hylic

This term originates from Gnostic cosmology to describe the most basic level of human nature, specifically those bound entirely to the physical realm. It carries a heavy connotation of spiritual blindness or ignorance, suggesting a state where an individual is unable to perceive the divine or the transcendent because they are consumed by sensory desires and material concerns.

In a philosophical or theological discussion, it is used as a technical descriptor rather than a casual adjective. It contrasts sharply with terms like psychic or pneumatic, which represent higher stages of spiritual evolution. Because it describes a state of being rather than a physical property of an object, it is almost exclusively found in texts regarding esoteric history or ancient mysticism.