Term: gnosticon

The Gnosticon gatherings were originally called "The Gnostic-Aquarian Festival of Astrology, Magic and Witchcraft," but the name changed at the suggestion of Isaac Bonewits who moved to St. Paul to serve as editor of Llewellyn’s house publication, Gnostica News, later to become Gnostica magazine. Both were named after Llewellyn’s metaphysical bookstore just off the Minneapolis downtown district, a block away from the large Bascilica Catholic cathedral. These festivals drew people from all over the United States, Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. They were the first of what later became psychic fairs and then conferences serving various interests of the larger New Age community around the world. Llewellyn discontinued the Gnosticons in 1976. With hundreds of similar festivals held yearly around the world, they were no longer necessary.

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