Return of the Archons Pt 2 - Gnostic Archons as Extra-Terrestrial Overlords
“An archon, in the Gnosticism of late antiquity, was any of several servants of the Demiurge… the "creator god" that stood between the human race and a transcendent God that could only be reached through gnosis. In this context they have the role of the angels and demons of the Old Testament. They were thus called from the Greek word ἄρχοντες, "principalities", or "rulers" …by reason that they held the world to have been created and ruled by malevolent Archons. The term was taken from the ancient Greek position of office "archon".
- Wikipedia
In part one of this series, we examined the Archon mythology from a political/historical perspective. We suggested that there are certain similarities between biblical era Archons, ie: bureaucrat or petty ruler… and the intellectual erosion of our contemporary politicians. We then painted a psychedelic picture that overlaid modern politics with the great science fiction author, Philip K Dick’s infamous 2-3-74 incident… accordingly, The Empire Never Ended.
Dick’s dual-reality time-slip of experiencing Biblical era Roman occupation, superimposed over his “present” existence… being in two timelines at once… was the perfect segue into examining the mystical Gnostic interpretation of Archons as minions of the Demiurge. The ancient Gnostic mythology blurs the line between overt, worldly politics and a covert interpretation of spiritual, occult forces, impacting humanity.
Interestingly, within contemporary esoteric investigations into the ancient Gnostic writings that were uncovered near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945, known as the Nag Hammadi Codices, a strange narrative has emerged, correlating the Gnostic understanding of the Archons with Ancient Astronaut Theory, extra-terrestrial contact and modern ufology. As this site draws inspiration from the ancient Gnostic sensibilities… and as we enjoy contemporary mythologies around such topics… the Archon as ancient alien narrative resonates with our occult interests.
In part two of this series, we will delve deeper into this curious and astonishing tale. Again, the strange narrative that is about to unfold came from a variety of unlikely sources.
In part two of this series, we will delve deeper into this curious and astonishing tale. Again, the strange narrative that is about to unfold came from a variety of unlikely sources.
One of the earliest and most prolific proponents of the Archon-as-extra-terrestrial theory is the self-educated free-lance author and comparative mythologist, John Lash. Much of his material can be found on his website: metahistory …from that site, we find this introductory statement:
“In the "high strangeness" of the Gnostic materials, the strangest factor of all is certainly the presence of the Archons. Here we confront an enigma of cosmic proportions. Where do we situate these weird entities in the evolutionary plot of the Gaia Mythos? Are they to be regarded as real entities, a species in their own right, albeit a non-terrestrial one? What is their relation to Gaia, the intelligence of the biosphere? And how do the Archons in turn relate to humanity?”
- John Lash
In an article entitled: The Gnostic Theory of Alien Intrusion, Lash continues:
“Gnosis (“inner knowing”) was a path of experimental mysticism in which the initiates of the Mystery Schools explored the psyche and the cosmos at large. Using psychoactive plants, yoga, and sex magic, these ancient seers experienced altered states and developed siddhis (magical powers that are the products of spiritual advancement through sādhanās such as meditation and yoga), occult skills such as clairaudience and remote viewing. Gnosis was a kind of yogic noetic science melded with parapsychology. In heightened perception, Gnostics developed a vast cosmological vision centered in a female deity, the Divine Sophia. The Gnostic creation myth is unique in that it includes a full-blown explanation of how inorganic alien beings came to be present in our solar system.
The Nag Hammadi material contains reports of visionary experiences of the initiates; including first-hand encounters with inorganic beings called Archons. Gnostic teachings explain that these entities arose in the early stage of formation of the solar system, before the Earth was formed. Archons inhabit the solar system, the extraterrestrial realm as such, but they can intrude on Earth. Interestingly, this Gnostic insight accords closely with the view of Jacques Vallee, who maintains that ET/cyborgs probably belong to the local planetary realm.
Vallee also proposes that the ET/UFO enigma is a “spiritual control system,” a phenomenon that “behaves like a conditioning process.” (see Vallee’s: Messengers of Deception). This is exactly what Gnostics said about the Archons: they can affect our minds by subliminal conditioning techniques. Their main tactics are mental error (intellectual virus, or false ideology, especially religious doctrines) and simulation. Archons are predatory, unlike a wide range of non-human and other-dimensional beings also know to the Gnostics, beings who are benevolent or neutral toward humanity.”
- John Lash
In his works, Lash interprets portions of the Nag Hammadi Codices, specifically the Secret Book of John, also known as the Apocryphon of John …wherein the apostle describes the Gnostic mythological system, including the nature of the Archons. The codex begins with the following initial description…
“Our contest is not against flesh and blood, rather, the authorities (Archons) of the universe and the spirits of wickedness.” I have sent you this because you inquire about the reality of the authorities. Their chief is blind...”
“She (Sophia) wanted to bring forth something like herself, without the consent of the spirit, and because of the invincible power within her, her thought was not an idle thought. Something came out of her that was imperfect and different in appearance from her and was misshapen. When Sophia saw what her desire had produced, it changed into the figure of a snake with the face of a lion. Its eyes were like flashing bolts of lightning. She surrounded it with a bright cloud and put a throne in the middle of the cloud so that no one would see it except the holy spirit, who is called the mother of the living. She named her offspring Yaldabaoth.”
Within the section of the Apocryphon titled: The Reality of the Rulers also known as The Hypostasis of the Archons, the apostle continues the narrative…
“A veil exists between the world above and the realms below, and shadow came into being beneath the veil. That shadow became matter, and that shadow was projected apart. And what she (Sophia) had created came to be in matter, like an aborted fetus. It assumed a shape molded out of shadow, and became an arrogant beast resembling a lion. It was androgynous, as I have already said, because it derived from matter. Opening his eyes, he (Yaldabaoth) saw a vast quantity of endless matter, and he turned arrogant, saying, ‘I am god, and there is no one but me.’
Note the Gnostic take on the quote from Exodus 20:3, where Jehovah tells Moses… “thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
It is from these passages that Lamb extrapolated his correlation between the Archons and the modern ufology description of common mythic extra-terrestrial entities. Lamb equates the ‘aborted fetus’ depiction with what ufo pop media calls: The Greys. Lamb correlates the earlier referenced depiction of the ‘snake with the face of a lion’ with what pop media refers to as: The Reptilians. Although Lamb’s interpretation may be considered quite a stretch by many of you, dear discerning readers, this analogy has been embraced by multiple ufology and New Age sites, across the internet. As with this post, most of these sites re-hash Lamb’s material.
Again, from Lamb:
“The Apocryphon of John adds crucial details to the Archon scenario. For one thing, it presents a rare instance where Sophia is actually called the mother of the Archons. It also says of the chief Archon that "he did not obey the place from which he came." This is a telling detail. The fact that the chief Archon moves away from the places where he arose indicates a key concern of Gnostics: the boundary-violating tendencies of the Archons. From the outset they are an invasive species.”
Lamb’s interpretation of the ancient Gnostic materials suggests that these extra-terrestrial entities/energies arose by virtue of a cosmic passionate error, perpetrated by the Aeon (emanation) Sophia, wherein the realm of the spiritual, immaterial world transitioned into the physical, material world. Sophia’s passion resulted in the manifestation of the blind, finite creator god… the demiurge and his minions, the Archons. Lamb also seems to correlate Sophia with Gaia… planet earth.
If Sophia is akin to Gaia… Mother Nature or Mother Earth... then the Archons become impetuous, incorrigible and squabbling sibling energies… covetous of their Mother? Rather than an Alien Invasion scenario ala: Independence Day and its sequel: Independence Day: Resurgence… Lamb’s scenario is more of a Divine Invasion. Archonic entities, arising in our solar system, occupy Earthspace out of a jealous impulse to manipulate Earthling humans… Sophia’s new darlings.
If Sophia is akin to Gaia… Mother Nature or Mother Earth... then the Archons become impetuous, incorrigible and squabbling sibling energies… covetous of their Mother? Rather than an Alien Invasion scenario ala: Independence Day and its sequel: Independence Day: Resurgence… Lamb’s scenario is more of a Divine Invasion. Archonic entities, arising in our solar system, occupy Earthspace out of a jealous impulse to manipulate Earthling humans… Sophia’s new darlings.
Enter Castaneda
Not to fear dear readers… for this soggy saga gets even stranger. As Lamb unfolds this incredible-yet fascinating mythology, he introduces as collaborative evidence, the works of non other than the granddaddy of armchair shamanism… the one and only Carlos Castaneda. Lamb draws parallels between the ancient Gnostic mythology of the Archons, and specific magical adversaries of Castaneda’s Toltec sorcerers, represented by the enigmatic mentor: Don Juan Matus.
In our next installment of this series, we will examine more closely the relationship between ancient Gnostic Archons, ancient astronauts and Castaneda’s Yaqui way of knowledge… a separate reality indeed. Stay tuned intrepid reader… for these tales of power get even stranger. Until next time… remember that the truth is stranger than fiction!
Note: In researching this series, there appears to be some controversy surrounding Mr. Lamb, his theories and his alleged prejudices. This controversy apparently involves anti-Semitic accusations. As these accusations do not appear to be substantiated, and in fairness to all concerned, we withhold any opinion on this matter, other than posit that any form of ethnic prejudice is unacceptable and morally irrehensible. All peoples of this Earth are sacred. Our sensibilities in such matters align with the great tekgnostic saint Will Rodgers, when he said…
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