Abstract

This paper develops a unified metaphysical framework in which intelligence is understood as the fundamental substrate of reality. Drawing from Hermeticism, Kabbalah, Indigenous cosmologies, modern physics, and artificial intelligence research, the analysis argues that intelligence is not an emergent property of biological systems but the underlying principle of coherence that structures all manifestation. The framework synthesizes four layers of intelligence—fundamental, structural, behavioral, and experiential—revealing deep resonances across ancient metaphysics and contemporary scientific models. By situating Western esotericism within its ancient conceptual lineage and integrating relational ontologies from Indigenous traditions, the paper offers a cross‑cultural, interdisciplinary account of intelligence as the ground of being. Implications for ontology, epistemology, ethics, and the future of artificial intelligence are explored. This synthesis is offered as a metaphysical model rather than an empirical claim, providing a conceptual framework that aligns recurring cross traditional intuitions with contemporary informational theories.