Return to flip book view

A GuideWilliam Charnock & Graham Wood

Published by Nockwood Cards, DeJoux Enterprises Inc.374 Springtown Road, New Paltz, N.Y., 12561.United States of America. Copyright pending: Case: 1-7912013391. All rights reserved.Published in the United States.ISBN-13: 978-0-578-55267-5.Art and Design by Graham Wood, Whitstable, Kent, U.K.Printed by Nicholson & Bass Ltd., Newtownabbey Northern Ireland.Proofed by James Sherwood, New Paltz, N.Y.Contact author at www.nockwoodcards.comPrinted in a numbered limited rst edition of 300, September 23rd 2019. of 300.

A GuideWilliam Charnock & Graham Wood

Before the Catholic Church decided that the Christian faith should focus on a divine authority, there was a revolutionary idea growing in Christian circles. This was the idea that our spirituality did not have to be beholden to a divine authority, but that instead we all have a ‘divine spark’ within us that could be nurtured, developed, explored, and understood.This early Christian faith came to be known as Gnosticism, from the ancient Greek word γνῶσῐς — gnosis, which means knowledge or understanding. Unpopular with the Catholic authorities, who preferred to preach a rule-based, male-dominated, divine authority for whom they were the gatekeepers, the Gnostic practices and beliefs were considered heresy and suppressed until Elaine Pagels’ book, The Gnostic Gospels, resurfaced and translated these profound and important texts. The AEON deck of cards is dedicated to Elaine Pagels for the amazing work she did uncovering such treasures.

AEONAeons are referenced in the Bible and many other rst- and second-century texts. They are the ‘things’ that God created before creating our world. They are the powers that cause us to think, act, and behave in certain ways. They are what fuels our human natures. Aeons are essentially an early version of psychology or behavioral science. They accurately describe the wide array of things that have always driven us to do the things we do. They are our motivations, our emotions, our intuitions. They are our ways of thinking, our psychology, our dreams, and our fears. If you look through any philosophical or religious texts from the ancient Greeks, Buddhists, Muslims or Christians, there are references to similar forces and energies. Sometimes they are given names. Sometimes they are personied into deities. Sometimes they are called angels or demons. However they are described in all these dierent spiritual contexts, they boil down to the same set of core ideas.

Treasury of LightThe 6 divine AeonsRealm of DarknessThe 6 earthly AeonsDecad of Intelligence1st generationDefine the potential of spiritDodecad of Matter2nd generationDefine the potential of material lifeMaleFemaleKey of AEON

DirectionsThe shaded backgrounds on each card derive from the angles in the following diagram. These ‘directions’ can be read as an additional layer of meaning.

The Primary AEONS

In the beginning, there was an ‘ineable’ or unknowable father who existed in a divine plane called The Pleroma. The MONAD is the name given to this rst Aeon, or rather the father of all Aeons. The Monad is derived from the Greek μόνος, meaning only, solo, alone. ‘The Monad’ is male and is surrounded by silence (σῑγή), nothingness, which is female. “He dwells alone in silence, and silence is tranquility since, after all, he was a Monad and no one was before him. He dwells in the Dyad and in the Pair, and his Pair is Silence.” A Valentinian Exposition. Nag Hammadi library, transl. by John D. Turner.μόνοςMONADThe OneAll the sources of power and creation in the universe. Unknown and unknowable, but nonetheless real. Wholeness. Oneness. Everything coming together. Perfect power. Energizing and bringing to life. Light. Brightness. Positivity. Fortune. In reverse: Darkness. Nothingness. Silence. Emptiness. Chaos. Unseen and unaware of.

The ‘unknowable father’ and the ‘silence’ around him gave birth to the rst syzygy; the pair of NOUS (νόος) which means ‘mind’ and is masculine and Aletheia (ἀληθής) which means ‘truth’ and is feminine. Nous is represented by an inward-facing triangle.In ancient times there were 5 specic aspects of Nous. Pronoia (πρόνοιᾰ): Your instincts and intuitions. Automatic responses to things, gut feelings or sixth senses. Epinoia (ἐπῐ́νοιᾰ): Imagination. The ability to invent and come up with new ideas. ‘Upon thought’ and ‘with consideration’. Parania (πᾰρᾰ́νοιᾰ): The absence of thinking. Losing your mind, madness, insanity. Noesis (νόησῐς): Intellect, reason, rationality, concrete and logic-based thought. Neoma (νοέω): Mindfulness, to perceive and to understand. “There where is the nous, lies the treasure.” Then I said to him: “Lord, when someone meets you in a Moment of Vision, is it through the soul [psychē] that they see, or is it through the spirit [pneuma]?” The Teacher answered: “It is neither through the soul nor the spirit, but the Nous between the two which sees the vision . . .”The Gospel of Mary, p. 10νόοςNOUSMindInside you. Within. Your mind. Your ‘self ’. Your emotions and feelings. What is in your head. Your thoughts. Your passions. Your emotions. Your intuition. Your instincts and your ideas. Everything you are conscious and unconscious of. In reverse: Forgetfulness or the loss of mind. Most likely, not listening to your own needs or what your ‘self ’/‘soul’ is telling you. At worst, insanity.

ALETHEIA (ἀληθής) Truth does not have the absolute sense that we typically associate it with today. The word is more accurately translated as ‘that which is no longer hidden’ or something that is ‘to be uncovered’. It is everything that is outside of ourselves, whether known or unknown, that which we seek or are curious about. Aletheia is represented by the upward- or outward-facing triangle. It represents everything we can conceive of ‘outside our being’ and is the partner of Nous which is everything we can conceive of ‘within our own mind’.“When he willed, the First Father revealed himself in him. Since, after all, because of him the revelation is available to the All, I for my part call the All ‘the desire of the All’. And he took such a thought concerning the All — I for my part call the thought ‘Monogenes’. For now God has brought Truth, the one who glories the Root of the All”.A Valentinian Exposition. Nag Hammadi library, transl. by John D. Turner.ἀληθήςALETHEIATruthAll truths and our seeking of them. Curiosity. Breaking from what is known to what is still to be discovered. It is the promise of more to come. Something that will be revealed. Revelation. Potentiality. The truths within you and out in the world, waiting to be created or discovered. In this sense it refers to experimentation and breaking from convention. Our individual journey. What makes us distinctive.In reverse: Lies, deceit, falsehoods, and illusion. In some senses the avoidance of truth. Not striving. Not growing. Not pursuing anything new.

The Aeons of Nous and Aletheia, male and female, ‘all that is within’ and ‘all that is without’, found unity, togetherness, and the result of that union was the creation of the male Aeon of Logos (word) and the female Aeon of Zoe (life). All that we do and all that we say. PHRONESIS has no gender because it represents the union of this second pair of Aeons – Logos (m) and Zoe (f). In combination, these two represent all the material and practical aspects of life – the choices we make about how we spend our time and eort. The lifestyle we choose and the priorities we set for ourselves. Phronesis also represents the knowledge we learn from our own direct experiences in the world and the knowledge we receive from others. The symbol of the pentagon is born of the pentagram to represent the 5 elements of Earth, Fire, Air, Water, and Aether. The many sides represent the dierent choices and options we have, the inherent complexity of things to be considered and the dierent perspectives required to achieve true understanding.φρόνησῐςPHRONESISPractical WisdomEverything practical. Your life’s work.The tangible things you have and the tangible things you do. This is your work, your family life in a material sense. What you are good at. What you know. What you’ve invested time in. What you are working for (purpose).There are many facets to this, and this complexity demands you keep your feet planted rmly on the ground. There may also be partnerships and collaborations and dierent interests in play. It’s not easy. Find balance. Stay within boundaries. Be fair. Contemplate risk and reward.In reverse: Ignorance. Lack of understanding. Not thinking. Not experienced. Naivety. Foolishness. Inevitable calamity.

We are now in the realm of the physical and material world. Once we have ‘life’ and the possibility of a ‘lifestyle’ that we can choose, we have the potential for true existence. The rst Aeon of this material world is ANTHROPOS (ἄνθρωπος), which means ‘mankind’ or ‘humanity’. The physical, material body that our psyche and spirit inhabits. Anthropos represents everything to do with the natures of mankind. Although, male in gender, it has a strong feminine anima.The Gnostics believed in three states for mankind. The ‘Hylics’ (derived from the word ῡ́λη, meaning matter, or firewood!) are carnal, materialistic, hopeless. An empty shell of mankind. Like animals, this mode of being does not extend beyond primal or basic instincts and responses. The second mode of being are ‘Psychics’ (derived from ψυχή meaning psyche). This refers to people who live mainly in their minds, focused on intellectual and perceptual reality. The ‘psychics’ only ever understand what they directly experience and perceive. Finally, the ‘Pneumatics’ (derived from the word πνευμᾰτῐκός meaning spiritual). This mode of being is only available to those who are able to ‘know’ and ‘understand’ the divine.Anthropos is signified by an oval, representing a shield or a lens. The protective shield is about knowing what matters and what is valuable. The symbol of the lens reminds us to focus our energies towards a singular, narrow point, rather than dispersing our energies widely. ἄνθρωποςANTHROPOSMankindThe intentions, decisions and choices we make. Our prioritization of what is important and how to achieve it. Our ideals of what we hold dear and value. Morality, character, will, and aspiration. Our ability, with persistence and perseverance, to make things happen. Our goals and aims. Our own particular definition of happiness. Our ability to manifest our own destiny.In reverse: Mankind’s imperfection. Error. Failing. Missing the mark. Bad choices. Bad decisions.

The nal material Aeon is ECCLESIA (ἐκκλησῐ́ᾱ), which means ‘assembly’, ‘congregation’, or ‘gathering’. The sister of Anthropos, Ecclesia reminds us that our fortunes and destinies are interrelated. Our survival, and our existence, is unsustainable when we are isolated and alone. We ultimately need to be united with others, our lovers, collaborators, families, tribes, community: the other living beings in our world. As such Ecclesia represents all the groups we exist within.Ecclesia is represented by a square. It symbolizes the ag, an emblem or identity that tribes, countries and groups gather around; it represents a public square, a piece of common ground, where a community might mingle, observe or interact; it represents a physical building, a church, a community center, a home for a family.Ecclesia brings a sense of togetherness and the human capacity for empathy. It has the dual meaning of ‘oversight’ and ‘caring’ as well as needing to be part of something bigger than ourselves. No matter our dierences, we all share a place in nature, the world, the universe. ἐκκλησῐ́ᾱ ECCLESIACongregationTogetherness. Assembly. In this sense, society, community and family. Consider the interests and needs of others. Caring, generosity, empathy, and charity. Our destinies are shared. Interdependent. Part of something bigger than ourselves. Our strength and understanding comes when we stick together, share wisdom, and align eorts.In reverse: Selshness. Self-interest. Arrogance and ego. Not appreciating or caring about others. Isolation.

The Decad Of IntelligenceThe Potential Of Spirit

“The Decad from Word and Life, and the Dodecad from Man, and Church became a Triacontad. Moreover, it is the one from the Triacontad of the Aeons who bear fruit from the Triacontrad. They enter jointly, but they come forth singly, eeing from the Aeons and the Uncontainable Ones.”A Valentinian Exposition. Nag Hammadi library, transl. by John D. Turner.

Aeons & Gender The original texts describing the Aeons refer to male, female and null genders, which in most instances match the grammatical gender of the noun in ancient Greek. The Gnostics considered all ‘forced binaries’ such as male/female; good/bad; right/wrong to be limitations of the ma-terial reality that was created by the Demiurge. As such, these conventions of material being had to be resisted in order to nd liberation and truth. The ‘divine spark’ within each of us also demands that for true enlightenment of spirit we must explore and discover both our divine masculine and divine feminine sides as described in these variously gendered Aeons. The best way to think of the ‘genders’ is as active and reactive energies that pulls the Aeons into pairs. Each pair is called a ‘Syzygy’ which means to be ‘yoked together’ or inseparably bound. When united they create a wholeness of being. A completeness and balance. Aeons with a null gender (seen later in the Aeon deck) are considered closer to ineable being, the ultimate divinity, and as such are able to exist in har-mony without pairing. They are also able to self-propagate.

Genders Of DecadMALEBythosAgeratosAutophyesAcinetosMonogenesFEMALEMixisHenosisHedoneSyncrasisMacaria

βᾰθῠ́ς BYTHOSDepthProfound and meaningful. Serious and important.Depth of knowledge and wisdom.A full appreciation of complexity. An ability to see the whole picture. An authority and an expert. In reverse: Superciality. Shallowness. Frivolous. Not serious. Not important. Disposable.

μίγνυμιMIXISStir-upShake up. Agitate. To energize. To get to the point.To become acquainted and get to know. To join each other. To come together as one. Union, especially of the sexes. Unite in common cause. In reverse: To get into a ght. To enter a battle. To go head to head with. Conict.

αγέραστοςAGERATOSEternalConsistency. Ever-present. Stick with what you know. Stay on course. Be unwavering. A consistent and universal truth. Something true in the past and true for the future. Something that will withstand the tests of time. In that sense also ageless. Youthful and energized. In reverse: Ephemeral. Fleeting. Short lived. Volatile. Transient. Perishable and in that sense mortal.

ἕνωσιςHENOSISUnionA coming together of bodies.Union. Unity. As one. Marriage. Partnership. Orgasm or climax. Transcendence beyond intellect. At one with reality, spirituality, and the universe. Peace. Harmony. Balance. In reverse: Disagreements and battles. Hate.

αὐτός-ποιέωAUTOPHYESSelf-madeKnowing yourself and your dierence to others. Self-condence. Being able to present yourself condently to others. Pull yourself together and get your life in order. Self-organized and motivated.In reverse: Fear, self-doubt, and self-loathing.

ἡδονήHEDONEPleasureThe devotion to pleasure and enjoyment. Not self-pleasure, for that is Macaria. This is nding and sharing of pleasures with others. A belief that pleasure, especially shared pleasures, are the highest good. In reverse: Pain and sadness.

a-κῑνητῐκόςACINETOSImmovableSolid. Still. Static. Resilience.Unmoved. Immovable. Strong. Dependable. Do not shift your focus or vary from your path. The power of single-minded focus. Determination. Dedication. In reverse: Weakness. Flaccidity. Lacking power or energy.

συγκρητισμόςSYNCRASISIntercourseThe joining together of dierent elements. A federation or alliance. A pairing. Blending. Fusing together. It can mean sex but also a complementary partner. Agreeable. A good t. The start of something mutually benecial and productive. In reverse: Ill-tting. Unmatched. Repellent. Antagonistic forces.

μονογενής MONOGENESOriginalityMonogenes means born of yourself or ‘one of a kind’. Uniqueness. Born of Nous, this means thinking originally. Doing the things that only you can do or in a way that only you can do them.In reverse: Jealousy or envy of other people.

μᾰκᾰρῐ́ᾱMACARIAHappinessMeaning ‘she who is blessed’. Focus on the thing that uniquely makes you happy. Knowing what brings you joy. In reverse: Grief or loss.

The Dodecad Of MatterThe Potential Of Material Life

MALEParacletusPatricosMetricosAinosEcclesiasticusTheletusFEMALEPistisElpisAgapeSynesisMacariotesSophiaGender Of Dodecad

παράκλητοςPARACLETUSHelperTo come to the aid of others. To advocate for their needs and to give encouragement. To have empathy and compassion. To give comfort and service the needs of others. To soothe things. This can also mean to mediate between dierent interests. To get or give help. Seless action. In reverse: Obstruction. Diculties. Hurdles to overcome. Troublemakers or trouble being made.

πῐ́στῐςPISTISFaithTrust in something without knowing. A belief in forces and energies that are not fully understood. A willingness to accept things that are unknown to you. A faith in Gods, others, fate, karma, good will. A belief that there is good in the world. Things will work out. In some instances, this means generosity of spirit. To have good intentions. Serving a greater good.In reverse: Doubt and uncertainty. Hesitation and fear. Indecision and procrastination.

πᾰτήρPATRICOSFatherAn authority gure. Respected and demanding of respect. The creator or author of something. Strength and a father’s protection of his possessions and family. Heroism. Defending a worthy or valuable cause. The setter of boundaries. Establish parameters within which you must work. In reverse: Stauros (σταυρός), the cross. A crucix. A sacrice. Something given up.

ἐλπῐ́ςELPISHopeHope. Optimism. An inner sense of the good that could reveal itself. A future that is anticipated inwardly, but not yet manifest outwardly. An outcome that is anticipated. The persistent pursuit of joy, personal knowledge,and positive outcomes.In reverse: Despair. To be without hope. Hopelessness. To give up on something.

μήτηρMETRICOSMotherThe source or origin. The womb, a place of growth and development. The producer, the miracle of giving new life to something. This is the commitment and dedication to creating something new or sticking with your ideals. It is also the caring and nurturing of a mother. Her way of protecting. Knowing she will ultimately have to let go and give her child freedom. In reverse: Abandonment. Rejection. Abort. Giving up. Ugliness, horror, something repulsive.

ᾰ̓γᾰ́πηAGAPELoveThe feeling of love, desire, and aection. To hold something in esteem, admiration, and wonder. A spiritual and emotional connection with another (or others). Romantic and sexual love. A strong animus of masculine drive and passion, erotic love — ‘Eros’. An inner desire or want. In reverse: Desire in the meaningless sense. Lusting after physical and material things. Empty love. Gluttony, Fornication.

αἰνέωAINOSPraiseTo celebrate. To hold in high regard.To speak well of. To approve of.To commit and promise to deliver. A promise kept. A vow delivered on. A prediction comes true. In some instances, an idea or ideal made real. In reverse: Lack of fulllment. Incompleteness. Dissatisfaction. Left wanting.

σῠ́νεσῐςSYNESISUnderstandingComing together of minds (not bodies).Understanding each other. Appreciating and accepting. To navigate complexity. In this sense, intelligence, deduction, and mental agility. Quickness to solution and resolution. Judging well. Sharpness.In reverse: Crudeness. Brutality. Vulgarity. Bewilderment. Insensitivity.

ἐκκλησιαστήςECCLESIASTICUSSon of the ChurchThe son of the church. A preacher. One who shows others the way forward by example. Showing others unseen potential and opportunity. A pioneer. Active support of an idea or vision.A messenger. A teacher. A champion. A supporter.In reverse: An enemy or adversary. A traitor or an assassin.

μακαριότηταMACARIOTESUtopiaPerfect beauty and perfect bliss. Nirvana. Perfect happiness. A destination to seek. A thing to be sought or aimed for. In some ways, heaven. Freedom from evil and sin. An escape.In reverse: Imprisonment, connement, or punishment. The darkness of a cage with no light.

ἐθέλωTHELETUSTo PerfectDerived from a word to want or to will. To seek and nd improvements, solutions, alternatives. Betterment. To make perfect (or as perfect as possible).The power to design or will things as you want them. In reverse: Deciency, incompleteness, and imperfection.

σοφῐ́ᾱSOPHIAWisdomKnowledge of things. Love of things practical and real. Skilled at crafts or a job. Something you are good at doing.Good judgment. Sound decision-making and logic. In reverse: Nakedness. Without knowledge you are exposed. Naïve and vulnerable.

The Treasury Of LightThe Union Of Six Divine Pairs

MALESoterFEMALEEpinoiaElpisAgapeNULLAbraxasPneumaGenders Of Treasury

σῴζωSOTERSaviorLiterally the person who can take you from one place to another. They will save you or bring you to safety. Relief from your current discomfort, ignorance, and suering. In another sense, achieving your full potential. Resurrection. Redemption. Another chance as long as you deserve it. In reverse: Damnation. Leaving you where you are. Leaving you ignorant. Eternal suering.

ἀβρασάξABRAXASMagicThis is the supernatural power to transform. A person with control or abilities to manipulate divine forces. A magician. The power to manifest surprising and unexpected things. This is not magic in the sense of illusion or deception but a rare and valuable power to produce remarkable outcomes. Not always understood or explainable. Transformation without apparent or recognizable cause. Serendipity. Signicance. To be enchanted or under the inuence of unknown forces. To be Spellbound.In reverse: Inertia. Stasis. Waiting. Stagnation. No change. Insuerable sameness.

πνεῦμαPNEUMASpirit WithinOur inner-self to be discovered and developed. The soul. The very core of our being. The source of our inspirations. A power so strong that it transcends the physical body. It is what fuels our visions and aspirations. Our full potential, to be realized. Our ability to fulll this potential and gain recognition, by others and our God(s). In reverse: Audacity or arrogance. The ego. Self-importance. Boldness, rashness, and recklessness.

ἐπῐ́νοιᾰEPINOIACreationCreative thought. A creative energy. Imagination and inventiveness. To create something from within you that only you can create. Only you can see. Only you can give birth to. Artistic endeavor. A passion of the heart. That which is within you, brought forth. In reverse: Self-destruction. Self-annihilation. Destroying the good that is around you that you can’t see. Self-harming. Self-defeat.

The Realm Of DarknessThe Union Of Six Mundane Pairs

MALEGrigoriDemiurgePatricosMetricosFEMALEIEOUNebruelGenders Of Darkness

ἐγρήγοροςGRIGORIThe WatcherBe aware. Alert. Keep an eye on others.Ask questions and listen to answers. Be aware of the thoughts and feelings of those around you. You may need to persuade others or get them to change their minds. Direct conict may not be the right approach. Change the environment or context so that they think they want to do what you want them to do. In reverse: Wake up and get real. Open your eyes. You have a blindness to what’s really going on around you.

ἰάωIEOUJusticeThe lord of the light. Where evaluations and judgments are given. A decision or a resolution agreed. Overcoming a social conict or disagreement. Finding balance, harmony, or fairness. Compromises to move forward. Give and take.In reverse: Injustice. Unfairness and oppression. Domination and abuse.

δημῐουργόςDEMIURGEThe Maker ‘Demiurge’ literally means someone who works for the people. A practical person. A practitioner, not a philosopher. Stop thinking and start doing. It will not be perfect, but it will be real. Never stop questioning how it can be better. Not just in your eyes but also through the eyes of others. In this imperfect world, the contribution of those who have dierent opinions to your own are the most valuable.In reverse: Delusion. Either someone is misleading you or you are misleading yourself.

νεβρόςNEBRUELThe Creator of ChaosThe partner of the Demiurge.An idiot. From whom chaos is born. Ugly, loud, brash, ignorant. Unthinking.A rebel. Anarchy. No control or order. In reverse: Surrender. Embrace chaos. Detached from control or order. Remain open-minded. Suspend judgement.

Method1. Recipient shue cards.2. Recipient splits deck into three.3. Re-assemble as single stack, face down.4. Taking from the top, place in spread.5. Reect on meaning.

1 Card Spread1. Hylic —In material terms.2. Psyche—In psychological terms.3. Pneuma—In spiritual terms.

1. What you must give.2. The central issue.3. What you may receive.3 Card Spread213

4 Card Spread1234Allow the cards to dene the subject.1. The subject.2. Look inside yourself.3. How you must behave.4. The outcome.

6 Card SpreadA specic problem or issue.1. The subject.2. The energy (in play).3. The will (to be asserted).4. The truth (to be discovered).5. The unexpected (to be overcome).6. What will be.2 314 56

“All the emanations from the Father, therefore, are Pleromas, and all his emanations have their roots in the one who caused them all to grow from himself . . . They, then, became manifest individually in order that they might be in their own thought, for that place to which they extend their thoughts is their root, which lifts them upward through all heights to the Father. But, they, indeed, are the truth, and the Father is in them, and they are in the Father, since they are perfect, inseparable from him who is truly good. They lack nothing in any way, but they are given rest and are refreshed by the Spirit . . . And they listen to their root; they have leisure for themselves, they in whom he will nd his root, and he will suer no loss to his soul.”Gospel of Truth. Nag Hammadi library.

9 780578 5526755 6 0 0 0 >ISBN 978-0-578-55267-5$60.00