Thanks very much for your response.

All this material is very complicated. Your first paragraph reminds me of the Cambrian 'explosion'. This is very popular with Intelligent Design advocates, since it appears to be a period of intense activity, which therefore contradicts the slow gradualism that Darwinism would require.

It's not clear, however, that that is what is being referred to in Genesis (according to the interpretation I'm discussing). There, Elohim is the transcendent being which begins the process, which is then completed by Ihoah. So, as far as I can tell, periods of activity and rest would refer to 'Him'.

Regarding your last paragraph, do have any approximate idea where that quote comes from? It would seem to be expressing the same idea as Genesis. Is it the Secret Doctrine, or somewhere else?