Bay Area Gnostic Center

The Bay Area Gnostic Center is a place where people can come to take spirituality into their own hands, and learn the techniques to gain spiritual experience and insight. The center runs courses and holds events centered around topics such as Gnosis, self-knowledge, astral projection, mantras, meditation, concentration, and most importantly, the techniques to bring about a spiritual transformation within.

In the fall of 2008, the Bay Area Gnostic Center moved from a small office-type building into its present location on Shattuck. Having run courses in smaller spaces for a number of years, the need was felt for a larger space that could be turned into the perfect place to practice. Renovations, lasting over a year, were carried out as a spiritual practice, to bring a sense of peace and stillness to the place. With a faint scent of incense, a certain stillness in the air, and many hours of meditative practice, the center's peaceful energy can be an 'island' amid the stresses of life.

The Bay Area Gnostic Center currently runs two classes, An Introduction to Gnosis and The Power of Gnostic Meditation. An Introduction to Gnosis introduces the concepts and theories of Gnosis, and provides practices to explore the topic further. Each week builds on the last, and by the end of the class one should have a general understanding of what the Gnostic teachings are and what it's possible to achieve with them. The Power of Gnostic Meditation introduces a new practice each week, to explore spiritual states and gain mystical experience. Anyone can attend any week of the Power of Gnostic Meditation, but we ask that those interested in the Intro to Gnosis course take it from the beginning if possible. Both courses involve a lecture about a particular topic, ranging from 10-30 minutes, a period for questions, a spiritual practice, and a chance to provide feedback.

The second Saturday of every month, we host A Day of Workshops and Practices (see our blog for some past examples). These workshops are a great way to get a taste of what Gnosis has to offer, and each one has a different theme, going in depth into one particular topic.

For those who have taken the courses a few times and are interested in exploring the practices in more depth, there is the Advanced Practice Group and the Teacher's Course.

The Gnostic Café and library are both open before and after classes, events, and workshops. Fresh, home-cooked meals and snacks are made available in the café, as well as tea, coffee, and juices. The café is the social hub of the center, where you can find engaging conversations and like-minded people. Teachers are available to answer any questions or clarify things that may be unclear. The library features Gnostic texts by both the ancient and modern Gnostic authors. The books in the library can provide perspective and a source for both inspiration and reflection. Additionally, along with the Introduction to Gnosis course there are recommended readings each week that can supplement the lectures and practices.

Click on the map below to locate the center on google maps. The Bay Area Gnostic Center is accessible by bus (line 18) and BART (just a 5 minute walk from the Ashby station), on the corner of Shattuck and Woolseley.

Meet the team who runs the San Francisco Bay Area Center, and read their stories.

Calendar of Events

About the Center

Read all about the exciting project underway to find and build our own permanent retreat in North America...