Malachi Tau

Born Bret Cagle in 1962, Malachi Tau is an American writer and religious leader recognized as the Gnostic Apostle of Ecclesia Pistis Sophia, also known as The Fellowship. He is considered the current lineage holder within the Sophian Gnostic tradition. This tradition, according to members, traces its roots back to the 1700s, with its current form established in the 1880s by Tau Miriam. She passed the lineage to her protégé, Tau Elijah, who relocated from England to Northern California's Bay Area in the early 20th century. Tau Elijah eventually retired from public life in the 1960s and passed away in the 1970s.

Malachi Tau met Tau Elijah at age 8 and became his disciple, receiving the spiritual name Tau Malachi eben Ha-Elijah during the 1970s. He founded The Fellowship in 1983. Beyond his Gnostic path, he has studied and participated in various traditions including Martinism, Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, Sufism, and Native American shamanism. He currently resides in Grass Valley, California.

Malachi Tau holds the position of Gnostic Apostle within Ecclesia Pistis Sophia, also known as The Fellowship. He is recognized as the current lineage holder of the Sophian Gnostic tradition. While adherents claim the lineage dates back to the 18th century, its contemporary structure was reportedly established in the 1880s by Tau Miriam. She then initiated Tau Elijah, who brought the tradition to the Bay Area in Northern California in the early 20th century. Tau Elijah's public ministry concluded in the 1960s, and he died in the 1970s. Malachi Tau's own spiritual journey began in his youth when he met Tau Elijah and later received his spiritual name.

Malachi Tau's spiritual background is rooted in neo-Gnosticism, specifically within the Sophian Gnostic tradition. His early discipleship under Tau Elijah provided a foundational Gnostic education. Beyond this primary path, he has explored and engaged with diverse spiritual and philosophical systems. These include initiations into the Martinist Tradition, though he does not actively practice within it. His studies and participation have also encompassed areas such as Christian Kabbalah, Vajrayana Buddhism, Vedanta, Sufism, and Native American shamanism. This broad engagement reflects a multifaceted approach to spiritual understanding and practice.