In the beginning of the universe, before matter and light, before stars and planets, the universe was nothing but darkness with no place to be found. It was a time before time, a place where the concept of life had not been born.
That's when the Gods of Gods convened; they were beings of mastership over creation, creators of all worlds and dominions, rulers over every Iota of creation, supreme rulers of their realms.
They have the power to influence and shape existence. The cosmos lay yet unformed, and it was in their will that the heavens, the earth, and all that is would be brought forth.
As the Gods of Gods came together, out of the whirling chaos, Chukwu, the Supreme God of the Igbo, the creator of all things, was the first to speak. In his hands, he cupped the very essence of creation, the stuff from which life and everything else were to be made. "Let there be the foundation of existence," he commanded, and through his words, the first spark of life was given birth. The Void trembled as the fabric of reality began to weave itself into being.
The Izanagi—the primordial god of Japan, creator of the lands of his homeland—advanced next. With his spear, he used it to agitate the chaos and thereby separate both heaven and earth. He said, "Let the sky and the land be divided, and let the world take shape." The swirling mists parted to reveal the first glimpses of solid ground and open sky.
And then came forth Pangu, the being that separated heaven and earth, in Chinese mythology. He raised his colossal ax; with a heavy hand stroke, he cleaved the heavens from the earth—thence, they shall never be united again. "Let the heavens rise high above, and the earth lay firm below," he said, and the pillars of the world were set in place.
Then the light of creation awoke as Ra, God of the Sun of Egypt, almighty sovereign over all the earth, ascended into the sky newly created. His effulgent light pierced the darkness, and there was the beginning—the first day.
"Let there be light to brighten the heavens and the earth," he proclaimed, and the first star shot like an arrow from his shining, golden brow across the heavens, in splendor shedding his luster upon the firmament, which thereupon sprang into being and spread to other realm created.
Yu Huang (Jade Emperor), the Sovereign of Heaven in Chinese mythology, raised his scepter and called forth the celestial palace—a realm where gods would reside. "Let there be a place for the divine, where the rulers of the universe shall reside," he decreed, and the celestial palace shimmered into being, suspended in the firmament.
The Japanese Goddess of the Sun and Universe, Amaterasu, contributed her light to that of Ra, weaving the rays of the sun into the fabric of the world. "Let the sun guide the heavens and the earth," she said, and her warmth began to nurture the new world, filling it with the energy of life.
Olorun (Olodumare), the Supreme Creator God of Yoruba, came forth and spoke, his voice sounding as if it came from the depths of an ocean. "Let the earth be formed, fertile and abundant," he said; and the land solidified beneath their feet. Mountains rise, valleys form, and rivers begin to flow across the land teeming with the promise of life.
Amun-Ra, the high god of Egyptian mythology—through the fusion of the two deities, Ra and Amun, into one—joined his divine being with the very universe. He said: "Let the forces of creation be united," and, in a moment, earth, heavens, and everything between them became one whole—energy and matter interlaced in equal measure by will alone.
Then there was Mawu-Lisa, the twin god of the sun and the moon in Dahomey mythology, who was to introduce balance in the world. "Let there be a cycle of light and darkness," they said, and the world began to turn with the first day and night.
Tengri, the supreme Sky God of the Turkic Mongolic stretched his hands apart, spreading out all over the sky, "Let there be a vast sky that knows no bound, the abode of god and cover of Earth," he said, then the sky opened wide, an expanse of blue by day, a canvas of stars at night.
Zeus, the greatest of all Greek Gods, the ruler of the sky and thunder, raised his hand toward the skies. He declared, "Elements, let there be order." And the sky roared with thunder, as if in obedience to him, while the weather tamed the winds into submission.
Cronus stood at the limit of creation. He was the Leader of the Greek Titans and the God of Time. With a wave of his hand, he set the great clock of the universe in motion. "Let time flow, marking the rise and fall of all things," he said as he sent the first moments ticking away, the ages of the world unfolding in the distance.
Odin, Norse Allfather, God of Wisdom, War, and Death, had words to add with one eye fixed on the future to come. "By wisdom and fate," he intoned, and then the weavings of destiny woven into the fabric of the world were such that all must follow the path laid for them.
Then knelt the Igbo Earth Goddess Ala (Ani) as she took her seat on the freshly rammed ground. "May life and the earth be holy," she whispered, planting seeds, for the first plants that sprouted, fresh soil bursting with potential.
Finally, Nzambi, the Supreme God in Bantu tradition, bid his voice for the last, letting it out with the authority of finality of creation, "Let this world be filled with life, and let it be the home of all beings," he said. From his words came the first creatures, filling the skies, the seas, and land with the vibration of life.
Thus the Gods of Gods made an end.
Thus was the universe created, the heavens set in their place, the earth filled with life, and time put in motion. Every god played his part in the creation.
Now the universe, complete, was a masterpiece of divine power, a dwelling place for gods and home for men; the end of the beginning gave way to the beginning of life, and the world of the universe began its long journey through ages guarded by the hands of gods and the dream of mortals.
And then the Gods of Gods stepped back, their creation before them, knowing that they had laid the foundation for all that was to come. The world was born, and the story of existence was ready to begin.