Question: I ask about Socrates questioning method and the differences in human abilities. I believe Socrates posed questions that deconstruct certainty and make choice unavoidable. Humans vary greatly in their abilities, intelligence, creativity, concentration, diligence, flexibility, and so on. Is this difference in ability, whether genius, average intelligence, borderline intelligence, or intellectual disability, due to karma and free will? I would appreciate your response using a Socratic approach. And did Socrates ascend after drinking the hemlock? Could you describe his ascension process?
Answer from the Ascended Master Mother Mary through Kim Michaels. This answer was given during the 2026 New Year Webinar.
Socrates did not ascend after that embodiment, but has ascended later. His ascension process is not that special compared to other being’s ascension process.
In terms of the Socratic method of human intelligence, well, it is an expression of the Christ mind, where you ask people questions to get them to think. We have said here, the goal of the Christ is to raise awareness. Sometimes this can best be done by asking people questions. In other cases, it is best done by making statements. This is something that the Christ tunes into in each individual case.
What determines a person’s ability or their level of intelligence or their level of consciousness, their level of awareness, is really a product of what they have done since they first came into being. In terms of the original earth inhabitants—what have they done embodying here on earth? In terms of avatars—what have you done on a natural planet, and what have you done since you came to earth?
It is something, as we said—you start with a point-like sense of self, and by experimenting with your co-creative abilities, by multiplying the talents and learning from it, you raise your awareness. Of course, for human beings on earth, on a dense planet, it has some impact, how you are stimulated in this lifetime or even previous lifetimes to develop certain abilities. That is why there are people in embodiment on earth who have not grown very much for a very long period of time, because they have not been willing to take responsibility and pursue their potential. There are others who have grown over many lifetimes. They have increased their awareness, their abilities.
In terms of the Socratic method, consider: Why are you asking this question? Why is it important to you to understand why people have different abilities?
Copyright © 2026 Kim Michaels