Ascension is typically thought of as going from the physical body to a higher level after death of the body. However, the wisdom traditions of the world have for millennia told us that ascension should begin while we live in our physical body. Ascension emerges from a three-fold miracle of creation. The first miracle is that anything at all exists, rather than nothing-ness. The second miracle is that some of what is, is alive. The third miracle is that some of what is alive is self-aware, including awareness of the three miracles. Ascension becomes the application of this self-referencing capability -- a journey inward to the Source. In effect you ascend to a "higher zone" of consciousness that transforms your perception of critical problems into opportunities. The movement from each major zone to the next represents the equivalent of a quantum shift in how one perceives reality.

Dr. Oliver Markley proposes a gradient model of ascension that maps three profoundly differing levels or zones. At the first level an individual's motivation is primarily based upon a "win-lose" competition between "I and it." Polar opposites are the norm. There is a defined good and an evil. Relationships follow a pattern of domination and/or submission. At the second level a proactive "win/win" collaboration between "I and Thou" prevails. This strategy of conflict resolution has been researched under the mathematics of game theory. The path to success is through the practice of compassionate acceptance, cooperation and sharing. All polar opposites integrate holistically. At the third level there exists a knowingness that we are a part of a Unity Consciousness originating within an eternal now-ness -- beyond space and time. One experiences a total awareness that no separation of self exists and encounters a peace and love that passes understanding. At this level there is a transcendence of all polar opposites including good and evil -- the ultimate motivation resides in the One -- the Unity Consciousness.

Lets apply this gradient model of ascension to the issue of good and evil. We will use the war in Iraq as a specific example. At the first level of ascendance, we never get away from evil -- it is absolutely necessary for ascendance and evolutionary transformation. It provides the rungs of a ladder on which we climb. Our President perceives Iraq and Saddam as part of an "Axis of Evil." Equally, the peace activists who indulge in violent protests against the evil of President Bush's action are also participants at this first level of ascendance. At the second level, however, evil becomes perceived as an integral part of all that is, to be accepted with compassion, rather than resisted or merely tolerated.