What is Aeon? (mystic, Kingdom, beliefs, myth, gnostic)

[gnostic]

What is an Aeon?

Aeon can be confusing for some people.

Aeon seemed to be a deity. But there are many aeons in Gnosticism, including Barbelo "Forethought" and Sophia "Wisdom", so it would seem that there are many deities/gods. Or, perhaps the other aeons are emanations of the "original" aeon, whom the Gnostics called the One, the Perfect Aeon, etc.

Then there are aeon, which could mean "domain", or perhaps "heaven", "world" or "kingdom" would be better world. Sort of like in Greek mythology, where Hades can be both the name of a god or the name of a place, ie. Hades = Underworld.

So what is Aeon?

If aeon is a heaven, then where does Pleroma comes in all this?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by gnostic

What is an Aeon?

Aeon can be confusing for some people.

Aeon seemed to be a deity. But there are many aeons in Gnosticism, including Barbelo "Forethought" and Sophia "Wisdom", so it would seem that there are many deities/gods. Or, perhaps the other aeons are emanations of the "original" aeon, whom the Gnostics called the One, the Perfect Aeon, etc.

Exactly, Aeons are emanations of God - they're not separate from God but are manifestations/personifications of the various aspects of God. If you can understand the concept of the Trinity, then you can understand emanation because it's a lot simpler.

Originally Posted by gnostic

Then there are aeon, which could mean "domain", or perhaps "heaven", "world" or "kingdom" would be better world. Sort of like in Greek mythology, where Hades can be both the name of a god or the name of a place, ie. Hades = Underworld.

Aeons are personifications, but are also eternal realms and spheres of influence.

Originally Posted by gnostic

So what is Aeon?

If aeon is a heaven, then where does Pleroma comes in all this?

The Pleroma is the totality of God, which includes the original Monad and the Aeons It has emanated.

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Exactly, Aeons are emanations of God - they're not separate from God but are manifestations/personifications of the various aspects of God.

So the Aeon Sophia is really the Monad?

[Halcyon]

Originally Posted by gnostic

So the Aeon Sophia is really the Monad?

No, the Monad is the perfect Aeon, the source of all things. Sophia is the personification of the Wisdom of God, just as the Logos is the personification of the Reason of God.
Sophia, Logos, Barbelo etc are mearly reflections of a single quality of the Monad.

[Buttons*]

I'm sorry I didn't answer. I saw this thread and felt like answering, but somehow I thought I'd say the wrong thing. Oh, I'm gnostic alright, but I couldnt' remember everything about the Aeons....

Sorry

[gnostic]

Originally Posted by Buttons

I'm sorry I didn't answer. I saw this thread and felt like answering, but somehow I thought I'd say the wrong thing.

You shouldn't be afraid. If you have something to contribute, then I will take what I can get.

I wished that other gnostics would contribute too. It would seem that you and Halcyon do most of the answering in this quiet Gnosticism discussion.

Originally Posted by Halcyon

No, the Monad is the perfect Aeon, the source of all things. Sophia is the personification of the Wisdom of God, just as the Logos is the personification of the Reason of God.
Sophia, Logos, Barbelo etc are mearly reflections of a single quality of the Monad.

Ok, that clear up a few thing about the aeons and the Monad.

It reminds me of what the Kabbala mystics believe in, comparing the 10 branches (sefirot) from Tree of Life, as being 10 emanations of God, including Shekhinah, which supposed to be God's "presence" that are nearest to the humans. I supposed that Shekhinah can be compared with Sophia.

[A. Ben-Shema]

Originally Posted by gnostic

What is an Aeon?

Aeon can be confusing for some people.

Aeon seemed to be a deity. But there are many aeons in Gnosticism, including Barbelo "Forethought" and Sophia "Wisdom", so it would seem that there are many deities/gods. Or, perhaps the other aeons are emanations of the "original" aeon, whom the Gnostics called the One, the Perfect Aeon, etc.

Then there are aeon, which could mean "domain", or perhaps "heaven", "world" or "kingdom" would be better world. Sort of like in Greek mythology, where Hades can be both the name of a god or the name of a place, ie. Hades = Underworld.

So what is Aeon?

If aeon is a heaven, then where does Pleroma comes in all this?

Here's an answer to what is an Aeon SEE (CLICK) HERE.

PLU

[Godfather89]

The emanation as said earlier are aspects of God. However, God is the many aspects of the mind that have been personified. If you have read CG Jung you would see how he ties it into Psychology. The Fullness is were all aspects of self have reached there highest actualities but the potentiality is infinite!

Its part of Gnostic thought that you are part of God since God resides in everything yet maintains its own independent nature. Indeed quite an experience to realize that you have infinite potential within you which came from God.