History Main / AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence

* Stage adaptations of ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'' in the 19th and early 20th century would typically end [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth Little Eva's]] death scene by lifting her up with wires to "heaven". This tradition was once well-known enough in pop culture that several Golden Age Hollywood films parody it (for example, the 1932 ''Film/OurGang'' short ''Spanky'' and the Creator/AbbottAndCostello film ''The Naughty Nineties''), with scenes of ''Uncle Tom'' stage productions where Eva's actress (or [[CrossCastRole actor]]) either gets stuck in midair or crashes back to the floor when the wires malfunction or break. It also gets an allusion in ''Theatre/TheKingAndI'', when at the end of the "Small House of Uncle Thomas" play, Eva is [[WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath given wings]] and ascends a [[StairwayToHeaven staircase into the clouds]] where [[CulturalTranslation the Buddha]] waits for her.

* ''Franchise/StarWars'': The Jedi who die become one with the Force, and those who die naturally have their bodies phase out of physical existence. However, thanks to the Force, they can still communicate with (and and become visible in front of) living people, as Obi Wan demonstrates during the climax of ''Film/ANewHope''. Same with [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Qui-Gon]], [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Yoda, and Anakin]], [[Film/TheLastJedi Luke]], and [[spoiler: [[Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker Leia and Ben Solo (formerly Kylo Ren)]]]].

** Though, to date, they have only been hinted-at in-game or have been mentioned dripping in heavy metaphor, there exist several "ascended" metaphysical states in the ''ES'' universe. (Each has been further fleshed out by [[AllThereInTheManual developer]] [[LooseCanon supplemental texts]].) The first of these states is CHIM, where one [[LeaningOnTheFourthWall becomes aware of the nature]] of [[GodOfGods Anu's]] Dream but exists as one with it and maintains a sense of individuality. (Dunmeri PhysicalGod Vivec claims to have achieved this level.) Taking another step, the second is Amaranth, where one exits Anu's Dream [[TheOmnipotent to create one's own]].[[note]]With further implication that such a feat is only possible because one who achieves Amaranth actually ''[[MediumAwareness becomes aware of the nature]]'' of the world as a video game setting.[[/note]] If one fails to maintain their individuality in either step, they instead experience Zero-Sum, where one simply [[CessationOfExistence fades into Anu's Dream]]. (Dagoth Ur, BigBad of ''Morrowind'', is said to have found a dangerous middle ground between these three. Instead of exiting the Dream, his twisted, traumatized, and broken mind is ''being imprinted'' on the Dream of Anu, making him something truly terrible and [[EldritchAbomination Eldritch]].)

'''As generally a DeathTrope, most Spoilers will be unmarked ahead. Beware.'''

* ''Film/{{StarTrekTheMotionPicture}}'': V'ger when it merges with Decker. The characters even figure this out for V'ger:

* ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaStorm'' has the Karmanians, a species whose members leave their magical power to a worthy successor before ascending into a phoenix-like form. Of course, this leads to Shane getting a NextTierPowerUp.

* ''Webcomic/SomethingPositive'': Joked over recently by Mr. Sandersan who, upon hearing that Davan's mother Faey spent her life sober, said she must have risen to heaven held only by beams of light and her obvious sainthood because she raised Davan, completely sober at all times.

* Obi-Wan in ''Franchise/StarWars IV: Film/ANewHope'', which comes packed with the famous line that fits this trope to perfection...
-->'''Obi-Wan:''' If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.
** Ditto for [[Film/ThePhantomMenace Qui-Gon]], [[Film/ReturnOfTheJedi Yoda, and Anakin]], [[Film/TheLastJedi Luke]], and [[spoiler: [[Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker Leia and Ben Solo (formerly Kylo Ren)]]]].

* ''Art/CupidAndPsycheBouguereau'': "The Rapture of Psyche" depicts the moment Cupid took Psyche up into the heavens to join him as a god.

* ''ComicBook/TheFlash'': The Speed Force seems not only to be the source of power for all the Speedsters in the DCU, but also their Valhalla. Several of them (such as Johnny Quick and Max Mercury) have been absorbed into it. The only reason [[Character/TheFlashWallyWest Wally West]] never succumbed to the urge to do so is that his love for Linda would make living without her (even in paradise) unbearable.

* ComicBook/{{Galactus}} was once a normal humanoid alien named Galan. He survived the destruction of the old universe, and became the PlanetEater that we know today. Not willingly, however, and if he could de-ascend he'd gladly take the chance (several billion years with no-one to talk to and a never-ending desire to eat planets will do that to a person).

* Jim Sacks from ''[[ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} Lobster Johnson]]: The Iron Prometheus''. His exposure to Vril energy turned him into a "newly evolved super-being," causing him to come back from death once. Then, when his body was burnt to the bone, his spirit passed into "the universe with all her mysteries stripped away," but not before he used his new powers to blast his enemies to a crisp.
* In ''ComicBook/TheOneHundredNightsOfHero'', three young princesses are trapped in a mirror realm when their father breaks their portal home. They end up becoming the [[WeirdMoon moons]]. [[spoiler:And in the end, the main characters become a constellation.]]

* The Speed Force seems not only to be the source of power for all the Speedsters in the DCU, but also their Valhalla. Several of them (such as Johnny Quick and Max Mercury) have been absorbed into it. The only reason [[Franchise/TheFlash Wally West]] never succumbed to the urge to do so is that his love for Linda would make living without her (even in paradise) unbearable.
* ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'':
** ''ComicBook/AllStarSuperman'': After dying from over-exposure to the Sun, Superman finds himself talking to his birth father, Jor-El, who tells him he's turning into pure thought, like all the other Kryptonians did. Of course, there are still enemies going after his loved ones, so Superman is given the choice, join his people and "dance through the fields of consciousness" or fight one last time. Three guesses which one he chooses.
** In ''ComicBook/SupergirlCosmicAdventuresInThe8thGrade'', Mr. Mxyzptlk tries to usurp an infinite power. However, ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} claims it before he can seize it, and ascends. After beating Mxy up and making him run away her power fades and she becomes human again.

** ''ComicBook/TheDayTheCheeringStopped'': Subverted. After beating King Kosmos thanks to an ancient mystical sword, Superman its power seeping into him and changing him into a god. Unwilling to lose his humanity, Superman halts the transformation and releases the Sword back into the cosmos.

* In ''ComicBook/Trinity2008'', Franchise/{{Superman}}, Franchise/WonderWoman and Franchise/{{Batman}} become keystones to immense cosmic power. After being banished from their reality and transported to another universe, they become their new dimension's Trinity and assume power as gods. At the end of the story they become “normal” again.
* Toward the end of ''ComicBook/{{Watchmen}}'', Dr. Manhattan leaves Earth with the stated intention of creating life elsewhere, thus making himself the technical definition of a god.

* In the ''ComicBook/WildCATSWildStorm'' revamp Travis Charest drew, Lord Emp was becoming a High Kherubian Lord and wanted his arch-nemesis to kill him as part of the ascension process. His body had become child-sized and shriveled, but he didn't care because he was about to transcend mortal concerns.
* ''ComicBook/WonderWoman1987'': Diana gets killed by Neron taking advantage of a spell siphoning a portion of her power to ComicBook/{{Artemis}}, but her patrons bring her body back to life as the Goddess of Truth. She's then stuck on Olympus until she breaks the rules enough that she's downgraded back into the superpowered human she was originally allowing her to return to earth.
* ''Franchise/XMen'':
** ComicBook/JeanGrey is a literal example of this in her White Phoenix of the Crown form.

** This is implied to be the ultimate fate of Gambit of the ''X-Men''. The post-ascension version of him lives/will live/has lived outside time, and is already in contact with him. This being ''X-Men'', [[NeverLiveItDown this may actually be ''harder'' to come back from]], [[KudzuPlot when and if it actually happens]]. Essentially, this is what ''would'' happen to Gambit had Sinister not removed part of his brain to curb his powers. An alternate Universe Gambit, who could make you explode by looking at you and [[AxCrazy often did]], once put in an appearance mainly to dissuade Gambit from making a deal to get his full power template back.

* Applies to anyone in the ''Literature/LeftBehind'' book series [[CaughtUpInTheRapture who was raptured]] or martyred, as you are given a glorified body. Of course, this means that [[ChasteHero in your glorified state, you cannot fall in love,]] [[ImmortalInfertility neither sire or have children.]] But for those who have been raptured and been with the Lord during the Tribulation, [[BetterThanSex nothing else]] [[LivingForeverIsAwesome quite compares to it]].
** By the end of the Millennium, all naturals who are believers are given glorified bodies.

* At the end of Season 15 of ''WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}}'' [[spoiler:Nya becomes one with the ocean itself.]]

* UsefulNotes/GeorgeWashington is seen rising above the Greek gods to become King of the Gods in ''Art/TheApotheosisOfWashington''. That fresco currently sits on the roof of the U.S. Capitol building, so that god-Washington judges Congress from on high.
* Creator/AlexandreCabanel's ''Art/TheFallenAngel'': {{Inverted}} as [[{{Satan}} Lucifer]] has just been kicked out the Christian {{Heaven}}. In other words, he has descended from a higher plane of existence and is now sulking at the top of an Earthly mountain.

* At the end of the true path of ''WebOriginal/{{Necromancer}}'', [[spoiler: Serena meets again with the Necromancer, and he becomes a death god.]]

* Many fanfic writers see the events of ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddysBigPictureShow'' as the kids finally leaving the [[Fanfic/CulDeSac cursed grounds of the Cul-de-sac]] as this.