What about Faith?

I know that most Gnostic Traditions have an aversion to the word "Faith".  After all... Gnosis means hidden knowledge and thus many believe that there is no place for Faith in Gnostic theology.
I have to differ on this point...I agree that we seek knowledge through experience and that the end goal is complete and total understanding because we have reawakened to the truth of who and what we are.  But I don't believe that for most of us this path is quite that simple or straightforward.  Tau Malachi has often said that Faith is the belief in experience yet had.  This belief and trust is the beginning of our path.  If we didn't have Faith we would never start searching for the experience or continue looking for more.  My view of the Gnostic path is that it is a continuum that begins with Faith and ends in Gnosis, combining the two along the way.
I believe this view is shown in the Gnostic myth of Pistis Sophia.  Pistis Sophia (Faith Wisdom) falls from the higher states of being into the physical world, her light power is stolen, and she becomes trapped.  She cries out for assistance so she can once again ascend to the heights and obtain the light.  Her name is very deliberately Faith Wisdom because she has Faith that she will experience and will regain her enlightenment and liberation.  This is the story of all of us on our journey.
So, for me, Faith is never a bad or lesser state.  It's what we need to spark and fan our flame of spiritual attainment.