The Gnostic term Barbelo refers to the first emanation of Bythos. She is variously referred to as Thought, Providence, Forethought, or Foreknowledge. Gnosticism is a blanket term for various religions and sects most prominent in the first few centuries A.D. General characteristics The word gnosticism comes from the Greek word for knowledge, gnosis (γνῶσις), referring to the idea that there is special, hidden mysticism (esoteric knowledge) that only a few possess. ... Emanationism is a component in the cosmology of certain religious or philosophical belief systems that claim that the supreme god did not create the physical universe, but instead emanated lower spiritual beings who consequently carried out the actual work. ... Bythos was the name given by some Gnostics to the monadic first being and originator of the spiritual world of the Pleroma. ...

In the Apocryphon of John, a tractate in the Nag Hammadi Library, Barbelo is described as "The first power, the glory, Barbelo, the perfect glory in the aions, the glory of the revelation." The Secret Book of John (Apocryphon of John) is a 2nd century gnostic text of secret teachings, given a Christian context: the teaching of the savior, and the revelation of the mysteries and the things hidden in silence, even these things which he taught John, his disciple, are its opening... Nag Hammâdi is a village in the middle of Egypt, called Chenoboskion in classical antiquity, about 225 kilometres north-west of Aswan with some 30. ...

The Apocryphon of John continues: The Secret Book of John (Apocryphon of John) is a 2nd century gnostic text of secret teachings, given a Christian context: the teaching of the savior, and the revelation of the mysteries and the things hidden in silence, even these things which he taught John, his disciple, are its opening...

"This is the first thought, his image; she became the womb of everything, for it is she who is prior to them all, the Mother-Father, the first man (Anthropos), the holy Spirit, the thrice-male, the thrice-powerful, the thrice-named androgynous one, and the eternal aeon among the invisible ones, and the first to come forth."

Relation to other systems of thought

The Gnostic account of Barbelo is quite similar to Tantric thought. In Kashmir Shaivism, Shakti is similarly the second Tattva or first emanation of Shiva. Tantric can refer to: Tantric yoga, also known as tantra The Louisville, KY hard rock band Tantric This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Kashmir Shaivism is the philosophical school of consciousness that arose in Kashmir about 1200 years ago. ... In most South Asian languages, Shakti translates literally as power. ... Tattva are a way of directly experiencing the 5 alchemical elements, so are therefore the logical progression of the previous elemental grade where the elements were first discussed and symbolic ways of working with them described. ... Aghora redirects here. ...

See Also

• Babalon

References

• Free Encyclopedia of Thelema. Barbelo. Retrieved March 5, 2005.
  • The Nag Hammadi Library. The Apocryphon of John Retrieved Oct. 21, 2004.