Editing Tree of Life

:''The Tree of Life is a map of Creation in various [[Generation 1 (franchise)|Generation 1]] [[continuity family|continuity families]].
[[Image:bm-singularityablyss_treeoflife.jpg|thumb|250px|right|JEWS! IN! SPAAACE!!!!!!!]]
The '''Tree of Life'''<ref>"As you can see, we have arrived at Beauty," he tells me. "The next sphere of our rise through the Tree of Life." —[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]], "[[Singularity Ablyss]]", ''[[Transformers Legends]]''</ref> is a [[Transformer]] theo-philosophical concept<ref>The sight of an orange robotic rhinoceros-tank espousing theological philosophy removes any of my prior doubts; my ordeal with my enemies has left me completely and utterly insane. —[[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] is skeptical of this lesson, "[[Singularity Ablyss]]", ''[[Transformers Legends]]''</ref><ref>Megatron claims he is beyond "belief in such fairy tales" — "[[Singularity Ablyss]]", ''[[Transformers Legends]]''</ref> the structure of which reflects the unseen underpinnings of the material universe. In this cosmological model, upon their passing in the physical realm, a [[Transformer]]'s [[Spark]] weaves its way through the eight layers of the tree, each representing a different emotion or ethic, steadily educating and preparing them for their joining with the [[Allspark]].

{{quote|'Reality' is one of those concepts you are going to have to relinquish.|[[Rhinox (BW)|Rhinox]]|"[[Singularity Ablyss]]"}}

==Structure==
The Tree of Life is organized into ten color-coded 'spheres' which, broadly speaking, form a diagrammatic representation of the process by which a living entity studies and learns more about itself. The "root" of the tree, as it were, is '''Kingdom''', the material, physical world in which a being lives out their life. Upon their death, they pass through '''Foundation''', the gateway into the tree. The subsequent five layers are divided up over '''the first realm''' and '''the emotional plane'''; emotional/ethical dualities united by the sphere of '''Beauty''' at the center of the Tree. Somewhere beyond this, following passage through a seventh and [[{{PAGENAME}}#Abyss?|unnamed sphere]], lies '''the penultimate level''' where individuality is condensed and then discarded in preparation for union with the Allspark, the highest point of the tree, known here as '''The Crown'''.

The spheres of the Tree of Life are joined by amethyst-colored pillars of light forming bridges between the spheres.  It appears that more than one path is possible<ref>"amethyst pillars appear before us" seems to indicate multiple possible paths leading from Foundation.  "[[Singularity Ablyss]]", ''[[Transformers Legends]]''</ref>, but it is difficult to establish how these undocumented paths are connected.

===Kingdom===
The material world, containing you, me, [[Nightscream (BM)|Nightscream]], [[Barack Obama]] [[Daisuke Gōri]] and a surprising number of silk bowling shirts.  Viewed from the outside, the '''Kingdom''' appears to be a cool brown.
===Foundation===
This sphere is bathed in shades of purple.  '''Foundation''' serves as a gateway between the material world and the Tree of Life.

===The first realm===
The bottom-most level of the Tree.
====Splendor====
This bright orange sphere 
Bright orange.  '''Splendor''' celebrates the heights and breadths all of creation, instilling awe with the sheer scale and ''spaciness'' of it all!  It also embodies the many microcosms and macrocosms where electrons orbit atoms like planets orbit suns and stars orbit galaxies and galaxies orbit one another... all dancing the same cosmic dance, visible if one can but discard their sense of scale.
====Eternity====
A vibrant green realm celebrating (embodying?) the vastness and of time, from the primordial gasps of the universe to its creaking frozen end and all possibilities between.  Those who pass through '''Eternity''' are reminded that matter and energy ''cannot'' be consumed or destroyed, but merely change state—cycling back and forth again and again if we can but telescope out our sense of time to see the universe in terms of ''forever''.

===Beauty===
This golden sphere is the halfway point on the Tree of Life. '''Beauty''' is embodied by balance in all aspects of life, including the masculine and the feminine. By achieving perfect balance and stilling the turmoil within, a great silence falls in which we may perceive the heartbeat of all creation.

===The emotional plane===
====Severity====
====Mercy====
===Abyss?===
===The penultimate level===
====Understanding====
====Wisdom====
===The Crown===

==Fiction==
===''Transformers Legends'' anthology===
<strike>Marley</strike> [[Megatron (BW)|Megatron]] was dead to begin with. Then things got ''weird''. {{storylink|Singularity Ablyss}}

==Notes==
* When [[Hot Rod (G1)|Rodimus Prime]] travels into the afterlife in the [[The Transformers (cartoon)|Generation 1 cartoon]] episodes "[[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2]]" and [[Five Faces of Darkness, Part 4|Part 4]], some of the features of the Tree of Life described in "Singularity Ablyss" are evident: specifically, flying and exploding mathematical formula, and corridors of purple columns that lead him to the visions he experiences. It's not known for certain if author [[Bob Skir]] specifically viewed these episodes when writing "Singularity Ablyss" and worked these aspects into the story in a direct homage-cum-[[retcon]], but damn, that'd be some kinda coincidence.
* Plagiarism!

==References==
<references/>

{{stub}}
[[Category: Religion]]