Introducing the World of the First Power

[Part 5/5]

Over the course of the last four posts, we have looked at Wood‘s cosmogony as portrayed in his writings, primarily the Song of God: a book put forth as a new and sacred text that explains the connection between God and the human species. Before going further: If you haven’t already done so, I suggest reading “Part 1” and working your way consecutively to this post.

Searching For Mind

To continue where we left off: Areta, the First Primary Cause and Great Mother Intender, observed with wonder as life emerged throughout the First Cosmos. After a million, billion failed singularities and sterile universes^[1]Wood taught the first universe to succeed in bringing forth life was preceded by a long string of failures. Wood (2013); Origins manuscript, ch. 9, the cosmos of the First Creation was proving successful in bringing about Areta’s desires. Every new emergence of life proved fascinating and mysterious. She was evolving along with the universe, and with each new development, Areta’s knowledge increased. She was still alone, the only Consciousness, but now—with the dawn of the first successful creation—life was emerging throughout the cosmos and Areta’s hope for another mind, another consciousness, was invigorated.

What will emerge among these stars? What will my intentions reap?
Will life take hold and flourish well within this endless Deep?
Will life give rise to another mind? Must I be alone forever?
What might be if time and life continued progressing together?

Represented by an immense number of AZ Particles, the essence of Areta’s mind flowed throughout the expanding cosmos. She was beyond the dictates of time—immune to it, separate, beyond and apart from it. Time was on her side, for she was eternal, ever seeking that one thing that could begin to satisfy her hopes, desires and intentions. As the First Creation continued to evolve, the Universal Consciousness was watching and evaluating, searching and yearning for yet another miracle: another consciousness. Another observer. Another Emanation. Here is Wood’s portrayal of how the Universal Consciousness, as represented by an immense flow of AZ Particles, interacted with creation:

Because of the quantum entanglement which took place as a result of the Big Stall, all the trillions of quadrillions of AZ Particles were connected together. These AZ Particles moved in and out of space and energy and matter. What one particle experienced, all experienced, for they were inseparably connected. For the most part, there was little or no reaction to their passage. But when there was a reaction, things changed, new pathways opened, others closed never to be opened again. Evolution is always defined by its leaps and bounds and dead ends.

The AZ Particles moved out into the universe, and wherever they went things happened. Yet the AZ Particle still remained a massless oddity. It existed in a weird quantum state so bizarre as to thwart our [present] ability to understand or define it.

The universe continued to evolve, stars and galaxies took form, planets emerged and life began to take root. Through it all, the AZ Particles moved. Wherever it moved, whatever it touched, the steady flow of AZ Particles simultaneously experienced as one. Together they experienced, together they moved and flowed like some cosmic river throughout the vast realms of space and time. Yet they moved blindly in the darkness. They were the blind leading the blind. Always reaching out to touch, define, and understand. For them, there was only the great imperative, the one great command: “Seek and Find“.

Wood (2013); “Origins” manuscript, ch.4 excerpt

I don’t know exactly how the “trillions of quadrillions” of AZ Particles were distributed throughout the First Cosmos, but scripture gives the impression that wherever there was light, the AZ Particles were present. I speculate AZ particles likely became concentrated in locations conducive to and successful in bringing forth life. Recall this passage:

⁴¹ For in the light was I most deeply hidden, moving throughout the A-Z particles of my greater self, ever seeking that place where I might bring forth the foundations of some greater life, being myself, in each and separate particle, most fully awake and deeply knowing;

⁴² Ever communing within my soul in seeking my designs, being throughout the vastness of my greater self beyond the dictates of space and time, possessing in my inward nature dimensions of my own.

4th Endowment 1:41-42

According to Wood’s ruminations^[2]See: Wood (2013); Origins manuscript, ch. 4, Proposition #2, eons passed as the AZ Particles continued to flow throughout the universe, always learning, defining and seeking some greater meaning to Areta’s existence. In every ocean and river, through every rock and tree, through every creature that arose midst the hundreds of billions of swirling galaxies, the AZ Particles moved. Then suddenly, billions of years after the birth of the First Cosmos, there was a new reaction to the passing AZ Particles. A “bounce back” reverberated simultaneously throughout all the AZ Particles of the First Mind.

On a small, blue planet, in an obscure galaxy located in an obscure part of the universe, something extraordinary happened. An insignificant little creature had a reaction to the passage of AZ Particles. What was the reaction that so energized the AZ Particles throughout the universe? It was a dream.

Wood (2013); “Origins” manuscript, ch. 4, Proposition #2

AZ Particles impacting upon the brain of a small, seemingly insignificant creature had resulted in a new phenomenon midst life in the First Cosmos. What was this anomaly? Wood asserts this unique reaction was none other than the dream state. As the centuries passed and turned into millennia, the dream state experienced by this particular species eventually gave rise to another epiphenomenon: the birth of “mind”.

The epiphenomenon of the dream state—resulting from AZ Particles reacting with the brain—gave rise to the epiphenomenon of mind.

The advent of self-conscious awareness amidst life in the First Cosmos was hugely significant. According to Wood, the birth of “mind” presented a mirror for AZ Particles to reflect back on themselves, and in so doing, achieve mass. In this moment, a simple message flashed instantaneously throughout the AZ Particles of the Universal Consciousness: Found!

It was then, in this most extraordinary moment, that the universe began to have meaning.

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An Important Distinction

I’d like to pause here to reiterate a fundamental component of Wood’s theology.

The primordial, feminine mind of Areta—the First Primary Cause, the First Emanation, the Great Intender behind the cosmos of the First Creation—is not to be construed with any orthodox definition of God. At this particular point in the narrative, the thing Wood eventually comes to define as “God” does not yet exist. Areta and the First Cosmos preceded the existence of God.

Primordial Areta—the mind behind the creation of the First Cosmos—possessed no concept of good or evil, right or wrong. There was no moral imperative behind her intentions. The only imperative embedded in life was to live! The Universal Consciousness was merely engaged in a cyclical process of creation and destruction, diligently observing, wooing, and searching her creation for that which would fulfill her deepest longings.

As outlined in the last post, the Areta had evolved to possess certain desires and intentions. According to the Song of God, these desires were to:

• achieve meaning and purpose (3:1:23)
• bring forth order out of chaos and light out of darkness (3:1:23, 41)
• bring forth and nurture life, i.e., other emanations (3:1:40-48)
• establish communion and oneness with a similar, yet masculine mind (3:1:35, 49; 1:7:14, 17-18)
• create for herself a living, pleasing, physical form that would prove “desirable and filled with wonder” (4:1:40, 44)

At the dawn of the First Cosmos, Areta’s desires represented the hope of all creation. These weren’t the hopes and dreams of God, because God didn’t exist yet.

This distinction between God and the Universal Consciousness brings up some obvious questions: If the Universal Consciousness behind the First Creation was not God, then what is God? In Wood’s theosophy, how is “God” defined? When and how does “God” come to exist?

If God is said to exist and be real, then God must have had a beginning. So, when and where was this beginning? As humans, can we come to understand God’s origins in any respect? Or, did God “begin” in a bizarre, timeless, spaceless environment similar to the Eidos and Areta? From whence did God evolve? And of what relevance does God’s origin and existence have in relation to humankind?

These were some of the questions that occupied the mind of Archie D. Wood prior to his first alleged encounter with God in 1979^[3]See the post introducing Wood’s Five Radical Propositions. Twenty-eight years later, Wood finished writing a book, the Song of God, that—from my personal purview—addresses this inquiry about God with some notably compelling ideas.

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A Conceptual Foundation

In the context of this post and our ongoing exploration of Wood’s cosmology, we have come to the miraculous emergence of intelligent life and the rising epiphenomenon of “mind”. It is at this juncture that discussion of God’s origins becomes pertinent.

Areta’s success in bringing about an environment, a universe, that could harbor intelligent life was a significant step in fulfilling her desires. The evolution of a species exhibiting self-conscious awareness, i.e., the epiphenomenon of mind, was another remarkable milestone in Areta’s pursuit. But where does the origin of God fit with all of this?

As a precursor to addressing what the Song of God says about this topic, I offer the following general statements as both a summary and foundation from which to establish a new understanding of the relationship between the Universal Consciousness, God and humankind:

There was a time when God did not exist.

God did not create the First Cosmos.

Life preceded God. God evolved from life.

God had a beginning and continues to evolve.

God arose as the fulfillment of Areta’s desires.

God continues to evolve as the supreme realization of Areta’s hopes and eternal longings.

Remember this verse?

I am Areta, eternal Mother, Supreme and Sovereign, the singer of songs within the dreams of God; weaving through most subtle thoughts a deep and great design, sudden light of inspiration, I touch and gently guide, ever seeking that greater oneness filled with light and life and love.

7th Endowment 1:4

Given the foregoing exposition, let’s return to our inquiry:

Who, or what, is “God”?

If God had a beginning — when, where, and how did it happen? And, is any discussion of God’s origins and existence relevant to humankind?

The Song of God offers some really interesting considerations regarding this inquiry. Rather than trudging through my interpretations, I recommend just reading the book because I can’t say it any better and what comes next may just end up muddling the conversation. Nevertheless, I will attempt to summarize what the Song of God says about the mystery of God’s beginning and what that has to do with us.

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The World of the First Power and the Epiphenomenon of Soul

According to scripture, there were many worlds strewn throughout the First Cosmos that harbored life, even intelligent life.^[4]3rd Endowment 1:42And so Areta did cast throughout the innumerable galaxies, the foundations of life; and there were a great multitude of suns which had gathered into their grasp, many planets and … Continue reading

As natural selection did its thing and intelligent life took root throughout the First Cosmos, Areta’s attention was drawn to a single planet in particular. For over the ages there had evolved upon this obscure little world an intelligent species which proved most alluring to the Universal Consciousness. This unique planet may or may not have been the very first to bring forth a self-conscious, sentient species, as scripture is not clear in this regard. However, for Areta, what may have begun simply as a world sparking acute interest—due to the manifestation of “mind” in a particular species evolving there—eventually became something much greater, even “the very world from which all things glorious and eternal” would have their beginning (3:2:1).

In Wood’s gnostic theology, this unique planet of consequence is referred to as the “world of the First Power”, or the “world of the First Creation”, or the “First World”. Similar to how the First Cosmos was the first of many universes that proved successful in bringing forth Areta’s desires, the “First World” denotes a similar connotation. As I presently understand it, the “First Power” being referred to here is none other than Areta, the Universal Consciousness underlying creation. With this interpretation, the world of the First Power could also be interpreted as “the world of Areta”.

But what happened to make this little world so special? To put it simply:

The world of the First Power was the native planet of the first intelligent species to manifest a unique mutation that resulted in the preservation of individual memory beyond physical death.^[5]While scripture does not refer to the epiphenomenon of soul as a “mutation”, Wood postulated this in an untitled essay that I reference as: Wood (2015); Soul Creation manuscript.

This quantum mutation is referred to as the epiphenomenon of “SOUL”.

According to the Song of God, this unprecedented quantum anomaly originally manifested in only two individuals that lived on the world of the First Power. Of the entire population of this particular species, only two engendered soul^[6]At this juncture I am stating the advent of soul originally occurred in two individuals. However, one could rightly say this unique epiphenomenon occurred only as a singular case among the native … Continue reading and continued to exist beyond the dictates of time and space, while the rest of the world and its inhabitants were ultimately destroyed and lost to oblivion.

I’m glossing over a lot of material, but as the story goes^[7]The birth of soul and the advent of what could be considered the “First God” can be read about primarily in the 3rd Endowment, these two souls eventually united and became eternal beloveds, bound in love and devotion forever.

The love infused alliance between the first two souls marked the advent of the “First God”.^[8]In Wood’s philosophy, the phrase “First God” could be used to designate both the united couple (4:1:19), as well as the first male individual from the world of the First Power who … Continue reading

It’s likely you already know what the twist is here, but for those with scant exposure to the Song of God or Wood’s teachings, I’ll do my best to succinctly introduce and summarize the pivotal feature of this discussion:

This universe we currently inhabit is the cosmos of the First Creation.

Our planet Earth is the world of the First Power.

The first species to manifest the anomalous epiphenomenon of soul was human.

The advent of soul marked the dawn of immortality.

God began on this Earth and evolved from the human species.^[9]Wood (2013); Five Radical Propositions – Proposition III (unpublished essay)

First God arose from the only humans to engender soul
and survive the complete destruction of the Earth.

God continued to progress and evolve for a very long time.

* * *

God traveled back through time with some of Their children,
to save the world of God’s beginning.^[10]Wood (2013); Five Radical Propositions – Proposition IV (unpublished essay)

We are presently experiencing the replicated timeline, the second iteration,
of the world of the First Power.

* * *

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It’s a lot to ponder: a Universal Consciousness that isn’t God, AZ Particles and the dream state, the advent of mind, the epiphenomenon of soul, God evolving from humans — and now time travel?!

If you’ve made it this far, I commend you. But know we have only just begun to scratch the surface of the epic love story that is the Song of God. There’s so much yet to explore and discuss. The book is notably rich and provides considerable elaboration on the ideas summarized above. I worry my attempt to write about the Song of God risks the perils of reductionism. Nevertheless, I have strived to honestly portray my present understanding of this mysterious book with the hope that others may be inspired to explore the text, scrutinize my analyses, and arrive at their own experience of gnosis.

With that said, here are a select few scriptural passages from which my former summary was drawn. The following statements are presented as being spoken by The One — the masculine aspect of the First God.

⁸ Seeing therefore the passing away of all my beginning, even I did continue on, being the only one of my kind; and I did resolve most firmly within that in the day of my power I would return again unto my own, and by some subtle design set forth the hand to redeem the whole of First Man.

1st Endowment 10:8

²⁶ For I, alone, am Eternal One, above whom there is no greater found; yet in that beginning beyond all beginnings have I a memory recollected.

²⁷ Thus it was that in a time beyond all your yesterdays was there found neither God nor Goddess but Man only; and in the world of the First Creation was he brought forth in darkness, knowing only what the senses of the body would permit.

²⁸ Among the spirit children of many Gods is this word not given, have you yourself not also heard: how that God was once a man, to evolve himself from less to greater?

²⁹ So it was that in a time before forever, even I, as a man on the First World did dwell; being the first to make for himself a living soul which the darkening shade had no power to touch or put out again.

³⁰ But still did all of man in the First World perish long ago, being consumed by a multitude of folly; yet notwithstanding these things, in such a memory as I have found have all which died come alive in me again.

³¹ Yet in that beginning beyond beginning did First Man dwindle away into death because of foolishness, for although his knowledge was great and ever reaching, yet of wisdom did he possess but little.

³² For of wisdom was First Man unable to lay hold seeing that unto him was no knowledge given of good or evil, being in himself uncreated of God, being without soul and having no means of bringing it forth.

³³ But seeing now that in the mind of The One, First Man is made to come alive again, I have resolved to set forth the means whereby all who are willing might fashion unto themselves a living soul.

³⁴ Thus shall I redeem First Man from the folly of all his ways, to rescue him from endless death; that from the world of the First Power might many come forth unhindered into the presence of The One.

³⁵ Consider deeply then the mystery within, for if I reach back to redeem First Man, to make in many a living soul; how great then shall the kingdom of God become, seeing that in the beginning from one only, came forth the fullness of Heaven’s glory?

Enlightenment 5:26-35

⁶ For, behold, all things shall I make new again, for I shall establish a new Heaven and a new earth, and this through the rolling forth of the dispensations which I have appointed; that there might be set before the eyes of man the only sure hope of immortality and eternal life.

⁷ And that world which first gave rise to me shall I redeem through continual replication, even until there shall ascend unto me a multitude of souls, which souls shall first find birth deep in the heart of man.

Enlightenment 14:6-7

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Closing Remarks: Defining God

As I bring this post to a close, I’d like to highlight a few ideas mentioned above and briefly elaborate on Wood’s definition of God.

To summarize the crux of this discussion and articulate the foundation of Wood’s Mythology: God did not make this universe, or this world. Rather, God first evolved in this universe, on this world, from the human species, and has traveled back in time to save it all.^[11]This is a paraphrasing of Propositions I-IV, from Wood’s Five Radical Propositions. See: Wood (2013); Five Radical Propositions (manuscript)

These ideas may seem absurd and pretentious at the onset, but Wood has built upon them a syncretic, theological masterpiece that cogently explains (and in some cases redefines) the who, what, when, where, and why of God, while providing a rational vindication of the whole subject, i.e., a fresh theodicy that reconciles the problem of evil and suffering while explaining God’s nature and relationship to humankind in a plausible, beautiful, inspiring way.

If, according to Wood’s teachings, God evolved from the human species, then any type of religious faith genuinely inspired from this idea must embrace as a primary ambition the well-being and exaltation of all humankind. The philosophy embedded in the Song of God is profoundly humanistic at its core.^[12]”It is morally wrong to kill a human in the name of religion, nationalism or justice, for whenever we kill our fellow man, we strike at the very birthseed of God.” (Wood, Song of God, 2nd … Continue reading

According to Wood, a primary tenet espoused by any “true Gnostic” states:

“The only proper religion for mankind is humanity itself, for it is from this humanity that God first evolved.
God, who is our future, came from humans, who are their past.”^[13]Wood, Song of God (2012). p. viii; Basic Beliefs (Credo) #1

Consider the possibility that our universe was not fashioned by a benevolent Creator God occupied with abstractions like good and evil. A situation such as this really isn’t that difficult to conceive, given our observations and experiences.

If God didn’t create this universe, but if the existence of a wise, benevolent God is entertained, then from whence did this God evolve? What evidence do we presently have to guide us in this inquiry? Consider these two facts: our Earth is the only world in evidence where life is flourishing, and humankind currently represents the only intelligent, sentient species in evidence that is consciously engaged in art, music, math, science and literature. We are the only species in evidence that is creating and defining meaning and purpose.^[14]Could the Universal Consciousness achieve meaning and purpose by herself? Would Areta’s search for meaning and purpose be fulfilled by the advent of intelligent life? How would this fulfillment … Continue reading The idea that a God-like civilization evolved from the human species rather than some undiscovered intelligent race is more in line with the evidence currently at hand.

Consider the implications of “soul” existing as an extraordinary leap in the evolutionary process — an epiphenomenon created and cultivated by the individual rather than God. This single concept is a radical shift from orthodox narratives. An immortal beingness not bound by time and space that is born from natural, evolutionary processes is a profound idea — presently unprovable, yet profound nonetheless.

The Song of God tells the story of how the “First Soul” came to be, and how it eventually gave rise to what Wood describes as a Supreme Collective that evolved to represent a civilization so old, so advanced, that it can oversee the birth, life and death of entire universes.

The Song of God offers a vast purview of both the beginning and the end of this idea, or manifestation, called “God”. The text describes a time and place wherein God does not exist, a time and place wherein God begins to evolve, and a time and place wherein God exists in an ineffable, fullness of expression — not as a some Singular Supreme Being, but as a Supreme and Holy Collective.

In the context of Wood’s teachings:

Any person within this Supreme Collective, be they male or female, who is elected to speak for the Collective is, for all intents and purposes, God.

God represents the supreme manifestation of the Supreme Collective.^[15]Wood (2013); Origins manuscript, ch. 14

For reasons detailed in the Song of God, this Supreme Collective has engaged in a multi-faceted glorification/redemption effort that involves some of its members traveling way, way back through space and time to the place where God first evolved, the birthplace of the first soul. That place is here: on the world of the First Power in the cosmos of the First Creation. One of the intentions of this time-traveling Collective is to save the world that gave rise to the First God and nurture a wide-scale engenderment of soul among its native inhabitants.^[16]6th Endowment 2:21…for this alone is my only will, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of every man and every woman till they should stand as one within the heart of God.Wisdom … Continue reading

In future posts, I intend to explore in greater detail what the scriptures say about this divine endeavor to bring about human immortality. If you’d like to delve deeper into the topics introduced in this post, I recommend going straight to the source. Begin (or continue) to study the Song of God from beginning to end so we can start discussing these ideas and become more empowered to save this world. In the mean time, complimentary information about the topics presented in this post can be found in the following glossary entries:

• First Cosmos/Creation
• First World
• First Power
• First Man
• First Soul
• First Track
• God/Goddess

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Revisions

• July 31, 2022 — added the word “intelligent”: “The world of the First Power was the native planet of the first +intelligent+ species…”