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Established in America in 1928, The Gnostic Society is dedicated to advancing the study, understanding, and individual experience of Gnosis.  "He who has ears, let him hear!"

Read the LA Weekly cover story about Stephan Hoeller and The Gnostic Society

Lectures listed here are given at The Gnostic Society of Los Angeles, California.  These programs are held every Friday evening at 8:00 PM.  Unless otherwise noted, all lectures are presented by Dr. Stephan Hoeller.  Lectures are free and open to the public (free-will donations are appreciated).  Refreshments are offered following the lecture.  Further information is available by calling 323-467-2685.

Many of the lectures given at the Gnostic Society of Los Angeles become available for immediate online download in MP3 format at the new BC Recordings website (www.bcrecordings.net). In addition, there is a growing catalog of complete collections of Dr. Hoeller's lectures grouped by topic.  Take a look -- visit the online catalog!

Free Online Lectures:  The Gospel of Judas and many other titles are available at the BC Recordings website.

This page lists the current lecture series, with a view back through 1997.  For information about purchase and download of lectures offered at the Gnostic Society, go to  BC Recordings, an audio publishing effort advancing the work of Dr. Hoeller since 1979.

January and February 2009:  Creativity and Gnostic Imagination

Ancient teachers and practitioners of Gnosis, envisioned creativity as a way of invoking transcendental intelligence and beings of the high Aeons.  Such theurgic magic reveals true creativity as transcendentally altered consciousness.  In this series Dr. Hoeller and one outstanding guest lecturer will explore the Gnostic Magic of Creative Imagination.  Those interested in addressing their creativity will be particularly interested!

January 2:  Dr. Hoeller's Annual Tarot Forecast:  Prognostication for the United States of America for the year 2009. Results - - An image of the cards  (Audio recording available for download at BC Recordings).

January 9:  NO LECTURE:  Epiphany Celebration and Party.  All are welcome.  Gifts of food or beverage gratefully accepted.

January 16:  Creative Imagination; a Gnostic form of Magic:  C.G. Jung rediscovered an ancient Gnostic process and called it "Active Imagination".  Such modern developments will be compared and evaluated in the light of ancient Gnostic theurgic insight.

January 23:  The Practice of the Creative Presence; and Introduction to Gnostic Theurgy:  How one may rise to the Divinities and return to earth with much of their consciousness.

January 30:  Guest Lecturer:  Dr. Lance Owens:  C.G. Jung and J.R.R. Tolkien: Their Creative Magic Compared and Explored:  The Magician of the Psyche and the Wizard of Middle Earth both practiced a creative magic unknown to most of their readers.  Dr. Owens has lectured extensively on these topics and has discovered unknown aspects of the creative work of these great inspirers of the culture.

February 6:  The Awakening of Gnostic Imagination in Hermetic Sources:  The way to Illumined Consciousness according to Hermes Trismegistus.  The Poimandres, the Eighth Reveals the Ninth and other sources explored.

February 13:  The Imagination of Love; Troubadours, Sufis and other Magi on the Way of Love:  An eve of Valentine's Day offering.

February 20:  Entheogens and their Creative Imagination:  The work of R. Gordon Wasson, Jonathan Ott, Carl A.P. Ruck on the role of entheogenic agencies (plants, fungi etc) in the working of creativity, especially in ancient mysteries and religions.

Coming late February through March:  Prophecies and Seers;  Have They Seen the Future?

November and December 2008:  Great Teachers of the Gnosis

Essential biographies and review of the principal contributions of seven of the great teachers and founders of the Gnostic tradition and explore the contemporary relevance of their contributions.  A course in the most important teachings of the Gnosis as enunciated by its greatest representatives.

November 7:  Simon Magus, First Gnostic Teacher and Magician:  The Theurgist-Prophet and his connections with the school of John the Baptizer and the Dead Sea Scrolls.  "Simon of Samaria," the flying wizard, Messenger of the Most High Power.

November 14:  The Gnostic Paul and his Experience of Celestial Gnosis:  The apostle who never knew Jesus in the flesh, but became an apostle through Gnosis.  Paul's real experience of celestial ascension on the Damascene road.  His attempt to preserve Gnosis in the mainstream Church.

November 21:  Valentinus; a Gnostic for All Seasons:  The great Gnostic visionary and poet; author and inspirer of Pistis Sophia, The Gospel of Truth, the Gospel of Philip and other scriptures.  Valentinus almost became Pope of Rome.

December 5:  Carpocrates and Alexandra:  The legendary couple of teachers and visionaries and their sometimes controversial message.

December 12:  Marcion of Pontus; Mystic and Biblical Critic:  The cleansing of the Bible of its Archonic content.

December 19:  Mani; Prophet, Poet and Artist:  The Persian Messenger of Light, his life and Message as well as his influence through the ages.  A Gnostic teacher whose church endured for over a millennium.

December 26:  NO LECTURE:  Christmas vacation.

October 2008:  The Secret Destiny of America

Hermetic-Gnostic Archetypes in the United States of America

The late Manly P. Hall and other esoteric scholars have pointed out that there were secret spiritual influences at work at the founding of the American Republic  Enlightenment-Hermeticism and other heterodox mystical currents present in Templar and Masonic traditions acted as the principal inspirations of the founders of the U.S.A. Dr. Hoeller's talks will range over the past, present and future of the Republic and point the way toward the recognition of its secret destiny.   timely set of explorations at the Election Season!.

October 3:  Archetypal Foundations of America:  The Gnosis of Enlightenment-Hermeticism, Freemasonry and other Esoteric currents and their influence.

October 10:  America and the Task of Consciousness:  Is there a future for the Consciousness of Gnosis in the U.S.A.?

October 17:  The Esoteric Future of America:  Will the "Culture Wars" (Conflicts between fundamentalism and secularism) be resolved in a Hermetic spiritual synthesis?

October 24:  C.G. Jung on America:  The late Dr. Jung made many wise statements about the U.S.A., which amount to depth-psychological advise for our lives in this country.

September 2008:  The Gnosis of Dreams

The Dream, called in the Bible "the vision of the night" has been a matter of great interest to humanity since pre-historic times.  In the 20th Century, depth psychology recognized dreams as the royal highway to the unconscious.  In these talks Dr. Hoeller will explore dreams as indications of Gnosis into various aspects of life and as symbolic communications from the deeper strata of reality and from the aeons that transcend the manifest world.

September 5:  Dreams, Mundane or Transcendent?  The nature and the many functions of dreams.  Can dreams give us intimations of realities beyond the physical world?

September 12:  Dreams and their insight into Health and Illness:  Can a dream be a diagnostic tool and can dreams prescribe treatment and cure?  Can we revive the ancient method of "incubation" (healing through dreams)?

September 19:  Dreams, Alchemy and Archetypes:  The presence of Alchemical symbolism in dreams; C.G. Jung's teachings about Individuation and Archetypal Images as related to Dreams.

September 26:  Dreams and other Altered States:  The similarity of dreams to Altered States of Consciousness.  What conclusions may we draw regarding the connection of dream states and visionary reality.

August 2008:  Four Portentous Scriptures from Nag Hammadi

Some of the Nag Hammadi scriptures, like the Gospel of Thomas enjoy great popularity.  Some others, though very informative, have been less often explored.  Throughout August, four such treatises will be reviewed and their unique revelations and insights highlighted.  This is a unique opportunity to further explore the wisdom of Gnostic scriptures.

August 1:  The Treatise on the Resurrection:  The three kinds of Resurrection.  How all of us may "rise from the dead" today?  Resurrection understood as not a unique event in history but as the perennial metaphor for Gnosis.

August 8:  The Divine Meaning of Human History:  "The Thought of Our Great Power".  This scripture illuminates the spiritual aspects of the process of history.  Dr. Hoeller will draw conclusions from this scripture relevant to the present perplexities of world history.

August 15:  The Origin and Nature of the Soul:  "The Authoritative Teaching".  This scripture is a work of Gnostic Psychology and has signal relevance to contemporary psycho-spiritual concerns.

August 29:  The Mysteries of James the Just:  "The First and Second Apocalypse of James".  This scripture explains the esoteric teachings of the Apostle James, leader of the first Christians in Jerusalem and believed to be "the Brother of the Lord".

July 2008:  Magicians and Magic of the Golden Dawn

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was the one, truly seminal organization dedicated to the study and practice of Ceremonial Magic as well as the Kabbalah, Tarot and diverse divinatory modalities.  In this series of talks Dr. Hoeller will present the fascinating personalities of some of the leading members and the quintessential teachings and magical practices of the Golden Dawn.

July 11:  W.B. Yeats and Poetic Magic:  The greatest poet of the English language at his time as well as his associates William Wynn Wescott and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers as well as the basic principles of Golden Dawn Magic.

July 18:  Dion Fortune and Magical Narrative:  Novelist Dion Fortune (Violet Firth) and her synthesis of Psychology, Paganism, and early Feminism.  Her almost antagonists Arthur Edward Waite and the American magical Tarot master Paul Foster Case.  The Magical Tarot and practices of imaginative thaumaturgy.

July 25:  Aleister Crowley, Pioneer and Experimenter:  Controversial poet, mountain climber and magician Aleister Crowley, and his many interests, including sex magic.  Israel Regardie, the biographer and protagonist of Crowley.  The shadow of Eliphas Levi as the inspiration of Crowley.

June 2008:  Models of Free Consciousness

Four attempts to scale the heights of the soul, from the 19th Century to the Present.

June 6:  Journey through the Cosmos:  The pioneering teachings of H.P. Blavatsky.  In the late 19th Century, H.P. Blavatsky, "the Russian Sphinx" brought her own system of Gnosis to the world.  What were her teachings and her goals?

June 13:  Freeing the Self:  Gurdjieff, Nicoll and the Fourth Way.  After World War 1, the Mage from the Caucasus, G.I. Gurdjieff, taught a new Model of Liberation.  An evaluation of this model will be presented.

June 20:  The Chemical Explorers:  Hofmann, Huxley, Heard and Castanéda.  The psychedelic movement made significant contributions to the task of interior enlightenment.  The great figures and ideas of this movement will be noted.

June 27:  The New Eleusis:  Can Gnosticism bring back the Mysteries?  Pagan and Christian mysteries were both striving for spiritual liberation.  Can their legacy be activated and succeed today?

Fridays in April and May 2008:  Myth, Gnosis and the 21st Century

A plea for a new revival of interest in Mythic Wisdom.

April 4:  Myth:  A Necessity for the Soul.  Far from being but a fictional tale, a myth is a statement concerning truths of the soul.  The value, nature and liberating potential of myths will be discussed.

April 11:  Myths of Gnosis:  The Kabbalah of the Soul.  Zoharic and Lurianic Kabbalah as myths of Gnostic insight.  The Tree of Life as a mythic structure and map of the soul.

April 18:  Myths of Exile:  The original Jewish Hassidim.  Living under unhappy conditions of exile in Russia and Poland, Israel Bal Shem Tov and other Hassidic masters taught a wisdom with many Gnostic elements.

April 25:  Myths of the Magical Enlightenment:  Count Cagliostro.  Cagliostro, the Magical Martyr and his Egyptian Rite of Masonry.  Myths of initiation and practices of enlightening ceremonial.

May 9:  Myths of Vision and Phantasy:  Phillip K. Dick.  The visionary Science Fiction writer and his perception of Nag Hammadi, liberation, Sophia and related subjects.

May 16:  Myths, Politics and Statecraft:  The Pitfalls of Nostalgia and of Change.  In this election year we look at the mythic elements in the public arena.  The Myths behind conservative and liberal attitudes.  The enlightenment era myths that founded the U.S.A.

May 23:  Myths of the Psyche:  C.G. Jung, the New Merlin.  The psychological re-discovery of myths.  The story of the Wizard, Merlin as Jung¹s personal myth.

May 30:  Myths of Spiritual Liberation:  The Perennial Striving for Gnosis.  As mythologist Karl Kerényi stated, the Gnostics taught myths of profound mystical content and origin.  Can we commune with such myths today?

February and March 2008:  Modern Magi

Magic derives its name from the art of the Magi, the Persian priesthood of olden days.  This series will tell of practitioners of the art and philosophy from the magic of the Middle Ages to the occult revival of the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries and beyond.

February 22:  Eliphas Levi; Master of Magic:  Alphonse Louis Constant (Eliphas Levi), the great reviver of Magic and Kabbalah exerted a huge influence on 19th and 20th Century esotericism and is not without influence today.  This talk will offer Gnostic and Jungian insights into Levi's teachings, life and times.

February 29:  Albert Pike; Masonic Magus:  Civil War general, philosopher and creator of Scottish Rite Masonry in America, Pike reformed much of Masonry to reflect the Mysteries of Greece, Egypt and other ancient lands.  Greatly revered by such esotericists as H.P. Blavatsky, A.E. Waite and Manly P. Hall, Pike has still much to say to us today.

March 14:  The Gnosis of the Golden Dawn:  Magicians and Spiritual Practice.  Founded in the latter part of the 19th Century, the Order of the Golden Dawn made an enormous impact on practical esotericism, especially Ceremonial Magic.  The ways and byways of the Golden Dawn tradition will be explored.

March 28:  The Troubadours:  Kindred Predecessors of the Cathars.

January and February 2008:  Alchemists and Alchemy

The art of Transformation from its ancient origins in Alexandria to the modern researches of C.G. Jung and beyond.  How may we compound the philosopher's Stone today? (These lectures will become available in MP3 audio format at the BC Recordings website.)

January 11:  What is Alchemy?  Once envisioned as the turning of base metals into gold, Alchemy has been revealed in modern times as the art of transforming the human psyche.  The principles and basic symbols of this process will be discussed.

January 18:  Zosimus of Panopolis, Gnostic Alchemist:  C.G. Jung pinpointed this Alexandrian Gnostic teacher as the pioneer who translated the main elements of the Gnostic religion into the symbolism of Alchemy.

January 25:  Albertus Magnus and Thomas Aquinas; Christian Alchemy:  St. Albert the Great (A. Magnus), Doctor of the Church, Adept of Magic and Alchemy and his pupil, the monk Thomas, author not only of works on theology but of the treatise "Aurora Consurgens" on the alchemical liberation of Wisdom from matter.

February 1:  Raymond Lully, prophet of "Hyperreality":  A martyred and beatified alchemist who developed the mystical philosophy of Hyperreality which has great relevance to today's spirituality and psychology.

February 8:  Paracelsus, Alchemist and Physician:  "The Swiss Hermes" as occult physician, scientist and alchemist.  His philosophy of healing and his teaching about the different categories of healers will be elucidated.

February 15:  C.G. Jung, founder of modern Alchemy:  Jung's discovery of the depth-psychological relevance of the processes of Alchemy.  Will his great discoveries of the Alchemy of the Soul endure and be further amplified in the 21st Century?

(USA Tarot Reading 2008 can be found in the December 2007 lecture list below . . . )

November and December 2007:  Great Gnostic Teachers and their Heritage

Who were the remarkable sages and seers who wrote the Gnostic Gospels?  What do we know about their personalities and how are these reflected in their writings?.  (This series along with other Gnostic Sages lectures are available in MP3 audio format at the BC Recordings website.)

November 9:  Thomas, the Gnostic Apostle:  Who was the author of the "Gospel of Thomas" and other related scriptures?  Was he the founder of a Gnostic school of Christianity, extending to India?  Or was he merely "Doubting Thomas" as he is represented by mainstream orthodoxy?

November 16:  Was St. Paul a Gnostic?  The "Apostle of the Gentiles" was always known for many highly mystical and symbolic statements.  He also might have been a great Gnostic teacher as indicated by an early book by Elaine Pagels entitled "The Gnostic Paul".

November 30:  Valentinus, Gnostic Poet of Light:  Valentinus, who almost became bishop of Rome (Pope) is the most inspired and lyrical of the Gnostic teachers.  His reputed works include "Pistis Sophia" and "The Gospel of Truth".

December 7:  Marcion and his Gnostic Critique of the Bible:  Regarded by many as the father of higher Biblical Criticism, Marcion was also the leader of a well-organized and widespread Gnostic church.

December 14:  Basilides and his Mystic Vision:  Basilides' vision disclosed the highest transcendental Deity and its relation to human experience.

December 21:  John, the Gnostic Baptizer:  The Mandaean Gnosis regards John as a major redeemer figure.  This lecture will contain numerous quotations from the Mandaean John Book, a rare source of Johannine Gnosis.

December 28:  Dr. Hoeller's Tarot Forecast for 2008  Prognostication for the United States of America for the year 2008. Results - - An image of the cards  (Audio recording available for download at BC Recordings).

Fridays in September and October 2007:  The Inner Side of Secret Orders

Initiatory Spirituality from ancient Shamans to contemporary Freemasons.  Gnostic, Hermetic, Mithraic and other Esoteric sources of Secret Orders.  What is the Secret and the current role of such Orders?  This series should be of special interest to students of Freemasonry, Templars, Ceremonial Magicians and other esoteric initiatory associations.

September 7:  The Rosy Cross and Golden Dawn:  The mysterious Rosicrucians and their legendary founder, Chr. Rosencreuz.  Medieval Rosicrucianism and its late 19th Century offspring, the Golden Dawn.  The role of the Golden Dawn in the revival of Kabbalah, Tarot and Magic.

September 14:  Jacques de Molay and other Templar Grand Masters:  Were the leaders of the Templar Order Esotericists with Gnostic associations?  The Truth behind modern tales about the Templars, including "Holy Blood, Holy Grail".  What was the curse of Jacques de Molay?

September 21:  Templars and Freemasonry:  Did the Templar traditions continue in Freemasonry?  What is Freemasonry and how does it connect with the Esoteric Tradition.  James Pike, the American Esotericist-Freemason.  Freemasonry and the foundations of the American Republic

October 5:  Martinism and French Esotericism:  Little known in English-speaking countries, French inner traditions are one of the most fascinating of all such subjects.  Descending from Cathar and Templar roots, the schools of Eliphas Levi, Martines de Pasqually, Louis Claude de St. Martin and their traditions and organizations.  France as the prime esoteric country of Europe.

October 12:  Spiritual Chivalry:  Spirit of the Templars.  The Templar Tradition of the "Initiates of Action" in a contemporary light.

October 19:  Secret Orders and their Conspiracies, Real and Imagined:  The Illuminati and their weird legacy; why are they feared centuries after their demise?  The Bilderberg Group, the Trilateral Commission as mysterious power-broker.  Skull and Bones, the 200 year old secret Order of Yale University; Opus Dei, the Catholic secret society of Da Vinci Code fame.

October 26:  Secret Orders of the East and some of their Menace to the West:  The Hung Society; historical "Freemasonry" of China and the "Huis" of the modern Chinese milieu, such as the Triad societies and the Falung Gong.  Moslem warrior cults from the Assassins to Al Queda and more.

July and August 2007:  More of Tarot Wisdom Explained

The Tarot is one of the most famous, ancient and accurate methods of divination by way of the use of the traditional 78 card deck of cards.  In addition, the Tarot has been used as a spiritual practice of meditation, often in conjunction with the Tree of Life of the Kabbalah.  Dr. Hoeller, who with his book, "The Fool's Pilgrimage" has been known for over 30 years as a noted teacher of Tarot will once again share his insights on this fascinating subject.

July 6:  What is the Tarot?  An in-depth introduction to the field of Tarot study and practice and to the various uses to which the Tarot has been put through the ages.

July 20:  What is Divination?  Divinatory disciplines, such as Tarot, I Ching, Astrology, Geomancy and Oneiromancy.  How and why do they work?

July 27:  Kabbalah and Tarot:  Nature and structure of the Tree of Life and its relationship to the Tarot Major and Minor Arcana with Tarot Meditations.

August 3:  Meditating with the Major Arcana:  Continuing with the Meditations.  Tarot combined with Kabbalistic Path Work.

August 10:  The Tarot, Key to the Self:  The Meaning of the four suits and Minor Arcana Cards ones through threes of the four Suits.

August 17:  Tarot Powers of the Personality:  Minor Arcana Cards four through eights of the four Suits.

August 24:  Tarot Powers of Growth:  Minor Arcana Cards nines and tens of the four Suits.

August 31:  Tarot Household of the Soul:  The Court Cards of the Four Suits.

June 2007:  Cathar Gnosis and Cathar Scriptures

The Cathars were the greatest flourishing of the Gnostic tradition since the eclipse of the Alexandrian and Manichaean Gnosis in the first few centuries A.D.  The eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries saw the activity of the large movement of Cathars ("pure ones") in what is now southwestern France.
Subsequent revivals of the Gnostic tradition in Europe were all related to the Cathars.  In these lectures the distinguishing features of the Cathar religion are shown as well as several generally unavailable scriptures are interpreted.

June 1:  The Nature and Romance of the Cathar Gnosis:  What Gnosis did the Cathars have?  Cathar history and Cathar teachings and their several revivals in subsequent centuries will be reviewed.

June 8:  The Book of the two Principles:  One of the very few Cathar scriptures that survived and was made available a few years ago.  In addition, other facts and theories about the Cathars will be reviewed.

June 15:  "The Gospel of the Secret Supper" - the major Cathar Scripture, Part I:  Of possible Bulgarian Bogomil origin, this is a Gospel of the invisible Father, his son Christ, and John the Apostle who questions Jesus at the time of the Last Supper.

June 22:  "The Gospel of the Secret Supper", Part II:  The distinction between the absolute good God and his evil opponent.  Along with the "Book of Two Principles" this is the main extant Cathar scripture.  Again, cognate material from historical and visionary sources will be included.

Fridays in May 2007:  Four Less Well Known but Important Gnostic Scriptures

Four scriptures from Nag Hammadi which are not often mentioned, but are of profound content and considerable importance.

May 4:  On the Origin of the World:  A detailed story of "First things, last things and hidden things" as Marvin Meyer says.  One of the most comprehensive accounts of Gnostic cosmology.

May 11:  The Paraphrase of Shem:  The nature and role of cosmic darkness and its containment by way of a heavenly helper, called Dardekas.  The salvific role of the Gnostic tradition in cosmic history.

May 18:  The Second Treatise of the Great Seth:  A beautiful meditation on the life and mission of Jesus and of the role of Gnostics in universal Christendom and in the world.  A major work of Gnostic Christianity.

May 25:  The Three Steles of Seth:  Three exalted hymns addressed to the divine beings in the Pleroma.  The hymns were used as liturgies of ecstatic ascent to divinity and are thus of great contemporary interest.

Fridays in April 2007:  Alchemy, Gnosis and Love:  The "Rosarium Philosophorum"

An account of the process of the Alchemical reconciliation and union of the opposites, as represented by the 11 pictures in the treatise "Rosarium Philosophorum".  The series shows the integration of the psyche and the process of love relationships of individuals.

April 13:  The Dance Commences:  Beginning of the Alchemical Process.  The dual forces begin their relationship. The opposites reach out for closeness and union.

April 20:  Psychic and Sexual Transformation:  The arising of difficulties and their results.  Purification and intensification of the process.

April 27:  The Birth of the New Self:  The concluding phase of the process of transformation and the fulfilment of love.  Can we find the Philosopher's Stone in our lives and relationships today?

January & February 2007:  Teachers and Teachings of the Universal Gnosis

An in-depth view of the manifestations of the Gnostic Tradition from the early centuries A.D. to the present.  Follow the Ariadne's thread of Gnosis through two thousand years of the history of Western culture as explained by Dr. Hoeller.

January 12:  Special Event:  Dr. Hoeller's Annual Forecast with the Tarot:  Prognostication for the United States of America for the year 2007. Results - - An image of the cards  (Audio recording available for download at BC Recordings).

January 19:  From Essenes to Christian Gnosis:  Dead Sea Scrolls lead to the Alexandrian and Syrian Gnosis of Simon, Valentinus, Basilides, Marcion, Bardesanes and other seers and sages.

January 26:  Mani and the Manichaean Tradition:  The most widely-spread of the schools of the Gnosis and its ever timely teachings.

February 2:  Medieval Gnosis:  Cathars, Bogomils, Beguines, Rhineland Mystics.

February 9:  Sufi Gnosis:  Ib'n Arabi and some other Sufi Mystics.

February 16:  The Occult Gnosis of the 19th & 20th Centuries:  Blavatsky, Papus, modern Rosicrucians, French Gnostics and Ceremonial Magicians.

February 23:  The Gnosis Today:  Post Nag Hammadi, Post Modernism and future Gnostic trends.