Among the various components of Gnosticsim, the Chariot-Throne mystics adopted the belief in the Seven Heavens or Crystalline Spheres, each of which contained one of the seven astrological planets. These spheres surrounded the Earth much like the layers of an onion,¹⁰ with the individual spheres being arranged in the order of the apparent speed of its respective planet, as these coursed through the night sky (as in Figure 3, on the left). In the scenario of the Gnostic mysteries, which may have been inspired by Orphic beliefs, each of the Planets was inhabited by an Angelic Host, and each of these "armies" was headed by one of the seven Archangels. During "meditation", then, the soul of the Chariot mystic, whose body was in a trance, ascended into the heavens and made its way to each of the seven planetary spheres. At each station the mystic was confronted by an Angelic horde whose purpose it was to destroy him, and his only deliverance lie in his knowledge of the secret Name of God appropriate to the Planet. Ultimately, if the mystic was pious and his knowledge of the Divine Names complete, he could make his way to the seventh Heaven, that of the planet Saturn. Here the mystic would find seven Celestial Halls, his task being to pass through each of these in the same manner as that required for the previous six Heavens. Finally, the Chariot-Throne itself, the goal of the journey, was located in the seventh hall, and upon this was seated, of course, the Glory of God. The vision of this divine entity marked the culmination of the beatific journey.