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" Ascension " is also the title of a Season 5 episode of Stargate SG-1 . In the Science Fiction Television Series '' Stargate SG-1 '' and '' Stargate Atlantis '', Ascension is a process by which sufficiently-evolved sentient beings may shed their physical bodies and live eternally as pure energy on a higher plane of existence full of knowledge and power. It is a mental, spiritual or evolutionary Enlightenment that can arise as the direct result of achieving a certain level of Wisdom and Self-knowledge . The concept was first introduced in the ''SG-1'' third-season episode , but later became one of the central themes of the series, particular in the sister-show ''Atlantis''. It is the core of both series' explorations into Dualistic , Moral and Spirit ual issues, a recurring Philosophical theme that makes Stargate quite unique among science fiction. One of Stargate's main Motifs is to explain real-world phenomena or Religion s in terms of (fictional) events that happened in the past. In the story, the alien race called "the Ancient s" were the first to discover and study Ascension, and subsequently Ascend thousands of years ago, leading to the foundation of Buddhism on Earth, based on the studies that they left behind. Their actions also account for notions of Ascended Master s, in which it is revealed that the Ascended Ancients are protecting the mortal realm from the Ori , and the Roman myth which claims that "The ''Ancient'' Ones" "Ascended to the heavens". METHOD OF ASCENSION Ascension can happen in one of two ways: spiritually or evolutionarily. In all cases, a mortal being's physical body will convert to Energy (leaving behind a bundle of empty clothes), and a stream of Light will rise upwards into the sky. Ascended beings tend to take the form of a stream of light hereafter. Spiritual Ascension If a being is pure of spirit (i.e. , Telekenisis , super human senses, speed, and strength, Precognition , perfect health, the ability to self heal rapidly, and the power to heal by touch. Alternatively, a previously Ascended being can help a mortal to Ascend. The Ancient Oma Desala , founded Earth myths of Mother Nature helped many beings to Ascend in this fashion2, most significantly the main character Daniel Jackson . In this case, a being does not need to be morally good in the first placeIn the case of Anubis , although most Ascended beings would never Ascend a morally evil person. Evolutionary Ascension Ascension can also be a physical process, as, in essence, Ascended beings are still strictly ''physical''. A human who evolves the ability to use approximately 90% of their brain capacity can learn to Ascend without much trouble.3 This is related to the myth that people use only 10% of their brains4, but some have explained this away by asaying it means 90% of the neurons firing ''at all times''. This form of Ascension again does not require the being to be good of heart. The Ancients who Ascended naturally reached this point without the aid of technology; however, they also developed the DNA Resequencer , a device capable of making humans so advanced that they could preform telekinesis, telepathy, the power to heal by touch, (among other extraordinary abilities listed in the above section), and eventually Ascend (where all these abilities are a subset of the power of the Ascended)5. The Ascended nemesis of the Ancients, the Ori , are evil beings. It is unclear how the Ori Ascended, but based on their selfish nature, and how advanced their technology is, it is safe to assume that they Ascended through evolution, not spirituality, as that path is only open to the good of heart. THE HIGHER PLANE The higher plane of existence in which the Ascended reside is inhabited by several different Ascended races, but the Ascended beings most commonly encountered and referred to are the Ancients and the Ori . These two alien races are in fact of the same species, that is, "the first evolution" of humans; Earth humans are the "second evolution" of the form, but are differentiated due to their opposing beliefs and Ascended natures. The Ascended plane of existence appears to have several 'levels' and 'ranks', evident because some Ascended beings are greater in power than others. As seen in such episodes as , those who have been Ascended for longer, or who Ascended of their own wisdom, achieve a "higher" Ascension; Daniel Jackson , who is Ascended by Oma Desala , is always of the least power. Rules The rules of the Ascended are that one may not interfere in mortal affairs, a rule that is sometimes broken, causing a de-Ascension by a higher being (which usually involves regaining material form, naked) or some other form of punishment from the higher Ascended (often called "The Others"); often, this punishment is inflicted onto the mortal world rather than the being responsible, to show them the effects of their actions. In general these rules are upheld by only the Ancients and those loyal to them. They have such a fierce belief in the Free Will of the mortal realm - to Ascend or not, to kill each other or not, etc., - that the rule of non-interference is their highest. The Ori, on the other hand, seek to overturn the Ancient's dominance of the Ascended realm, and thus heavily influence the mortal realm to give themselves more power. Powers Ascension is described as having "all the knowledge and power of the universe", which is essentially an infinite knowledge (and, possibly, power). RepliCarter tried to download the Ascended knowledge from Daniel Jackson 's subconscious mind, but found that there wasn't enough memory in the entire Replicator army to hold it6. The Ascended plane offers many powers to its inhabitants. Ascended beings have been seen capable of miraculous things. It has been seen that they can make Stargates and large structures reappear after destruction7, halt the timers in self-destruct bombs, attack with glowing balls of energy, help other people Ascend, and de-Ascend transgressors of the rules8. Ascended beings can interact with, activate and use technology, have a general power over nature (such as causing lightning strikes where they wish) as well as use Telepathy and in some cases Precognition . Limitations of Ascended beings In the episode " Arthur's Mantle ", Daniel Jackson deciphered writings left behind by the Ancient Myrrdin, who accounts for the Arthurian legend of Merlin 9. He was an Ascended Ancient who was researching into how to defeat the Ori, but the Others wanted him to stop. To continue without them knowing, he de-Ascended himself to be human again, and continued his research in another dimension where even Ascended beings could not see (again showing they are limited and physical beings). Merlin managed to create a weapon that could destroy an Ascended being. This weapon in itself turns out to account for Holy Grail myths. This has opened up many more possibilities for defeating the Ori, and also suggests a lot about the nature of an Ascended being - Ascension is not to become a god, but is merely to alter the way one exists such that one has more power. Up until this episode, however, all Ascended beings were thought to be immortal and invincible. REASONS TO ASCEND The Ancients in the Milky Way Galaxy and the Pegasus Galaxy had different reasons to Ascend. In the Milky Way, the Ancients were afflicted by a plague that for all their technological advancement they could not cure; the only way they could avoid death was to Ascend. In the Pegasus Galaxy, they were at war with the Wraith . Once they began losing this war, many were forced to Ascend in order to prevent being culled. The ones who did not Ascend either died or escaped through the Stargate back to the Milky Way10. In general, Ascension can be used as a rather grand escape manoeuvre. In the episode , Jack O'Neill is trapped in an impenetrable fortress, and Daniel Jackson tries to persuade him to attempt Ascension as his only way out. Cosmically, Ascension appears to be the ultimate goal of all life; at least, this is the view that is beginning to spread across the Milky Way. The Free Jaffa Nation was nearly tempted to join the Ori in their search for Ascension, and the major powers on Earth are also seeking it. PLOT The introduction of Ascension The first appearance of what was to later become a strong recurring theme in '' Stargate SG-1 '', occurred when the show's protagonists, the team SG-1 , arrive on the legendary planet Kheb, where they find the Harcesis , offspring of the Goa'uld System Lord Apophis and Daniel 's kidnapped betrothed Sha're . There they find a Buddhist -like temple in the woods where a Monk has residence. Not responding to interrogation, and masking his speech with Zen Koan s, Daniel Jackson , the expert linguist, theologian and archaeologist of the team, decides to sit with the monk and learn about Oma Desala , or Mother Nature . He learns too how the monk is able to stoke a fire with his mind, and Daniel manages to imitate this effect. and Teal'c are saved from staff-weapon blasts by the powers of an Ascended being.]] When the Goa'uld find the temple, they kill the monk and he vanishes (he Ascends). The sky develops a storm and Daniel, understanding what this is, tells SG-1 to lower their weapons and allow the Jaffa to fire on them. When they do, a thunderhead strikes down the staff-weapon blasts and each of the Jaffa . The storm vanishes, and a flying, glowing being with white flowing tendrils takes the Harcesis and goes through the Stargate , pausing before entering to show a woman's face in the midst of the being. A long time later Samantha Carter is stalked by the alien Orlin , who made himself look human because he was in love with her.11 He reveals that he was one of the Ascended, but was punished (expelled from the community of the Others) for helping a lesser race build a weapon that the race misused and accidentally destroyed itself. He serves as an example that even an Ascended can make mistakes, and break rules. Another rule-breaking Ascended is Athar, who used her powers to defend the planet Proculus in the Pegasus Galaxy against Wraith culling.12 She is punished in a similar manner, allowed to continue protecting Proculus but confined there and unable to extend her protection elsewhere. Daniel Jackson , who later Ascended, was cast down back to full mortality for breaking the rule of non-interference after he attempted to destroy Anubis . Anubis himself is 'half-Ascended', more than mortal but less powerful than a fully Ascended being. Anubis was put into this state to punish Oma Desala for helping him to Ascend in the first place.13 Orlin de-Ascended himself so that he could become fully human and be with Sam, but retained a great knowledge of technology (the knowledge of the Ancients), as he used a Microwave , Toaster , and large amounts of Optical Fibre and Titanium to make a huge Emerald for Sam, and a small Stargate in her basement so that they could stop one of the SG Team s from reactivating Orlin's weapon. He was given the ability to Ascend again by the others after he tries to unplug the unstable device and is shot. Orlin later de-Ascends himself again to use the knowledge of the Ancients to assist Sam in curing the Ori plague afflicting Earth.14 Ascension as a central theme Ascension became a central theme of ''Stargate SG-1'', similarly to Babylon 5 through the Shadows and Vorlon s, although much more markedly so. This has been particularly marked since the discovery of Atlantis at the end of Season 7. 's vision of Oma ]] Ascends from his death-bed]] In " Meridian ", Daniel Jackson , with critical timing, takes out a Naqahdriah fuel core from a reactor, without a radiation suit, saving millions of Alien-human people but ending up on his death bed. As he is dying he is contacted by Oma Desala in a vision, who offers to help him Ascend. Daniel chooses to Ascend instead of die, so he can help more people. This marked Daniel's departure from the series for Season 6 , to be replaced in SG-1 by Jonas Quinn . However, he frequently reappeared as a vision to his friends from his Ascended state of being. He was first seen again in the episode " Abyss ", when Jack O'Neill is being tortured by being killed and revived again and again by Ba'al . Daniel appears to him but cannot help him, for that is not allowed by the others. attacks Anubis as an Ascended being.]] Daniel offers to help O'Neill out by making him Ascend as well, and he describes the process as opening one's mind. Jack instead implores him to use his powers as an Ascended being to "bust {Link without Title} out", but that is not allowed by the others. Eventually Jack makes it out on his own. However, Daniel later breaks his own (and the others') rule by fighting the half-ascended, (possibly resurrected) Goa'uld System Lord Anubis before he attacks Abydos in " Full Circle ". He is stopped by Oma, who de-Ascends him into human form on an alien world with no memories of his prior life or his ascension, but she also saves Abydos by Ascending its entire population before Anubis' mothership incinerates the planet. Nothing is left after the blast dissipates (not even the Stargate ), but they reappear by the will of the Ascended one last time to say goodbye to Daniel Jackson . As of Season 8 , the Ascended Ancients are split into two groups: the others and the renegade Ancients who follow Oma Desala, and while they still are limited from interfering in the lives of those beneath them they are able to help others Ascend. On several occasions the others have had to intervene to stop the renegades from interfering in the lower plane. In Season 9, the Ori prove that a pure heart is not necessary for self-Ascension, and are in fact at least as parasitical, bloodthirsty, and power-hungry as the Goa'uld . However, they and the fact that the Ancients' existence has become common knowledge across the galaxy has turned Ascension into the final spiritual and technological goal of all inhabitants of the Milky Way, including the international committee on Earth; Richard Woolsey encourages taking enormous risks to study someone who has the ''possibility'' of unlocking some of the secrets of Ascension to humans. REFERENCES |
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