A Common Symbol?
Well, the idea of finding a rallying glyph or logo for all of Big G Gnosticism was of course futile (albeit fun), but I do in all serious put forth the above beastie as a common symbol to represent The Restoration of the Gnosis begun in 1890, along with the roman numerals above. I'm going to make a series of image source files and see how long it takes someone to start selling tee shirts and coffee mugs on Café Press.
Why the elevenfold cross? It's unique, distinctive, symmetrical and strong. It's suggestive of the Jerusalem cross and yet not overtly Christian; equilateral (solar) and not cruciform. The four Gospels and Christ; or the four elements and Spirit; or Malkuth, Yesod, Hod, Netzakh, and Tipareth.
And please understand I'm not saying "wear this or you're not a Gnostic" but rather suggesting that identifying oneself with the symbol above can be a declaration that one is of accord with the aims and principles of the Gnostic Restoration.
And yes, I will get the tattoo.
7 comments:
plus, it looks cool.
i like it!
we should find someone who can do metalwork to make a few.
The eleven intersections are also all 10 Sephiroth plus Daath, and "thus eleven, as my bride is eleven" for the Thelemites (who call it the Baphomet cross when they're feeling all Templar-y).
And it would look fabulous in silver, you're right.
http://www.markdefrates.com/pages/symbol_m.html
BTW, would look very nice with an ouroboros surrounding...
Isn't this Cross also heavily associated with the OTO? That would have Thelemic symbolism that may not appeal to a wider Gnostic community...Ken
Mark Defrates' website is not resolving... and yes it's portable enough to use within a circle or serpent or in reverse against a solid background or or or. Traditionally it's a kind of fret, or knot, and it holds up even at very small sizes (the button is only 13 pixels high).
As for the OTO association, I would say no, not "heavily" - the Crowley-era OTO inherited it from the original M&M, out of the French Gnostic Revival (specifically the EGU and subsequent churches, such as the EGCAL who use it today).
The OTO did use it in the OTO/EGC days but they didn't use it much and not even they consider it exclusive. It was, interestingly enough, their way of showing their association with the Restoration.
The Martinist lamen is MUCH closer to OTO symbolism, and yet they continue to use it, as they had it first.
i actually did get the tattoo today. and i'm not kidding.
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