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is a philosophical and religious movement which has as its goal the knowledge of God, or gnosis. This movement originated in the pre-Christian cultures of the Mediterranean, and gained a fair amount of notoriety one or two centuries after the death of Christ. Gnosticism ceased to be an openly practiced form of spirituality by the Sixth Century A.D. when it became a curiosity to be studied by heresiologists.

The wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, defines gnosis as follows:

"Among Gnostics, gnosis was the "knowledge of the heart" or "insight" about the spiritual nature of the cosmos that brought about "salvation" Among heresiologists gnosis denotes different belief systems of esoteric nature, such as, first and foremost, gnosticism and other dualist systems the first two centuries AD, but also Rosicrucianism, Christian Kabbalah, etc."

Secret knowledge, kept and preserved by its wardens and bestowed upon those ready to receive it, was the key to spiritual attainment.

It is a similar matter with Wicca, which is an initiatory religion. Here, initiates pass sacred knowledge to those candidates who have proven themselves worthy of it. This may appear strange, considering Wiccans are such antiauthoritarian personalities; even Gerald Gardner's Book of Shadows can be downloaded by anyone who so chooses. That is how it is with any initiatory organization. Despite all warnings, there is always someone to be found who will let the cat out of the sack, and Levis words that the best way to protect the mysteries is to proclaim them offer little consolation. But these desecrations are ultimately useless.

As Peter Dawkins, FBRT, in his discussion of the Cabala points out, there four levels at which any scripture or secret must be understood, in order to be spiritually useful.

"The consciousness or sphere of Cabala, which is knowledge of the divine, is reached via four methods of interpretation. Cabalistically they are represented by the initials of the four words used to describe the four methods, which initials form the Hebrew word PRDS, meaning Paradise'. The first method is Peshat, the simple' or literal interpretation of the scriptures. The second is Remez, allusion' to the hidden meanings. The third is Derash, the homiletic exposition' of doctrinal truths. The fourth and final method is that of Sod, the mystery', which is revelation' or initiation into the divine wisdom. No method can be missed out, and when one has successively completed them all then one is in Paradise!"

Having

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