I’ve been focusing lately on the importance of deepening your connection with the Divine.
But, what exactly is the Divine? Who is God (or the gods)? What is the Universe?
After all, how can you hope to connect to something you’re not even sure the nature of?
So, this week, I’ll be focusing on God / the Universe. Today, I’ll discuss in general my view of the nature of Divinity. On Thursday, I’ll discuss the process of choosing a specific deity, if that is your path, and I’ll give you my own experience in choosing mine.
But before I start, I want to give some caveats:
Firstly, these are all my opinions. If your view of the Divine is different, that’s great. I’ve come to my conclusions through a lot of meditation and research. But, they are my conclusions.
The Universe couldn’t care less how you see Divinity. You have to find what works for you. But, read through this post and see if what I say resonates. If not, let’s discuss it in the comments. 🙂
Secondly, my practice is also my own. As I said in last Thursday’s post, you can have a devotion to a god/goddess, angel, master, or whatever else you feel drawn to. I do suggest a devotion of some kind, but the nature of that devotion is totally personal.
In Hinduism, there are four basic paths to the Divine:
- Karma yoga: the path of action
- Bhakti yoga: the path of devotion
- Raja yoga: the path of meditation
- Jnana yoga: the path of knowledge
These paths, however, are not mutually exclusive. For instance, you can have a devotion to one or more deities (bhakti yoga), which inspires you to perform good works (karma yoga). Your mode of connection might be through meditation (raja yoga), and you might also inquire into the nature of the Self (jnana yoga).
But, they will all help you to connect with the Divine. As long as you are doing something, that’s really all that can be asked. The rest is between you and the Universe.
With all that said, let’s get started.
The Universe as Non-Duality
The essence of the Universe is non-dual. When I say the “essence”, I mean prior to all creation, or even all concepts.
Before there was anything, there was One. That One was undifferentiated and whole in itself. It neither moved nor was moved by anything else, because there was nothing outside of itself.
This One is called by many names: the Tao, Brahman, Stillness, Silence, the Numinous, the Void, etc. All names are insufficient. As the Tao Te Ching says:
The tao that can be told
is not the eternal Tao
The name that can be named
is not the eternal Name.
(Tao Te Ching, ch. 1, translated by Stephen Mitchell)
So, all names or concepts of this one fall short.
But, God is particularly not a good name for this One. It simply holds very little in common with anyone’s conception of God, besides, perhaps, the quality of being infinite.
It is neither benevolent nor malevolent, because duality simply does not exist on this level. It does not care, because there is nothing to care about. It is totally, absolutely impersonal, because personhood requires concepts and ideas, which do not exist on this level.
It might have some in common with the idea of God as Prime Mover, but that’s really about it. Most people’s idea of God includes personality, or at least some idea of compassion, and that is not held in common here.
Yet, it is pointed to in almost all cultures, but especially the eastern religions. One’s identity with this One is called nirvana in Buddhism, and moksha in Hinduism. Even in the Abrahamic religions, there are some who point to this unity.
In Paganism/Wicca, one doesn’t speak of enlightenment so much. Instead, we focus on the present life, and walk the path of self-growth using magic (not for all Pagans) and devotion to the gods of our choosing. But, the end-result is the same. I have, however, heard some Pagans speaking of a Universal substratum beyond all of the gods.
This One has almost no real-world applicability to your life. Some people can get lost in philosophizing about the non-dual nature of the Absolute. But, in practice, it is too far removed to really be of everyday use.
Even if you were to realize your identity with this Stillness in this lifetime, you would have to come back down to earth, as it were, which would necessitate losing that awareness somewhat. You cannot be totally aware of the One, while simultaneously living in the physical world.
The Universe as Total Duality
I might seem to be contradicting myself here, but I promise you I am not. 🙂
Let’s call the non-dual level #1. All that I said above applies to this level.
But, though we can never quite understand how or why this happened, indeed something did happen. A spark of creation arose out of Stillness. Something moved. How it moved, we cannot hope to understand. But, it moved. It sparked.
And so at level #2, we have creation.
But not only do we have creation, we have absolute duality. From level #2 downwards, everything is dualistic. There is masculine and feminine, light and dark, warm and cold, etc.
This is what the Chinese were referring to by the concept of yin and yang. Everything falls somewhere along this spectrum.
For simplicity’s sake we divide the initial duality at level #2 into yin and yang, feminine and masculine. In Wicca, this is why we refer to a single Goddess and a single God. Balance is necessary, so you must have both the male and the female parts of Divinity.
In the Abrahamic religions, this balance is disrupted. God is purely male, as is the priesthood in many sects. Eve (the feminine) was the one to commit the first sin. In a sense, they attempt to exalt the masculine while denouncing the feminine.
That’s why in Paganism, there is no concept of evil. There is certainly light and dark, but no force of evil. That which some would call “evil” is just the other side of that duality. You cannot have light without dark. You cannot have day without night. You cannot have life without death. They are two sides of the same coin.
So, some people say the Universe is non-dual, and others say it is dual. And, it so happens, both are right. They are just speaking on different levels of truth. At level #1, the Universe is non-dual. This is true. But at every other level, duality is an inherent and even necessary part of existence.
Who Is God?
So then one asks, “Who is God?”
There are far too many answers to that question, depending on your perspective. As I said, I don’t like calling the Stillness at level #1 “God”, because it holds nothing in common with our common idea of God.
In the past, I’ve used two general terms: the Universe, and Universal Flow. For reasons that would lengthen this post far beyond anyone wishes to read, the Universe generally refers to the masculine side of that duality, and Universal Flow refers to the feminine. They are not exactly the same thing. I go into much greater detail in The Art of Reality Creation.
In Wicca, as I said, we call them the God and the Goddess, and it is exactly the same idea. The God is associated with the Sun and its annual cycle of the seasons, and the Goddess is associated with the Moon and its monthly cycle of the lunar phases.
So generally if you say “God”, “Universe”, “Source”, or even “Creator”, you’re generally referring to either the God or Goddess aspect of level #2.
But, this isn’t the complete story. You then have other gods, such as the Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Norse, or Celtic gods. You could call this level #3.
Who are these, exactly? Are they real beings, or just aspects of the God and Goddess discussed above?
They are definitely real, just as you and I are real. They simply exist on another level of existence.
Some people believe that they are simply archetypes of Universal or natural forces. However, I disagree. I’ve communicated with several of these gods, and they all have their own very distinct personalities. And, they are not all light and fluffy. They have real preferences, and real opinions, and depending on the god, may let you know in no uncertain terms.
In other words, they are real beings to be respected and valued. They are far more powerful than us, or even than our own spirit guides or angels. They are not necessarily omnipotent, but that does not mean that they do not wield incredible power.
They are, in a sense, descendants from the God and Goddess of level #2. However, that does not make them somehow aspects of the same energy, or undifferentiated from that energy.
It would be like saying that because I’m a man, and you’ve met other men before, I must have the same qualities as other men. Obviously, that’s untrue. I may share some qualities in common, but I have my own personality, quirks, and flaws.
How many of these gods are there? Oh, millions, at least. One does not need to worship them all, obviously. Choosing one or two that resonate with you the most is sufficient, and even preferable. You will form a unique bond with each god or goddess. It is a real relationship, and should be treated as such. If you respect them, they will help and guide you in return. If you disrespect them, they may not give you their aid, or may even retaliate in some way.
So, With Whom Should You Work?
I know it can get a bit confusing. To summarize, there is the Tao, Stillness, Silence, at level #1. Then, there is the God and Goddess, which is generally referred to by names like Universe, Creator, Source, etc. Then there are the countless gods and goddesses from various cultures, each of whom has a real existence separate from you, and each of whom has their own personality.
Beneath even these (level #4 and under) you find the ascended masters, your personal spirit guides, and other advanced spiritual beings. If you believe in angels, they would also be at this level. I’m lumping all these together, but some will be at a higher level than others.
I almost never recommend connecting with only level #1. Even enlightened masters will still often have a devotion to one or more gods. It is simply far too impersonal, and difficult to sense in your everyday life.
Many people, especially in the law of attraction community, will simply say they work with the Universe, and call it a day.
However, I also do not necessarily recommend that, unless it is really working for you.
The reason is, well, again it is pretty impersonal. Can you have faith in the Universe? Can you trust the Universe? Do you know that the Universe will always support you? Do you feel guided by the Universe?
If your true answer to the above is “yes”, then that’s great. But for most people I encounter in my work, this is not the case. They do not trust. They do not have faith. They do not feel supported. They do not feel guided.
If this is the case for you, then you may need to connect with some divine beings who can help you in a real, practical way.
Personally, I believe in the God and Goddess and see them as represented by the Sun and the Moon. I follow these cycles and celebrate their progression.
But for personal devotion, I have chosen (or possibly have been chosen by) two specific deities: Hades and Hecate. Both dark deities, which I will explain more about in Thursday’s post.
But, they have helped me to take the necessary steps I was previously missing. They’ve shown me resistance I was holding on to. They’ve given me sign after sign that I’m on the right path. They’ve been there for me when I needed help.
I feel far more support than I ever have. I always had a decent amount of faith in the Universe. But, this is helping me to take it to the next level.
You’ll have to do some inner work to discover which level you’d prefer to work with. I’ve heard of people who just wanted to work with the God and Goddess, and then were called by a specific deity in a way they couldn’t ignore. Again, this is a relationship. It’s a give and take.
However, I suggest at least opening up to the idea of doing something more to deepen your spiritual connection. Again, if you’re 100% happy as-is, then you’re fine. But even if so, you might enjoy the journey of working with some specific beings.
But, if you feel you need more personal help, then I especially recommend opening up to see who might want to work with you. They will definitely show themselves to you, if you are open and ready.
How About You?
Now it’s your turn. Who is God to you? Do you like keeping it general, or are you open to working with some more specific beings? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
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What do you think Jesus was, according to your levels?
Hi CJ,
I see him as an ascended master, so a level beneath the gods. I think he reached enlightenment in his lifetime, and that the story of the gospels is just the story of his journey, as well as each of ours.
ok thanks.
I don’t like the idea that in order to make life comfortable we have to suck up to some “superior” level beings. It reminds me of corporate institutions where in order to climb the ladder you have to be the one who makes all the effort to connect with those “above” you. And because these “superiors” are more powerful, they are the ones who choose whether you’re “good enough” to get a promotion or pay rise or whatever favour it is.
The whole theme reinforces notions of unworthiness/lowliness. “Oh please god, let this happen….your mightiness”. To such a god I say “fuck you”.
Hi CJ,
I don’t see it the way you do at all. Let me explain:
Firstly, we’re not the one making all the effort. In fact, usually the gods are the ones trying to guide us, but generally we are not open. If they have not made themselves openly known yet to someone, it is because that person is either (1) not ready, or (2) not open to the experience.
As I kept saying, it is a two-way relationship. It does take effort on your part, but you are not the only one putting in the effort. I see it more as a friendship, or an alliance with a highly-ranked individual, more than how you have outlined it.
Secondly, there’s no sense of “good enough”. We are all good enough already, just not all in the place on our path where we are ready for such encounters. It’s a matter of when, not if, and the when is largely up to you.
Thirdly, there is no unworthiness. I think such an idea has been ingrained by Christian ideas of original sin, and God as judge. There is absolutely none of that here.
However, it is a co-creation, as I often emphasize. You cannot do this on your own, nor are you meant to. If you want to try to make all this work without the Divine, well, it won’t happen. It’s a partnership. That’s not because we have to ask for permission, or anything of the sort. It is simply because we are meant to join spirit and matter. Without either side of that equation, you have an imbalance.
I hope that makes a bit more sense.
Thanks again.
I tend to blame god for all the suffering on the planet (including mine). So there’s an enormous hatred and resentment towards something that is essentially ineffable. Poster Z said recently that he wished that god was a person so that he could beat it to death! I feel the same way. How dare some “thing” called god put me here on this planet to suffer? How DARE it?
I know the counter-argument: “CJ, you’re not here to suffer”. According to many eastern religions, whatever is happening (“what is”), is right and only our resistance creates suffering. The universe doesn’t make mistakes. So we’re born into sheer ignorance (we didn’t choose ignorance, we are made that way), face suffering, and try like hell to get out of it. Every now and then there’s some sort of sign, but it’s extremely hard to progress.
To me, god is more like the Matrix (movie). An enormously complex system that encompasses bondage and suffering, and if we’re smart enough, maybe we can escape. I know… all we’re doing in the end is escaping our own minds. But why god would create human minds which are so prone to suffering? – that right there is the real issue for me.
Hi CJ,
I understand where you’re coming from. But, you are only seeing the negative. You are missing the positive. The positive is that the light of the Divine is constantly shining through the world. Right now, you simply aren’t seeing it very much. But, it is always there. And, it is always calling.
If you go within and rest there, you’ll see it, at least much more easily. Or if you look at nature, at the stars, at the Moon, etc. It is in all of those things.
My goal in my recent posts is to emphasize the importance of a living, breathing, dynamic relationship with the Divine. You are not alone. However, you can pretend to be alone by rejecting any support the Universe tries to send your way.
I’m not going to say the Universe is all about good. It is balance. It is life and death, light and dark, as I said in the post. Many people overemphasize the light. But, you are overemphasizing the dark.
I would invite you to take the next 24 hours and see where you can see light in your life. Try to see at least one thing that you can be grateful for. Even that small opening can do wonders.
Thank you.
It’s hard to define God but you have covered it well. For me God is some unknown power who wants to be kind and loving to all. Just to feel it more close and real humans gave that power different faces. We are humans that’s why our most of the gods look like humans. May be god looks like an animal to animals and looks like a bird to birds. Don’t really know.
Thank you for great information. I am learning so many new concepts from you. It’s very interesting. I too have a very close to heart experiences with God. And I believe universe and God work together. They just take different forms to reach to us. In the end they want to see us happy and enjoying. And I will never believe for any reason any god will hurt us. Thank you :).
Hi Rhea,
Thanks for your comment.
Yes, I think the specific forms we imagine for them are just our representations. They obviously don’t have physical forms, as they are spirit.
I agree they all work together. As for them hurting us, yes I agree they would not. When I said about retaliation if they are disrespected, I meant that more as a test or lesson that we must undergo. Sometimes there is temporary suffering to bring about positive change. Some of them will push a bit harder than others, depending on what we are ready for.
I believe we are quite blessed to have communion with these gods and goddesses. Nature can sometimes hurt us. The Sun is good, but if we stay out in it too long, we will burn. The wind can be refreshing, but it can also cause great damage. The gods are, as I said, not something to be messed with idly. They can and will help us, but their help isn’t guaranteed. Just my view, and I respect you if you disagree. 🙂
I think you have a great relationship with the Divine. Keep it up 😀
Yes you are right I have strong connection with divine. I had painful childhood so since I was a child I believed god is my father. That belief made me strong and fearless. It thought me faith. And I felt god is always there with me.
I agree with you about having little suffering to bring positive changes. We feel pain that’s why we search for joy. And we can understand other’s pain better. May be its god or universe give us certain impulses at certain time. ????
I like how you’ve explained the various levels, and a lot of the groupings make intuitive sense to me (e.g. ascended masters and spirit guides being helpful and knowledgeable, but less so than a deity). It’s also very helpful to know that forming a personal relationship with a deity or two has deepened and facilitated your experience with LOA. It does seem true that psychologically, for a lot of people, working with a specific deity or angel or master in mind makes it easier to practice trust. It makes me wonder if I could benefit from such a relationship.
The one point I found a little problematic was in saying that the #1 level, the Tao, is not personal. It makes it sound like you are dividing up the world into two buckets “personal beings or existences” and “impersonal existences” and then saying the Oneness belongs in the second bucket, not the first. Which doesn’t sound nondual at all. Probably the Oneness can be described as personal as well, but maybe in some fashion that goes beyond the limited conception of personality that we have. It’s a fussy point, and one not worth dwelling on, probably, but I did want to point out that any description we give of the Tao (even “it’s not personal”) winds up being limiting and misleading in certain respects. Even the iconic “not this, not that” description so often offered winds up misleading people with concepts. I think not being able to access that realm very easily (if at all) with language and reason makes it confusing and not very actionable for most people. (Like you said, it winds up not being that practical for most people to deal with.) It puzzles me what exactly we are to do with level #1, if anything. I suppose if it is truly nondual, you can’t really get away from it, since it will be everywhere and in everything in every moment anyway, and even ignoring it or denying it is still part of it, even using language that doesn’t quite capture it it is still present….Any thoughts?
Hi Lisa,
Great comment. Yes, I agree it is helpful to work with at least a being or two, whether that’s an angel, ascended master, or deity. On Thursday I’ll be talking about how to choose whom to work with, so you might find that of interest. 🙂
Yes you are right about the Tao. No label can really be applied to it, because all labels, as well as no labels, can apply equally. What I meant by dividing it was that on the absolute level, all is one and undivided. But, even one level removed, the experience is totally opposite. There is always the oneness and interconnection, but there is also an inherent duality in the world, which is not apparent in the Tao. Or, it should be said, the duality is resolved in the Tao.
It’s the classic problem of the one and the many. How the one became many, no one really knows, nor can we know. There is definitely one, but it is not evident on our level.
So I would say that numinous non-dual reality permeates all things. it must, because all things exists within it. But, it is, to our minds, far removed, and difficult to work with, as I said.
As for what to do with it, well, I think anything you do is okay. It makes itself known through all possible means. If you work with a particular deity or other advanced being, the Tao will be reflected in that being.
But, more and more, I’m a proponent of getting to the one by working with the many. Work with the deities, achieve your goals, and take the lessons as they come. It will become more and more obvious over time. The Universe, through whatever guides, teachers, and gods you choose, will lead you down the path. You’re always on the path, so it’s okay. 🙂
Hope that makes sense.