cosmology
Cosmogony
Narratives or doctrines of cosmic origin — how heaven, earth, and the primordial deities first came into being. The Kojiki's deities born alone on the Plain of High Heaven, Voluspo's Ginnungagap, Genesis's tohu wa-bohu, the Timaeus's Demiurge fashioning the Receptacle, the Hesiodic Theogony, the Kalevala's egg-cosmogony, Egyptian Nun-and-Atum. Distinct from emanation_hierarchy (structural-ontological cascade), letters_of_creation (mechanism of creation), and apocatastasis/frashokereti (end-state restoration); cosmogony is temporally-narrative beginning.
439 passages · 12 traditions
theosophy277
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 10)
“Helped by his knowledge of landscapes left behind him, he can get a general and pretty correct idea of the transmural view, if he will only climb to the loftiest summit of the altitudes in front of him.
Once there, he can gaze at it, at hi…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 2 (part 11)
“Nor could the vast catalogue of the Archaic Sciences be attempted in the present volumes, before we have disposed of such tremendous problems as Cosmic and Planetary Evolution, and the gradual development of the mysterious Humanities and ra…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 1)
“The Secret Doctrine by H.
P.
Blavatsky -- Vol.
1 [[Vol.
1, Page 1]] PROEM ------- PAGES FROM A PRE-HISTORIC PERIOD.
A N Archaic Manuscript -- a collection of palm leaves made impermeable to water, fire, and air, by some specific unknow…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 2)
“The latter is either "awake" or "asleep." The Svabhavikas, or philosophers of the oldest school of Buddhism (which still exists in Nepaul), speculate only upon the active condition of this "Essence," which they call Svabhavat, and deem it f…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 3)
“The esoteric symbol of Kali Yuga is the five-pointed star reversed, thus -- the sign of human sorcery, with its two points (horns) turned heavenward, a position every [[Footnote(s)]] ------------------------------------------------- * See t…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 4)
“The orthodox Brahmins, those who rise the most against the Pantheists and Adwaitees, calling them Atheists, are forced, if Manu has any authority in this matter, to accept the death of Brahma, the creator, at the expiration of every "Age" o…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 5)
“But this view does not prevent him from believing in its existence so long as it lasts, to wit, for one Mahamanvantara; nor from applying Akasa, the radiation of Mulaprakriti,* to practical purposes, connected as the World-Soul is with all…”
The Secret Doctrine | Page 3 (part 6)
“." For clearer understanding on the part of the general reader, it must be stated that Occult Science recognises Seven Cosmical Elements -- four entirely physical, and the fifth (Ether) semi-material, as it will become visible in the air to…”
Show all 277 →western_esoteric50
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 5 (part 2)
“The anonymous Cloud of Unknowing belongs, I believe, to the early part of the fifteenth century, and it is to be classed among the most signal presentations of the conditions and mode of the Union which I have met with in Christian literatu…”
The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) | Page 67
“UNIVERSAL CONJURATION I, N., do conjure thee, O Spirit N., by the living God., by the true God., by the holy and all-ruling God, Who created from nothingness the heaven, the earth, the sea and all things that are therein., in virtue of the…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter V (part 2)
“Well, then, secondly, Man pro-creates or reproduces his kind by the process of begetting, which is self-multiplication accomplished by transferring a portion of his substance to his offspring.
But this will not do, because THE ALL cannot t…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter V (part 3)
“You speak of the Fatherhood of God, and the Motherhood of Nature--of God, the Divine Father, and Nature the Universal Mother--and have thus instinctively acknowledged the Principle of Gender in the Universe.
Is this not so?
But, the Herme…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter VII (part 2)
“Man, like Micawber, may exclaim: "The Spirit of my Creator is inherent within me-- and yet I am not HE!" How different this from the shocking half-truth so vociferously announced by certain of the half-wise, who fill the air with their rauc…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter VII (part 3)
“This Involuntary stage of Creation is sometimes called the "Outpouring" of the Divine Energy, just as the Evolutionary state is called the "Indrawing." The extreme pole of the Creative process is considered to be the furthest removed from T…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter XI (part 1)
“CHAPTER XI RHYTHM "Everything flows out and in; everything has its tides; all things rise and fall; the pendulum-swing manifests in everything; the measure of the swing to the right, is the measure of the swing to the left; rhythm compensat…”
The Kybalion (Three Initiates) | Chapter XIII (part 2)
“The Cathode, or Negative Pole, is the Mother Principle of Electrical Phenomena, and of the finest forms of matter as yet known to science.
So you see we are justified in refusing to use the term "Negative" in our consideration of the subje…”
Show all 50 →finnic36
The Kalevala | Rune I-a
“OF WAINAMOINEN.
In primeval times, a maiden, Beauteous Daughter of the Ether, Passed for ages her existence In the great expanse of heaven, O'er the prairies yet enfolded.
Wearisome the maiden growing, Her existence sad and hopeless, Thus…”
The Kalevala | Rune I-b
“Surely would the winds destroy it, Far away the waves would wash it." Then the daughter of the Ether, Now the hapless water-mother, Raised her shoulders out of water, Raised her knees above the ocean, That the duck might build her dwelling,…”
The Kalevala | Rune I-c
“Wainamoinen, old and trusty, Lingering within his dungeon Thirty summers altogether, And of winters, also thirty, Peaceful on the waste of waters, On the broad-sea's yielding bosom, Well reflected, long considered, How unborn to live and fl…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-a
“'S SOWING.
Then arose old Wainamoinen, With his feet upon the island, On the island washed by ocean, Broad expanse devoid of verdure; There remained be many summers, There he lived as many winters, On the island vast and vacant, well consi…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-b
“Wainamoinen, old and trusty, Thought awhile, and well considered, How to kill the mighty oak-tree, First created for his pleasure, How to fell the tree majestic, How to lop its hundred branches.
Sad the lives of man and hero, Sad the homes…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-c
“Straightway to the oak-tree turning, Thither stalks the mighty giant, In his raiment long and roomy, Flapping in the winds of heaven; With his second step he totters On the land of darker color; With his third stop firmly planted, Reaches h…”
The Kalevala | Rune II-d
“Down from heaven came the eagle, Through the air be came a-flying, That he might this thing consider; And he spake the words that follow: "Wherefore, ancient Wainamoinen, Hast thou left the slender birch-tree, Left the birch-tree only stand…”
The Kalevala | Rune III-c
“Slowly perches swim in Autumn, Wry-backed, hunting deeper water, Spawn in shallows in the summer, Bounding on the shore of ocean.
Should this wisdom seem too little, I can tell thee other matters, Sing thee other wizard sayings: All the No…”
Show all 36 →native_american34
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter I-b
“Sometimes an old man, standing upon the brink of eternity, might reveal to a chosen few the oracle of his long-past youth.
The native American has been generally despised by his white conquerors for his poverty and simplicity.
They forget…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter III-e
“The sacred beast, bird, or reptile, represented by its stuffed skin, or by a rude painting, was treated with reverence and carried into battle to insure the guardianship of the spirits.
The symbolic attribute of beaver, bear, or tortoise,…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-a
“THE UNWRITTEN SCRIPTURES A Living Book.
The Sioux Story of Creation.
The First Battle.
Another Version of the Flood.
Our Animal Ancestry.
A missionary once undertook to instruct a group of Indians in the truths of his holy religion.
H…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-b
“Foremost among the animal people was Unk-to-mee, the Spider, the original trouble-maker, who noted keenly the growth of the boy in wit and ingenuity, and presently advised the animals to make an end of him; “for,” said he, “if you do not, s…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-c
“Our people have always claimed that the stone arrows which are found so generally throughout the country are the ones that the first man used in his battle with the animals.
It is not recorded in our traditions, much less is it within the…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-d
“The young man and his Teacher made a birch-bark canoe, which floated upon the surface of the flood, while of the animals there were saved only a few, who had found a foothold upon the highest peaks.
The youth had now passed triumphantly th…”
The Soul of the Indian | Chapter V-e
“There are some curious traditions of young men and maidens who transgressed this law unknowingly, being seduced and deceived by a magnificent buck deer, perhaps, or a graceful doe, and whose fall was punished with death.
The animal totems…”
Myths of the Cherokee | Myth 1a
“HOW THE WORLD WAS MADE The earth is a great island floating in a sea of water, and suspended at each of the four cardinal points by a cord hanging down from the sky vault, which is of solid rock.
When the world grows old and worn out, the…”
Show all 34 →gnosticism16
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | Barbelo
“This is because [we do] not [understand unspeakable things, and we] do not understand what [cannot be measured], apart from him who originated [from] him, that is, [the] Father, because he [alone] is the one
who [explained] it to us, given…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Only-Begotten
“He also peered into Barbelo with the pure light that surrounds the unseen Spirit, and his spark, and from him she conceived. He begot a light- spark by means of a light similar to blessedness, but (the latter) is not equal to his greatness.…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Four Lights
“[IV, 11] Eternal Life also <with> his Will, and Mind with Precognition, attended and extolled the unseen Spirit and Barbelo, given that they had come into being on her account. The holy Spirit also completed the self- generated God, his Son…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | Pigera-Adamas and Seth
“Further, from the Precognition of Perfect Mind, by means of the revelation of the will of the unseen Spirit and the will of the self-generated one, (issued forth) <the> Perfect Man, the first revelation, even the truth.
He is the one whom…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | Yaltabaoth-a
“Further, being an aeon, Sophia of Reflection thought a thought [IV, 15] on her own, together with the conception of the unseen Spirit and Precognition. She willed to bring forth a likeness from out of herself, apart from the agreement of th…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | Yaltabaoth-b
“The first <is> Athoth – he has the face of a sheep;
the second is Eloaiou – he has the face of a donkey;
the third is Astaphaios – he has the face of a [hyena];
the fourth is Yao – he has the face of a seven-headed [dragon];
the fifth is Sa…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Authorities Create Adam-a
“Further, through the light they saw the shape of the image inside the water, [II, 15] and he said to the authorities attending him: ‘Come, let us create a man according to the image of God, and according to our likeness, so that his image w…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Authorities Create Adam-c
“heat,
cold,
wetness,
and dryness.
However, the mother of all of them is matter,
but he who rules over heat, Phloxopha;
but he who rules [IV, 28] over cold, Oroorrothos;
but he who rules over dryness, Erimacho;
but he who rules over wetnes…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Spirit is Blown into Adam
“However, all the angels and demons labored until they had formed the psychic body, and their creation was entirely inert and without movement for a prolonged time.
When, however, the mother wished to regain the power she had granted to the…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Archons Conspire Against Adam
“When they gazed down, they realized that his intellect surpassed (their own), and they convened in counsel together with the group of archons and all angels.
They took fire and earth [II, 21] and water, and combined them with each other to…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Chief Archon Creates Eve
“Reflection of Light then concealed herself inside him, and the chief archon desired to extract her from his rib, but Reflection of Light is beyond grasping. Even though the darkness chased after her, it could not catch her, and he extracted…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Chief Archon Pollutes Eve
“I appeared in the shape of an eagle on the tree of knowledge, which is Reflection of Providence of Pure Light, so that I could instruct them and rouse them out of their deep sleep, because both of them were in a fallen condition, and they w…”
The Secret Writing According to John (Apocryphon of John), Codex II, 1 | The Vile Spirit
“I, however, asked: “Lord, where did the vile spirit originate?”
He then said to me: “The Mother- Father, who is abundant in mercy, the holy Spirit in every mode, the one who is merciful and [II, 28] who shows compassion for all of you – th…”
Gospel of Judas | Jesus Reveals Everything to Judas-a
“Jesus said, "[Come] and I'll teach you about the [mysteries that no] human [will] see, because there exists a great and boundless realm whose horizons no angelic generation has seen, [in] which is a [great] invisible Spirit, which no [angel…”
Gospel of Judas | Jesus Reveals Everything to Judas-b
“"And the twelve rulers spoke with the twelve angels: 'Let each of you 52 […] and let them […] generation [… five] angels: The first [is Yaoth], who's called 'the Good One.' The second is Harmathoth, [the eye of fire].
The [third] is Galila…”
Pistis Sophia | Document SECOND-f
“It happened therefore, the angels having gone down unto the Chaos, they with the effluence of Light, and also all the emanations of the Self-willed [127 ] with the emanation of the Adamas, they saw the effluence of Light enlightening greatl…”
← Collapsenorse10
The Poetic Edda: Hovamol | Section 1n
“Knowest how one shall write, | knowest how one shall rede?
Knowest how one shall tint, | knowest how one makes trial?
Knowest how one shall ask, | knowest how one shall offer?
Knowest how one shall send, | knowest how one shall sacrifice…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1b
“The roving Norsemen of the tenth century, very few of whom had as yet accepted Christianity, were nevertheless in close contact with Celtic races which had already been converted, and in many ways the Celtic influence was strongly felt.
It…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1c
“stanza 47 and note), of the dark elves (Svartalfaheim), of the dead (Niflheim), and presumably of the dwarfs (perhaps Nithavellir, cf.
stanza 37 and note, but the ninth world is uncertain).
The tree: the world-ash Yggdrasil, [fp.
4] symb…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1d
“Ithavoll ("Field of Deeds"?): mentioned only here and in stanza 60 as the meeting-place of the gods; it appears in no other connection.
8.
Tables : the exact nature of this game, and whether it more closely resembled chess or checkers, ha…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1e
“Fili, Kili, | Fundin, Nali, Heptifili, | Hannar, Sviur, Frar, Hornbori, | Fræg and Loni, Aurvang, Jari, | Eikinskjaldi.
14.
The race of the dwarfs | in Dvalin's throng Down to Lofar | the list must I tell; The rocks they left, | and throu…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1f
“Lothur : apparently an older name for Loki, the treacherous but ingenious son of Laufey, whose divinity Snorri regards as somewhat doubtful.
He was adopted by Othin, who subsequently had good reason to regret it.
Loki probably represents…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1g
“Lines 5-6, one or both of them probably interpolated, seem to symbolize the refining of gold by fire.
Hor ("The High One"): Othin.
22.
Heith ("Shining One"?): a name often applied to wise women and prophetesses.
The application of this…”
The Poetic Edda: Voluspo | Section 1h
“Here the Volva turns from her memories of the past to a statement of some of Othin's own secrets in his eternal search for knowledge (stanzas 27-29).
Bugge puts this stanza after stanza 29.
The horn of Heimdall : the Gjallarhorn ("Shrieki…”
Show all 10 →celtic5
The Mabinogion | Tale KILHWCH AND OLWEN-u
“Seek not therefore to do me harm.” Said Arthur, “Not to injure thee came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with thee.” “I will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give him up to any one; and therewith shalt thou…”
The Mabinogion | Tale BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR-j
“And there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of having ever spent a time more joyous and mirthful.
And they were not more weary than when first they came, neither did they, any of them, know the time they had been there.
And it wa…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-i
“The names of the three springs From the midst of the ocean; One generated brine Which is from the Corina, To replenish the flood Over seas disappearing; The second, without injury It will fall on us, When there is rain abroad, Through the w…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-j
“And the king caused them to fetch Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin.
And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that the chains opened from about his feet.
“I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animati…”
The Mabinogion | Tale TALIESIN-l
“And then said Taliesin, “Elphin, behold a payment and reward unto thee, for having taken me out of the weir, and for having reared me from that time until now.” And on this spot stands a pool of water, which is to this time called Pwllbair.…”
zoroastrianism4
Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXVIII, Section 1b
“(And) do thou, O (Divine) Righteousness, bestow (upon me) that sacred blessing which is constituted by the attainments of the Good Mind (within my soul) 3 ; and do thou also, O Piety!
grant unto p.
22 [paragraph continues] Vî s tâspa and…”
Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXX, Section 1a
“1.
And now I will proclaim, O ye who are drawing near and seeking 1 to be taught!
those animadversions 2 which appertain to Him who knows (all things) whatsoever; the praises which are for Ahura, and the sacrifices (which spring) from the…”
Avesta (Gathas) | Ahunavaiti Gatha, Yasna XXXI, Section 1a
“1.
These doctrines (therefore) we are earnestly declaring to You as we recite them forth from memory, words (till now) unheard 1 (with faith) by those who by means of the doctrinal vows 2 of the harmful Lie are delivering the settlements o…”
Avesta (Gathas) | Ushtavaiti Gatha, Yasna XLIV, Section 1a
“1.
This I ask Thee, O Ahura!
tell me aright; when praise is to be offered, how (shall I complete) the praise of the One like You 1 , O Mazda?
Let p.
112 the One like Thee declare it earnestly to the friend who is such as I, thus through…”
mesopotamian3
Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation | 1h
“She recited an incantation, she pronounced her spell, And the gods of the battle cried out for their weapons.
Then advanced Tiamat and Marduk, the counselor of the gods; To the fight they came on, to the battle they drew nigh.
The lord sp…”
Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation | 1i
“He opened great gates on both sides, He made strong the bolt on the left and on the right.
In the midst thereof he fixed the zenith; The Moon-god he caused to shine forth, the night he entrusted to him.
He appointed him, a being of the ni…”
Enuma Elish: The Epic of Creation | 1j
“Tutu [Marduk] is "He who created them anew"; Should their wants be pure, then are they satisfied; Should he make an incantation, then are the gods appeased; Should they attack him in anger, he withstandeth their onslaught!
Let him therefor…”
hinduism2
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter III, Section 1a
“CHAPTER III.
Ar g una said: If, O Ganârdana!
devotion is deemed by you to be superior to action, then why, O Kesava!
do you prompt me to (this) fearful action?
You seem, indeed, to confuse my mind by equivocal words.
Therefore, declare…”
The Bhagavad Gita | Chapter XIV, Section 1a
“CHAPTER XIV.
The Deity said: Again I will declare (to you) the highest knowledge, the best of (all sorts of) knowledge, having learnt which, all sages have reached perfection beyond (the bonds of) this (body).
Those who, resorting to this…”
christian_mysticism1
Revelations of Divine Love | Chapter LVIII-a
“"All our life is in three: 'Nature, Mercy, Grace.' The high Might of the Trinity is our Father, and the deep Wisdom of the Trinity is our Mother, and the great Love of the Trinity is our Lord" God, the blessed Trinity, which is everlasting…”
shinto1
The Kojiki: The Beginning of Heaven and Earth | Section 1
“p. 15 RECORDS OF ANCIENT MATTERS [SECT. I.—THE BEGINNING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.] The names of the Deities 1 that were born 2 in the Plain of High Heaven 3 when the Heaven and Earth began were the Deity Master-of-the-August-Centre-of-Heaven, 4…”