The Four Pillars:

The four pillars of gnosis are the foundations of the Gnostic knowledge- they are Art, Science, Philosophy and Mysticism. They form the basis of every mystical civilisation- the Mayans, Egyptians, Greek, Tibetan etc. have all developed their societies within these pillars and they are what sustain and nourish the spiritual needs of the people. Gnosis is no different. Knowledge and wisdom are cultivated through the intelligent combination of these areas of study within us- they are a medium of expression for the consciousness itself.

Art:
Art is the world of the imagination and of inspiration. The art of esoteric civilisations have always expressed the internal, mystical reality of a person. The myths and legends of old refer to the internal struggles of people- tales of the triumph of light over darkness, the mysteries of love and beauty of nature- have all been expressed through epic poems, sculptures, paintings and music. This is what we refer to as the “Royal Art of Nature”. It provides direct teachings to the consciousness of a person who is receptive to them and is a type of food for the soul that is perceived through the imagination and illuminates the heart.

Science:
Science is about study, experimentation and verification. Gnosis is in this sense a science as it is about experimenting and verifying for ourself. The science of Gnosis contains many areas of study, including:

• Psychology- the functions of the mind, the subconscious.
• Kabalah- the internal dimensions of nature, the astral world.
• Alchemy- working with and developing our internal energies, transformation.

Philosophy:
Philosophy is the love (Philo) of wisdom (Sophia). It is about the questions to our very existence- who are we, why are we here and where are we going? Gnosis is a living philosophy where we allow the inner questions, the spiritual impulses, to direct our questions and our search for knowledge. This is what constitutes the Initiatic Philosophy- learning to comprehend and develop the path of self realisation within our own life.

Mysticism:
Mysticism is the direct experience that illuminates the consciousness and is in fact the one that completes all the other pillars. Gnosis itself is a mystical study and therefore meditation forms a large part of our studies. Mysticism also includes working with our dreams and learning to perceive and strengthen the connection we have to our own internal Being. It is a practical study where an effort is directed to allowing the consciousness to experience the inner nature of things beyond the mind, body and emotions.