THE COSMIC DIAGRAMS        
                 

These diagrams on the left give us a little more insight into the concept of

Man is Made in God's Image

ON the left is a list of the elements of the Universe, similar to the Creation story in Genesis. Our Galaxy is the Milky way and it is now clear to us that Our Sun and solar system containing our planet earth is but one of millions of Suns in our Galaxy and our galaxy is one of a cluster of galaxies grouped together of which there are millions (of clusters).

It is almost impossible to get an idea of the vastness of our Galaxy but, suffice to say it is a few million light years in diameter( a light year is the distance covered by light traveling in one year at 93million miles per second.) It further confounds our sense of passing time to be told by the astronomers that many of the stars we see today are long extinct but their light still travels on to us) he From the cluster of Galaxies to our own selves
 
Regarding this cosmic list, we can see that the cosmic Elements at every level are contained in the level above.
Humanity is part of all "living creatures" on earth and is made of cells and the cells are made of molecules which in turn are made of atoms. The whole diagram is a little like the Russian dolls and the Chinese ballsas seen below. Each level contained by the level above.
 

Although each level is contained by the level above, there is also a diminution of size at each level. The earth is not as big as the sun and the solar system is smaller than the galaxy.

The cells man is made of are obviously smaller than the man himself and similarly molecules in the cell must be much smaller. Eventually the sub-atomic particles and the still smaller QUARKS must be so small as to almost not exist reaching beyond the nano level, AYIN, the level of nothingness.
We human beings can stand on the earth and look up to the heavens and have a vague sense that we are part of this awesome, magnificent and vast Macrocosm. But we can also be aware that the macrocosm is not only above us but also beneath, as well as behind, to the right and to the left. We reiterate this symbolically when we shake and point the Lulav in the Succah in the 6 directions of space and we can be aware of the divine presence, simultaneously in these 6 directions; from the clusters of Galaxies to our own selves. t
The Russian Dolls and the Chinese Balls are an indication of other cultures, who also recognise that the Universe is made of Spheres within Spheres, (Remember Mozart Music in the same vein)
 
      http://www.wtg1977.com/woodburn.html      
                           
      Picture courtesy Victor Bates
           
           
 

The Kabbalistic diagram of the Sephirot also depicts the Universal concept of

SPHERES Within SPHERES
             
                   
   

Besides the similarity with the pin hole camera this diagram is also a clear picture of the reflection of the Macrocosm with the microcosm
     
 

Notice the elements we humans are made of,
All living creatures are made of cells, which depend on molecules to function. Molecules like iron and Haemoglobin in the cells of the blood , oxygen for breathing and carbon dioxide to carry away the waste. Water molecules to move nutrients in and out of cells


The molecules in their turn are composed of atoms made of subatomic particles (protons neutrons and electrons) which are made of the mysterious quarks. Yes there is yet a smaller element which we will consider later
                   
Our planet earth is only one of the many Planets in orbit around our sun. Note how this image resembles the orbit of a an electron around a nucleus.  
 
Electrons in orbit
around the Nucleus
Planets around the Sun  
    The scientists are now discovering that Galaxies and black holes are strongly connected with atomic particles i.e. Electrons protons and neutrons.
         
As we learnt in Genesis, the earth is teeming with living creatures and we Humanity are included in all these living creatures, but Genesis also tells us that we are the most important and have been given dominion over all the other living creatures Genesis1:26-31.