Tree of Life: Difference between revisions
That was me. I'm fascinated by this, an' all, but I want to pare down the language into somethign that's a bit less.... grandiose. I don't I've lost anything in my simplification. |
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==Structure== | ==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, | 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 lies '''the penultimate level''', connected to the rest of tree by [[{{PAGENAME}}#Abyss?|indistinct means]], 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. | 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. | ||
Revision as of 10:33, 9 September 2010
- The Tree of Life is a map of Creation in various Generation 1 continuity families.
The Tree of Life[1] is a Transformer theo-philosophical concept[2][3] 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.
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 lies the penultimate level, connected to the rest of tree by indistinct means, 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[4], but it is difficult to establish how these undocumented paths are connected.
Kingdom
The material world, containing you, me, 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
Marley Megatron was dead to begin with. Then things got weird. Singularity Ablyss
Notes
- When Rodimus Prime travels into the afterlife in the Generation 1 cartoon episodes "Five Faces of Darkness, Part 2" and 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
- ↑ "As you can see, we have arrived at Beauty," he tells me. "The next sphere of our rise through the Tree of Life." —Rhinox, "Singularity Ablyss", Transformers Legends
- ↑ 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 is skeptical of this lesson, "Singularity Ablyss", Transformers Legends
- ↑ Megatron claims he is beyond "belief in such fairy tales" — "Singularity Ablyss", Transformers Legends
- ↑ "amethyst pillars appear before us" seems to indicate multiple possible paths leading from Foundation. "Singularity Ablyss", Transformers Legends
