Secrets of the Sethian Monad

Secrets of the Sethian Monad
by
Thomas Saunders

One of the problems with Occult studies is like the Sethian Christianity, things
are hidden right in front of your face, and don’t become apparent right away.
Things that Clement of Alexandria, says about the secret Christianity, in his
work ”Stromata,” is now coming to light. Explanations about Occult things have
to be specific, and carefully explained.

”Stromata,” and the fragments of Theodotus, and Heracleon, remain the best
explanations of Sethian Christianity to date. Clement, hides clues that align
themselves with the Sethian texts, but also have parallels to the four NT
gospels. He does mention some texts like the ”Gospel of the Egyptians.”
Theodotus, leaves no doubt that some of his comments like about Ogdoads, are
parallels to the Sethian Monadology.

Sethian Monadology: The system of the monad, worked through the tetraktys of
the decad, which serves as an underlying philosophy in Sethian Gnosticism. It is
developed from the creation myths. The system is like, and based upon that of
Pythagoreans, and resembles the principles of the ancient Chinese philosophy of
the Tai Chi., which is based upon the ogdoad, rather than the decad. The system
is based upon working variations of numerical values. Turner states,
”….vigorous arithmological speculation on the first ten numbers, but
especially the first four numbers, comprising the Pythagorean tetraktys (the
{mode} of the first four numbers). This was carried on by such Pythagoreanizing
Platonists as Theon of Smyrna and Nicomachus of Gerasa, who in turn depend in
part on similar arithmological and mathematical theories produced by such early
first century Platonist figures as Dercyllides, Adrastos of Aphrodisias (a
Peripatetic commentator on Plato’s Timaeus) and Thrasyllos, a court philosopher
under the Emperor Tiberius. The harmonic ratios produced by these first four
numbers and the geometric entities of point, line, surface, and solid had been
applied to the structure and the creation of the world soul long before by Plato
and his successors in the Old Academy, especially Speusippus and Xenocrates.
(See; Turner, See also; ”The History of Chinese Philosophy, Vol. 2.,” by Fung
Yu-Lan, Princeton, 1953, See also; ”A Valentinian Exposition.”)

Because the Sethian Monadology is based upon the Pythagorean concepts of the
Monad, parallels of the two, with the third parallel the Tai Chi, make it
possible to disclose the concepts related to the Pythagorean model, based upon
the Sethian uses of the Monad, by aligning all three systems. The Tai Chi, uses
the Ogdoad the same, (See; Fung Yu-Lan) and therefor the values of the
sequencing are similar. Both are tools of Enlightenment.

Enlightenment: Refers to a state of being; described in Chinese/Oriental
classics that reflects the same kinds of mental changes, ‘awareness,’ or
‘Satroi’ as in Gnosis. ”The Enlightenment refers to a movement in philosophy
that advocated the untrammeled use of reason to establish truth. The movement
challenged traditional authority, doctrine, and values. Emphasis was placed on
the empirical method employed by the sciences.” (”The Five Gospels,” by
Funk, Hoover, Harrier-Collins, 1993, p. 544.) ”For scientific knowledge is
necessary both for the training of the soul and for gravity of conduct; making
the faithful more active and keen observers of things. For as there is no
believing without elementary instruction, so neither is there comprehension
without science.” (Quote from Theodotus, See; Kirby, Criddle collections.)

The criteria for asigning values to the tetraktys of the decad, in how the
Sethians used it, is based upon the concepts of being Tripartite, in your
mindset.

Tripartite: Meaning to have three parts. “Triple headedness, or Triple Power,”
or a state of three something like as described in the texts “Trimorphic
Protennoia,” “Gospel of the Egyptians” or “Tripartite Tractate.” May refer to
the developing state in Gnosis where one learns to perceive oneself in the sense
of being in the psychic, living, as in the pleromic state, as a process in
becoming Psychic, Hylic, and Pneumatic (Gnostokoi or Enlightened). ”Mankind
came to be in three essential types, the spiritual, the psychic, and the
material, conforming to the triple disposition of the Logos, from which were
brought forth the material ones and the psychic ones and the spiritual ones.”
(”Trimorphic Protennoia”) May also have references to other sets of three such
as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or soul, mind, spirit, or spirit, mind, and
body, etc., related to the concept of the triad in the Sethian Monadology.
Synonymous with the Chinese concept of ‘San Ti,’ known as the Taoist Trilogy,
”man is the same as heaven and earth.” (”Kenpo Gokui,” Tatsuo Shimabuku. See
also; ”Xing Yi Quan Xue,” Tang, Unique Publications, 2000., Pg.’s 69, 80.)

The Sethian Monadology is not magic, it is science. Starting with the Monad the
following describes the sequence to the level of the triad, or trilogy. The
following sequence is described in the ”Oracles of Zoroaster,” an ancient
Occult manuscript known since the 1500’s.

25. The Monad first existed, and the Paternal Monad still subsists.
26. When the Monad is extended, the Dyad is generated.
27. And beside Him is seated the Dyad which glitters with intellectual sections,
to govern all things and to order everything not ordered.
28. The Mind of the Father said that all things should be cut into Three, whose
Will assented, and immediately all things were so divided.
29. The Mind of the Eternal Father said into Three, governing all things by
Mind.
30. The Father mingled every Spirit from this Triad.
31. All things are supplied from the bosom of this Triad.
32. All things are governed and subsist in this Triad
33. For thou must know that all things bow before the Three Supernals.
34. From thence floweth forth the Form of the Triad, being preexistent; not the
first Essence, but that whereby all things are measured.
35. And there appeared in it Virtue and Wisdom, and multiscient Truth.
36. For in each World shineth the Triad, over which the Monad ruleth.”

The descriptions of the sequence of the Monad, in the Sethian model are
numerous. I have posted most of them below. The concept of Tripartite, means
that the sequence of the Monad must conform to three natures of man as the
spriritual, psyche, and material. The descriptions of the Monad, in the realm of
the spiritual means that the sequence of the Monad runs through the Pleroma, the
human psyche, the mind, and in regard to the material or corporeal part of man.
The Pleroma is described….

Pleroma: The word means “fullness,” and the ‘All.’ It refers to ”all existence
beyond matter Refers to the world of the Aeons, the heavens or spiritual
universe, which represents being out of the state of matter. According to the
“Gospel of Truth” “….all the emanations from the Father are Pleromas.” see
Tractates 3, 2, Codeces, I, and XII, Nag Hammadi Lib. Pleroma can have other
connotations according to the Gnostic school of thought, some differences in
Sethian and Valentinian (other) schools can be noted. Pleroma, is different than
Logos. (See; Logos, See aslo; Gaffney, p. 246.)

The psyche is described by the term psychic….

Psychic: This level of thinking is the one right above “hylic,” and below
‘Pneumatophoroi’ It’s drive is the intellect, or normal understanding of the
mind. While alive in the earthly state, the psychic remains as a hylic. (See
also Hoeller, p. 110) ”Mankind came to be in three essential types, the
spiritual, the psychic, and the material, conforming to the triple disposition
of the Logos, from which were brought forth the material ones and the psychic
ones and the spiritual ones.” (“Tripartite Tractate”) ”…even Valentine
{Valentinus} teaches that Christ’s body was Psychic.” (”Stromata,” Book 3.)

Psychic, and Pleromic are related by the concepts of Wisdom….

Wisdom: In Hebrew, ‘Chockmah,’ see also; Sophia. Meaning Understanding,
discernment, enlightenment, erudition, insight, intelligence, judgment,
learning, sense. To be wise, ”having intelligence and knowledge.” (See Harper
Collins, ”Dictionary, and Thesaurus,” 2003.) ”…the personified Wisdom of
the ”Old Testiment wisdom literature developed into the gnostic redeemer myth,
especially as it identified Jesus with that redeemer, and thus understood Jesus
as bringer of the secret redemptive gnosis or logoi.” (pg. 31) ” Wisdom is not
only the mediatrix of creation but also of salvation, and cosmology and
soteriology are related to one another in the myth of Wisdom.” (pg. 105)
(James Robinson on ”The Gospel of Thomas, ”The Gospel of Thomas, and Christian
Wisdom, 2nd, Davies, Bardic Press, 2005.)

Dr. Stevan Davies’ (“Gospel of Thomas, and Christian Wisdom” ) relates Wisdom to
Solomon traditions and contained therein on the nature of Wisdom is its
‘ordering value.’ These descriptions are of great philosophical value to the
idea of natural organization in formal study. They pertain to the way all
lexicons are formed and this kind of organization is present in philosophy, as
well as science. As to Pseudo Solomon…. “This presents a series of ideas on
Wisdom. “Included are Wisdom’s creative and ordering power, her presence in the
world in all human beings, and in the world through all her permeation of all
things, and her arrival as spirit to those who call upon her.” (Ibid., pages
52-4) “By the time of the writing of the Wisdom of Solomon, Wisdom is not only
seen to be active at Creation, it is said to permeate all the world, organizing
and underlying all ordered phenomena.” (Ibid. p. 54)

Man, in the material sense is seen as Hylic….

Hylic: “Of matter.” Can be thought of as a level of thinking, dealing with the
lowest portion of human nature. It is considered living by instinctual drives
with no sublimation. Hylics, choikus, sarkics, etc. are said to be below
‘Psychics’ which are below ‘Gnostokoi,’ the highest order of transcendence
according to Valentinian and other Gnostic teaching. The world of the psychic,
is still in the realm of the hylics in most Gnostic scenarios because existence
in the earthly state separates one from the pleroma. (See; Psychic, Kenoma.
Pleroma.)

The Kenoma: The earthly or hylic state of the being. In the Gnostic schema(s)
the kenoma is the imperfect and the antithesis of pleroma (plhrwma), where all
are in a state of privation and unreality. The term is not used directly in
Sethian texts. (See Iren. Haer. I.4.I (M.7.480A); ib 1.4.2 (484A);
Clem.exc.Thdot.31 (p117.11; M.9.676A); Thdt.haer.I.7 (4.298).

The Sethian Gnostic, sought to be a Craftsman…Craftsman: A term used to
connote Gnostic attainment. The term is also used in regard to creation. “All
things were made through Him,” means that it was the Word who caused the
Craftsman (Demiurge) to make the world, that is it was not the Word “from whom”
or “by whom,” but the one “through whom (all things were made).”. . The term
also refers to men, ”The official was the Craftsman, for he himself ruled like
a king over those under him.” (Heracleon) ” Clement of Alexandria explains
”…..correct expounders of the truth, are Gnostics. Since also, in what
pertains to life, Craftsmen are superior to ordinary people, and model what is
beyond common notions; so, consequently, we also, giving a complete exhibition
of the Scriptures from the Scriptures themselves, from faith persuaded by
demonstration.” (Clement. “Stromata” Bk. 7.)

Besides the aspects of the Tripartite, the Pythagorean requirement for
descriptions relavent to both the Pythagorean standard of speaking in terms of
mathematics, must be satisfied. In other words the terms in the tetraktys of
the decad must be mathematical to conform. I offer the following explanation…

Tetraktys (Tetractys) of the Decad, The Monadic Values: ”Pythagorus considered
all things relative to numbers… How he conceived this process has never been
satisfactorily explained.” (Bullfinch, pg. 289.) Perhaps this is the
secret….

Pythagorus considered the monad as the source of all things. In the case of the
tetraktys of the decad, the concepts of form and structure are related in
mathematical values. These values work in harmony. The first and most obvious is
numerical value is the digital sequence of one through ten. ‘Monad,’ 2. Decad,
3. Triad, 4. Tetrad, 5. Pentad, 6. Hexad, 7. Heptad, 8. Ogdoad, 9. Ennead, and
10. Decad. In terms of the triangle there are four levels (called types in the
”Gospel of Mary,”), Level 1. is one, level two the decad, is 2. and 3., level
three the triad, is 4. 5. and 6., level four the tetrad, is 7. 8. 9. and 10.

Digital sequencing can be done in different base values, like using base six to
count on your hands. You count to five on the right hand, and the first digit
of the left hand represents six, the next set the left hand finger is given the
value of twelve, then eighteen, then the sequence goes up to 35, when you run
out of fingers, if you have ten. Another sequencing schema is the Heaven
Sequence of the Tai Chi, which is in base eight.

The Pythagorean model showing the tetraktys of the decad is in the form of a
triangle, usually shown as only dots, I have placed numbers beside the dots,
denoting the digital sequence. Below is a traditional explanation for this
sequence, where I have made aditions to show how the Tai Chi, and this sequence
are parallel….

1.
2. 3.
4. 5. 6.
7. 8. 9. 10.

1.. The Tetractys represented the organization of space: {Wu Chi, My
notation}
2.. the first row represented zero-dimensions (a point) {Tai Chi}
3.. the second row represented one-dimension (a line of two points) {Liang Yi}
4.. the third row represented two-dimensions (a plane defined by a triangle of
three points) {This is consistent with the San Ti.}
5.. the fourth row represented three-dimensions (a triangular pyramid defined
by four points) {This is consistent with the Si Xiang.} Wikapedia source…..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetractys
This triangle represents five different mathematical values, not generally
recognized unless you apply the Tai Chi model with the parallel of the
Tetraktys. The mathematical values are thought of more like aphorisms or a
mantra rather than calculations in some respect. Pythagoras put everything in
terms of math, and I think the statistical terms below can be adapted to both
the Tai Chi and the Tetraktys of the Decad.

The digital sequence of one through ten, connotes the decad. What cannotes the
the ‘tetra’ is the number four. In the case of the tetraktys of the decad, the
value of four corresponds with the relative value of the mathematical concept of
‘mode.’ One through six, would make the triangle a triad, and if you add a fifth
line, 11. through, 15., to the base, the mode is a pentad. As shown above we
have the tetrad.

The mode is the value, or set of like units that appear most frequently in a
set. As can be seen in the model of the tetraktys of the decad, all three
corners of the triangle contain four units. The sequence of mode is mentioned
above. A set in most science involving polarity, is called a field or pool,
which connotes a perimeter of the form, or the unified body of the set, as a
whole. Mode connotes the ‘level,’ of the form and structure of the pool.
Therefor tetrads, hexads, ogdoads, etc. are thought of as modes and levels.

As you build the triangle by adding lines of digits to the base, the mode
changes in sequence, but the values of mean, and median, also become relative to
the model. This is allegorical to how a seed turns into a tree or plant. This
means you are using mathematical terms as points of contemplation, more like
aphorism than calculation. Each configuration of the triangle regardless of the
mode, retains the value of the monad in the digital sequence. The mode sequence,
the mean value in the sequence, and the median values in the sequence, are not
mutually exclusive. They work in harmony, like a mantra.

The mean is determined by adding the number of units, in the digital sequence,
then dividing that sum by the number of units, the result is an average number
of units. That would be the pentad or five, the mean of ten units. In building
form and structure in the Monadology, the constant value of the mean is the
value of one, (Monad) and denotes the value of the monad in each consecutive
mode in the sequence. The Monad reamains in the form and structure of all mode
values.

The median, is the value where half of the units in a set are larger or smaller
than the opposite set of units. The median is the point where the set is
divided, and determines balance with the reflective or dual values of
male/female, good/evil. The odd numbers where their are more units on one half
of the set than the other, represents unbalance. Pythagoreans used the term
oblong. In the application of the sequence the consideration of meadian, is that
‘duality,’ reamains a constant regardless of the level, or mode, as does the
power of the Monad. Duality can be meant to be more than one feature, when
drawing a monadic paradigm, as duality does not always mean opposite, it can
mean either, or. In this case it can be implied as an opposite. It can be a
reflective value.

For instance, the pentad can be given five values, with good connotations, and
their opposite with negative conotations. Five constructive values, are opposed
to the destructive values of opposition. The Chinese use the idea of the Wu
Xing, or five constructive, and destructive forces. The reflective value or
median value (duality) is always considered as part of form and structure, even
if not shown, it should be considered implied, like a harmony. If you look at
the triagle of dots you will see that 2. 3. 4. 6. 8. and 9. form a circle with
5. in the middle. 1. 7., and 9. are outside the circle. (See Tripartite) As one
contemplates this image the fifth value becomes apparent. The image can look
like it is multi-dimensional, where the center as seen from the top looking
down, or the bottom looking up adds perspective. The center dot 5. becomes
parabolic point of center, and the middle of the sequence.

The fifth value is the parabolic, more of a geometric adaptation, which has
dimensions or perspective, reflection and even vibration. (See; Parables. See
also; Fung Yu-Lan’s ”History of Chinese Philosophy, Vol. 2., pg.’s 100-121.)
The parabolic view is in reference to the higher modes of the Pentad and above,
where the structure and form can be seen as multi-dimensional and having
perspective. (See; Parabole, which can be shown as viewing the inside of a
cone.)

As a contemplation device, all the values of the tetraktys of the decad, are
imagined in unison as a harmony. This unified perception is imperical to the
idea of how the natural order of wisdom works in the tripartite vision of man as
psyche, material, and spiritual. Outside the circle inside the triagle are 1. 7.
and 10. which can be allegorical to how the tripartite concept of man works in
regard to the kyclos or cycle. This is in spite of the fact that these values,
are not prima facie, they are hidden in the form of the percieved natural order
of Wisdom. (See; Wisdom.)

If I am correct, then the following passages can be understood to the alignment
of the Tripartite sequence, and the above explanations are relavent to the
following…

Monad: From the Greek word, meaning “one”, “single” or “unique.” It has ample
descriptions according to different contexts: According to Pythagoras it was the
first thing in existence. ”The Valentinian Exposition” declares Jesus the
‘Monad.’ (See Sethian Monadology.) mo·nad; (mnd) n. 1. Philosophy; An
indivisible, impenetrable unit of substance viewed as the basic constituent
element of physical reality in the metaphysics of Leibnitz. 2. Biology; A
single-celled microorganism, especially a flagellate protozoan of the genus
”Monas.” 3. Chemistry ; An atom or a radical with valence 1. (Online
Webster’s Dic. See also; Wikipedia.)

1. Monad (Sethian sources)

“The Monad is a monarchy with nothing above it. It is he who exists as God and
Father of everything, the invisible One who is above everything, who exists as
incorruption, which is in the pure light into which no eye can look.”
(”Apocryphon of John.”)

For now God has brought Truth, the one who glorifies the Root of the All. Thus
it is he who revealed himself in Monogenes, and in him he revealed the Ineffable
One […] the Truth. They saw him dwelling in the Monad and in the Dyad and in
the Tetrad. He first brought forth Monogenes and Limit. And Limit is the
separator of the All and the confirmation of the All, since they are […] the
hundred […]. He is the Mind […] the Son. He is completely ineffable to the
All, and he is the confirmation and the hypostasis of the All, the silent veil,
the true High Priest, the one who has the authority to enter the Holies of
Holies, revealing the glory of the Aeons and bringing forth the abundance to
<fragrance>. The East […] that is in Him. He is the one who revealed himself
as the primal sanctuary and the treasury of the All. And he encompassed the All,
he who is higher than the All. These for their part sent Christ forth to
establish her just as they were established before her descent. And they say
concerning him: […] He is not manifest, but invisible to those remaining
within Limit. And he possesses four powers: a separator and a confirmor, a
form-provider and a substance-producer. Surely we alone would discern their
presences and the time and the places which the likenesses have confirmed
because they have […] from these places […] the Love […] is emanated […]
the entire Pleroma […]. The persistence endures always, and […] for also
[…] the time […] more […] that is, the proof of his great love.
(”Valentinian Exposition.”)

“It was given to Solomon on the day of the joy of his heart.” The first monad
furthermore sent him an ineffable garment ‘ which was all light and all life and
all resurrection, and all love and all hope and all faith and all wisdom, and
all gnosis, and all truth, and all peace, and all-visible ‘, and all-mother, and
all-mystery, and all-source, and all-perfect, and all invisible, and all
unknowable, and all endless, and all unutterable, and all deep, and all
incomprehensible, and all pleroma, and all silence, and all unmoved, and all
unbegotten, and all still, and ) all monad, and all ennead, and all dodecad, and
all ogdoad, and all decad, and all hebdomad, and all hexad, and all pentad, and
all tetrad, and all triad, and all dyad, and all monad…

… And the All is in it, and also all found themselves ‘ in it, and knew
themselves in it. And it (the monad) gave light to them all with its ineffable
light.” (Bruce Codex, untitled.)

”As I said earlier, among the things that were created the monad is first, the
dyad follows it, and the triad, up to the tenths. Now the tenths rule the
hundredths; the hundredths rule the thousandths; the thousands rule the ten
thousands. This is the pattern <among the> immortals. First Man is like this:
His monad […]. (”Eugnostos the Blessed.”)
Again it is this pattern that exists among the immortals: the monad and the
thought are those things that belong to Immortal Man. The thinkings are for
<the> decads, and the hundreds are the teachings, and the thousands are the
counsels, and the ten thousands are the powers. Now those who come from the
[…] exist with their […] in every aeon […].” (”Eugnostos the Blessed.”)

”Thou (fem.) hast seen first the one who truly pre-exists because he is
non-being. And from him and through him thou hast pre-existed eternally, the
non-being from one indivisible, triple power, thou a triple power, thou a great
monad from a pure monad, thou an elect monad, the first shadow of the holy
Father, light from light.” (”Three Steles of Seth.” Note, This text is
accredited to Dositheos, teacher of Simon Magus.)

”I will speak my mystery to those who are mine and to those who will be mine.
Moreover it is these who have known him who is, the Father, that is, the Root of
the All, the Ineffable One who dwells in the Monad. He dwells alone in silence,
and silence is tranquility since, after all, he was a Monad and no one was
before him……” (”Valentinian Exposition.”)

2. Duad, (dyad)
….He dwells in the Dyad and in the Pair, and his Pair is Silence. And he
possessed the All dwelling within him. And as for Intention and Persistence,
Love and Permanence, they are indeed unbegotten. (”Valentianian Exosition.”)

The Word according to Valentinus is part of the Word/Life dyad. Clement
says…’Bk 1.’ ” The law of this man who possesses knowledge is the saving
precept; or rather, the law is the precept of knowledge. For the Word is “the
power and the wisdom of God.”

3. The Triad,

Trilogies, and Trinities.. (Father, Son, Holy Ghost, Man, Earth Heaven, Word,
Man, Sophia, Father, Mother, Son, etc.)

”Thus also it appears to me that there are three effects of gnostic power: the
knowledge of things; second, the performance of whatever the Word suggests; and
the third, the capability of delivering, in a way suitable to God, the secrets
veiled in the truth.” (”Stromata” Bk 7.)

”But, as appears, we incline to ideas founded on opinion, though they be
contrary, rather than to the truth. For it is austere and grave. Now, since
there are three states of the soul — ignorance, opinion, knowledge.” (Ibid.)

4. The Tetrad

According to Valentinus Word, Life, Man, and Church (Truth) are the tetrad. (See
”Valentinian Exposition,” below) This also correlates with the tetrad,
”Intention and Persistence, Love and Permanence.”

”For that investigation, which accords with faith, which builds, on the
foundation of faith, the august knowledge of the truth, we know to be the best.
Now we know that neither things which are clear are made subjects of
investigation, such as if it is day, while it is day; nor things unknown, and
never destined to become clear, as whether the stars are even or odd in number;
nor things convertible; and those are so which can be said equally by those who
take the opposite side, as if what is in the womb is a living creature or not. A
fourth mode is, when, from either side of those, there is advanced an
unanswerable and irrefragable argument. If, then, the ground of inquiry,
according to all of these modes, is removed, faith is established.”
(”Stromata” Bk., 5.)

Clement says, ”Again, there is the veil of the entrance into the holy of
holies. Four pillars there are, the sign of the sacred tetrad of the ancient
covenants.” (Bk. 7.)

Heracleon Fragment 16, on John 2:20 (In John 2:20, “The Jews then said, ‘It has
taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three
days?'”) The fact that Solomon completed the temple in forty-six years is an
image of the Savior. The number six refers to matter, that is, the structure (of
his body), and the number forty, which is the uncombined Four (Tetrad) refers to
the inbreathing and the seed in the inbreathing.

5. Pentad

The five senses, or five emotions in both Eastern and Western Monadologies
pertain here. They are mentioned in the decalogue. The pentad is often expressed
in relation to human traits, and fire, water, air, earth, and another, like
gnosis, or even wood, or metal. The terms are meant to be allegorical. Chapter
Eight in the ”Gospel of Mary” is based upon the seven evil demons, or “Seven
Powers of Wrath.” The heptad, no doubt ‘descends’ from the Pentad, from the
Triad, etc. The duad, can be good or evil, Yin and Yang, and this goes for all
forms.

“This is the pentad of the aeons of the Father, which is the first man, the
image of the invisible Spirit; it is the forethought, which Barbelo, and the
thought, and the foreknowledge, and the indestructibility, and the eternal life,
and the truth. This is the androgynous pentad of the aeons, which is the decad
of the aeons, which is the Father.” (”Apocryphon of John.”)

6. Hexad

”Again the Barbarian philosophy knows the world of thought and the world of
sense — the former archetypal, and the latter the image of that which is called
the model; and assigns the former to the Monad, as being perceived by the mind,
and the world of sense to the number six. For six is called by the Pythagoreans
marriage, as being the genital number; and he places in the Monad the invisible
heaven and the holy earth, and intellectual light.” (Clement, ”Stromata,”
Book 5.)

7. Heptad, (Hebdomas)

Hebdomas: The kingdom of the “Seven”, referring to the spheres of the planets
and thus the Archons and heimarene. Considered below the Ogdoad. (See also the
“Book of Jue,” and Un-named text in the Bruce Codex)

“Now all those things are confirmed by the faith that is in Christ. ‘Come, ye
children,’ says the Lord, ‘ hearken to me, and I will teach you the fear of the
Lord. Who is the man that desireth life, that loveth to see good days?’ Then He
subjoins the gnostic mystery of the numbers seven and eight. ‘Stop thy tongue
from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good. Seek
peace, and pursue it.’ For in these words He alludes to knowledge (gnosis), with
abstinence from evil and the doing of what is good, teaching that it is to be
perfected by word and deed.” (Clement.)

Gospel of Mary Ch. 8, 18-19) ”When the soul had overcome the third power, it
went upwards and saw the fourth power, which took seven forms. The first form is
darkness, the second desire, the third ignorance, the fourth is the excitement
of death, the fifth is the kingdom of the flesh, the sixth is the foolish wisdom
of flesh, the seventh is the wrathful wisdom. These are the seven powers of
wrath.”

”For Adam was a laughingstock, since he was made a counterfeit type of man by
the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and my brothers. We are
innocent with respect to him, since we have not sinned. And Abraham and Isaac
and Jacob were a laughingstock, since they, the counterfeit fathers, were given
a name by the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and my brothers. We
are innocent with respect to him, since we have not sinned. David was a
laughingstock in that his son was named the Son of Man, having been influenced
by the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and the fellow members of
my race. But we are innocent with respect to him; we have not sinned. Solomon
was a laughingstock, since he thought that he was Christ, having become vain
through the Hebdomad, as if he had become stronger than I and my brothers. But
we are innocent with respect to him. I have not sinned. The 12 prophets were
laughingstocks, since they have come forth as imitations of the true prophets.
They came into being as counterfeits through the Hebdomad, as if he had become
stronger than I and my brothers. But we are innocent with respect to him, since
we have not sinned. Moses, a faithful servant, was a laughingstock, having been
named “the Friend,” since they perversely bore witness concerning him who never
knew me. Neither he nor those before him, from Adam to Moses and John the
Baptist, none of them knew me nor my brothers.” (”Second Treatise of the Great
Seth.”)

James said, “Rabbi, are there then twelve hebdomads and not seven as there are
in the scriptures?” The Lord said, “James, he who spoke concerning this
scripture had a limited understanding. I, however, shall reveal to you what has
come forth from him who has no number. I shall give a sign concerning their
number. As for what has come forth from him who has no measure, I shall give a
sign concerning their measure” (”First Apocalypse of James.”)

8. Ogdoad

Ogdoad: Regarded in some texts as the “eighth kingdom above the hebdomas.” It
is the realm of the Demiurgos (or sometimes that is the 7th, with the eighth
being that of Sabaoth), as well as usually being the realm of the zodiac
(dodecon). Sometimes it is also seen as the beginning of freedom from the
Archons, and the beginning of connection to the Aeons. Pythagoras says…

“The ogdoad–8–was sacred because it was the number of the first cube, which
form had eight corners, and was the only evenly-even number under 10
(1-2-4-8-4-2-1). Thus, the 8 is divided into two 4’s, each 4 is divided into two
2’s, and each 2 is divided into two 1’s, thereby reestablishing the monad. Among
the keywords of the ogdoad are love, counsel, prudence, law, and convenience.
Among the divinities partaking of its nature were Panarmonia, Rhea, Cibele,
Cadmæa, Dindymene, Orcia, Neptune, Themis, and Euterpe (a Muse).” (Thomas
Taylor’s Theoretic Arithmetic, Thought by one source to be the rarest and most
important compilation of Pythagorean mathematical fragments extant.)

… the Ogdoad, which is the eighth, and that we might receive that place of
salvation.” (”The Testimony of Truth.”)

”From that place, the three powers came forth, the three ogdoads that the
Father brings forth in silence with his providence, from his bosom, i.e., the
Father, the Mother, (and) the Son.

The <first> ogdoad, because of which the thrice-male child came forth, which is
the thought, and the word, and the incorruption, and the eternal life, the will,
the mind, and the foreknowledge, the androgynous Father.

The second ogdoad-power, the Mother, the virginal Barbelon, epititioch[…]ai,
memeneaimen[…], who presides over the heaven, karb[…], the uninterpretable
power, the ineffable Mother. She originated from herself […]; she came forth;
she agreed with the Father of the silent silence.

The third ogdoad-power, the Son of the silent silence, and the crown of the
silent silence, and the glory of the Father, and the virtue of the Mother, he
brings forth from the bosom the seven powers of the great light of the seven
voices. And the word is their completion.

These are the three powers, the three ogdoads that the Father, through his
providence, brought forth from his bosom. He brought them forth at that place.”
(”Gospel of the Egyptians.”)

”And then the <seventh> heaven opened and we went up to the Ogdoad. And I saw
the twelve apostles. They greeted me, and we went up to the ninth heaven. I
greeted all those who were in the ninth heaven, and we went up to the tenth
heaven. And I greeted my fellow spirits.” (”Apocalypse of Paul.”)

9. Ennead
”For out of the heart proceed thoughts.” This, as I think, is the true and just
measure according to God, by which things capable of measurement are measured,
the decad which is comprehensive of man; which summarily the three
above-mentioned measures pointed out. There are body and soul, the five senses,
speech, the power of reproduction — the intellectual or the spiritual faculty,
or whatever you choose to call it. And we must, in a word, ascending above all
the others, stop at the mind; as also certainly in the universe overleaping the
nine divisions, the first consisting of the four elements put in one place for
equal interchange: and then the seven wandering stars and the one that wanders
not, the ninth, to the perfect number, which is above the nine, and the tenth
division, we must reach to the knowledge of God, to speak briefly, desiring the
Maker after the creation. Wherefore the tithes both of the ephah and of the
sacrifices were presented to God; and the paschal feast began with the tenth
day, being the transition from all trouble, and from all objects of sense.”
(Clement, ”Stromata.”)

10. Decad/Decalogue (Two Pentads can make a decad…)

Decalogue: A term used by Clement of Alexandria…”And the Decalogue, viewed as
an image of heaven, embraces sun and moon, stars, clouds, light, wind, water,
air, darkness, fire. This is the physical Decalogue of the heaven. And the
representation of the earth contains men, cattle, reptiles, wild beasts; and of
the inhabitants of the water, fishes and whales; and again, of the winged
tribes, those that are carnivorous, and those that rise mild food; and of plants
likewise, both fruit-bearing and barren. This is the physical Decalogue of the
earth. And there is a ten in man himself: the five senses, and the power of
speech, and that of reproduction; and the eighth is the spiritual principle
communicated at his creation; and the ninth the ruling faculty of the soul; and
tenth, there is the distinctive characteristic of the Holy Spirit, which comes
to him through faith. ” (”Stromata.”)

Valentinus explains the mechanics of the entire system from the concept of the
tetrad.

”That Tetrad projected the Tetrad which is the one consisting of Word and Life
and Man and Church. Now the Uncreated One projected Word and Life. Word is for
the glory of the Ineffable One while Life is for the glory of Silence, and Man
is for his own glory, while Church is for the glory of Truth. This, then, is the
Tetrad begotten according to the likeness of the Uncreated (Tetrad). And the
Tetrad is begotten [… ] the Decad from Word and Life, and the Dodecad from
Man, and Church became a Triacontad. Moreover, it is the one from the Triacontad
of the Aeons who bear fruit from the Triacontrad. They enter jointly, but they
come forth singly, fleeing from the Aeons and the Uncontainable Ones. And the
Uncontainable Ones, once they had looked at him, glorified Mind since he is an
Uncontainable One that exists in the Pleroma.” (”Valentinian Exposition.”)

Prayers and Reflections