emanance

Emanance is a term used in philosophy and theology to describe the act or process of flowing or issuing forth from a source, typically a divine or supreme being. It suggests a hierarchical emanation where reality unfolds in successive levels or stages, originating from a single, ultimate principle. This concept is distinct from creation *ex nihilo*, which posits a deliberate act of bringing something into existence from nothing. Instead, emanation implies an unfolding or radiation of being, where the emanated reality is an extension or outflow of the source's essence.

The concept of emanation can be found in various philosophical and religious traditions. Neoplatonism, for example, describes a system of emanations starting with the One, from which Intellect (Nous) and then Soul (Psyche) issue forth, followed by the material world. In some Gnostic systems, divinity is understood to radiate emanations, or aeons, which interact and can lead to the creation of the material cosmos. Some interpretations of Kabbalistic thought also employ a concept akin to emanation in the unfolding of the Sefirot from the Ein Sof (the Infinite).

Key characteristics of emanation often include the idea that the emanated reality is dependent on the source, but not separate from it in the way a created object is. The outermost emanations are typically considered less perfect or less unified than the source itself. The process is often described as necessary and eternal, not a choice made by the source but an inherent property of its being. The term emphasizes continuity and an unbroken chain of being, rather than a distinct beginning or separation.