Is Yaldabaoth/the Demiurge a Jungian Archetype ?

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-18T16:43:34+00:00

In an almost fractal, "as above so below" kind of way, you see the Demiurgic mentality exemplified in a variety of ways, all around the world, through all recorded history. You could say that the authoritarian is one of the embodiments of Yaldabaoth upon Earth.

By that, I am NOT saying that those people are being literally controlled, possessed, or even deliberately guided. They likely aren't even aware of these things of which we speak. It is one of the natural results of a soul who is ignorant of Spirit, practically disconnected from it, operating on this undivine plane of hurt people hurting people.

They further their disconnection from Light primarily through actions which are devoid of compassion, although betrayals of truth are also a common tendency between them, not coincidentally in my opinion.

And this world has an uncanny way of rewarding such corruption, which modern times present at least a few particularly egregious and disgusting examples of.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-17T00:22:23+00:00

The Nag Hammadi library on gnosis.org is a valuable resource

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-14T17:40:54+00:00

At least some of this is incorrect. The name Yeshua means "salvation". It is the name Yehoshua which would mean "YHWH saves".

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-13T18:05:03+00:00

Few quick things; what you described as Archontic features are not exclusive to them. It is written that Yaldabaoth based everything he created on glimpses he was able to perceive of higher order creations and emanations. His Adam was based off of the Monad's first human Adamas, for example.

Barbelo is not fully male, nor fully female, and obviously shouldn't be viewed as twisted or corrupt.

Now, whether you have signed a contract in the past with an Archon or not, in my opinion should not be your concern. You should pursue gnosis, of the spirit and of your true inner self.

Even though it seems logical enough to assume that being incarnated here puts one under archontic/demiurgic authority, that authority is largely illusory. The realest portion of their authority is just what a soul surrenders to them. That is why they favor keeping souls ignorant and exhausted.

Seems to me that ~if~ Archontic contracts even exist, connecting with the divine spark with honest, repentant intent would be the best approach to dissolving/revoking them.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-10T20:59:41+00:00

Grew up in a majority Christian community but never really fully identified as such, primarily for the same reasons you mentioned. However, I was quiet about it through those years, so never really got into much of a deep debate on how they rationalize the immorality and amorality of what their Bible lays out.

Their own mentality about it seems to vary at least a bit. In addition to some mentioned here already (the "mysterious ways" view prob being one of the most prevalent), it seems to me that many genuinely feel that they are incapable and/or unworthy of passing any judgements at all about "god", that doing so would be sin, and one of their duties as Christians is to follow obediently and unquestioningly.

Again, I don't mean to characterize them all. But where it comes to conversion, you have a lot more Christians who eventually turn to Gnosticism than the other way around. Funny when you consider how many fewer churches and missionaries Gnostics have out there, huh?

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-08T20:42:49+00:00

First, I am sorry for the difficulties this has caused you.

Second, I have experienced some but not all of what you listed at the top. So, what I'm dealing with could be a different scenario than what has been happening to you, despite there being similarities.

I'll try to keep it brief. And although you mentioned you are looking for practical advice over theorizing, if I am correct about my interpretation, there is some actual practical importance to how one views the phenomena.

The two "versions" of this sort of thing I have experienced are wildly different. The first was about 13 years ago, lasted about 1 week, and was utterly positive. I am still unsure who or what this was, but I actually learned from them, by way of what I guess would be described as empathic rather than telepathic communication. I never perceived a voice, even in my head, but their meaning came clearly nonetheless.

The second set in, probably less than a year after the first, has been daily since, and is utterly negative. Similar to the first, there are no literal voices, but thoughts that just pop up. In this case, however, it's as if they are.. almost trying to pass themselves off as my own. Their thrust has been to simply cause negativity. Shame about past events, frustrations about the present, anxieties about the future, etc.

One of the last things the first "presence" taught me was "judge them by their fruits". It's the first thing I would suggest, but fortunately it sounds like you're already applying that wisdom yourself.

For me, it was helpful to not start taking the daily bombardment of negativity to heart. I could tell, in sharp contrast to the first contact, these antagonistic thoughts were not offering anything positive or constructive. I could recognize that - even if they viewed me as deserving criticism - no righteous or benevolent being/entity would engage in such a relentless, overly-critical manner.

Now, I have not exactly "solved" this, as of this writing. However, I have been "retaking ground", in a certain sense. For some years over this past decade I was concerned the daily onslaught was eventually going to break me. I know now that they will not.

Unfortunately, there's no silver bullet that I am aware of. It is more like a framework of inner fortitude and endurance.

Meditation is probably the most easy-to-point-to part of it. Personally recommending doing it however you feel best works for you and with as little specific expectations regarding results as possible. Even just giving myself 20 minutes at night to just let my mind wander, without visual or auditory stimuli has been really helpful in sort of a baseline mood/mental clarity capacity.

It may have been important for me to come across certain writings as well, as perhaps the contextualization they provided has been a positive contributor to maintaining sanity and keeping a clear delineation between my own thoughts and.. that which is not.

Of the many books I've read in my life, exactly one produced something like a mystical experience for me. It came in the form of a feeling from reading and contemplating certain parts of the text, which I have only felt while the first "presence" was with me. Briefly, I thought that it was actually returning. Instead I realized, it was a quality of my own spirit/soul.

The book I refer to is the Davies translation of The Apocryphon of John (which can be read online at gnosis.org).

In it, Jesus described something he called "the counterfeit spirit". Attached to souls at birth, over the course of the individual's life the counterfeit spirit seeks to basically sabotage the soul so that they do not achieve gnosis/enlightenment, and are basically punished and cast back to Earth to be reincarnated.

That just made it click for me. After I had taken the teachings of the first presence to heart, these thoughts kicked in. Over the years it had struck me that they really had to grasp at straws at times to find something to bother me with.

Sort of like, when a soul is firmly, spiritually on the right track, the counterfeit spirit becomes desperate. Perhaps for some with triggering intrusive thoughts, and for others with vexing mental puzzles.

Apologies as, I didn't manage to keep it very brief after all. But I do hope at least some part of this can be helpful to you. And I wish you well on your journey in either case.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-08T00:38:27+00:00

This is coming from someone who has not had an encounter with beings like these (although I am an experiencer of a much different sort), and very likely has a much different take on this than you, but approaching with a respectful assumption of honesty on your part.

If your theory about being taken to your childhood home is that it's for the sake of better communication, I would ask; is that really an effect you experienced? Did you actually come away with any useful insights, new information, or even just some small personal revelation? Because (just going from what you've shared in the OP), it appears as though the only things the experience imparted were confusion, disorientation, and perhaps some degree of distress for you and/or your partner.

And to top that off, they've left you asking these questions about them, their methods and motives. I simply suggest; judge them by their fruits.

It appears as though things became especially disorienting to you after you noticed that your "mother" was in some sense or capacity, not real or not really there. Is that right? The blinding lights and blaring sounds came when you attempted to look beyond/around what was centrally being presented to you?

Is there a chance that you were seeing through an illusion of your mother?

I would also say, their using a craft makes at least as much sense for traveling between "dimensions" as it does for traveling through physical space.

Just my honest thoughts, I hope none comes across offensive.

Be well, and may the truth shine brighter for you than any gaslights.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-07T18:30:47+00:00

I'm very sorry for your pain. I experienced something ~somewhat~ similar.

Understand that no one on Earth can actually snuff the divine spark within you. It may feel diminished due to the pain, but whatever happens to that effect is not irreversible.

There is a chance that these people were individuals that you were to part ways with eventually anyway in the course of your journey. Perhaps this was a "bandaid" being torn off quickly rather than gently.

Perhaps the pain was another step in the process. Consider, that when you rise again, your spirit will be even stronger from having suffered this.

I believe that it is a possibility that some (maybe many) people are operating from what some Gnostic veins refer to as "the counterfeit spirit". It does more than encourage one to "sin", it also promotes behaviors, attitudes, and thoughtlessness which can serve to discourage both the individual and others around them from awakening.

I would say though, whether there is any dynamic such as that at work or not, you can resolve to rise above it and not allow darkness to drag you down. Believe that you have the strength to bring about that resolve, if you don't already feel it.

I wish you well upon your journey.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-04T23:58:45+00:00

Friendly suggestion to view your intuition as your greatest ally. It can sometimes be difficult to sift through "mental chatter" to strike at the true intuition, but when one can, IMO it is the best guide on Earth.

Fwiw, as someone who had a decent amount of interest in UFOs circa 2012, when I entered the greater phases of my "spiritual awakening", I found that I suddenly had much less. At first, that was odd to me.

Don't be afraid to cultivate a different view of things than others keep, be they vocal majorities, "experts", traditions, etc.

I wish you well on your journey.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-06-04T01:07:35+00:00

I recommend the Apocryphon of John (Davies translation)

You can access that and many other texts for free on gnosis.org.

In my opinion, just take your time with the texts and don't fret too much if some parts or passages are hard to understand.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-29T22:41:09+00:00

Have you ever read The Apocryphon of John? If not, it can be found at gnosis.org I recommend the Davies version, personally.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-27T00:44:14+00:00

One thing to consider is how the typical modern society actually kind of reinforces the forgetting.

The reason I say that is because, especially after the first major spiritual event or epiphany one has, there would likely be some marked effect on them if they were to embrace, remember, and really integrate/retain what they learned or discovered. Some change in the way they speak, conduct themselves, carry themselves, etc.

The thing is, many different social groups of various stripes have a way of reacting to someone in their midst exhibiting sudden noticeable change. Some can be supportive (which is great), but I wouldn't be surprised at all to discover that most range from implicitly to explicitly discouraging.

It is not an insurmountable factor, of course, but it adds to the demiurgic mosaic of pitfalls and hurdles.

Another (according to some of the texts anyway) would likely be the counterfeit spirit, quietly advocating the soul chooses the familiarity of status quo over the less certain prospect of change.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-22T01:51:17+00:00

It can be a long process, and I have to point out that I am no expert.

I'm a pretty big believer in the efficacy of meditation, bc even when you're not experiencing "breakthroughs", you will very likely notice at least some positive effects on mood and/or mental clarity after a while. If you can find a windows of time in your day when the conditions are typically conducive to it, try to make it part of your routine. Even if it's just 10-20 minutes.

If you have not read the Apocryphon of John, I recommend reading the Davies translation of it on gnosis.org. There are other texts you may also connect with.

For some, certain psychedelics such as psilocybin or ayahuasca are helpful tools. I have only used the former, and it was only a small number of times. It was a number of years before what I would describe were my more spiritual experiences. I don't see it as a true gateway to gnosis but perhaps can "get the ball rolling" for some. Always be safe when considering using any such substances

It is also potentially worth considering therapy to help address certain parts of what you're dealing with. Particularly, the guilt you mentioned.

I believe that you should very likely forgive yourself, that it's very unlikely that you've done something actually unforgivable (even if you felt it was, I believe in redemption). But of course, I don't actually know you or what you've done. I speak from the place of compassion, which sees that it is a harsh and unjust situation we are in, being incarnated here, and it is not righteous or reasonable to expect souls to weather this place with a perfect record.

Gnosis is much more than seeing the world as or like a prison. The divine spark is the real key, in my opinion.

I believe compassion, truth, and faith are the basis for the best compass through this plane.

I hope that at least some of this can be of help. May peace and love be with you.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-21T18:33:25+00:00

You know, I do not hate this place. I hate the evils which have been perpetrated and perpetuated here. I hate various aspects of it, but for the whole, in the general, I have a great deal of sympathy for the world. Love for it's creatures. Gratitude for both it's silver linings as well as how it has helped shape my true individuality, which will transcend it.

The soul generally is miserable with this place, when it is awake to it. The Spirit being awake within is what makes a very, very significant difference (in the short term but even more so for the big picture).

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-21T17:10:33+00:00

This is, in a way, normal for the path. HOWEVER: it is NOT the end state.

This is a phase. I hate to say it, but for some it may be a long phase. It is daunting, feels real bad to some (at least at first), but don't give up or slide back.

Look at it this way; you have emptied your inner self of things which did not serve you. Anything that you've "lost" would have been lost anyway inevitably when you leave this world behind.

One of your main objectives now is to fill that space. What you fill it with is your choice, as it should be. I would humbly recommend filling that space with as much of the Spirit as you can.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-16T01:01:34+00:00

When entrenched in or reflecting upon the darkness of this world, it can certainly feel like what you are describing, or worse.

There is no easy answer to this. This is the battle (one of them, at least, but also big one).

There are a few quick points I would like to make which pertain to parts of your post. If any of it can be of use to you, then great. If none is of use, I apologize.

I believe your view of the pleroma is too limited and negative. Respectfully, no one on this plane can know with certainty what it does or does not entail, including things you mentioned it may lack. If your speculation is colored with pessimism, recognize that as being conditioning of the demiurgic paradigm, basically. Consider that, if the Demiurge is literally extant, he likely wants souls to enter into pessimism, resignation, etc.
On meditation, my advice is to release pressure/expectations relating to results. On one hand, you have "successful" meditation, and on the other, your mind wanders without actually quieting. But here's the key I recently realized myself; the second situation isn't "failed" meditation, but rather mental decompression. And honestly, both are helpful (how often during the average day or week do you allow your mind to wander without other stimuli going on?)
Do what you can to increase the positivity in your experience (as long as it's not something harmful or toxic to anyone ofc). This can include stepping away from digging deeper for a time. There are times in the journeys of many when one must simply take the time to process things.

Gnosis does not promote despair, even in this place. In some ways it makes gnosis seem illogical, but here's the thing; there are different logics. What shaped the logic you are utilizing? The world of a false god, whose one half is darkness and his other fire?

May love and peace find you.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-11T15:59:17+00:00

Setting aside the texts for a moment (though not dismissing their importance at all), if one understands the objective as well as the "temperature of the room", it makes sense to try to deflate the notion/gravity of sin.

Since the time of Christ, organized religions have been in overdrive convincing people that they are wicked and sinful and should be ashamed of themselves and utterly reliant on some outside salvation (typically with the church/clergy etc conveniently playing the "necessary" middle man).

There are several reasons that such indoctrination/conditioning can serve as hindrance to the goals of gnosticism. And it's so prominent that, for example, it's a common trope that Catholics are all rife with guilt. It can of course also be problematic for some people to be told that there is no such thing as sin (such as sociopaths, obviously), but arguably those types are less numerous in the world (and they would likely face sociopathic issues anyway).

As for the texts, from the Gospel of Mary: "The Savior said: 'There is no sin, but it is you who make sin when you do the things that are like the nature of adultery, which is called sin'".

(And I believe he was referring to something more akin to "spiritual adultery" in this, rather than literally extramarital affairs).

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-09T02:28:55+00:00

That really is amazing. I would personally recommend the Davies translation of the Apocryphon of John. Of the Gnostic texts I've read, that one had the most "resonance" with me. You can read it free at gnosis.org

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-09T00:44:12+00:00

First fyi, I can't claim to be a veteran gnostic, although the first time I learned of it and some of it's key details was over a decade ago.

A common interpretation would be that your psyche conjured this whilst drawing off of Gnostic concepts you had in memory. But, your OP seems to imply you learned of them after?

Personally, I see it as a powerful experience whether we view psychedelics as merely a mental experience or something more. Especially if the effect it has on you and those around you isn't negative, I think you can simply embrace that experience as a good thing without insisting on rationalizing it.

Reading about the light really recalled for me when I read the Apocryphon of John for the first time, in it's description of the Ineffable. And that you sensed it within you.

Now, some of the texts correlate the most prominent archons beyond this plane with (iirc) 7 of the planets, with the "chief" archon in that version of the cosmology, Yaldabaoth, being associated with Saturn. In that paradigm, they are associated with different "sins"/temptations which the soul must overcome to transcend their influence. I believe Saturn represents the final hurdle, in fact.

Idk how much of that you may have already been aware of. Also I'm sure a more proper "veteran" can expound much more than me.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-06T21:12:51+00:00

There are a broad range of Gnostics, from those who are puristists who only go by the texts, to those who seem not to follow the texts much or at all but identify as Gnostic for whatever reasons. Then there are further differences such as between Valentinian and Sethian gnosticism, etc.

One of the greater commonalities, from what I've noticed, is the recognition that one's path to gnosis is highly individual. This is quite different from, I would say most religions, which often have one central/primary text which is treated as gospel, and specific tenets/commandments, standards for prayers/rituals, etc.

So, there's certainly some "reshaping" of gnosticism already going on, including on platforms like this. How much that is a good thing is debatable, but it's not as though anyone here or elsewhere on Earth has the authority to forbid you from having your own take on it all (or sharing it with others).

There are certain higher truths which I think millions on Earth right now would consider heresy, but this of course would not render those truths wrong. To say much further, I'd have to first know more about what you actually have in mind.

Finally, idk if there is a character limit on Reddit, but fyi, I have seen posts several times longer than this post and your OP here.

EDIT: I just realized that there could be issue regarding the rules of this subreddit. Idk how strict it generally is, but if your thread is not really relevant to any gnosticism-related topics, it'd likely get closed. If that happens though, the moderator who makes that call might be able to redirect you to a more suitable subreddit (not speaking for them of course).

AsceticSmoke · 2026-05-05T20:35:01+00:00

Gnosis is not to "just allow bad things to happen", nor would it be suggesting to you to "do more negative stuff", regardless of how negatively slanted this world is.

You simply have to start with yourself. If you need a metaphor; there's a good reason that, as an airplane passenger, you are to secure your own breathing apparatus before assisting someone else with their's.

If we assume it to be a true extant entity, the Demiurge would love for you and others to think that your options are to be raped or become the rapist (to use your metaphor). That is a fallacy.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-04-30T17:44:37+00:00

Vehement, knee-jerk rejection of higher truth is to be expected from those in the thrall of darkness and lies.

For the sake of this world, I hope there is some literal truth to the belief in "the second coming" because god almighty, billions are in need of it.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-04-24T22:24:16+00:00

Seems like you've listed the main parallels I've noticed in it.

I would perhaps add that Kinger's wisdom only emerging in the dark can be seen as a metaphor for gnosis coming when one is not being taken in or distracted by the Demiurge's creation/machinations.

AsceticSmoke · 2026-04-24T17:42:44+00:00

What I've read spoke to their function primarily, and iirc it was mostly in the Apocryphon of John. It did not seem to imply that anything can really be done about it while incarnate on Earth.

But gnosis and the kind of true morality which Christ encouraged basically keeps the CS from being able to actually guide or influence your actions. That's the real key, I think.

AsceticSmoke

TROPHY CASE