Macrocosm

The Macrocosm (Fengese: 浩宙, : Hàozhòu), in Infernalism, is the totality of all existence, characterized in its entirety through the diametric interactions between the fundamental essences of Brilliance and Oblivion, which themselves comprise the Macrocosm. It is contrasted by the Microcosm, the smaller mundane and physical universe formed through conflict between the two essences in the Cosmic Struggle.

The Macrocosm is ineffable in its existence, beyond mortal perception and comprehension - a state of being contrasted by the easily perceptible material Microcosm. This incomprehensibility is considered to be undesirable, as realizing that there exists existence beyond the Microcosm is a vital prerequisite towards transcending beyond the suffering inherent in the Microcosm. The mission of Infernalism is to promote erudition and enlighten all beings so that they may see through this Empyrean Illusion, opening the path towards their salvation by Brilliance.

The Macrocosm, beyond its juxtaposition with the Microcosm, is seldom described in Infernalist literature (at least in publicly available Baili), contributing to the mysticality of the nominally transmundane realm. According to what is publicly known and agreed upon in mainstream orthodoxy, the Macrocosm is primarily defined by the Aether and Nether, respectively the essential realms comprised by Brilliance and Oblivion. These two realms are not equal in scope. The Aether is described to be dwarfed by the Nether, but their positions are equalized through the prevailing of Brilliant reason over Oblivious confusion, manifesting as an ongoing effort by Brilliance to cleanse away Oblivion while Oblivion discorporates Brilliance in return - this conflict is generally personified as the conflict between the deific Mother Phoenix and Archanathema).

In folk myth, the Aether and Nether are believed to be the homes of transcended beings (luminaries) and evil spirits (妖精 yāojīng), said to influence happenings in the Microcosm through the performance of miracles or curses. In more rational circles (primarily in Materialist thought), the Macrocosm is studied more for its purported interactions with the Microcosm, given that it is believed that the latter is formed and defined by interactions from the former. For example, informed by the theological understanding of the Microcosm as being composed by Brilliance and Oblivion, in the Pyrosphere is understood in Infernalist science as the arcane interactions between the dual essences of both realms of existence, codified as cosmosophy.