Ascension (noun) from Latin ascensionem "a rising," from past-participle of ascendere "to mount, ascend, go up"

1): the act or process of ascending

2):  the act if Christ or others rising to heaven after death.

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Ascension can mean different things to many people. Because of this, many people are confused about it means.  The literal definition of the word ascension means: the act of ascending or ascent; to be risen up or to climb. When it is referred to in the spiritual sense ascension can be explained in several different contexts depending on the spiritual tradition or philosophy. 

About Ascension

Ascension, in a simple and spiritual sense is very similar to the Eastern concept of enlightenment found in Buddhism. To become enlightened can simply mean to have "full comprehension of a situation". Enlightenment is a spiritual revelation or deep insight into the meaning and purpose of all things, communication with or understanding of the mind of God or Source, profound spiritual understanding or a fundamentally changed consciousness whereby everything is perceived as an interconnected unity.

Ascension in its basic spiritual or mystical sense can be thought of as the highest state of humanity. It is the expansion of awareness. It involves the realization of one's unity with the Creator and all of creation. An individual is 'ascending' in the sense that something of a lower vibration is ascending; is is being 'raised up' or becoming higher in vibration. For this reason, many spiritual traditions seek the dissolution of the human ego (lower self) in order to realize the true nature of their being, or Higher Self.

Ascension, in this spiritual sense of the word, does not mean that one's physical body is lifted off the ground and flies through the air, ascending up into or above the clouds towards a physical place called 'heaven', although some religious adhernts still literally imagine this very scenario.

Ascension can also be understood in a more metaphysical way as the shifting from one dimension, frequency, plane of existance or conscious (such as the 'lower' physical Earth plane) to another plane, dimension or state of consciousness that is of a 'higher frequency'. 

The Ascension of Christ

In traditional Christian religions, ascension is the concept of entering heaven alive (sometimes called "assumption", or "translation"). Ascension, in this sense, refers to entering heaven without dying first. In various denominations, the significant event known as the Ascension actually specifically refers to the bodily ascending of Christ from earth to heaven after the resurrection.

The Ascended Masters and the I AM Presence

There are various other human beings throughout history that are said to have completed the Ascension process while on Earth. These individuals are known as the Ascended Masters, a concept stemming from Theosophical teachings. Adherents of the Ascended Master Teachings believe that each person on Earth is an incarnation of an "Individualized Presence" of the "Most High Living God," which is called the "Mighty I AM Presence" 

In this theosophical or metaphysical context, the Ascension is involves a return to complete "Oneness with God" by raising the outer atomic structure of the physical, emotional, and metal bodies into the Electronic Structure of the I AM Consciousness; one then becomes an Ascended Master and eventually a Cosmic Being, and beyond. 

This complete process would require one to develop mastery over the lower-vibrational planes of matter through love, and by the resolution of negative karma and ego; in this way, one can become a conscious co-creator and assist in the fulfillment of the Divine Plan as it unfolds on Earth and within all higher planes of existance. 

The Inner Path of Ascension

The Ascension is also a chosen path that an individual can consciously commit themselves to. It is a way or a path of Being, a conscious choice, and a matter and manner of living as well. 

If something feels bad, is harmful or has a negative effect on all then it is considered to be of a lower vibration. In the same sense, if something feels good, is beneficial or has a positive effect on all then it is considered to be of a higher vibration. 

In a very human sense, ascension is about transforming negative into positive; hate and fear into love and courage; from limitation and restriction to freedom and expansion; it is about turning a close mind into an open mind; prejudice into acceptance; ignorance to understanding; darkness to light; resentment to forgiveness; cruelty and anger to kindness and compassion; selfishness to selflessness and it means going from service to self to service to others. 

Ascension is about awakening the human heart and spirit, inner wisdom, and is the evolution of human consciousness and the planet itself. 

A Spiritual Awakening

In yet another sense, the ascension is taking place right now and many people are already ascending. These individuals are not 'dissapearing' in the literal sense, but in a way, their reality is changing. The process can be immediate or it can take a lifetime.

Many people all over the planet are 'waking up' and their individual vibration or frequency is increasing; in other words, their consciousness is expanding and their heart is awakening. Many others are still spiritually unconscious, or 'asleep', and in extreme cases, many are still consciously and unconsciously contributing to much of the chaos and turmoil within the world; many are not at peace within their own selves or are not yet at the point of realizing the true spiritual nature of their beings or their higher purpose on the planet at this time. 

But we must remember that everyone is ascending at a different pace, and everyone is walking their own unique path as individual sparks of the ONE creator or God. Individuals can progress spiritually in different ways through different means, and can even ascend to different degrees, at different levels; they can also fluctuate in either vibrational direction at times, since we are still having a human experience here on the physical Earth.  

Each individual will work out their own spiritual growth in a way that reflects their physical inheritance and their level of consciousness. Each will come to a greater level of understanding at their own pace through experience and insight, and they may travel many different paths (sometimes through pain or harsh lessons) before the Ascension process or Spiritual Awakening is fully expressed within them.