Macrocosm

"Macrocosm refers to a large-scale model of a smaller unit. An example is the solar system representing the structure of atomic particles." (Lyssa Royal & Keith Priest, The Prism of Lyra. Glossary).

Often, the term "macrocosm" also refers to the universe or cosmos as a whole, viewed as a complex and organized system. It's often used in contrast with "microcosm," which represents a smaller entity or system.

In philosophy and many spiritual traditions, "macrocosm" carries significant meaning beyond just "the universe" - it's often used to express the idea of the universe as an integrated, ordered whole where everything is interconnected. This concept appears in various forms across different cultures and time periods:

• In ancient Greek philosophy, particularly with the Stoics and Neoplatonists
• In Hermeticism, expressed in the principle "as above, so below"
• In Renaissance thought, where humans were sometimes viewed as microcosms reflecting the larger order of the macrocosm

Today, you might encounter the term in discussions about holistic views of nature, systems thinking, or when describing how larger patterns are reflected in smaller systems.