Aeons — Spiritual beings emanated from the One, forming the Pleroma, or Fullness, OF Divine Presence.

Archons — Considered evil rulers of the material world, often associated with the demiurge.

Pleroma — The fullness of the divine realm, where Aeons reside.

Demiurge — A lesser divine being responsible for creating the flawed material world.

Gnosis — Mystical or esoteric knowledge that leads to salvation, emphasizing personal spiritual insight.

Sophia — An Aeon whose actions led to the creation of the demiurge, central to many Gnostic myths.

Dualism — The belief in a fundamental distinction between the spiritual and material worlds.

Pneumatic — Refers to those who possess spiritual knowledge and are considered enlightened.

GNOSTIC BELIEFS

Creation Myth — Gnostics believe in a flawed creation by a lesser deity, the demiurge, distinct from the supreme God.

Salvation through Knowledge — Salvation is achieved through gnosis, or direct knowledge of the divine, rather than faith or works.

Divine Spark — Humans contain a divine spark trapped in the material world, which can be liberated through spiritual awakening.

Ascetic Practices — Many Gnostic sects practiced asceticism, emphasizing the rejection of material pleasures to focus on spiritual growth.

Reincarnation — Some Gnostic traditions include beliefs in reincarnation, where the soul undergoes multiple lifetimes to achieve enlightenment.