I suspect that the gods do violate this axiom (as they are direct participants in the ever-elusive One)

Yes, that certainly follows from what Sallustius has said! I'm not sure how something can exist beyond existence, though, and I think at that point logic is out the window.


Regarding Pseudo-Dionysius, I don't think I'm following him, here. Perhaps I just have difficulty with physics metaphors—I found The Cosmic Doctrine to be similarly impenetrable.