Knowing the difference between Unverified Personal Gnosis and Historical fact is very important in the teaching of Occult matters. It’s the difference between telling you the opinion of the man on the street about government and a Political Science student’s essay. Every man on the street has an opinion, and some of them are very well thought out, but the student is required by their educational establishment to provide sources and compartmentalise their own opinion from that of their sources. The man on the street still has a valid opinion. It might be well thought-out, but if you wanted to study such opinions, you will be here a long time. We have a country of 67 million opinions, and you could never be anywhere near understanding the diversity of different opinions with just a few studies. However, if you studied a few political philosophers and political scientists, then you could grasp the entire subject in just a few year’s study.
How is this relevant to UPG? Well, let’s explore that, shall we?
Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG) refers to spiritual insights or mystical experiences that arise from a person’s individual practice or inner experience, rather than from historical records or shared tradition. The term originated in reconstructionist Pagan circles to distinguish personal revelations from documented historical practices.
For example, my friend Circe found that Freya responded positively when she was offered strawberries. While there’s no historical evidence that strawberries were associated with Freya, Circe felt a strong connection through this offering. That’s UPG—it’s meaningful to her, even if it isn’t historically grounded.
One person’s UPG might be meaningful to other people, but it also could feel very wrong. Magic and its techniques empower the individual to discover their own UPG and really studying someone else’s will often be more of a hindrance than a help.
History, however, cannot be denied. There is probably evidence, including records of sacrifices, archaeological evidence from a Blot Temple where rituals were performed to Freya and, no matter what we choose to believe, this evidence won’t vanish.
In contrast, someone might offer beer to the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, a practice that aligns with depictions found in Egyptian art and is supported by historical context. But if someone felt that Sekhmet enjoyed Terry’s Chocolate Orange, that would be UPG. Chocolate didn’t exist in ancient Egypt, so such a detail wouldn’t be historically accurate—yet it might still be spiritually significant to the practitioner.
Related Terms
PCPG – Peer-Corroborated Personal Gnosis
PCPG occurs when a personal experience is shared and independently confirmed by others. Suppose I conclude in meditation that chanting Hekate’s name repeatedly fosters a connection with her. If I later speak with my friend Joan and she reports the same experience then what began as my own personal UPG becomes PCPG, Peer-Corroborated Personal Gnosis.
A word of warning here. When people get excited about their Occult experiences, they tend to ignore differences and often notice similarities which are not necessarily evident. So I might get excited about Joan fostering a connection with Hekate through chanting her name, while Joan might be actually talking about chanting Heka, an Egyptian word for magic. When Joan misses off the “-te” and mentions she was working with Isis at the time, I might jump to conclusions that it’s Hekate to corroborate my own UPG, but without much peer experience being involved. This is where you can end up with a lot of PCPG.
RCPG / VPG – Reality-Confirmed or Verified Personal Gnosis
Sometimes, a personal experience is supported not just by peers, but by tangible evidence. For example, if someone recalls a past life in a small town and later finds a grave matching the name, location, and historical details of their vision/dream, this might be considered RCPG. It’s still personal, but now backed by real-world evidence.
This could also be an understanding of a type of Qabalah or Merkabah experience which is backed up by the writing in Gikatilla’s Share orah which the practitioner might not have read before. Realising that this experience has long been part of the recorded history of this tradition.
The Role and Value of UPG
UPG helps individuals deepen their spiritual path. It’s real and valid to the person who experiences it. For example, Circe’s spiritual connection to Freya through strawberries is genuine for her—even if it lacks historical precedent.
Personally, I (Hadron) prioritise exploring VPG and historical records. These sources are finite and grounded in shared reality, while new UPG is created every day. Given limited time and energy, I choose to focus on what has a wider foundation or evidential support. Some UPG can feel like dreams—rich and important to the dreamer, but not always relevant to others. That doesn’t mean UPG isn’t valuable; it just requires context and discernment when shared.
UPG becomes more impactful when shared with others working with the same spirits or rituals. In these cases, collective experiences can turn UPG into PCPG, enriching group practice.
There is just too much of it. UPG is like an opinion, nearly everyone has at least a dozen. Trying to learn it all will not even break the ice.
Scrutiny and Belief
If we want our beliefs to be taken seriously, we must subject them to scrutiny, logic, and appropriate testing. However, if you’ve truly moved beyond ego, you might find contentment even in beliefs others dismiss as delusions. Being a “rambling mad mystic” isn’t inherently bad—what matters is sincerity and insight.
Perspectives on Reality
Consensus Reality
Consensus reality is what multiple people agree upon. For instance, one person might believe in ghosts, while another might not. Yet both can agree that people report ghost experiences. The ghost may not exist in both of their worldviews, but the experience of it might. This shared understanding is consensus reality.
Some religious views reject ghosts altogether. For example, many Christians believe souls go directly to heaven or hell, leaving no room for earth-bound spirits. They may interpret ghost sightings as demonic deceptions rather than spirits of the dead.
Objective Reality
Objective reality is the belief that there is a single, true reality, even if people perceive it differently. For instance, one person sees a ghost, another sees only an empty hallway. Objectively, the ghost either exists or it doesn’t—one person is right, and the other is mistaken or missing part of the picture.
Subjective Reality
Subjective reality suggests that we experience only our perceptions, not reality itself. Our senses filter and shape the world for us. Since we can’t step outside of our own perception, it’s impossible to verify a single, objective reality. Some philosophers argue that we should abandon the idea of objective reality entirely—though if we throw out reality, what’s left to contemplate?
More on this as I continue studying Buddhism. See also: Solipsism and Descartes’ “Cogito, ergo sum” (“I think, therefore I am”).