Thread by @Narreddine

Gnosticism and the Moustache 👨

Mandaeans, Yezidis, Yarsanis, Druze. The donning of a prominent Moustache among Religious Men, and not ordinary men in tribal fashion, is a part of esoteric symbolism and isn't coincidental. The Moustache is a religious statement in of itself.

The practice trails back to Manicheanism, Mani's Religion, hereticated by Zorastrians and Muslims as Zanadika. They were the Esoteric Gnostics of Persia, writing in Babylonian Aramaic. In Abbasid times, Zanadika practiced outward Islam, but kept their Esoteric beliefs.

The Zanadika were known to don prominent Moustaches in semblance to their Prophet Mani often depicted with one. Islamic Sharia had commanded احفو شواركم, Trim your Moustache, to separate Muslim Clerics from others(Persians/Syriacs). Salafis extreme Exoterics shaving it entirely.

Thus the antagonistic statement of proclaiming you did not Submit to Sharia and kept your old beliefs was the opposite, growing the Moustache out. The lips and esoteric truth concealed. Where in the Exoteric the Foundation(Chin) is concealed, but Lips/Sharia revealed.

As all gnostic religions listed have inspired from Manichaeism and ancient Persian Yazdanism. One can also find in the Moustache the symbolism of the Faravahar. Which is Ahura Mazda, the Mind/Light, Guardian Angel. The Mind for the Druze is also the Phoenix the Prime Masculine.

Genetically Kurdish and Levantine phenotypes promote thick moustaches naturally. And the Stache usually protrudes by its own merit. Without intentional beard-scaping. The Stache has also developed tribal affiliations with Honor and Masculinity. Donned by Chieftains as well.

Thus any Eastern Gnostic must wear his Moustache with pride, knowing what it symbolizes.
A symbol of defiance and resistance and stubbornness in the face of tyranny or forced conversion.
Also the guardian angel wings of the Mind, and faith to the original light, Gnosis.

@UnrollHelper