your knowledge is a great gift.

[@tanyaideas]

Extremely glad and grateful to have discovered your channel! I have been interested in the gnostic texts for a long time without having been able to discuss these with anyone I know. You explain the mythology and the concepts in such an engaging and interesting way, not at all easy for dense material! Thank you again and please keep up the great work.

[@DrownedLamp]

Last night I went down a rabbit hole looking up the originis of Philately (the study of postatge stamps/history), realized it looked strikingly similar to a (lich's) phylactery. A tefillin or phylacteries are a set of verses from the Torah put in a container that's worn, a sort of mezuzah amulet(?). Some sections on speech scrolls and knowledge gathering later and I end up looking at the archons and 7 worlds (RIP Pluto). Then I wake up to this. Down I tumble, at least I know ESOTERICA will provide safe footing for a while.

[@eljefeamericano4308]

Why do I hear chanting...? It sounds like... yes... "One of us. One of us."

[@AlfredMorganAllen]

The word "phylactery" originally referred to a prayer-amulet worn by jewish priests, as I understand it. (There's even a special item in D&D known as the Phylactery of Faithfulness which allows you to discern the intentions of your patron God.)

[@eljefeamericano4308]

@@AlfredMorganAllen In reading these comments, I sometimes wonder if I'm the only person here who has never played D&D...!

[@AndrewRyan-rd1wl]

Is that the box they wrap around their hand?

[@w8what575]

@@eljefeamericano4308I’ve never played it

[@ohravenous1]

I absolutely adore the Nag Hammadi Texts. They may seem a bit disjointed and fractured but... given enough study they are packed full of wisdom. Literally the book of Wisdom is intact there. THANK YOU for covering these books in depth. As always wonderful job!

[@robt.v.8688]

I never realized how much this sounds like a rough draft of the Matrix until now. Nice video. Your well of Gnowledge is refreshing

[@nykkigrim802]

The information you give in this (as well as many previous) episodes is a like a hidden treasure. I’ve read occult books since my teens and no one really brought to light such in depth knowledge - and you make it so much easier to grasp and entertainingly. Thank you💯

[@PositiveEnergy733]

If you’re reading this comment, it’s too late, you’ve already been immensely blessed with an abundance of love, wealth, luck, health, joy, and whatever else your heart desires!! I’m so proud of you for surviving everything you’ve been through. This is your sign to go after what your heart most desires for the highest good, it’s your time....

[@user-li5jd1lb2s]

the missing bits of all these ancient texts" are the bits that explain the dice rolls and game play rule s

[@CapePlaysGames]

I am 100% making an ancient Wizard NPC for my Dungeons and Dragons who’s a scholar and historian of gods and ancient powers based on you and this channel. AMAZING.

[@infectedmushrooms93]

What a wonderful episode! I don't know why but the Gnostics were always very fascinating to me, I can listen about their believes and cosmogony for hours. Personally, I really enjoy it to be so intricate and confusing and absolutely captivating at the same time, I love it being unclear and mysterious. Thank you, Doctor Sledge for sharing your knowledge!

[@edgarjones6824]

Dear Doctor Sledge your form is always good ,but this month its been impeccable. Keep up the fantastic work!

[@NihilRuina]

7 keepers, 7 gates, 7 Chakras, 7 Hells.. Hell, Hel, Kel: the concealed place. Seven concealed realms lay within. Each realm is home to a keeper who guards it's gate which permits passage onto the next. Only by descending, and passing the trails of Kel, may one ascend.

[@Ericstroman100]

If we are on a Plane IT must be the third because we have the sun. But i dont think There are 7 Planes its Just speculation. Only one earth Here

[@Honeyiroseupfromthedead]

7 rings . 7 rings around Planet Saturn 🪐

[@kasperspardigm]

7 days of week 7 chakras 7 notes on sound scale... 7 colors rainbow

[@thescoobymike]

Love how in depth you go Dr. Sledge

[@DanielRisberg]

There is actually a 1991 tabletop rgp (Kult) that draws heavily from gnostic philosophy with the Demiurge and his Archons as important entities. Always wondered how a bunch of guys in their 20s stumbled upon gnosticism in the 1990s.

[@midnightblue3285]

Have you played the game ?

[@DanielRisberg]

@@midnightblue3285 Yeah, a little bit back in the 90s. They also released a MTG-style trading card game that I played a bit more of. Still have the cards for most of the Archons :-).

[@mikhailthegreatestdragon3627]

Thank God, the Genshin players didn't find this yet

[@aarongreenz]

I've been knowing about the archons (I refuse to capitalize that word) did a couple of decades.. And I've been playing genshin for a couple of years now. It was off putting and a bit concerning for me to find that in this new game that I was enjoying very much, and planning on continuing to play for a long time still, and a game that already had a HUGE following and influence on a wide range of people, was using the terms God's and archons interchangeably! And it still does bother me... but truly, this is no different or worse than the LOOOOONG history of pre-existing, observable machinations throughout our entire recorded history... It's just less veiled and easier to directly see the connection and intent of the creators of the game to associate the divine with the distorted, negative, 'evil' called archons. Oh well... Still a great game!

[@Ullr94]

I found it.

[@duckman2430]

​@@aarongreenz given that the archons in genshin also all have solomonic names i think it's likely hinting at celestia being the true evil of the game

[@parmaxolotl]

Yes I have

[@tartnouveau3652]

I’m a genshin player but I didn’t come here to be obnoxious lol

[@tomusmc1993]

Well. You showed up in my feed, and I checked it out. Your presentation left me floating like a cork on the sea. I have no idea what you are talking about, but your presentation is excellent. Thank you for bringing this knowledge to the masses. It is fascinating.

[@davidrizzutojr4937]

I want you to please do videos on literally everything and everyone involved in this subject. I feel like as hard as it is for us to wrap our minds around that there is a great deal of truth here

[@elishh8173]

Read about the Cathars. They are gnostics and we're genocided by pope innocent. Yes he called himself that. They fought back but his mercenary knights eventually won. The people cried when the gnostic were lead to the pyres. But the Cathars sang. They were not even afraid of the worst way to die. May God bless them forever!

[@DrPeterMarsh]

Honestly thank you for this. These scriptures mean allot too me personally. And your sober scholarly clarifications really help. Saldobaoth really stuck out too me and i appreciate the highlight.

[@matthewbecker7389]

And when the people needed him the most, the Doctor appeared. Thanks for this, wonderful to have some more clarity regarding the context in how a mythos/movement can come up with an Archon. Also, another circumstance when something happens to have the perfect name. The ancient Gnostics were clearly heavy metal loving lovecraftians before their time. Once again, thanks Doc Sledge! 🙏

[@AC-dk4fp]

When Lovecraft isn't just ripping off Arthur Machen he's mostly just writing a materialist atheist parody of later American Theosophy, which always claimed gnostic influence. Lovecraft's knowledge of Theosophy was entirely second hand through his one Theosophist friend and their knowledge of gnosticism was pretty shallow but the defining lack of any higher non-material reality in Lovecraft applies just as much a nihilistic parody of gnosticism as of Theosophy. Ironically the geo-political demonology of Black Sabbath's War Pigs is closer to St. Paul's non-distheistic anti-Roman archonolgy (2 corinthians 4) which Gnosticism is kind of a de-politicised inner spiritual reworking of. Calling one branch of Christianity more metal than any other is a diservice to the variety of metaphors and interpretations applied in Heavy Metal.

[@Balrog4242]

rofl I had not considered Lovecraft's theology as a parody of Theosophy but that sounds spot on... he was certainly bright enough to peg Blavatsky for a fraud although I can't find any quotes from him ever directly referencing Theosophy or Blavatsky @@AC-dk4fp

[@thwartificer]

Doctor who?

[@J_Z913]

Completely agree about Dr. Litwa's book. His YT channel is also fantastic! We Are Being Transformed also has a bunch of awesome interviews with scholars about this topic.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Yep to both!

[@user-tn7xk7lo3x]

As always, a joy to watch. Great video, Doctor Sledge! Now to watch your episodes on the Cathars. Have a good one, Doctor.

[@jaysindefransisco1118]

Definitely support this channel. You're an amazing presenter. And clearly have a true connection to the mysteries.

[@martinkirsch5969]

Wonderful video, as always! Thank you for your work (fellow prisoner 😉). It's great to encounter someone who knows what he's talking about! I've been interested in Gnosticism for the past 15 years and I've heard so much BS over the years... It's also nice to see some cool art (Zdzisław Beksiński, Nicholas Roerich, etc.).

[@Manwendlil]

Lovecraft was a fan of roerichs paintings...

[@ornsteinthedragonslayer7518]

My favorite video of yours so far, thank you for everything you do!

[@MrTrigun1]

Crazy how coincidence happens. I had read about this topic briefly a few years back, and actually have several tabs open in another window relating to the topic that I had planned to read over while off work tomorrow. Then I get home and the first video suggested today is this one. Love the channel. Please keep up the wonderful content!

[@EarthSh4ker]

Cookies

[@krystynanapieraa4821]

or divine or demonic guidance. One can get lost in the maze of synchronicities. When I was focused on them, only synchronicities filled my days,, leading me through the life of hell. .@@EarthSh4ker

[@wbbartlett]

Google loves you

[@heathercryer3238]

I love what I learn here with every video on this channel…and the dry humor..both keep me coming back for more.

[@lobstrocity5534]

You're actually very funny, Dr. Sledge. I love the subtlety ❤❤❤ and the information this channel gives is...second to none, really.

[@leodean4206]

Love the use of Zdzislaw’s art. It’s incredible and genuinely terrifying I love it. Great for the topic of the video.

[@luisbarrera5740]

This is the most interesting video you've ever released. I'm researching all of it right now

[@nordinreecendo512]

Love the use of the Zdzisław Beksiński art for the thumbnail!

[@jodieg6318]

I feel like many of us first get introduced to Gnostic myth by Lovecraft; Gnostism is the OG cosmic horror.

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Agreed 💯

[@elishh8173]

Yes but it's a religion and philosophy that deserves more respect. I dont think anyone would ever say something similar about Islam or Christianity for example.

[@Bildgesmythe]

Interesting cosmology. Thanks for this channel and the Patreon members that support it.

[@cpnpcbeats6133]

yaldabaoth is androgyne? call that the themiurge

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Bam

[@Master_Chitlin]

I find this subject absolutely fascinating. Thank you for the video.

[@gnarlantlers70]

I enjoy your channel and content very much. Your delivery and presentation is excellent. With whats goung on right now online i think that the internet needs you to do a video on James Lindsay's Gnosticism

[@jeffaltier5582]

Love your Gnostic content. My favorite type of video from you. Thank you.

[@qlippoth13]

Wow Doc, that was bad ass! The most interesting aspect of all of this IMO is not the information itself but the Qere and Ketiv, as you put it the milieu of those who originally created these writings and practices. I liken this interest to the dynamic of Mnemosyne being projected on to the character Neo of the Matrix, as we all clearly know without any validation there are things we are not permitted to remember, such as our own origin and utility. The description of our shared metaphysical plight being that we are encased in peels arranged as Matryoshka is how I have come to view this as an aphorism... "The question". Lots of cool stuff covered here in your content. Thanks for sharing this!

[@TargusCrimbus]

After studying and experiencing this reality I believe Gnosticism describes our situation best.

[@francisjudge]

That was great. Thank you Dr. Sledge.

[@natejoseph4121]

Thank you for all the amazing research you do

[@depraved420]

Great video Sir, thank you for your time and putting these together. ❤️

[@taliabeaumont1617]

This answered so many questions I have & filled in a lot of gaps!! HUGE thanks. You’re brilliant.

[@graemem111]

Justin, thank you. Thank you for inimitable wisdom and method of delivery. Thank you for making me smile knowingly. And thank you for helping keep me ‘sane’. Please keep up this work; you’ll never know how useful, important, enlightening and truly brilliant your contributions to the discourse are.

[@milesmageniz2903]

honestly this channel is a rare gem for this reality if you come across it you are fortunate

[@johnbeaubien8826]

36:37 "Keep resisting those Archontic psychical impulses" (!) OMG I love his on-going humourous commentary. Makes this very complicated subject matter worth listening to. In general, also is making the content accessible. Excellent channel!

[@rogueninja185]

I love the sober presentation of this channels content. Thank you!

[@TruGouki]

Synchronicity is hitting me like a ton of bricks right now. But im here for it.

[@SobekLOTFC]

Keep up the great work, Dr Sledge 👏⚒️

[@michaelkahler4406]

Just found you on KZbin. Amazing content! Thank you.

[@echonomix_]

The more I learn about the world, it's history, and the beliefs of the titans before me, the more I realize Alex isn't even remotely crazy.

[@brijmsn]

Alex Jones? Wow. Hes like cheap fast food for truthers and 13 year old boys

[@willbass2869]

​@@brijmsnthere isn't anymore "cheap" fast food.....blame bidenomics!

[@brijmsn]

@@willbass2869 There's nothing wrong with Biden...Are you delusional or have a demonic contract with trump?

[@eljefeamericano4308]

I absolutely love your discussions about Gnostic history and literature! It is so fascinating how wildly different it all is from the Christianity that came out on top, and yet it all fits together so neatly! I hope you and yours are doing well! And, thank you for your work.

[@Chris-ex5ed]

I thought the Dead Sea scrolls were taken out of the Christian teachings and put in a cave ?

[@alexandresobreiramartins9461]

They will be unearthed and used by Seele and Nerv in the future.@@Chris-ex5ed

[@eljefeamericano4308]

@@Chris-ex5ed You're not wrong, in the sense that the Gnostics were Christians. They were just kinda different, too.

[@Chris-ex5ed]

@@eljefeamericano4308 yes, proper, my grandma was a very giving soul, exactly as jesus told us to be and I wish she was taught this rather then then shit they gave her.

[@fe7kh]

theurgy

[@patrickmcpherson97]

After watching a number of your videos, I decided to subscribe. Hope you keep the great videos coming.

[@bird-of-hermes3385]

I love gnostic cosmology! Thanks for another fantastic video!

[@phillipbernhardt-house6907]

Superb! I've been looking at the Archons for a variety of reasons recently, and this has given me a great deal more to think about...and, as usual, has added to my "to read" list in several important respects! Tremendous thanks for your ongoing excellent work!

[@rustybuckets2143]

I love these videos! In addition to increasing my knowledge of these topics for my own curiosity, this is great for giving me inspiration for lore in my D&D campaign. The backbone for my setting involves all kinds of deities and occult ideas, and your videos keep increasing my thirst for knowledge about them

[@eypandabear7483]

There is an entire tabletop RPG based on Gnosticism, called “KULT: Divinity Lost”. I never actually played it but the art in the rulebook is great.

[@undercoverbrother67]

Outstanding work. Love your channel.

[@gmccaughry]

Right up my alley, always a joy to watch your videos, hope Fall's good for you and the family dear Justin!

[@TheEsotericaChannel]

Thanks, friend! Things are good but heavy these days

[@gmccaughry]

@@TheEsotericaChannel I feel you, I truly do. All seems to be moving in a direction tinged with suffering, turmoil, and deep-cut internal pondering.

[@Hermetic_]

The more I listen to this episode, the more important this particular episode seems to me. I believe I will read the recommended reading list, then come back to this video. Thank you for the upload 👍

[@jessegibson3548]

Thank you so much! Your work is deeply appreciated :)

[@joeywhittle44]

This guy’s always got bangers. A+

[@misterOphilies]

Another great video on Gnosticism. It's so interesting to see how it has permutated throughout the centuries.

[@s1nningjezus207]

It's subtle, but your personality and the little bits of personal opinion and flair you add to these lessons really goes a VERY long way towards making learning about this FUN. Thank you. I'm poor. But I'm buying a shirt as soon as possible. Thank you Justin. ❤

[@0harris0]

amazing content as always!! thank you 🙏🙏

[@robertmcmanus8760]

I love your channel! I one read, somewhere, about the 3 attempts at Creation from the primordial chaos but I could never find anything that had been written about it. Finally, you've provided me with the context and belief system where this mythology originated. So, thank you for that!

[@metal87power]

Gnosticism is the perfect inspiration for entertaining fiction: Anime, Literature, and every kind of work.

[@Mr.N3cro]

I'm new to the channel, I've been binge listening to your videos, they are filled with so much great content, and you present it so well. Thank you. You've given me lists of books I need to add to my library of books. Have a great day.

[@eljefeamericano4308]

Welcome! I have an ever-growing list of books thanks to this channel, myself. I would second the doctor's recommendation for Eric Perdue's translation of Cornelius Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. I picked up the set, and I've really been enjoying what I've read so far.

[@Liam-B]

Fascinating content, especially as Dr. Sledge provides great detail to the historical context of tgese subjevts which he so articulately presents. Thank you, Dr. Sledge for illuminating how those who came before us concieved of the world without, as well as within.

[@clownscum3517]

amazing video! very easy to understand, i cant wait for your future gnostic videos!

[@vegetas_conscious]

have you explored mesoamérica mysticism or any other of indigenous peoples, i’m Taíno and would love to learn more of my people practices and beliefs

[@kasperspardigm]

My wife is puerto Rican and we both have a hard time finding info on the tainos

[@kaidenmunsey7380]

As always amazing content Dr. Sledge. I wanted to comment to state my appreciation for the channel and the service it provides. I myself am a practicing Christian(that is of the mainstream Nicene orthodoxy variety) and I never got why someone would want to believe that everything in the created order is so utterly awful as to believe in Gnosticism. As such this formed a barrier to me for studying it academically as I could not sympathize with the headspace of the writers of these texts. I want to say that your content has greatly enabled me to see what it is about their worldview that gnostics valued and why it is that people in the ancient world would be drawn to such an ideology. To all the modern day practicing gnostics who watch this channel I want to say I see you as a sibling, I respect your practice and I wish public education on this topic was more widely spread so others could too!

[@PutinsMommyNeverHuggedHim]

you sound very sheltered.

[@alexandriaorcld6365]

thank you!

[@isupportthecurrentthing.1514]

I gained access to the knowledge after reading the Nag Hammadi and giving up all vices for a couple of weeks. At first , it came to me during deep sleep, and while I was reading spiritual texts . Then, one day , I was gifted a full-on vision in which I learned that I am God. He stayed with me for about an hour, answering all my questions through the knowledge . It was a strong communion. I was free. It felt amazing. All fear and worry lifted from my mind, and my heart was full of love . I really wanna get back there. The goal is to learn how to live like that permanently. Enlightenment, Buddha mind , Christ consciousness. Whatever you call it , it's real , and it's joyous.

[@Sxcheschka]

The topic interests me already, however the moment I saw, Zdzisław Beksiński's art as the thumbnail you hooked me asap!

[@backwoodscountryboy1600]

Thanks for the teaching. It was another great episode, I learned a lot and thank you for the book recommendations.

[@dusk_en]

Band name alert lol! I can't get enough of your amazing content

[@LouisGiliberto]

The various Gnostic theologies are some of the most baroque things I've ever read. Thanks for bringing some clarity to me (and others)!

[@cog8171]

solid presentation bro, listening on repeat its so good

[@Tomvikes41]

I was waiting long for this episode!

[@Liam-B]

I would definitely enjoy a Demon's Souls based on Gnostic cosmology.

[@helmepodesarius2198]

Play Cruelty Squad.

[@petemoss7704]

video games are yldabaoths ultimate weapon bro, are you serious

[@recursiveslacker7730]

@@petemoss7704 the gorbino’s quest of life

[@Boss.X5]

@@petemoss7704 how

[@idzidz833]

@@petemoss7704 lmfao

[@fabioguerrero3513]

The words of Doctor Justin and his knowledge are rays of light and wisdom in this dark era of Mankind.

[@TiffanyFusini]

I am shocked that this is the first time I have watched one of your videos. And that I wasn't subscribed! But I am now! And as soon as I get my little girl back home and back on my feet financially, I will be donating. How very fascinating!

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

Your economy of language and presentation make your work such a pleasure to listen to. Reading information this dense without this would probably melt my brain. Thank you so much for your work!

[@DukeOfDidge]

Dr. Sledge, "The Hammer," you've done it again. Infusing existence with interesting, exciting, wonderful ideas and info. Thank you a million times over for producing this kind of content. *** "Archons: they need therapy, not managerial positions..." made me do a literal spit-take. Luckily it was just water.