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Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997 by Square (now Square Enix), presents a rich, intricate universe where themes of life, death, ecology, and existentialism intertwine. Unlike traditional fantasy worlds with divine creators or epic gods forging the cosmos, the world of FF7—known as the Planet or Gaia—revolves around a naturalistic, cyclical cosmology. Creation isn’t depicted as a singular event orchestrated by higher beings but as an ongoing process sustained by the Lifestream, the Planet’s ethereal life force. This article delves into how creation is explained in the FF7 lore, drawing from the core game, its compilations (like Crisis Core and Dirge of Cerberus), and expanded media, to unpack the mechanisms of life, the role of ancient races, and disruptions to this delicate balance.

The Lifestream: The Essence of All Creation

At the heart of FF7’s worldview is the Lifestream, a glowing, green-white ethereal substance that flows beneath the Planet’s surface like veins in a living body. This isn’t just energy—it’s the collective spirit, memories, emotions, and knowledge of every being that has ever lived. The Lifestream is the source from which all life emerges and to which it returns, embodying a perpetual cycle rather than a one-time creation myth.

In the lore, the Lifestream is described as the Planet’s “blood,” giving life to the world and everything on it. When new life forms—plants, animals, or sentient beings—are born, they draw from portions of this spirit energy. As beings die, their essence dissolves back into the Lifestream, enriching it with their experiences and allowing the cycle to continue. This process ensures the Planet’s evolution, as accumulated knowledge shapes future generations. The Lifestream may even possess sentience, sometimes personified as Minerva, a goddess-like entity representing the Planet’s will. 10

There’s no explicit origin story for the Planet itself in the canon; it’s portrayed as an ancient, self-sustaining entity formed through natural cosmic processes. However, the Lifestream’s role in sustenance is clear: it heals the Planet’s wounds by flowing to scarred areas, acting like an immune system. In dire threats, such as potential destruction, the Planet summons colossal guardians called WEAPONs or even Omega, a being that gathers all life energy to launch it into space, seeking a new world to seed life anew. 10 This suggests creation in FF7 is not static but adaptive, with the Lifestream enabling life’s persistence across catastrophes.

The Cycle of Life and Death: A Harmonious Loop

Creation in FF7 is inherently tied to death, forming a harmonious loop that underscores the game’s environmental themes. Life isn’t “created” from nothing; it’s recycled spirit energy manifesting in new forms. For instance, when a person dies, their soul returns to the Lifestream, potentially retaining sentience if their will is strong enough. Some spirits influence the physical world, while others linger as ghosts due to unresolved attachments. 10

This cycle extends to magic and technology. Materia, crystallized Lifestream, grants access to the Planet’s ancient knowledge, allowing users to wield spells. However, exploiting the Lifestream—such as refining it into Mako energy for power—disrupts this balance, leading to barren lands and ecological collapse, as seen around the industrial city of Midgar. In essence, creation is an ongoing renewal, where the Planet actively participates in birthing and reclaiming life to maintain equilibrium.

The Cetra: Stewards of Creation

The ancient race known as the Cetra, or Ancients, play a pivotal role in shaping and protecting the Planet’s creative processes. Born from the Planet itself, the Cetra were nomadic beings with an innate ability to commune with the Lifestream—often called “talking to the Planet.” They guided spirit energy to cultivate life, making barren lands fertile by opening Lifestream veins. This stewardship wasn’t about dominion but harmony; the Cetra migrated across Gaia in search of the “Promised Land,” a metaphorical state of supreme happiness achieved through unity with the Planet, rather than a physical paradise. 11

In FF7’s history, the Cetra were the original caretakers, enhancing creation by fostering growth wherever they went. However, not all followed this path—some settled down, abandoning their nomadic ways to build permanent societies. These settlers became the ancestors of modern humans, who lost the ability to hear the Planet’s voice. The pure Cetra dwindled over time, but their legacy endures through figures like Aerith Gainsborough, the last known half-Cetra, who demonstrates this connection by growing flowers in Midgar’s slums. 11

The Calamity from the Skies: Disruption and Near-Destruction

No exploration of creation in FF7 would be complete without addressing Jenova, the extraterrestrial entity that nearly unraveled the Planet’s life cycle. Approximately 2,000 years before the game’s events, Jenova crash-landed on Gaia via a meteor, creating the massive North Crater. Dubbed the “Calamity from the Skies” by the Cetra, Jenova was a parasitic being that destroyed worlds by infecting their life forces and using the remnants as vessels for interstellar travel. 12

Upon arrival, Jenova shapeshifted to mimic the Cetra’s deceased kin, spreading a virus—its own cells—that mutated victims into monsters. This catastrophe decimated the Cetra population, bringing them to the brink of extinction and halting their custodial role in creation. A remnant group sealed Jenova in the crater, preventing the Planet from activating its WEAPON defenses. Yet, Jenova’s influence lingered, possibly inciting humans to slaughter the remaining Cetra out of envy. 12 11

Jenova’s legacy disrupts creation even in modern times. Shinra Corporation excavated its remains, mistaking it for a Cetra, and used its cells in experiments like the Jenova Project, birthing super-soldiers such as Sephiroth. These cells seek reunion, corrupting hosts and the Lifestream itself, as seen in the Geostigma plague. Sephiroth’s plan to wound the Planet and absorb the converging Lifestream echoes Jenova’s destructive cycle, positioning him as a would-be god of un-creation.

Modern Echoes and Philosophical Undertones

In the contemporary era of FF7, creation’s principles are commodified and threatened. Shinra’s Mako reactors drain the Lifestream, stunting natural rebirth and creating wastelands. Avalanche’s eco-terrorism and Cloud’s journey highlight the consequences of ignoring this cycle, emphasizing that true creation thrives on balance, not exploitation.

Philosophically, FF7’s lore draws from real-world inspirations like Shinto animism (where everything has a spirit) and concepts of qi or mana, but in-universe, it’s a self-contained ecosystem. There’s no omnipotent creator god; the Planet is both creator and creation, with life as an eternal flow.

Conclusion

In the world of Final Fantasy VII, creation is explained not through myths of divine intervention but as a vital, interconnected cycle powered by the Lifestream. The Cetra’s stewardship and Jenova’s invasion add layers of harmony and conflict, illustrating how life persists amid threats. This cosmology resonates deeply, blending sci-fi with spirituality to question humanity’s role in the grand tapestry of existence. As the Remake and Rebirth expand the saga, these themes continue to evolve, reminding us that creation is fragile, eternal, and profoundly collective.