Saturday, March 7, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. CT
This workshop invites participants on a journey into the symbolic, transformative worldview of the early Gnostics—an esoteric Christian sect that emerged in Alexandria during the first centuries of the Common Era.
Unlike the developing orthodox tradition, the Gnostics understood Christ’s incarnation and crucifixion not as singular historical events but as profound metaphors for inner awakening. Their goal was gnosis: a direct, experiential knowledge capable of liberating the individual from ignorance and spiritual limitation.
The workshop examines who the Gnostics were, what they believed, and how their ideas were shaped by the cultural and religious currents of ancient Egypt.
It also traces the persistence of Gnostic themes in modern thought, from the depth psychology of C. G. Jung to contemporary films like The Matrix. Participants gain insight into why this ancient perspective continues to resonate so powerfully today.
Participants will learn:
- Who the early Gnostics were and what they believed
- The meaning of gnosis as an inner, transformative experience
- How Gnostic ideas emerged from the cultural world of ancient Egypt
- Why Gnostic themes remain influential in modern psychology and popular culture
TS members: $35 • Nonmembers: $40
Registrants will receive on-demand access to recording(s) that can be viewed for four weeks following the conclusion of the program.
Gary Lachman is the author of several books about consciousness, culture, and the Western esoteric tradition. He has written biographies of H. P. Blavatsky, C. G. Jung, Rudolf Steiner, Emanuel Swedenborg, P. D. Ouspensky, and Aleister Crowley. He writes for several journals in the U.S., U.K., and Europe, lectures around the world, and his work has been translated into more than a dozen languages. In a former life, he was a founding member of the pop group Blondie, and in 2006 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He can be reached at gary-lachman.com.
Program Format
This is a live, interactive online program that will also be recorded. Registrants will receive on-demand access to recording(s) that can be viewed for four weeks following the conclusion of the program.
Join online via a Zoom link that will be emailed upon your registration.
Please download Zoom for free at zoom.us/download and test your connection at zoom.us/test. For further information, check out www.theosophical.org/FAQ or email webinars@theosophical.org.