Ascension

Ascension is a process that allows sufficiently 'good' beings to be able to separate from their physical bodies and to live eternally as pure energy in a superior plane with total knowledge and power. It can be a mental, spiritual or evolutionary process—a direct result of obtaining a certain level of wisdom and knowledge as a civilization.

The concept was first introduced in the episode "Maternal Instinct" in the third season of Stargate SG-1, but later became one of the central subjects of the series, particularly Stargate Atlantis. It is the center of the explorations of both series in a spiritual–moral duality, being a quite unique philosophical subject by comparison to science fiction.

One of the main things which Stargate tries to explain are real world phenomena and religions. In the past, the foreign race known as the "Ancients" were first in discovering and studying Ascension, and as a consequence ascended thousands of years ago.

Ways to Ascend
Ascension can happen in two ways: spiritually or evolutionarily. Both cases, the physical body of a mortal being will become energy (leaving a heap of empty clothes), and a glowing light being will raise up through the ceiling. From then on the ascended being tends to take the form of the glowing light being.

Spiritual Ascension
If a being is pure of spirit (that is to say, morally good), then meditation, often guided by the wisdom of the monks of Kheb, in the search of illumination, can directly Ascend him when he gains complete wisdom, a totally open mind, and freedom from the fears and fastenings to the mortal world. This process usually finishes with death, at which point the being Ascends, but it is also possible to Ascend directly while still alive. In the process of ascension through meditation, many beings obtain the same supernatural abilities as the users of the DNA Resequencer, including: telepathy, telekenisis, excellent human senses, speed, force, precognition, perfect health and healing powers.

Alternatively, a being previously Ascended can help a mortal Ascend. The Ancient Oma Desala, founded on Earth myths of Mother Nature, helped to Ascend many beings of this form, most significantly Daniel Jackson. In this case, a being does not need to be morally good in the first place, although most Ascended beings would never promote a morally bad person. This happened to Anubis when Oma Ascended him and later realized what a horrible mistake it was.

Evolutionary Ascension
Ascension can also be a physical process, because, essentially, Ascended beings are still "strictly physical". A human who has the ability to use approximately 90% of his cerebral capacity can learn to Ascend without much problem. This this related to the myth of which the people only use 10% of their brains, but some have explained that only 10% of the neurons are used at any one time (on an average day we use 95% of our brains—just not at the same time). Again, this form of Ascension does not require the being to be good of heart.

The Ancients that Ascended naturally reached this point without the aid of technology; nevertheless, they also developed the DNA Resequencer, a device able to make humans so advanced that they could obtain abilities like telekinesis, telepathy, treatment, and more (See above), and the ability to Ascend (where all these abilities are only a subgroup of the power of the Ascended).

The Ascended enemy of the Ancients, the Ori, are bad beings. It is uncertain how the Ori Ascended, but based on their egoistic nature, and how advanced their technology is, it is safe to assume that they ascended evolutionarily, and not spiritually, beacuse that way is only open to the good of heart.

The Ascended Plane
The superior plane of existence in which the Ascended reside is inhabited by several different Ascended races, but mostly just the Ancients and the Ori. These two foreign races are in fact of the same species, that is to say, "the first evolution" of humans (Alterans), but they differ due to their opposite beliefs and method of Ascension.

The ascended plane of existence seems to have several "levels" and "ranks", evident because some Ascended beings must have more abilities than others. Those that have been Ascended for a long time, or who Ascended of their own wisdom, obtain a "higher Ascension"; Daniel Jackson, who is Ascended by Oma Desala, is never able to do much.

Rules
The rules of the Ascended are that one cannot interfere in the mortal affairs, a rule that is sometimes broken, causing the one who broke the rule to be De-Ascended (sometimes called Descension) (and normally returned his material form—albeit, naked) by a superior being or to receive some other form of punishment by the other Ascended beings ("The Others"); often, this punishment hurts the mortal world instead of the responsible being, so as to show the transgressor the effects of his actions.

Abilities
The ascended are described as having "all the knowledge and power of the universe" which is essentially infinite knowledge (and possibly power). RepliCarter tried to download the Ascended knowledge of Daniel Jackson's subconscious mind, but it found that there was not enough memory in the entire army of Replicators to maintain it.

The Ascended planes offer many powers to their inhabitants. The Ascended have been known to make amazing things. SG-1 has seen that they can build Stargates and to make great structures reappear after its destruction, to stop the timers of self-destruct bombs, attack with shining balls of energy, help other people Ascend, and de-ascend the rule-breakers. Ascended beings can activate and use Ancient technology, have a general power upon the nature as well as to use telepathy and sometimes precognition.

Limitations of the Ascended
In the episode "Arthur's Mantle", Daniel Jackson deciphered the writings left by the Ancient Myrrdin that correspond to the Arthurian legend of Merlin. He was an Ascended Ancient who was investigating how to defeat the Ori, but the Others wanted him to stop. In order to continue without their knowledge, de de-ascended himself again to be human, and continued his investigation in an alternate dimension where Ascended beings could not see (showing again that they are limited and physical beings).

Merlin created a weapon that could 'neutralize' an Ascended being. This weapon in itself turns out to correspond to the myths of the Sangraal (Holy Grail). This has opened many more possibilities to defeat to the Ori, and also it suggests much on the nature of an Ascended being—Ascension does not make you a god; it merely enhances your ability. Until this episode, nevertheless, all ascended beings thought that they were immortal and invincible.

Reasons to Ascend
The Ancients in the Milky Way and the Pegasus Galaxy had different reasons to Ascend. In the Milky Way, the Ancients were knocked down by a plague that they, with all their technological advances, 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 to lose the war, many were forced to Ascend to prevent capture. Those that did not Ascend died or escaped through the Stargate to the Milky Way.

In general, Ascension can be used as large-scale ways of escape. In the episode "Abyss", Jack O'Neill is captured by Baal, and Daniel Jackson tried to persuade him to Ascend, as it was his only form of escape (at the time).

Cosmically, Ascension seems to be the final goal of all life; at least, this one is the idea that is beginning to be considered in the Milky Way. The Free Jaffa Nation attemped to unite with the Ori in its search for Ascension.

Introduction of Ascension
The first appearance of what would later be known as Ascension was in "Maternal Instinct" in which SG-1 arrives at Kheb, a legendary planet where they find the Harcesis. There, where they first find a Buddhist monk in the temple not responding to interrogation, and ignoring its speech by quoting Zen, Daniel Jackson, the linguist, theologian, and archaeologist of the team, decides to sit with the monk and to learn about Oma Desala, a.k.a. Mother Nature. He learns how the monk can stoke a fire with his mind, and Daniel imitates this effect.

When the Goa'uld find the temple they kill the monk, who disappears (he Ascends). In the sky a storm develops and Daniel, understanding what is, says to SG-1 that they lower their weapons. When they do it, a ray strikes the weapons of the Jaffa. The storm disappears, and a shining being takes them to the Harcesis and leaves through the Stargate.

In another episode Samantha Carter meets Orlin, an Ascended being who fell in love with her. Orlin was punished for making a weapon for a foreign race that was under attack. They defeated the enemy, and then turned on each other. It serves like an example that even the Ascended can commit errors. Another transgressor is Athar, an Ancient in the Pegasus Galaxy. She used his powers to defend the Proculus planet in the Pegasus Galaxy. She was punished in a similar way, protecting Proculus forever without being able to offer aid to anybody else.

Daniel Jackson, after ascending, becomes mortal again after failing to fulfill the non-interference rule by trying to destroy Anubis. Anubis is "half-ascended", more mortal but less powerful than a totally Ascended being. Anubis was in this state to punish Oma Desala for helping him to Ascend.

Orlin de-ascended himself so he could be with Samantha Carter, but retained a great knowledge of technology (the knowledge of Ancients). The opportunity opened to him to re-ascend at some point in time, because he de-ascends again to use the knowledge of the Ancients to help Sam to cure an Ori plague on Earth.

Known Ascended

 * Ancients
 * Ori
 * Oma Desala
 * Daniel Jackson (de-ascended)
 * Skaara
 * The residents of Abydos
 * Orlin
 * Anubis (half-ascended)
 * Myrrdin/Merlin (de-ascended)