Spiritual Dogma and the New Age: Ascension, a Mystical Illusion
Legacy signals
Legacy popularity: 4,305 legacy views
“Ascension” is a popular spiritual topic. In Christianity the term is used to describe the bodily rising of Jesus into heaven. In the New Age, it’s descriptive of consciously transcending this dimension (i.e., “self-ascension”) to advance spiritually to a higher plane, one that is void of earthly negativity, without having to die to do so. In other words, those who “ascend” believe they are manifesting utopia, a “new reality,” freeing themselves from bondage.
The typical tale goes something like this: “Are you experiencing relationship changes and endings? Are you finding yourself more stressed? Are you going through a major shift? The Earth’s energy is rising, it’s transforming, reality is accelerating, and you don’t want to get caught up in the chaos. Take charge of your life and ascend to a higher reality!” (details of the expensive seminar follow).
In all due respect to most healers and other spiritual workers who largely only strive for the best for their clients and the world, we offer our opinion of the metaphysical notion of ascension below. Please understand that we simply relay our findings based on long-term, unbiased empirical research. We believe that if you follow our advice, you will save yourself a lot of time, and gain peace of mind.
We do address the topic of ascension regularly, albeit indirectly, through our teachings about reinca
ation, fate, and karma. The ultimate goal of inca
ating, of life, is to get it right and finish the karmic cycle, which could be viewed as ascension. Not everyone evolves at the same rate, in our view, and the Earth’s energynhas always been changing, so the concept of ascension is nothing new.
While we readily agree that some individuals throughout history, such as ascended masters, teachers, and guides of the light, and select others may have “ascended,” we estimate that at least 95% of the population won’t be ascending this time around, no matter what seminar or course they attend. Sure, you can prepare to ascend, you can do everything possible to avoid incurring negative karma now, but unfortunately your soul, not your ego-self, tallies all your spiritual debts from past inca
ations and determines when you will graduate.
Life isn’t a science fictio
TV show and there isn’t a time when “true believers” will ascend to a higher plane, leaving behind all negative energy. That’s wishful thinking. It’s important to separate Hollywood fantasy from spiritual reality.
All you have to do is look at their intent, actions, and words to see that most people are, in one way or another, regularly creating negative karma for themselves that will need to be dealt with in future inca
ations (karma doesn’t return to you in the same life as often as many mistakenly assume).
Even the common act of rationalizing mostly innocuous misconduct for example, or the act of psychically sending someone negative energy (such as the malicious hate mail we occasionally receive from those who disagree with our views, which always inspires us to write more, thanks!) because you don’t like their opinion can buy a round-trip ticket back to Earth.
You must first balance all your karma before ascending, only your soul knows for sure all the details about your cosmic debts, and you (your personality) can’t convince your soul (your spiritual self) to skip your karmic lessons. To erroneously believe you can side-step karma and cheat personal fate is, in our professional opinion, arrogant and ignorant, yet many New Age teachers promote such ideals.
We conclude that self-ascension, as promoted in the New Age today, is mythical and the spiritualnaccomplishment of ascension is only for those who have truly earned it. By the way, in our experience, if someone is telling you that this is their “last lifetime,” based on our past life regression research, you can rest assured that it most likely isn’t.
However, don’t let the spiritual realities we point out discourage you. If you really want to finish the karmic cycle and ascend, you will, in time, by following this simple advice: Always do the “right thing” in all situations. By the “right thing,” we don’t mean doing what is “morally” right (an opinion of what is “correct” behavior, e.g.nmarrying “for the sake of the children,” avoiding alcohol, or taking a stand against casual, wanton safe-sex). We simply mean treating others as you want to be treated.
Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo
Article author
About the Author
Further reading
Further Reading
Article
Best Mahabharat Book in Hindi to Understand the Depth of Dharma and Karma | Complete Guide
धरà¥à¤® à¤à¤° à¤à¤°à¥à¤® à¤à¥ à¤à¤¹à¤°à¤¾à¤ समà¤à¤¨à¥ à¤à¥ लिठशà¥à¤°à¥à¤·à¥à¤ महाà¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤ पà¥à¤¸à¥à¤¤à¤ हिà¤à¤¦à¥ मà¥à¤rnमहाà¤à¤¾à¤°à¤¤ à¤à¥à¤µà¤² à¤à¤ महाà¤à¤¾à¤µà¥à¤¯ नहà¥à¤ हà¥, बलà¥à¤à¤¿ यह मानव à¤à¥à¤µà¤¨ à¤à¥ सबसॠà¤à¤¹à¤¨ नà¥à¤¤à¤¿à¤, à¤à¤§à¥à¤¯à¤¾à¤¤à¥à¤®à¤¿à¤ à¤à¤° दारà¥à¤¶à¤¨à¤¿à¤ शिà¤à¥à¤·à¤¾ à¤à¤¾ सà¥à¤°à¥à¤¤ हà¥à¥¤ à¤
January 14, 2026
Article
What does it mean to be selfless, and how can someone become more selfless in life?
According to the spiritual science of Akram Vignan, the meaning of âselflessâ is to live oneâs life for the sole purpose of serving others, by whatever means one can and according to oneâs skill set and ability; and to do so without expecting anything whatsoever in return. Param Pujya Dadashri, the founder of Akram Vignan, makes us understand how every living beingâs life should be, through an illustration of the tree: âDo any of the fruit trees eat their own frui
January 3, 2026
Article
How to Donate?
Worrying that your money will be used up cannot preoccupy you. Whatever money is spent is fine. The spending of money is encouraged because it destroys your greed and allows you to keep giving. Upyoga is awareness. When you do something auspicious or give to charity, give with the awareness and intent that others will benefit from your donation. Give anonymously in order to avoid fame. That is called giving with awareness! That is called upyoga. There are some people who refu
May 26, 2025
Article
Marriageâs Market of Pride
Mayankbhai's son's wedding was being celebrated with pomp and splendour. As Ashokbhai and his wife Kantaben got down of the taxi, they were awe-struck. Mayankbhai's farm house was lavishly decorated. A grand high entrance, colorful flower vines, royal Moroccan theme decorations and glittering golden chandeliers graced the wedding hall. While walking on the pink carpet spread through the long passage, Kantaben said to Ashokbhai,rnâDidn't I say? When the invitation card itsel
May 1, 2025