Synopsis: After being knocked unconscious by a surge of energy in a holosuite program, Captain Sisko, the Bajoran Emissary, starts to have visions.
This episode is an illustration of what happens when the Logos-driven rational conscious ego identifies too closely with the energy of an archetype of the Eros-driven irrational unconscious.
In “Rapture” Captain Benjamin Sisko, Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax, and Major Kira Nerys admire a 20,000 year old painting of the lost Bajoran city of B‘Hala. Sisko notes there are symbols on the spiral of a tower. He makes a digital image of it and notices that there is a reflection of additional symbols, and uses a holosuite program to try to find the location of the lost city. Sisko is knocked unconscious by an energy surge and starts to have visions. First, of where the lost city is. But Sisko wants to know more about the future of Bajor and consults the Orb of Prophecy. The Orb tells him that Bajor should not yet sign a treaty to become part of the United Federation of Planets, but Sisko’s brain is severely damaged by his continuing consultation with the Orb. Dr. Julian Bashir wants to perform lifesaving surgery on Sisko, and although he knows that it would be against his father’s wishes, Jake Sisko agrees to the operation. Sisko regains consciousness, but the visions are gone.
Here Sisko, who has been designated as the Emissary by the Bajoran people, is identifying with the god-like power of the archetype of a seer. He dearly wants to continue being able to receive the visions that the Prophets seem to be sending him, even if it means his life. His son, Jake, doesn’t want his father to die and steps in to authorize the operation that will save Sisko’s life but take away the visions. Jake is an embodiment of the rational ego, while Sisko is identifying with the power of the unconscious archetype. Just as Sisko needs to give up the visions in order to live, the connection to the archetype cannot be maintained if the psyche is to be healthy and balanced. Sisko will be forever changed by the experience, more whole, even though he was forced to give up the visions. This is analogous to how the conscious ego becomes stronger and more whole when bits of unconscious material are integrated into it, but not taken over by it.
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