What is the difference between Gnosticism and Hermeticism?
Hermeticism typically seeks illumination through the understanding of Nature in all its forms, both visible and invisible; while Gnosticism is primarily concerned with the Divine and the process of liberation away from this world toward higher planes of existence. Hermeticism frequently involves practicing “magic” or “magick”. While similar, the practice of “theurgy”, which is often used by Gnostics, differs from “magic”. Hermeticism is often considered to be more “occult”, whereas Gnosticism is often classified more along the lines of mystical and esoteric.
