It’s all from energy.....everything is energy, just in different forms. Atomic, radiant, thermal, etc.
I have often been intrigued by this word "essence" because I cannot find it mentioned anywhere in our scripture as Christians. So I looked it up and it means ....
"the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something, especially something abstract, which determines its character."....it is also described as...
"an extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter".
So I think you summed that up well. If the Creator is pure energy, in a form unknown to human experience, then that would explain why he has always existed (as energy has always existed) and why energy can create matter.
For those who believe that God or gods created this universe, my question is
Is the essence of the universe same or different from the essence of God?
It doesn't appear to be the same, since the thing created is always inferior to its creator.
Did God create a new essence with which the stuff of the universe was made?
God created the building blocks in matter that explains the existence of all other things. It also explains why God had to inject something into that matter, which of its own accord, it cannot produce...."life".
And what about our essence? Is it the same as that of the universe or different from it?
Matter can be living or non living, but all made of the same molecules in different structures.
Living matter can reproduce by mechanisms that are basically automatic....no creature has to plan to be reproductive.....they are following a program installed by their Creator. Its in their DNA to perpetuate the life that God gave them.
I do not believe that God is a material Being, but as a pure dynamic and unlimited energy source, I believe that this, coupled with unmatched intelligence is what led to to become the Creator.