Dictionary of all Scriptures & Myths

Understanding Biblical Symbolism


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5 Planes of Existence
Introduction
Five Planes of Manifestation

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The 5 Planes of Existence

In these tables the Five Planes of Existence are indicated by various symbols found in the Religious Systems of many nations. The correspondences run horizontally, and show that all religions are essentially the same and refer to the same facts of being on the higher and lower planes. The polytheism of the ancients is obviously the same in principle as the monotheism of the moderns. The only dissimilarities lie in the great variety of symbols for the same ideas, and in the many allegorical statements conveying the sacred language in which ideas are expressed.

GREECE

ROME

IRAN

SCANDINAVIA

CHALDEA

[Zeus]

[Jupiter]

[Zerana Akerana]

[Odin]

[Ea]

Apollo

Bacchus

Ormazd

Balder

Marduk

Hera

Juno

Armaiti

Frigg

Istar

Hermes

Mercury

Tistrya

Thor

Nebo

Hades

Pluto

Ahriman

Loke

Enlil

Hestia

Vesta

?

Sigyn

?

EGYPT

JAPAN

NEW ZEALAND

CHINA

[Rā]

[Ameno]

[Rangi]

[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

 

IN THE WORLD SYSTEMS

CHRISTRIAN

KABBALAH

OTTOMAN SUFI

INDIAN

[Father God]

[Ain Soph]

[The Unity]

[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

GREEK

MEDIEVAL

BOEHME

SWEDENBORG

[Father Æther]

[Ineffable]

[Verbum Fiat]

[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

The names between brackets are symbols of the Absolute or God-unmanifest, while the names on the highest of the five planes indicate God-manifest, the Higher Self. In some systems the same symbols denote occasionally God-unmanifest or God-manifest. The fourth plane, counting from below, is the plane of the Holy Spirit, or Great Goddess, and feminine also is the lowest or physical plane. In most religions the highest plane is represented by numerous symbols or sun-gods, the sun being a universal symbol of the Higher Self traversing the Life-cycle or Zodiac.