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Jul. 8th, 2002 06:38 pmToday I sat at the library for a couple of hours and did some basic research about psychoanalysis. I have never taken much time to investigate it - I mean, I've read a fair bit of Jung, but I was mainly interested in learning more about the kinds of methods they use. My suspicion is that Gnostic magick is primarily a form of psychoanalysis - using a kind of waking-dream, free-association method. This is the impression I've formed reading through most of the Gnostic scripture.
While magick in general can be compared to psychoanalysis, the comparison does not necessarily work quite as well because magick in general has such a strong emphasis on sorcery and divination. Gnostic and Christian material was used for those purposes, but it does not appear to be the primary purpose. Modern invocation and scrying - as opposed to the practice as done in the middle ages - approximates psychoanalysis.
It also came as no surprise to me that so many of the psychoanalysts developed theories that sound remarkably similar to Gnosticism. Jung, of course. I found a quote from Erich Fromm that could have come straight out of the Nag Hammadi. Otto Rank had a few parallels, too - especially the "rebirthing" procedure designed to undo the traumatism of birth.
Another parallel is becoming obvious too - between Surrealism and Gnosticism. I had long ago noted the parallels between Dadaism and Zen Buddhism, so this too should have been something I saw sooner.
Oh, and:
What Egyptian Deity are you? go to:the quiz!
While magick in general can be compared to psychoanalysis, the comparison does not necessarily work quite as well because magick in general has such a strong emphasis on sorcery and divination. Gnostic and Christian material was used for those purposes, but it does not appear to be the primary purpose. Modern invocation and scrying - as opposed to the practice as done in the middle ages - approximates psychoanalysis.
It also came as no surprise to me that so many of the psychoanalysts developed theories that sound remarkably similar to Gnosticism. Jung, of course. I found a quote from Erich Fromm that could have come straight out of the Nag Hammadi. Otto Rank had a few parallels, too - especially the "rebirthing" procedure designed to undo the traumatism of birth.
Another parallel is becoming obvious too - between Surrealism and Gnosticism. I had long ago noted the parallels between Dadaism and Zen Buddhism, so this too should have been something I saw sooner.
Oh, and:
What Egyptian Deity are you? go to:the quiz!
