Deva (New Age)
Encyclopedia
A deva in the New Age movement refers to any of the spiritual forces or beings behind nature
. According to Theosophists
Charles Webster Leadbeater
and Alice A. Bailey, devas represent a separate evolution to that of humanity
. The concept of devas as nature-spirits derives from the writings of Theosophist Geoffrey Hodson
. It is believed by Theosophists that there are numerous different types of devas with a population in the millions performing different functions on Earth to help the ecology
function better. It is asserted they can be observed by those whose third eye
s have been activated.
In addition, it is believed by Theosophists that there are millions of devas living inside the Sun
, the indwelling solar deity
of which Theosophists call the Solar Logos--these devas are called solar angels, or sometimes solar devas or solar spirits. Sometimes, it is believed, they visit Earth and can be observed, like other devas, by humans whose third eyes have been activated. Theosophists believe that there are also devas living inside all the other star
s besides Sol
; these are called stellar angels.
In the Findhorn
material, the term refers to archetypal
spiritual intelligences behind species, in other words the group soul of a species.
Some New Age sources use the term as a generic term to designate any being regarded as being composed of etheric matter
--elemental
s, nature spirits (including the various types of nature spirits such as fairies
, ondines, etc.). The pre-New Age etymology of the term is described in the article Deva (Hinduism)
.
Nature
Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general...
. According to Theosophists
Theosophy
Theosophy, in its modern presentation, is a spiritual philosophy developed since the late 19th century. Its major themes were originally described mainly by Helena Blavatsky , co-founder of the Theosophical Society...
Charles Webster Leadbeater
Charles Webster Leadbeater
Charles Webster Leadbeater was an influential member of the Theosophical Society, author on occult subjects and co-initiator with J. I. Wedgwood of the Liberal Catholic Church...
and Alice A. Bailey, devas represent a separate evolution to that of humanity
Human Race
Human Race refers to the Human species.Human race may also refer to:*The Human Race, 79th episode of YuYu Hakusho* Human Race Theatre Company of Dayton Ohio* Human Race Machine, a computer graphics device...
. The concept of devas as nature-spirits derives from the writings of Theosophist Geoffrey Hodson
Geoffrey Hodson
Geoffrey Hodson was an occultist, Theosophist, mystic, Liberal Catholic priest, philosopher and esotericist, and a leading light for over 70 years in the Theosophical Society...
. It is believed by Theosophists that there are numerous different types of devas with a population in the millions performing different functions on Earth to help the ecology
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
function better. It is asserted they can be observed by those whose third eye
Third eye
The third eye is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna chakra in certain spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness...
s have been activated.
In addition, it is believed by Theosophists that there are millions of devas living inside the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
, the indwelling solar deity
Solar deity
A solar deity is a sky deity who represents the Sun, or an aspect of it, usually by its perceived power and strength. Solar deities and sun worship can be found throughout most of recorded history in various forms...
of which Theosophists call the Solar Logos--these devas are called solar angels, or sometimes solar devas or solar spirits. Sometimes, it is believed, they visit Earth and can be observed, like other devas, by humans whose third eyes have been activated. Theosophists believe that there are also devas living inside all the other star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s besides Sol
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
; these are called stellar angels.
In the Findhorn
Findhorn Foundation
The Findhorn Foundation is a Scottish charitable trust registered in 1972, formed by the spiritual community at the Findhorn Ecovillage, one of the largest intentional communities in Britain....
material, the term refers to archetypal
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
spiritual intelligences behind species, in other words the group soul of a species.
Some New Age sources use the term as a generic term to designate any being regarded as being composed of etheric matter
Etheric plane
The etheric plane is a term introduced into Theosophy by Charles Webster Leadbeater and Annie Besant to represent one of the planes of existence in neo-Theosophical and Rosicrucian cosmology. It represents the fourth[higher] subplane of the physical plane , the lower three being the states of...
--elemental
Elemental
An elemental is a mythological being first appearing in the alchemical works of Paracelsus in the 16th century. Traditionally, there are four types:*gnomes, earth elementals*undines , water elementals*sylphs, air elementals...
s, nature spirits (including the various types of nature spirits such as fairies
Fairy
A fairy is a type of mythical being or legendary creature, a form of spirit, often described as metaphysical, supernatural or preternatural.Fairies resemble various beings of other mythologies, though even folklore that uses the term...
, ondines, etc.). The pre-New Age etymology of the term is described in the article Deva (Hinduism)
Deva (Hinduism)
' is the Sanskrit word for god or deity, its related feminine term is devi. In modern Hinduism, it can be loosely interpreted as any benevolent supernatural beings. The devs in Hinduism, also called Suras, are often juxtaposed to the Asuras, their half brothers. Devs are also the maintainers of...
.
Further reading
- Hodson, Geoffrey, Kingdom of the Gods. 1952. ISBN 0-7661-8134-0 Contains color pictures of what Devas supposedly look like when observed by the third eye — their appearance is reputedly like colored flames about the size of a human being. Paintings of some of the devas claimed to have been seen by Hodson from his book Kingdom of the Gods
External links
- Image of a typical deva as claimed to have been observed by Geoffrey Hodson and other Theosophists with their third eyes—this particular deva is colored gold and purple, but it has been claimed by Theosophists that the various types of devas may appear in any combination of colors when observed by clairvoyant sight
- Another picture of a deva from Geoffrey Hodson’s book Kingdom of the Gods
