Esoteric models of the Universe

Holographic Model

In 1991 Michael Talbot published a book called "The Holographic Universe", which was a model of the Universe based on the theories of David Bohm and Karl Pribram. His theory is still very controversial, but does have many interesting aspects including its ability to explain many paranormal experiences include the telepathy, out-of-body experiences, lucid dreaming, after-life, channelling, etc. The theory is that the entire physical universe is a 3-D projection, similar to the holodecks on the Starship Enterprise. David Bohm's theories are drawn from on the scientific front, and Karl Pribram is a neurophysiologist doing brain research.

For thousands of years the mystics and Yogi's have been telling us the the observable world is illusory, and this Holographic model indeed fits exactly with their explanations. I highly recommend reading Michael Talbot's Holographic Universe.

There have also been recent articles in Scientific American dealing with models for the Universe. One recent development is the discovery that the information needed for the universe is two-dimensional in nature - supporting what Yogi's have been saying for thousands of years, that our 3-D perception is an illusion.

Discussion on the Holographic Model

5-Planes Models

The 5-planes and 7-planes models are based on the Universe being a number of separate planes, on which life or intelligence exists. The plane we are familiar with is the physical plane (called Earth in some cultures), the lowest. I don't find this model complete, but am including it because it shows the relationship between the names for the planes of existence in various cultures. For synchronisation with the other material on my pages, use the medieval and Indian terminology. Note that in different cultures the same name, eg water, can be used to refer to different places - hence confusion can easily arise. What I find interesting is the almost universal belief through all cultures in that there are additional planes of existence above the physical.

Greece (Zeus)	Rome (Jupiter)	Iran (Zerana Akerana)	Scandinavia (Odin)	Chaldea (Ea)
Apollo	Bacchus	Ormazd	Balder	Marduk
Hera	Juno	Armaiti	Frigg	Istar
Hermes	Mercury	Tistrya	Thor	Nebo
Hades	Pluto	Ahriman	Loke	Enlil
Hestia	Vestia	?	Sigyn	?

Christian (Father God)	Kabbalah (Ain Soph)	Ottoman Sufi (The Unity)	Indian (Paran-atma)
Son of God	The Crown	Absolutely Invisible	Atma
Holy Ghost	World of Emanation	Relatively Invisible	Buddhi
Mental Faculties	World of Creation	World of Man	Manas
Lower Emotions	World of Formation	World of Similitudes	Kama
Sensations	World of Action	Visible World	Sthula

Egypt (Ra)	Japan (Ameno)	New Zealand (Rangi)	China (Heaven)
Osiris	Ninigi	Tangaroa	Water
Isis	Ama-terasu	Rongo-matane	Fire
Thoth	Shinatsu-hiko	Tuma-tauenga	Metal
Set	Susa-no-wo	Tane-mahuta	Wood
Nephthys	Haigi-no-kami	Haumea-tiki-tiki	Earth

Greek (Father Aether)	Mediaeval (Ineffable)	Boehme (Verbum Fiat)	Swedenborg (The Infinite)
Good Mind	Light	Light-breath	Celestial
Fire	Fire	Fire-breath	Spiritual
Air	Mental	Air-breath	Rational
Water	Astral	Water	Proprium
Earth	Physical	Earth	Physical

Classical Hindu tradition teaches that the universe is composed of 5 elements:

akasa - ether, space or sky
vayu - air
agni - fire
ap - water
prthvi - earth

7-Planes Models

Following on from teh 5-planes models, I find Esoteric teachings provide a more complete 7 layer model. These planes are called:

Plane
Divine Godhead	The highest plane achievable through spiritual attainment
Monadic	Plane where the Monad or divine spark, resides
Nirvanic, Atmic or Celestial	Plane of divine will, the real spiritual self
Intuitional or Buddhic	Plane of genius
Mental	Lower mental plane of concrete thought, and higher mental plane or causal body of abstract thought
Emotional or Astral	Lower desires (kama rupa) and higher desires of the astral body
Physical	Lower body of solids, liquids and gases, and the etheric double composed of the electromagnetic, pranic, light and intuitional ether (see further description below)

The "soul" comprises higher Mental, Buddhic and Nirvanic planes. In this model, the Divine Godhead releases countless divine sparks or Monads, which in turn each release a number of souls which build the lower bodies around them. The soul extends multiple personalities (lower Mental, Emotional and Physical bodies) - ie "us"!

The planes above the mental are not generally familiar to the average person. Each plane can be broken down into sub-layers, such as the 7 layers of the physical body, of which the first 3 (and perhaps 4) are familiar to us:

Layer of Physical Body	Description
Intuitional ether	Responsible for the inspiration of higher thought (Shakespeare's Muse), and for abilities such as Telepathy.
Light body	Employed in astral projection, and in Merkaba meditation techniques.
Pranic body	This is the life force flowing through the Chakras. It is the force employed in Reiki and other healing techniques, and gives rise the the aura. It cannot be measured with any known scientific technique.
Electromagnetic body	Nerve currents traversing the body give rise to electromagnetic radiation. This can be measured, eg with Kirlian photography. It is there, but not often thought to be important. It is non-physical, but is an easily measured scientific fact.
Gas	Familiar - eg oxygen, air
Liquid	Familiar - eg blood, water
Solid	Familiar - eg flesh & bones

The following picture is taken from the Rosicrucian site.

7 layer model

Hindu model

The c lassical Hindu tradition has fourteen world, 7 above, and 7 below.

Upper Worlds	Lower Worlds
Satyam - these 3 upper worlds are those of Brahmaloka, representing liberation. Few come to earth from these upper world. Tapah Janah Mahah- intermediary between the lower and higher Swah - celestial world (heaven) Bhuvah - intermediate world Bhuh or Prthvi - the earth	Atala Vitala Sutala Rasatala Talatala Mahatala Patala - the lowest

New Age Densities

The idea of densities of consciousness were popularised recently through channelled material. One of the earliest references I have found was in the Ra channelled material, and they are also mentioned in the Alice Bailey works. Hopi Indian legends seem to have a similar concept. The idea of density relates to planes of consciousness. Human beings are currently at 3rd density or 3rd dimensional consciousness. Christ consciousness is said to be 4th density or 4th dimensional.

Relating this back to physical models, we do indeed live in a world of three dimensions, and the fourth dimension we recognise is time (see my notes above about how our conventional views of reality break down with the theories of relativity, which are based on a curved space-time continuum).

1st density - mineral consciousness level, awareness as a point.
2nd density - animal/vegetable level, also the level of the elementals working on subtle levels with the planet. Awareness as a line. No individual self-awareness, eg awareness at the level of all grasshoppers in the world.
3rd density - volumetric awareness, ego and sense of individual identify. This is where us human beings fit it! Polarity consciousness.
4th density - superconsciousness level, group identity without loss of ego. Fluid time perception and interface to multi-dimensional realities. Human beings are transitioning from the 3rd to the 4th density. Still retain physical body.
5th density - awareness as a group identity, not bound by linear time, and no physical body required. Mergence with the higher self. Level of wisdom.
6th density - this is the level of awareness of the Ascended Masters (such as Jesus, Buddha, etc.). Awareness at a dimensional level. Concerned with the good of the whole.
7th density - awareness at multi-dimensional level.
8th density - higher cosmic awareness.
9th density - has been described as awareness at level of the sun.

Other sources say there are 12 levels of density within our Universe. Between each level there are 12 sub-levels. Human beings are said to be near the top of 3rd density (10th sub-level). Recognising advancement in density to be evolution of consciousness, we have another path which beings tread. The progression along this path is much slower than others - a soul may spend hundreds of millions of years at the 1st density level; millions of years at 2nd and 3rd density, etc. Hindu teachings also carry the idea of soul progression through many different levels of existence.

Astarian model

This model of the Universe comes from the teachings of Astara (Dr Earlyne Chaney). When Burton Bigelow passed on, he made channelled contact with Earlyne and described the structure of the after-life (this is in keeping with the Holographic model of the Universe above). We are unaware of the planes above the physical, because (as per the 7-plane model above) we are really only aware of the three lowest levels of physical matter, solid, liquid and gas. The higher planes are composed of electromagnetic and higher vibrations. The planes described include:

Physical - the material world familiar to use
Borderland - the abode of souls immediately after death. Life is very similar to life on earth, including political and religious beliefs.
Midland - above borderland, similar, but the souls have more freedom and life is more pleasant. Souls typically progress from Borderland to the Midlands over a period of time.
Highland - the lower mental realm, of considerably higher vibration, and hence a better place than the lower astral planes.
Summerland - this would be described as paradise. A soul moving in to Summerland would be said to be "liberated".

In this Astarian model, there is no hard and fast division between the planes. There is no heaven or hell. At death, a soul moves to the place most appropriate to its vibration. Typically souls will move to the lower or middle astral planes, and slowly move towards Highlands or Summerland.