Union with the Prophet – John the Baptist

In the Gospel of St. Mark we read: As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism for the repentance of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were coming out to him, and were baptized in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I baptize you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” (Gospel of St. Mark 1:2-8)

The Mystery of the Divine Incarnation was not isolate to Yeshua Messiah, according to Gnostic Tradition, but rather the Light-Presence was embodied through a Matrix of Great Souls, John the Baptist being significant among them. John was the Baal Shem, the Master of the Name, and head of the assembly of the prophets. The canonized Gospels make it clear that he was the reincarnation of the soul of Elijah, the embodiment of Ruach Ha-Elijah (Spirit of the Prophets).

In the oral tradition of Sophian Gnosticism John is the Tzaddik of the Messiah, which is to say that he was the principle Spiritual Teacher and Guide of Lord Yeshua and Yeshua was his disciple. Thus, the baptism in the river Jordan was an initiation of Yeshua into the Supreme Mystery, and the power of these two Great Souls invoked Ruach Ha-Messiah (Spirit of the Anointed).

This was the fulfillment of a promise made by Elijah to his disciple Elisha, just before Elijah ascended. He promised Elisha “twice the power of Elijah” if Elisha was able to witness his ascension. Just as John the Baptist was the reincarnation of the soul of Elijah, so was Yeshua the reincarnation of the soul of Elisha. Essentially, John the Baptist was the midwife of the Holy Spirit giving birth to Supernal or Christ Consciousness in Lord Yeshua.

We may speak of Lord Yeshua giving his life for the sake of the Light-Transmission, but in so doing he followed the way of his Tzaddik, who also sacrificed his life for the Christ Revelation. To honor the Self-realization embodied in Master Yeshua is to also honor his Holy Tzaddik, John the Baptist.

One cannot help but think of the Sufi master, Shams of Tabriz, and his great disciple who came to be known as Rumi, for the exchange between John and Yeshua was much the same, though unlike Shams, John had other disciples besides Yeshua. Yet, as in the case of Rumi, through whom we know Shams, we know John the Baptist through Lord Yeshua.

John the Baptist was a Great Master and represents the Partzuf of the Prophet. If one contemplates the image of him given in the Gospel of St. Mark, in truth, it is the image of a man filled with Divine Madness. Essentially, he is filled with Crazy Wisdom and is moved completely in life by the Spirit of God. He stands completely outside of the establishment of the world, and is completely apart from the Dominion of the Demiurgos and Archons (false god and rulers). In many respects he appears like a crazy street-person one might pass right by without giving a second thought, and yet he is a fully realized individual – a Great Spiritual Master. As the Tzaddik of the Messiah, it is this fellow who has the largest influence on the teachings of Master Yeshua. Thus, meditating on John the Baptist we gain deeper insight into the Enlightenment Teachings given by Lord Yeshua; hence deeper Gnosis of the Gospel of Truth.

There are relatively few who could take John the Baptist as their Heart Tzaddik, for very few could embody Crazy Wisdom in the way of John the Baptist. However, many Gnostic initiates practice Partzuf Meditation with John the Baptist to contact the Spirit of the Prophets, to gain deeper insight into the Gospel of Truth, secret knowledge of Divine Names, and for self-purification, among other things. Meditations of John the Baptist are often used before spiritual retreats or when a radical change in consciousness and life are necessary. The following is one of the meditations that is most commonly used.

Union with the Prophet

Abide in Primordial Meditation, departing from the world to wait upon the Spirit of Yahweh. When the Holy Spirit moves you, perform the Kabbalistic Cross.

Envision the Cross of Light clearly in your body and imagine that your body is formed of Clear Light, as though made of clear quartz crystal.

Now envision the Divine Image of John the Baptist magically appearing before you, as though the Prophet steps out of the Light in front of you.

The Image: He wears a camel’s hair garment with a leather belt. His body shines with the glory of the Light and his eyes are as burning coals with a penetrating gaze. His hair is disheveled and there is fire in it, and there are subtle luminous outlines in the air about him, as though an endless field of countless angels. The entire image is formed of translucent light.

Meet the gaze of the Holy Tzaddik and open your mind and heart to the presence of the Prophet, and speaking names of the Prophets that come to mind, invoke the blessing of the Spirit of the Prophets and Grace from the Light-Continuum. Pray to the Spirit of God that you might be purified and consecrated to the Most High and empowered as a Light-bearer in the material world and beyond. Commune in the Holy Shekinah that comes with the Master of the Name and cleave in your soul to the Holy One of Being.

Then, envision a ray of light streaming out of the Heart Center of the Prophet and magically appearing as a second image of the Prophet above your head. Intoning Ma, imagine that water flows out of the image of the Prophet above your head, washing over you and down through the Clear Body, cleansing you of every taint or trace of ill-will, fear, anger or hate.

Then, intoning Yo, imagine fire invoked from the secret center of the earth beneath you, rushing up through your Clear Body, and imagine that all desire is purified, becoming one Holy Desire for the Beloved.

Then intone Ha and envision the image of the Prophet above your head dissolving into Fiery-Light and pouring down into you, your whole body becoming this Fiery Light-Presence, the dominion of ignorance being dispelled.

Abide in this First Union, listening and hearing the Spirit of the Prophets. When the mind and heart moves, take up the chant of the Holy Prophet: I-Ah-Oh Ru-Ach Ha-E-Li-Yah

Envision the Light of the Supernal Abode pouring through the Image of the Prophet before you and streaming out as blessings and grace upon you – yourself growing more and more radiant until, when you fall silent from the chant, there is a flash of white brilliance – imagine in this flash that you become Light in an ocean of Light. Abide in this Second Union as long as you can.

When the mind and heart move, intone the Divine Name Adonai, aware of yourself as the vehicle of the Divine Presence and Power, and let your mind and heart and life be joined in union with the vibration of the Name.

Then, give praise and thanksgiving to the Holy One of Being, and pray that the Holy One remains with us in the world until the fruition of the Second Coming. And pray that the Dominion of the Klippot might be shattered and the holy sparks uplifted; that all illness and dis-ease might be healed; and all living spirits and souls might receive Divine Illumination. Let the Light of the Cross be extended and perform the Kabbalistic Cross in closing.

Abide where you are for a little while, letting the energy ground, and when you go out into the world remember the Fiery Light-Presence that is in you – walk in holiness and beauty, as a sign of spiritual hope before the people. This is the essence of the practice.

Blessed is the Name of Ha Shem,

And blessed is the one who comes in the Name of Ha Shem;

We pray that this blessing comes upon you, and upon all beings! Amen.