# PISTIS SOPHIA ## CHAPTER VII ### The Vesture of Light and the Souls from the Height [Deep Baritone Narration, solemn, slow, vast cathedral reverb] And it came to pass when the sun rose in the east that the **First Mystery**, which hath existed from the Beginning, stirred within its hidden order. From that Mystery the universe itself arose. From that Mystery came the command by which the worlds were established. And from that Mystery had I also come forth. Not as I came before my crucifixion. But now. [Low Dark Drone Begins] For the appointed hour had arrived. And by command of the First Mystery, that which had remained concealed since the Beginning was sent unto me. My **Vesture of Light**. --- ## THE VESTURE OF LIGHT [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, calm, immense authority] > “The First Mystery commanded that my Vesture should be sent unto me.” It was the Vesture given unto me from the Beginning. The Vesture I had left within the Last Mystery. Within the **Twenty-Fourth Mystery**, which standeth from within without, among the orders of the second space of the First Mystery. [Drone Deepens] There had it remained. Untouched. Awaiting the completion of the appointed time. For I had left it within that hidden region until the hour should come when I might clothe myself in it once more. And when that hour arrived, I would begin to speak openly unto the race of men. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, slower] > “I would reveal unto them all things.” From the **Beginning of the Truth** unto its Completion. From the **Interiors of the Interiors** unto the **Exteriors of the Exteriors**. And from the Exteriors of the Exteriors back again unto the Interiors of the Interiors. [Low Wordless Choir: distant “Oooh…”] For Truth moveth both inward and outward. It descendeth through layer after layer. It passeth through veils. Through regions. Through powers. Through worlds whose measures are not known unto men. And when it returneth inward, it entereth again into chambers hidden even from those who dwell among the stars. [Subtle Cosmic Drone] There are depths within the heavens which no mortal astronomy hath charted. There are corridors behind the visible firmament where distance hath another meaning. And there are regions so ancient that the stars themselves are but recent fires before them. Yet through all these did the Mystery extend. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, solemn] > “Rejoice therefore. > > Rejoice and exult yet more greatly. > > For unto you hath it been given that I should speak first of these things.” And the disciples listened. For they knew now that what had been called Heaven was but the outer wall of something immeasurably greater. --- ## THE TWELVE POWERS [Deep Baritone Narration] Then Jesus revealed unto them a mystery concerning their own souls. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, intimate, solemn] > “For this cause did I choose you from the Beginning through the First Mystery.” [Pause] > “When I descended toward the world, I brought with me twelve Powers.” These Powers I received from the **Twelve Saviours of the Treasury of Light**. Each according to the command of the First Mystery. And when I entered into the world of mankind, I placed those Powers within the wombs of your mothers. [Drone Pulses Slowly] Those Powers dwell within you even now. They were given unto you before the foundations of the world. For ye were chosen to withstand that which would come against you. The threats of the rulers. The sufferings of the world. The dangers of the world. The persecutions of those Powers who govern the Height. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, deeper] > “For the Powers within you are not born of this world.” [Pause] > “They came from the Treasury of Light.” And because of this I said unto you from the Beginning: > “Ye are not of the world.” Neither am I of it. --- ## THE SOULS OF MEN [Dark Drone Widens] For the souls of ordinary men arise beneath the authority of the **Rulers of the Aeons**. Their souls pass through the machinery of the spheres. Through powers. Through authorities. Through ancient dominions established before mankind knew to look upward. [Deep Baritone Narration] But the disciples were different. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, calm, grave] > “The Power which dwelleth within you came from me.” > “Your souls belong unto the Height.” [Low Wordless Choir: “Ahhh…”] The Twelve Powers had been taken from the Twelve Saviours of the Treasury of Light. And they had been drawn from that portion of Power which I myself had first received. Thus within the disciples there dwelt something alien to the ordinary order of the world. Not alien through corruption. But alien through origin. A fragment of a higher country imprisoned temporarily within flesh. A memory of realms the body had never seen. [Whispered] A Light remembering where it came from. --- [Drone Becomes Stranger, distant metallic resonance] [Drone Becomes Stranger, distant metallic resonance] AMONG THE RULERS OF THE SPHERE [Drone Becomes Stranger, distant metallic resonance] Then Jesus said: [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, measured, ominous] “When I descended into the world, I entered into the midst of the Rulers of the Sphere.” And I concealed myself from them. I took upon myself the appearance of Gabriel, the Angel of the Aeons. The Rulers saw me. Yet they knew me not. [Pause] They believed I was Gabriel. And thus I passed among them unseen in my true nature. [Deep Baritone Narration, ominous] For even the Powers who govern the spheres perceive only according to the limits of their order. And there are things which move among them unseen. Things which pass through their dominions clothed in forms they understand. While beneath that familiar appearance dwelleth something from regions beyond their authority. [Low Drone] So did I pass among the Aeons. And they knew not who walked among them. JOHN THE BAPTIZER THE POWER OF THE LITTLE IAŌ [Deep Baritone Narration] Then Jesus revealed another mystery. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, calm, revelatory] “When I had entered into the midst of the Rulers of the Aeons, I looked downward upon the world of mankind according to the command of the First Mystery.” And I beheld Elizabeth, who would become the mother of John the Baptizer. She had not yet conceived him. And I placed within her a Power which I had received from the Little Iaō, the Good, who dwelleth in the Midst. [Soft Low Choir: “Oooh…”] This Power was given that John might go before me. That he might proclaim my coming. That he might prepare the Way. And that he might baptize with the water of forgiveness. Thus the Power of the Little Iaō entered into the body which would become John. But another mystery remained. THE SOUL OF ELIAS [Drone Darkens] For according to the ordinary order, John should have received a soul belonging to one of the rulers. But this was not permitted. [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, deliberate] “Instead I sought the soul of the prophet Elias.” And I found him among the Aeons of the Sphere. I took his soul from that region. And I carried it unto the Virgin of Light. [Wordless Choir: very distant “Ahhh…”] She received it. And she delivered it unto her Receivers. And the Receivers carried the soul downward through the spheres of the Rulers. Through gates unseen by flesh. Through regions whose inhabitants know mankind only as shadows passing far beneath them. Until at last they brought it unto Elizabeth. And the soul of Elias was placed within her womb. Thus two things were bound together within John the Baptizer: The Power of the Little Iaō, the Good. And the soul of Elias the Prophet. Power and soul. Mission and memory. The herald from the Height and the prophet returned. [Pause] And together they became John. ELIAS HATH ALREADY COME [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, calm, teaching] “For this cause ye were confused when I said unto you that John had declared: ‘I am not the Christ.’” For ye remembered the scripture which saith that Elias must first come and prepare the way before the Christ. And ye questioned me concerning it. [Deep Baritone Narration] Then I told you: [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, firm, restrained] “Elias hath indeed come.” “He hath prepared all things according to what was written.” “And they have done unto him whatsoever they desired.” Yet ye did not understand. For I was not speaking merely of the body called John. I was speaking of the soul hidden within him. [Drone Nearly Silent] The ancient soul. The soul drawn from the Aeons. The soul of Elias. And because ye had not understood, I spoke openly unto you and said: [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, slow, final] “If ye are able to receive it, John the Baptizer is Elias.” [Long Silence] [Low Cosmic Drone Returns] Thus the disciples began to perceive another law of the hidden worlds. That flesh revealeth little concerning what dwelleth within it. That a man may walk beneath the sun while carrying within himself a Power born beyond the spheres. That a soul may descend from ancient regions and wear another name. And that behind the lives of men there move orders, Powers, and Mysteries older than memory. [Deep Baritone Narration] The world they knew had become thinner. Behind it stood the Aeons. Behind the Aeons stood the Treasury of Light. Behind the Treasury were greater Mysteries still. And somewhere beyond all name and measure stood the First Mystery, from which the universe itself had once emerged. [Whispered] And which had never ceased to watch over what it had brought forth. [Dark Drone and Wordless “Oooh… Ahhh…” Fade into Silence] [Pause] And together they became John. ELIAS HATH ALREADY COME [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, calm, teaching] “For this cause ye were confused when I said unto you that John had declared: ‘I am not the Christ.’” For ye remembered the scripture which saith that Elias must first come and prepare the way before the Christ. And ye questioned me concerning it. [Deep Baritone Narration] Then I told you: [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, firm, restrained] “Elias hath indeed come.” “He hath prepared all things according to what was written.” “And they have done unto him whatsoever they desired.” Yet ye did not understand. For I was not speaking merely of the body called John. I was speaking of the soul hidden within him. [Drone Nearly Silent] The ancient soul. The soul drawn from the Aeons. The soul of Elias. And because ye had not understood, I spoke openly unto you and said: [Jesus, Male Deep Baritone, slow, final] “If ye are able to receive it, John the Baptizer is Elias.” [Long Silence] [Low Cosmic Drone Returns] Thus the disciples began to perceive another law of the hidden worlds. That flesh revealeth little concerning what dwelleth within it. That a man may walk beneath the sun while carrying within himself a Power born beyond the spheres. That a soul may descend from ancient regions and wear another name. And that behind the lives of men there move orders, Powers, and Mysteries older than memory. [Deep Baritone Narration] The world they knew had become thinner. Behind it stood the Aeons. Behind the Aeons stood the Treasury of Light. Behind the Treasury were greater Mysteries still. And somewhere beyond all name and measure stood the First Mystery, from which the universe itself had once emerged. [Whispered] And which had never ceased to watch over what it had brought forth. [Dark Drone and Wordless “Oooh… Ahhh…” Fade into Silence] [Pause] there move orders, Powers, and Mysteries older than memory. [Deep Baritone Narration] The world they knew had become thinner. Behind it stood the Aeons. Behind the Aeons stood the Treasury of Light. Behind the Treasury were greater Mysteries still. And somewhere beyond all name and measure stood the First Mystery, from which the universe itself had once emerged. [Whispered] And which had never ceased to watch over what it had brought forth. [Dark Drone and Wordless “Oooh… Ahhh…” Fade into Silence]
