Esoteric cosmology
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Esoteric cosmology is cosmology that is an intrinsic part of an esoteric or occult system of thought. It almost always deals with at least some of the following themes: emanation, involution, planes of existence, hierarchies of spiritial beings, cosmic cycles, and mystical states of consciousness. However there is also great variation; e.g. many esoteric cosmologies do not have elaborate cycles of existence, although some (such as Theosophy and Anthroposophy) do.
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Emanationist Cosmologies
The teachings of later Neoplatonism (e.g. Iamblichus, Proclus) incorporate details of the emanation process, described in terms of a series of hypostases. Each higher hypostasis constitutes a more sublime deific state of existence. There is also a tendency in neoplatonic thought towards increasing transcendentalism and dualism. Although Plotinus saw spiritual ascent as leading to the One (The Absolute), in this later Neoplatoinism all one can hope for is irridation of the Soul by the Nous above.
Dualistic Cosmologies
Gnostic teachings were contemporary with those of Neoplationism, but more radically dualistic. Usually the higher worlds of Light, called the Pleroma or "fullness", are radically distinct from the lower world of Matter. The emanation of the Pleroma and its godheads (called Aeons) is described in detail in the various Gnostic tracts, as is the pre-creation crisis (a cosmic equivalent to the "fall" in Christian thought) from which the material world comes about, and the way that the divine spark can attain salvation.
Kabbalah
Kabbalah combines orthodox Judaic, Neoplatoinic, Gnostic, and philosophical (e.g. Aristotlean) themes, to develp an elaborate and highly symbolic cosmology in which God, who is ineffable and unknowlable, manifests as ten archetypal sephirot, each with its own Divine attributes, and arranged in a configoration of interrelated paths called the Tree of Life. The original Tree gives rise to further trees, until there are four or (in Lurianic Kabbalah) five worlds or universes (Trees) in all, with the lowest sephira of the lowest world constituting teh material cosmos.
This cosmology proved highly popular with occultists, and formed the basis of Western hermetic thought (e.g. the Golden Dawn and subsequent organisations), where it is associated with a form of astral travel called "pathworking"
Max Theon
Max Theon developed a sophisticated cosmology, incorporating LUrianic Kabbalistic and other themes. This describes a number of divine and material worlds, and four or eight "states" (equivalent to the Theosophical Planes), each divided into degrees, each of which are in turn subdivided into subdegrees. The details of these various occult worlds, their beings, recognisable colours, and so on, were all laid out, but very little of this material has yet been published.
Theosophy
H.P. Blavatsky in her Theosophical writings presented an extremely complex cosmology, in terms of a seven-fold series of cosmic planes and subplanes, and a very detailed sevenfold system of cycles and subcycles of existence. These ideas were adapted by later esotericists like Rudolph Steiner (Anthroposophy) and Alice Bailey, and made their way into New Age thought in general. However, popular versions are very much simpler than the original Theosophic teachings.
