Gnostica

Gnostica is the official weblog of the Palm Tree Garden Gnostic community. One thing that many of the regular contributors and members of The Palm Tree Garden have in common is creativity in arts and letters, whether in writing, designing, the fine arts, music, and more. Now all this fine talent has a showcase on the web. Gnostica, the official Palm Tree Garden blog, enters cyberspace. The same knowing and thought provoking writers whose posts you look for on The Palm Tree Garden Forum can now be found in a blog. Blogging has grown so in recent years thanks largely to the ease with which content can be added and updated. With image, video, and multimedia embedding, blogs bring the best and the brightest stories, articles, and pictures to you faster than ever. Like all collaborative blogs, Gnostica aspires to tap into the talent of many creative minds and present the reader with a blog that is the best of all possible blogs, and to be greater than the sum of its parts. Whether you’re looking for first century wisdom in a twenty-first century light or unusual new viewpoints on topical subjects of the times, Gnostica is the blog to read. Read Gnostica often, or better yet subscribe to our feed. You’ll want to bookmark this one and visit every day.
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PALM TREE GARDEN STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

Over the past decade or so, there has been an increased interest in the Gnostic tradition, undoubtedly thanks in a large part to Philip K. Dick-influenced film and literature, mentions of Gnosticism in popular culture, and an increasing popular interest in the history of mystical and “alternative” spirituality in the West. It is an exceptionally exciting time to be a Gnostic, as our tradition seems to be undergoing something of a renascence.

This is also an exceptionally exciting time to be involved in Gnostic studies. Our understanding of the groups to which we refer as “Gnostic” is evolving and expanding thanks to the work of scholars like April DeConick, Michael Williams, Karen King, Einar Thomassen, John Turner, Birger Pearson, and Marvin Meyer, name a few, and through these studies, we now know more than ever before about our ancient predecessors.

In light of both our modern practical understanding of Gnosticism and the work of scholarship, we cannot define a monolithic Gnosticism as any single historical denomination; because we are so focused on individual experience and so open to other individual experiences, we cannot, by our very nature, limit ourselves. However, for a variety of reasons, many individuals have come to understand Gnosticism as a spiritual abstraction with no regard for dogma or traditional spiritual form, a misconception propogated by dubious scholarship and postmodern interpretation of Gnostic scripture by individuals with questionable motives. We feel that we have a responsibility to provide a voice to those who understand that Gnosticism has a rich, historical heritage, and that only by acknowledging this heritage with honesty can we remain true to our own modern Gnostic path.

At the Palm Tree Garden, we recognize that Gnosticism is a religion, but our Gnosticism cannot duplicate historical Gnosticism. So how do we, as modern Gnostics, live Gnosticism in the sense of our forebears? At the Palm Tree Garden, we take our inspiration from their attitude of faith, and in the devotion they showed in living their gnosis. We approach history honestly and try to be realistic about revelation. Only by living Gnosticism every second of every day, no matter where or with whom, will we be true to our forebears.

Therefore, and with this in mind, the aims and goals of The Palm Tree Garden are four-fold:

• To give all of those interested in Gnosticism, regardless of specific tradition or denomination, a place to discuss Gnosticism with like-minded individuals, and in doing so, make available a virtual community which will attract individuals who are newly interested in Gnosticism.
• To develop a sense of purpose and unity among the extant Gnostic community.
• To continue developing modern Gnosticism as a living, breathing (pneumatic) tradition: well-balanced, not focused explicitly on a single method of understanding, but comprised of a variety of perspectives ranging from the academic to spiritual and understood within the matrix of living Gnostic experience.
• To develop ways to clarify the current manifestation of Gnostic form and practice with the openness and compassion which are the very basis of our tradition, while maintaining a historical and intellectual honesty and acknowledging the differences between Modern and Historical Gnostic theory and practice.

The Palm Tree Garden is not intended to be a place to come up with a monolithic definition of Gnosticism so fixed as to be or become a singular Dogma, and, as gnostics, we recognize the dangers that petrification of beliefs and static adherence to formulae, however well intended, pose to the growth of both ourselves as individuals and us as a group. Nonetheless, we welcome open dialogue on the nature and purpose of Gnosticism, with the understanding that gnosis is truth, all else is conjecture.

The PTG is not a place to proselytize, or to denigrate others. It is not a place to cast aspersions on other, non-Gnostic traditions, no matter our personal feelings about them. Even though we may vehemently disagree on words and definitions, we recognize ourselves as co-religionists in the greater Community of Knowers.

We take our inspiration and our image from the words of Gnostic Prophet Philip K. Dick, and establish the Palm Tree Garden in his name and in his honor.