Here's a post I made today on Fornication which is directly related to this idea of languaging and how things get lost in translation.


I've recently been getting into the Gnostic work of Samael Aun Weor which can be found on GnosticRadio.com. I am particularly impressed with the work Aun Weor's done with Kabbalah in interpreting obscure text such as John's Revelation. One area I've struggled with however is Samael's idiosyncratic views on fornication and adultry.

Ann Weor defines fornication as any kind of sex where orgasm is reached, be it between married or unmarried people. This is in contrast to Tantric sexual practices that focus on raising the Kundalini up the spine through sexual transmutation, which then allows the chakras/sephirot to be enlightened and Christ Consciousness to be reached.

I don't have a problem embracing the idea of tantric sex contributing to enlightenment but Ann Weor seems to almost demonize any other form of sexual expression that does not conform to this model. In fact, he blames the Fall on having sex as animals (since orgasm is attained). I find this view to be potentialy helpful in making sense of the so-called forbidden fruit and why biblicaly sexual relations are described as "knowing" each other, but from a practical sense I find this view lacking common sense (pardon the pun) and an acceptance of the therapuetic value of healthy sexual expression.

I decided to do some research on my own to see where this notion of fornication was conceaved (sorry more puns). Turns out that the Hebrew word for Fornication is Zanah which is spelled Zayin (Z), Nun (N), Hey (H) I found this odd since Zayin means woman of valor (see www.inner.org/HEBLETER/zayin.htm ), Nun means the Messiah ( www.inner.org/HEBLETER/nun.htm ) and Hey means Expression ( www.inner.org/HEBLETER/hei.htm ). In Greek Zanah is translated into Porneia.

Zanah has been said to translate as Harlot or one who acts Whoreingly. I found this interesting editorial piece www.angelfire.com/bc2/Bereans/MD/tw.html that makes the case for why this word Zanah is used by Jesus as opposed to the Hebrew word for Adultry, Naaph. T

he writer says "This is why: Porneia (fornication, harlotry, whoredom) strongly carries the connotation of a continuous way of life and character. Moicheia (adultery), on the other hand, connotes single acts, and does not necessarily carry the atmosphere of continuance or character. Distinguished, then, in this sense, Christ appears to be saying, by his choice of words, that single acts of unfaithfulness (moicheia), while a terrible abomination and possibly having terrible consequences for the rest of life that cannot be reversed, can be forgiven by the partner if there is true repentance and forsaking; but that fornication (porneia, harlotry, whoredom) as a fixed way of life makes continuation of a marriage impossible, however loving, Christlike and forgiving a partner may be."

My view is that Zanah is indicating a person who is having sex in an unconscious compulsive manner such as a sex addict. I come to this conclusion based on the Hebrew letters and their meanings. Zayin, a woman of valor is somehow bent over into an unconcious "fish", another symbol of Nun), seeking salvation (Hei is the letter added to Abram and Sarai's names once their convenent with God's brings a child they had painfully desired more than anything).

IMO sexual addiction like any other addiction is born out of the pain of a severed connection to one's spiritual source. I can see why this type of use of the sexual energies would be like throwing gasoline on the fire of that pain. The letter that follows Nun reinforces this notion as Nun progresses into Samech which means "endless cycle".

Ayin (which mean Eye) is the letter that comes next in which this cycle can be broken.

"One then experiences the Eyes of God lovingly watching over and guarding each one of his children Israel. This brings one to sense the existential separation of the holy from the profane, the righteous from the unrighteous, and to identify with the good. Finally one experiences the Infinite Eye of God directing every created being to its ultimate fulfillment of purpose in Creation, thereby bringing all Creation to realize its Divine Purpose. Here, one's awe itself is in the face of the revelation of God's Infinite Love for all ("all is right"). This is the secret of sweetening."