ARCHIVE #16 — Christ as Archetype, the Gnostic Imagination, and the Emergence of the Unividual with Tim Freke

What if Christ was never meant to be read as history—but as symbol, presence, and mythic code? In this episode, I’m joined by Tim Freke, English philosopher, prolific author, and lifelong student of the Christian Gnostics. With clarity and courage, Tim challenges conventional theological narratives, offering instead a vision of Jesus as archetype—a figure whose origins stretch back into the mystery cults of antiquity, and whose deeper purpose lies not in dogma, but in direct experience.

Together, we explore the esoteric strands of early Christianity, in which salvation was not offered through belief, but through gnosis: inner knowing. Tim invites us to see the Christ not as a man in time, but as a symbol of the eternal within—a living metaphor for transformation, consciousness, and divine remembrance.

We also speak about Tim’s own philosophical contribution: the concept of Unividualism. This neologism expresses the emerging synthesis of individuality and unity—a new phase of spiritual maturation wherein we retain our personal distinctiveness while awakening to our shared essence. In contrast to spiritual bypassing or ego dissolution, Unividualism honors the paradox: we are both separate and not separate. This idea opens fertile ground for the evolution of a Western-compatible mysticism, one that is both embodied and expansive.

Interwoven with our dialogue, I share the story of my own awakening through poetry—specifically T. S. Eliot’s Four Quartets. These poems, with their spirals of time, silence, and surrender, ignited something deep within me: not just an intellectual recognition, but an initiation. They became a sacred map through which language became illumination.

This conversation is at once radical and tender—a weaving of mysticism, myth, and modernity. It opens a space for those seeking a form of spiritual life that honors reason, embraces paradox, and calls us into greater aliveness.

This episode was originally released under the podcast title Sacred Wisdom, the precursor to The Cosmic Codex. It now resides within The Sacred Wisdom Archives.

Watch Tim's TED talk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hHzzS4y-8k

Tim's website
https://timfreke.com