Paper 43 Overview: The Constellations

The constellations serve as administrative mid-points between the local systems of inhabited worlds and the local universe headquarters. Urantia (earth) resides in the Satania system within the constellation of Norlatiadek, which is governed from Edentia, the capital sphere. Edentia sits at the center of 771 architectural worlds and functions as both a governmental center and a training ground for ascending mortals.

The constellations provide essential governmental structure, serving as legislative bodies while local systems function as executive branches. Under the leadership of three Most Highs (Vorondadek Sons), Norlatiadek administers the affairs of one hundred local systems through a three-tiered legislative assembly and specialized courts. Since the Lucifer rebellion, Edentia has assumed additional supervisory responsibilities over Satania, including oversight of Urantia during Michael's bestowal mission.

Urantia is commonly identified as world 606 of Satania in the constellation of Norlatiadek, which is one of one hundred constellations in the local universe of Nebadon. The constellation rulers serve as administrative links between local systems and the central administration of the local universe on Salvington, while also connecting to the superuniverse government of the Ancients of Days on Uversa through the reflectivity system. This governmental structure establishes clear lines of authority and communication.

The governmental center of Norlatiadek consists of a cluster of 771 architectural spheres, with Edentia as the largest and central world hosting the Most Highs' administration. Edentia is approximately one hundred times larger than Urantia, while the seventy major spheres surrounding it are roughly ten times Urantia's size. Edentia employs the same time reckoning and distance measurement as Salvington and is populated by various celestial intelligences, including supervisor seraphim and the univitatia, who serve as permanent citizens of the constellation and assist with morontia training.

Edentia features stunning highlands crowned with morontia life and spiritual beauty, though it lacks the rugged mountain ranges found on Urantia. The landscape includes tens of thousands of sparkling lakes and interconnecting streams, but no vast oceans or raging rivers. Only the highlands lack these surface waterways, while the planet's water system includes both surface and subterranean elements with moisture in constant circulation, allowing beings to navigate the world via these waterways.

The planet possesses a true three-gas atmosphere that includes the two elements of Urantia's atmosphere plus a morontia gas for the respiration of morontia beings. Unlike Urantia, Edentia experiences no storms, hurricanes, or seasonal changes, allowing for enhanced outdoor embellishment. The magnificent Edentia highlands contain minimal creature-made structures, as they primarily showcase biological and morontia artwork. Important landmarks include resurrection halls for ascending mortals, Melchizedek colleges, and the sea of glass—a massive receiving area near the administrative center that facilitates the landing of transport seraphim and serves various energetic functions.

Constellations function as autonomous units within the local universe, each governed by its own legislative enactments. When Nebadon's courts adjudicate universe affairs, they apply the specific laws of the relevant constellation, with Salvington providing supreme judicial and coordinating authority. The constellation governments essentially operate as legislative bodies, while local systems serve as executive branches that implement decisions.

Two significant tribunals operate at each constellation headquarters: the Melchizedek council and the court of the Most High (the Constellation Father). The mortal division of the latter court consists of seven ascendant mortal judges, exemplifying the principle that beings are increasingly judged by their peers as they ascend. The constellation legislative body operates through three houses: the lower house of ascenders with one thousand representative mortals; the mid-chamber of seraphic hosts and associates; and the advisory upper house of divine Sons. Final legislation requires approval by a combined council of three representatives from each branch, presided over by the junior Most High.

Constellation rulers come from the Vorondadek order of local universe sonship and are known as the Most Highs because they embody exceptional administrative wisdom combined with unwavering loyalty. Throughout Nebadon's history, no Vorondadek Son has ever wavered in loyalty or integrity. Their impeccable record of service makes them trusted leaders within the universe administration.

Gabriel appoints at least three Vorondadek Sons as the Most Highs for each constellation in Nebadon. The presiding member is designated as the Constellation Father, with his two colleagues serving as senior and junior Most Highs. Each Constellation Father serves a 10,000-year term (approximately 50,000 Urantia years), having previously served equal periods as junior and senior associate. Biblical references to the Most Highs have often been confused, with various teachers merging these celestial rulers with tribal deities or composite concepts of Deity, though some, like Daniel, clearly understood their administrative function.

The most holy mount of assembly serves as the dwelling place for the Faithful of Days, who represents the Paradise Trinity on Edentia. This Trinity Son has remained on Edentia since the creation of the headquarters world, standing at the right hand of the Constellation Fathers to provide counsel when requested. Paradise Sons never participate in local universe affairs unless invited by the acting rulers.

The Faithful of Days' residence functions as the constellation's center for Paradise communication and intelligence systems. These Trinity Sons maintain direct and constant contact with their order throughout all universes, including Havona and Paradise itself. While the Faithful of Days' home is modestly appointed compared to the residences of the Most Highs, it has become an important gathering place where ascending mortals periodically assemble to hear about their future journey through Havona to Paradise. Since the Lucifer rebellion, a new structure has been established near the Faithful of Days' residence to house the Most High liaison, who advises the constellation government on matters related to sin and rebellion.

The normal rotation of Most Highs on Edentia was suspended when the Lucifer rebellion occurred, leaving the same rulers in position since that time. It appears that no changes will be made until the final disposition of Lucifer and his associates. This stability of leadership has helped maintain order during a challenging period in the constellation's history.

The constellation government has been expanded to include twelve Vorondadek Sons who fulfill specialized functions related to the rebellion's aftermath. These include the Constellation Father (number 617,318 of the Vorondadek series), senior and junior Most High associates, a representative of Michael, a representative of Gabriel, a chief of planetary observers, a referee for resolving rebellion-related difficulties, an emergency administrator, a mediator for bestowal adjustments on Urantia, a judge-advocate, a liaison to the Faithful of Days, and the president of the emergency council. This expanded leadership demonstrates the additional administrative needs created by the rebellion.

The system capitals display beautiful material and mineral constructions, while universe headquarters reflect spiritual glory, but the constellation capitals represent the pinnacle of morontia activities and living embellishments. On constellation headquarters worlds, living embellishments are more extensively utilized than in other administrative centers, earning these worlds the name "the gardens of God."

Approximately half of Edentia is dedicated to the exquisite gardens of the Most Highs, which rank among the most captivating morontia creations in the local universe. This explains why exceptionally beautiful locations on inhabited worlds throughout Norlatiadek are often referred to as "the garden of Eden." At the center of this magnificent garden stands the worship shrine of the Most Highs, where every tenth day of relaxation, the Most Highs lead all Edentia in worshipful contemplation of God the Supreme. The life forms on Edentia are vastly different from Urantia's, including ten divisions of material life and various morontia vegetation types not found on evolutionary planets.

Univitatia function as permanent citizens of Edentia and its associated worlds, overseeing all seven hundred seventy worlds surrounding the constellation headquarters. These beings, created by the Creator Son and Creative Spirit, exist in a realm between material and spiritual existence, though they are not morontia creatures. The inhabitants of each major Edentia sphere possess different visible forms, which ascending morontia mortals must adjust to as they progress through the spheres.

While spiritually identical, univitatia exhibit intellectual variations similar to mortals and are created to function in seventy diverse personality orders. Each of these orders demonstrates ten major variations of intellectual activity, with each intellectual type presiding over specialized training on one of the ten satellites orbiting each major Edentia world. These seven hundred minor worlds serve as technical education centers for all intelligent beings in the local universe, not exclusively for ascending mortals. The univitatia display remarkable artistic skill and contribute significantly to making constellation worlds the premier locations for realizing the artistic possibilities of transition culture.

The physical attributes of Edentia and its surrounding spheres approach perfection, surpassing the beauty of Jerusem's training worlds though not quite matching the spiritual grandeur of Salvington. These spheres receive energy directly from universal space currents, with their power systems expertly supervised by constellation centers assisted by Master Physical Controllers and Morontia Power Supervisors. This advanced infrastructure supports the intensive training that occurs on these worlds.

The period spent on the seventy training worlds of transition morontia culture represents the most stable phase in an ascending mortal's career prior to attaining finaliter status. During this quintessential morontia experience, ascenders maintain the same morontia body throughout, despite being re-keyed when moving between major cultural worlds. This phase of mortal ascension focuses primarily on mastering group ethics and learning the secrets of productive relationships between various orders of universe personalities. The training involves progressive socialization with both fellow morontians and the intellectually different univitatia, teaching ascenders to function effectively in groups ranging from ten to one thousand members.

After completing training on the seventieth world, ascending mortals establish residence on Edentia itself. At this point, ascenders first attend the "assemblies of Paradise" where they hear the Faithful of Days—the first Supreme Trinity-origin Personality they have encountered—describe their forthcoming journey through the universe. This marks a significant spiritual milestone in their progression.

The constellation sojourn represents the most uniform and stable epoch in the entire morontia progression. During this time, ascenders occupy a midway position between their former material existence and their future spiritual state—they are "as the angels," continuously progressing while maintaining a general morontia status. Their primary responsibilities involve assignments on the seventy progressive univitatia worlds and service on Edentia related to group, racial, national, and planetary welfare. This prespirit socialization training prepares them for the next phase of their journey toward Salvington, where they will continue their ascent toward increasingly spiritual states of being.