View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by DigitalCommons@Florida International University Florida International University FIU Digital Commons FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations University Graduate School 11-13-2014 Gnosticism, Transformation, and the Role of the Feminine in the Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.) Ellen P. Randolph Florida International University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd Part of the Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons, History of Religions of Western Origin Commons, Liturgy and Worship Commons, New Religious Movements Commons, Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion Commons, and the Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Randolph, Ellen P., "Gnosticism, Transformation, and the Role of the Feminine in the Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.)" (2014). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1686. http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1686 This work is brought to you for free and open access by the University Graduate School at FIU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of FIU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY Miami, Florida GNOSTICISM, TRANSFORMATION, AND THE ROLE OF THE FEMININE IN THE GNOSTIC MASS OF THE ECCLESIA GNOSTICA CATHOLICA (E.G.C.) A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in RELIGIOUS STUDIES by Ellen P. Randolph 2014 To: Interim Dean Michael R. Heithaus College of Arts and Sciences This thesis, written by Ellen P. Randolph, and entitled Gnosticism, Transformation, and the Role of the Feminine in the Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.), having been approved in respect to style and intellectual content, is referred to you for judgment. We have read this thesis and recommend that it be approved. _________________________________________ Whitney Bauman _________________________________________ Lesley A. Northup _________________________________________ Christine E. Gudorf, Major Professor Date of Defense: November 13, 2014 The thesis of Ellen P. Randolph is approved. ________________________________________ Interim Dean Michael R. Heithaus College of Arts and Sciences ________________________________________ Dean Lakshmi Reddi University Graduate School Florida International University, 2014 ii DEDICATION To Thoth. I also dedicate this thesis to my family and friends. Thank you for your patience and encouragement. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank my committee for their interest and commitment to this thesis, especially Dr. Christine Gudorf, whose expertise and confidence sustained me while completing this thesis. For their contributions to methodology, interpretation, or orientation in this thesis, I would also like to thank Dr. Whitney Bauman, Dr. Lesley A. Northup, Dr. Oren Baruch Stier, Dr. Albert Wuaku, Dr. Steven Vose and Professor Daniel Alvarez. I also wish to thank the Department of Religious Studies at Florida International University for support during the graduate program, especially Dr. Erik Larson, Luz Aviles and Yusimi Sayus. With sincere appreciation, I would like to thank the two local bishops for sponsoring my research at the local lodge. They were exceedingly generous with their time, experience, contacts and books, making it not only possible for me to attempt this thesis, but also inspiring me to explore the Gnostic Mass deeply. They maintained an elegant poise throughout the research, allowing the essence of the Mass to express itself though my own experience. Any errors or misjudgments are my own, which I cherish all the more for being a true measure of my limited understanding. Thank you also to the nonlocal bishop who clarified several key ideas and, at least twice, surprised me into a new viewpoint. I would also like to thank the members of the local lodge who kindly welcomed me and spent hours with me discussing the Mass. It is a brave and noble thing to be willing to share your magical, ritualistic and spiritual experience with others, especially when you may not be able to control the presentation. I especially thank the Priestess and the Priest who did this not once, but twice! Thank you also to the other local iv members, the visiting members and visiting congregants who allowed me to participate in the Mass with them. Finally, to wise friends who listened to ideas, made suggestions and pointed me towards additional sources, I offer my enduring appreciation. v ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS GNOSTICISM, TRANSFORMATION, AND THE ROLE OF THE FEMININE IN THE GNOSTIC MASS OF THE ECCLESIA GNOSTICA CATHOLICA (E.G.C.) by Ellen P. Randolph Florida International University, 2014 Miami, Florida Professor Christine E. Gudorf, Major Professor The Gnostic Mass of the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.) suggests a heterosexual gender binary in which the female Priestess seated on the altar as the sexual and fertile image of the divine feminine is directed by the male Priest’s activity, desire and speech. The apparent contradiction between the empowered individual and the polarized gender role was examined by comparing the ritual symbolism of the feminine with the interpretations of four Priestesses and three Priests (three pairs plus one). Findings suggest that the Priestess’ role in the Gnostic Mass is associated with channeling, receptivity, womb, cup, and fertility, while the Priest’s role is associated with enthusiasm, activity, phallus, lance, and virility. Despite this strong gender duality, the Priestesses asserted that their role was personally and spiritually empowering, and they maintained heterosexual and polarized gendered roles are necessary in a transformative ritual which ultimately reveals the godlike unified individual. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1 The Gnostic Mass: Origins and History.................................................................. 2 The Gnostic Mass: Temple Layout and Mass Officers ........................................ 11 The Gnostic Mass: An Interpretation of the Ritual ............................................... 17 The Work of the Priestess: West and East ............................................................ 19 Behind the Veil: Mystery of Mystery ................................................................... 21 Every Man and Every Woman Is A Star .............................................................. 27 Gnosticism and Enthusiasm in the Gnostic Mass ................................................. 33 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ...........................................................................................45 The Scarlet Woman, the Queer Mass and Formulae ............................................ 45 Sex Magic, Transformation, and the Role of Women .......................................... 49 Scarlet Women: Birthing the New Aeon .............................................................. 56 The Priestesses of the Agapé Lodge: Defining the Role ...................................... 61 Modern E.G.C. Priestesses: Voices of Experience ............................................... 66 Feminist Thelema and Invisible Women .............................................................. 77 Previous Fieldwork: Gender and the Gnostic Mass .............................................. 85 Participant Observation and Performance ............................................................ 97 III. RESEARCH .............................................................................................................108 Ritual Space, Mass Teams and Congregants ...................................................... 109 Experiencing the Gnostic Mass for the First Time ............................................. 115 The Priestess’ Role in the Gnostic Mass ............................................................. 121 What Energy Does the Priestess Experience? .................................................... 126 Identifying the Goddess: Two Priests’ Experiences ........................................... 129 Representing the Feminine: Fertility and Blood ................................................. 131 Representing the Feminine: Image and Devotion ............................................... 135 Representing the Feminine: Feminism and Empowerment ................................ 142 Gender, Sexuality and Polarity in the Gnostic Mass .......................................... 147 The Gnostic Mass as a Transformative Performance ......................................... 153 IV. DISCUSSION ..........................................................................................................160 Solving the Mystery: Myself as Participant ........................................................ 160 Patterns in the Local Lodge: Channeling, Enthusiasm and Energy .................... 166 Gender and the Role of the Feminine: Fieldwork Comparisons ......................... 173 Gendered Image and the Sacred Gaze ................................................................ 177 Feminism and the Gendered Spectator ............................................................... 183 Gendered Performance and Individual Power ...................................................