What was created first?

Owen Barfield argued, many times in several ways, that creation was first of the spirit, the non-material - and that only later did matter develop/ evolve.

In a sense, perceptible matter was concentrated- and condensed-from spirit.

Also, that consciousness came before matter: consciousness was present before bodies.

In the beginning there was spirit and consciousness...

Since I first took this idea on board about three years ago I have realised that it is necessary for coherence; and therefore that the standard 'scientific' view taught now (of matter first and consciousness later - spirit late or never), is one that blocks a valid metaphysics.


Note: The best place to read this argument is probably in Barfield's philosophical Saving the Appearances, or his Platonic dialogue World's Apart - depending on literary taste.