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The Universal Strata Model, or USM, is a scientific model of the universe which attempts to explain its organizational composition1. The USM is useful to fields like theogenesis, astronomy, and philosophy. The USM is particularly useful to theogenists who can use it to predict the personification of certain parts of nature.
The USM models only one expression of the universe: Nature, the one which we exist within. Theoretically however there are other expressions in the universe, Nature is simply the one our reality exists within.
Layers
The USM posits that the universe is made of possibility, it is everything that ever has, can, or will be. Given the universe’s structure there are theoretically other forms it expresses itself as, the USM models only one given expression—that expression is the one we exist within, Nature. Nature is made up of the physical, metaphysical, known, unknown, and unknowable.
Nature contains two primary groups of substance: the Real and the Unreal. The Real is entities, like matter, energy, and space. Real things act by persisting and responding. The Unreal is relationships, like logic, causality, and physics. Unreal things act by governing and limiting interaction.
Reality is an emergent property of Nature, the result of an interaction between the Real and Unreal. This interaction is not perfect—think of it like two pieces of twine being braided into a rope—many things can incite instability. The interactions between the Real and Unreal give rise to emergent properties in Nature, especially thanks to the instability of their relationship.
Natural Personification is one of these emergent properties, it is the tendency of phenomena in Nature to enter Reality as unique phenomena. If the Real and Unreal are twine braided into rope, then Natural Personification is like a knot in the twine which is braided in before being fixed. A few different phenomena can come out of this interaction:
- Gods: If Real enters the interaction in a highly concentrated form then the Unreal may be unable to properly govern it. In this scenario the Unreal substitutes and borrows logic, giving rise to Gods. Gods are physical form given the properties of metaphysical law.
- Stars: If Unreal enters the interaction but cannot find any Real to bind to, then it may make its own. The Unreal may latch onto unknowable patterns in Nature, giving rise to stars. Stars are metaphysical law given physical form.
- Limn: Real and Unreal’s interaction is fragile, and other forms of Nature like to exert their own forces on it. This exertion incites instability in Reality, allowing Nature to creep in and give rise to Limn. Limn is a strange Real-esque substance that
Complications
The USM has changed and evolved drastically with time, with some of the earliest models dating as far back as the late God-War. The model suffers from a number of issues and complications, most of which stem from difficult theogenical questions.
One major critique of the model is the lack of evidence regarding the Natural Personification of Stars. No star has been proven to have naturally personified, which has led some scholars to call into question the current understanding of Natural Personification. Perhaps, it has been argued, stars are artificial in nature and cannot personify naturally. This idea however is not supported by first-hand accounts by Gods, such as those recorded in Encounters With The Quadrinity and The Nature of Gods, which support the idea that there has simply not been a scenario in which a star has needed to form.
Ontological arguments have also been raised regarding the separation of the Real and Unreal. It is thought strange that the Real and Unreal interact so easily to create Reality, for this reason it has been argued by some that they are perhaps not separate in the first place. This model of the USM brings into question the occurrence of Natural Personification.
