PSYCHIC MESSAGES FROM THE SPIRIT REALM

The Temple of Aurora

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    • Home
    • Gnosis
    • Cosmic Soul Retrieval
    • Progressive Revelation
    • Multidimensional Souls
    • The Lady And The Logos
    • The Uniplural Divine
    • Spiritual Awakening
    • Kerin Webb
    • Asha Rogers Webb
    • The Goddess Aurora
    • How Aurora Appeared
    • The Maiden Of Heaven
    • The Maiden Of Light
    • The White Lady
    • The Dark Goddess Kali
    • The Goddess Lakshmi
    • Bernadette At Lourdes
    • The Divine Sophia
    • Zoroastrian Asha
    • Joan of Arc's Voices
    • Houris In Islam
    • Al-Lat, Al-Uzza and Manat
    • Female Tutelray Spirits
    • The Shinto Goddess
    • Kwan Yin And Tara
    • Shakti And Shekinah
    • The Holy Spirit
    • The Wiccan Goddess
    • The Triple Goddess Hecate
    • The Lady
    • The Goddess Iris
    • The Goddess Cybele
    • Morning Star
    • The Goddess Isis
    • The Goddess Sulis Minerva
    • The Goddess Kamakhya
    • The Fae Queen
    • Uniplural Goddesses
    • Dorothy Kerin
    • The Oracle of Delphi
    • Spirit Guides
    • The Dawn Goddess
    • Yoruba Divine Emanations
    • Tantra
    • On Good And Evil
    • Parallel Lives
    • Psychic Readings
    • Healing
    • Responding To The Call

  • Home
  • Gnosis
  • Cosmic Soul Retrieval
  • Progressive Revelation
  • Multidimensional Souls
  • The Lady And The Logos
  • The Uniplural Divine
  • Spiritual Awakening
  • Kerin Webb
  • Asha Rogers Webb
  • The Goddess Aurora
  • How Aurora Appeared
  • The Maiden Of Heaven
  • The Maiden Of Light
  • The White Lady
  • The Dark Goddess Kali
  • The Goddess Lakshmi
  • Bernadette At Lourdes
  • The Divine Sophia
  • Zoroastrian Asha
  • Joan of Arc's Voices
  • Houris In Islam
  • Al-Lat, Al-Uzza and Manat
  • Female Tutelray Spirits
  • The Shinto Goddess
  • Kwan Yin And Tara
  • Shakti And Shekinah
  • The Holy Spirit
  • The Wiccan Goddess
  • The Triple Goddess Hecate
  • The Lady
  • The Goddess Iris
  • The Goddess Cybele
  • Morning Star
  • The Goddess Isis
  • The Goddess Sulis Minerva
  • The Goddess Kamakhya
  • The Fae Queen
  • Uniplural Goddesses
  • Dorothy Kerin
  • The Oracle of Delphi
  • Spirit Guides
  • The Dawn Goddess
  • Yoruba Divine Emanations
  • Tantra
  • On Good And Evil
  • Parallel Lives
  • Psychic Readings
  • Healing
  • Responding To The Call

Sophia: The Divine Feminine In Gnosticism

A Divine Emanation

The Divine Feminine, in the form of Sophia, has been a central figure in several ancient and modern spiritual traditions. In Gnosticism, Sophia is the embodiment of divine wisdom and the feminine aspect of the divine. She is seen as a guide for human beings on their spiritual journey.
 

The word 'Sophia' is derived from the Greek word for wisdom and is often referred to as the 'wisdom goddess' in Gnostic texts. In Gnostic cosmology, Sophia is believed to have emanated from the ultimate divine source, often referred to as the Pleroma. She is considered to be the feminine counterpart to the masculine aspect of the divine, known as the Logos (meaning 'word' or 'reason').
 

Sophia is seen as the embodiment of divine wisdom, the one who guides and illuminates the path towards spiritual enlightenment. In the Gnostic text, The Thunder, Perfect Mind, Sophia proclaims, 'I am the first and the last. I am the honoured one and the scorned one. I am the whore and the holy one. I am the wife and the virgin. I am the mother and the daughter. I am the barren one and many are her sons.'
 

This passage highlights the duality and complexity of Sophia's nature, depicting her as both a divine and earthly figure. She is revered as a goddess, yet also associated with the struggles and challenges of the human experience. This makes her a relatable and approachable deity for those on a spiritual journey.
 

In Gnostic teachings, Sophia also plays a significant role in the process of salvation. It is believed that she has the power to awaken the divine spark within individuals and guide them towards spiritual liberation. This is often referred to as 'Sophia's correction', where she helps individuals overcome the illusions and limitations of the material world and reconnect with the ultimate divine source.


The divine feminine aspect of Sophia is also reflected in her association with the concept of the 'soul'. In Gnostic beliefs, the soul is seen as a feminine principle, representing the receptivity and nurturing qualities of the divine. This is in contrast to the masculine principle of the Logos, which is associated with reason and action. Therefore, Sophia is seen as the perfect balance of both the masculine and feminine aspects of the divine, making her an embodiment of wholeness and completeness.
 

The emergence of Sophia as a prominent figure in Gnostic teachings is significant as it challenged the traditional patriarchal view of the divine. In many spiritual traditions, the feminine aspect of the divine has been suppressed or even demonised. However, in Gnosticism, Sophia is celebrated and revered as the embodiment of divine wisdom and a powerful guide for spiritual seekers.
 

In modern times, the concept of the divine feminine and the worship of Sophia has gained popularity, particularly among New Age spiritual communities. This resurgence of interest in Sophia highlights the need for a more balanced and inclusive understanding of the divine.
 

Sophia is a figure of great significance in spiritual and philosophical traditions. As the embodiment of divine wisdom and the divine feminine, she serves as a guide and source of inspiration for those on a spiritual journey. Her story and teachings continue to offer a unique perspective on the divine and the role of the feminine in spirituality.

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See also:  Finding Harmony Between Gnostic Sophia and Zoroastrian Asha.

Gnostic Sophia

The Wisdom of Love: Ibn 'Arabi's Visions of Sophia

The Sufi Perspective

Ibn 'Arabi, the revered and often controversial "Grand Master" of Sufism, stands as a colossus in the history of Islamic thought. His labyrinthine metaphysics, predicated on the concept of Wahdat al-Wujud (the Unity of Being), sought to unveil the oneness of existence in every atom of creation. Within this vast mystical system, one of the most compelling and poetically rendered aspects is his profound engagement with the concept of Sophia, or Divine Wisdom, often manifesting in incandescent visionary experiences of the Divine Feminine.


For Ibn 'Arabi, Sophia is not merely an abstract philosophical concept, nor solely derived from Gnostic or Hellenistic traditions, though he was certainly aware of broader currents of thought. Rather, she represents a central, active principle within the Godhead Itself – the very essence of God's self-knowledge and self-disclosure. She is al-Hikma (Wisdom) in its most comprehensive and dynamic form, the blueprint of creation, and the ultimate object of divine love.


The Unveiling of Divine Attributes


In Ibn 'Arabi's cosmology, God, in His absolute transcendence (al-Ghayb al-Mutlaq), yearns to be known. This yearning precipitates creation, a process of divine self-manifestation (tajalli). Sophia, as Divine Wisdom, embodies the perfection of these self-manifestations. She is the archetypal reality through which all divine attributes (Beauty, Love, Compassion, Knowledge) become manifest in the cosmos.


Crucially, Ibn 'Arabi contends that the feminine form is the most perfect locus for the manifestation of these divine attributes, particularly those of beauty and love. It is through the feminine that God's Jamal (Beauty) and Rahma (Mercy / Compassion) are fully realised and most captivatingly perceived.


Visionary Encounters: The Beloved as Sophia


Ibn 'Arabi's understanding of Sophia was not purely intellectual but deeply experiential. Throughout his writings, particularly in his poetic masterpiece Tarjuman al-Ashwaq (The Interpreter of Desires) and his magnum opus al-Futuhat al-Makkiyya (The Meccan Illuminations), he describes profound mystical encounters that unveil the reality of Sophia. These visions often took the form of beautiful, wise women who served as symbolic mirrors for the divine.

One of his most famous accounts describes his encounter in Mecca with Nizam, a beautiful and learned young Persian woman. While outwardly appearing as a human beloved, Nizam became for Ibn 'Arabi a perfect locus for contemplating Divine Beauty and Wisdom. He writes:


"She was a wise lady, an intelligent scholar, a beautiful woman… Whenever I saw her, I was reminded of God; she was like a piece of Paradise for me."


Nizam was not God, but a reflection, a perfect mirror in which God's attributes were revealed. This experience highlights Ibn 'Arabi's radical idea that the deepest spiritual contemplation can occur through the love of a human being, provided that love is purified and directed towards the divine essence manifesting through that person. The physical beloved becomes a direct portal to the Absolute Beloved, Sophia.


Similarly, other visions or "imaginal" encounters with a "Lady of the Shrine" or an "ancient woman" who imparts profound wisdom are scattered throughout his works. These figures are not literal individuals but symbolic personifications of Sophia, appearing to him in states of heightened spiritual awareness, unveiling hidden secrets of existence and divine love. They are the anima mundi (soul of the world) appearing in a personal guise, a manifestation of the Universal Intellect, which is equivalent to Divine Wisdom.


Sophia as the Archetypal Human (al-Insan al-Kamil)


For Ibn 'Arabi, Sophia is also intrinsically linked to the concept of al-Insan al-Kamil (The Perfect Human Being). The Perfect Human, culminating in the reality of Prophet Muhammad, is the microcosmic summary of all divine attributes, the ultimate mirror reflecting God's complete reality. Sophia, as Divine Wisdom, is the very essence of what makes the Perfect Human perfect – the comprehensive knowledge and realisation of God's unity.


When Ibn 'Arabi encounters Sophia in his visions, he is not merely seeing an external entity, but also recognising an inner truth, a potential within humanity itself to fully embody divine wisdom and love. The feminine quality in these visions emphasises not weakness, but a receptive capacity, a comprehensive beauty, and a complete mirror capacity that best reflects the infinite attributes of the Divine.


Legacy and Resonance


Ibn 'Arabi's profound and radical understanding of Sophia, interwoven with his metaphysics of Wahdat al-Wujud and his experiential visions, left an indelible mark on Islamic mysticism. He effectively integrated the concept of the Divine Feminine into the heart of Sufi thought, providing a rich framework for understanding love, beauty, and wisdom as pathways to the divine.


His approach to Sophia continues to resonate today, offering a bridge for dialogue between various mystical traditions and a powerful vision of spirituality that embraces the full spectrum of divine attributes, manifested gloriously in the world and most perfectly in the heart that loves and knows God. His Sophia is not merely a philosophical construct; she is the living, breathing, beautiful face of Divine Wisdom, encountered not just in scripture, but in the yearning heart and the vibrant tapestry of existence itself.

Sufi Sophia

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