Henosis is also a synonym of Bulbophyllum, a genus of orchid.

Within the realm of Neoplatonic philosophy, henosis (ἕνωσις Greek for unite or unity) is the divine work committed to by each individual toward the goal of union with the Monad, Source, or the One.

To get closest to the One, each individual must engage in divine work (theurgy) according to Iamblichus of Chalcis. This divine work can be defined as each individual dedicating their lives to making the created world and mankind's relationship to it, and one another, better. Under the teachings of Iamblichus (see the Egyptian Mysteries), one goes through a series of theurgy or rituals that unites the initiate to the Monad. These rituals mimic the ordering of the chaos of the Universe into the material world or cosmos. They also mimic the actions of the demiurge as the creator of the material world.

Each individual as a microcosm reflects the gradual ordering of the universe referred to as the macrocosm. In mimicking the demiurge (divine mind), one unites with The One or Monad. Thus the process of unification, of "The Being", and "The One", is called Henosis. The culmination of Henosis is deification.

As is specified in the writings of Plotinus, the highest stage of deification is tabula rasa, or a blank state where the individual may grasp or merge with The Source (or The One, this process being henosis or unity). In the writings of Plotinus called the Enneads the monad is of one singular expression. Division is completely missing from the Monad, Source or One (see monism and monotheism). Henosis for Plotinus was defined in his works as a meditation (in the Western mind to uncontemplate toward no thought (Nous or demiurge) and no division (dyad) within the individual.

At the point of unity individuals become energy (since they are stripped of their persons); the energy of individuals is then returned to the infinite energy -- the Source or One -- and reamalgamated back into the Universe. The process then starts again and brings another part of the universe into line with the Monad (see Pantheism).

Within the works of Iamblichus, The One and reconciliation of division can be obtained through the process of theurgy. By mimicking the demiurge, the individual is returned to the cosmos to implement the will of the divine mind. Iamblichus used the rituals of the mystery religions to perform rituals on the individual to unite their outer and inner person. Thus one without conflict internal or external is united with The One.

See also

• Porphyry
• Proclus
• Julian the Apostate
• Theosis
• Anamnesis
• Henotheism
• Neutral monism

Notes