Microcosm and Macrocosm

[Rubber_Piggy]

This has prob been discussed before but I could find no threads on it.

I haven't been able to find a clear definition of the microcosm and macrocosm. While i've developed a general idea of what the two are, texts seem to contrdict each other on which one is which. Please someone give me a clear definition or give me a reference that contains such a definition.

Thanks

[Aidron]

This has prob been discussed before but I could find no threads on it.

I haven't been able to find a clear definition of the microcosm and macrocosm. While i've developed a general idea of what the two are, texts seem to contrdict each other on which one is which. Please someone give me a clear definition or give me a reference that contains such a definition.

Thanks


The microcosm is the world within you, and the macrocosm is the world around you. The idea of these two is that each world contains its own complexities, energies, and can be manipulated. For example, one might could consider North Carolina a macrocosm if it is all they have ever known, but the microcosm of the United States, with the United States in turn being the microcosm of North America. A world surrounded by another world, to simplify it.

From Dictionary.com:

Microcosm- A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development: “He sees the auto industry as a microcosm of the U.S. itself” (William J. Hampton).

The auto industry in turn could be considered a macrocosm from the perspective of a single car, with that car being the microcosm. Inside any car many things are contained, sometimes they are wonders, sometimes nuisances. Outside of the car much more lies that together creates the macrocosm of the auto industry.

Macrocosm:

The entire world; the universe.
A system reflecting on a large scale one of its component systems or parts.

The macrocosm could be ascribed to anything, for within each large picture there are smaller details. A puzzle could be viewed as a macrocosm, with one piece being a microcosm. So many details and images and elemental properties (metaphysical and scientific) can be held within one piece of the puzzle, but only together do they convey the ultimate message-the overall picture.

Both the microcosm and macrocosm are infinite in that everything can be defined as one or the other, since everything contains something within it. While these two words are often ascribed to the macrocosm being the world around us and the microcosm being the world within ourselves, you could just as easily define yourself as the macrocosm, with a memory or an atom being the microcosm.

[Seren_]

The microcosm is the world within you, and the macrocosm is the world around you. The idea of these two is that each world contains its own complexities, energies, and can be manipulated.

I agree with this, but would add that in a magical context, it is usually implied that the microcosm is a reflection of the macrocosm, and vice versa. So our microcosm - our self - is a reflection of the macrocosm - the world around us (or the universe...). In a very concentrated, non-literal way :fpipesmok . We are made up of the same essence, I guess you could say. And through this link, the you could say that the gods are within us as well as around us (though not everyone would agree...).

In a more magical sense, through working on our selves (microcosm), we can effect changes outside our selves (macrocosm). This is why (I think) many magical paths concentrate on inner development - it's much easier in some respects. We are tiny pebbles in the universe, but the ripples we create (ie magic) spread far beyond us and are far bigger than us.

[Rubber_Piggy]

thanks guys that confirms the idea i had :thumbsup: