Aerith’s Journey to the Promised Land

Aerith Gainsborough is one of the most iconic Final Fantasy characters and in this post, we will discuss what the Promised Land means for her journey, her battle to save the planet and its significance to the story of Final Fantasy VII.

 “The Cetras return to the Promised Land. A land that promises
boundless happiness.” - Aerith

*Art by Lap Pun Cheung, freely distributed 

Why do we cling within the womb?
Why do we punish a lesser heart?
The planet did not forgive us, the planet did not forgive us
The pulse of veins flows in the land
A tiny tiny pulse.
A heart led to death
A gentle life returns to the planet,
Is it necessary to sacrifice a soul?
Why do we cling together?
Why do we ask for forgiveness in the the fated land?

The Promised Land by Nobuo Uematsu (English translation)

There are many interpretations in the fandom of the Promised Land in FFVII, and likewise in-universe people find this place mysterious. Described as a place of “supreme happiness.” There has been various discussions that real physical place, or something personal. Note that the following key events shown here may not be chronological. 

The Promised Land is first mentioned in Disc 1 by characters from Shinra. They see it as a legendary place filled with Mako deposits for the Shinra Corp to harvest.  They are not sure where to find it and they are hoping that the last Cetra, Aerith, will show them the way.

President Shinra
        "She’s the last surviving Ancient…“
        "Don’t you know? They called themselves the Cetra, and lived
thousands of years ago. Now they are just a forgotten page in history.”

Red XIII
        "Cetra… That girl, is she a survivor of the Cetra?“

President Shinra
        "Cetra, or the Ancients will show us the way to the ‘Promised
Land.’ I’m expecting a lot out of her.”

Red XIII
        "The Promised Land? Isn’t that just a legend?“

President Shinra
        "Even so, it’s just too appealing to not to pursue.”
        "It’s been said the Promised Land is very fertile.“
        ”…If the land is fertile…“

Barret
        "Then there’s gotta be Mako!”

President Shinra
        "Exactly. That is why our money sucking Mako Reactor is a
necessity.“
        "The abundant Mako will just come out on its own.”
        "That is where Neo-Midgar will be built. Shinra’s new glory…“

The Promised Land is presented Shinra’s end goal. Even when President Shinra died, his heir has the same goal in mind. 

Rufus
        "The outside is rich with Mako energy, The inside is a treasure
trove of Materia. This truly is the Promised Land.”

Then Aerith; the mysterious flower girl who Cloud met, the last Cetra. Her version is completely different from what Shinra knew. Aerith wasn’t sure herself about the details, but somehow it was similar to Shinra; the Promised Land is the end goal of the Cetra.

Tifa
        "You know, Aerith, I have a question.“
Aerith
        "What?”
Tifa
        "Does the Promised Land really exist?“
Aerith
        ”…I don’t know.“
        "All I know is…”
        "The Cetra were born from the Planet, speak with the Planet, and
unlock the Planet.“
        "And……. then……”
        "The Cetra will return to the Promised Land. A land that promises
supreme happiness.“

Tifa
        ”…What does that mean?“
Aerith
        "More than words…… I don’t know.”
Cloud
        "…Speak with the Planet?“
Tifa
        "Just what does the Planet say?”
Aerith
        "It’s full of people and noisy. That’s why I can’t make out what
they’re saying.“
Cloud
        "You hear it now?”
Aerith
        "I, I only heard it at the Church in the Slums. Mother said
that Midgar was no longer safe. That is…. my real mother.“
        "Someday I’ll get out of Midgar… Speak with the Planet and find
my Promised Land.”
        "…That’s what mom said.“
        "I thought I would stop hearing her voice as I grew up, but….”

Art by Lap Pun Cheung

The key in finding the Promised Land lies with Aerith’s journey in discovering herself as Cetra. She knew she was one, she learned some things from her short time with her mother and from listening to her mother’s voice, but she is the last one and most of the knowledge of the Ancients were gone. Midgar’s lands are polluted and Aerith can only hear her mother at the church, the planet’s voice was unclear. Going out with Cloud and the party allowed Aerith to experience the outside world, and this also allowed her to further develop her unique powers and learn more about who she is. 

However, it was only only Shinra and Aerith who seek the Promised Land. Sephiroth called himself a Cetra, and he believed that he is meant to find the Promised Land. 

Sephiroth
        "This Planet originally belonged to the Cetra. Cetra was a
itinerant race. They would migrate in, settle the Planet, then move on…“
        "At the end of their harsh, hard journey, they would find the
Promised Land and supreme happiness.”
        "But, those that disliked the journey appeared. Those who stopped
their migrations built shelters and elected to lead an easier life.“
        "They took that which the Cetra and the planet had made without
giving one whit in return!”

I think it’s interesting and significant the term “Promised Land” is originally is from the Judeo-Christian tradition and the Bible. Is it the place promised by God to Abraham and Sarah’s descendants- the Hebrews. According to tradition, after generations of exile in Egypt, the Hebrews were freed from slavery and journeyed to the Promised Land. 

It is highly unlikely that the FFVII writers know nothing about the religious and thematic significance of the term, and it’s no coincidence that the Promised Land in FFVII has some similarities.  

As Aerith continued her journey, she learned more about the Cetra and the Promised Land. Elder Hargo at Cosmo Canyon explained what he knew about the Promised Land:

…The Promised Land. So you want to know…? There is no one place called the Promised Land. That’s what I believe. No no, it does exist. Hmmm…… you can say that too. In other words, it doesn’t exist for us, but it did for the Ancients. The Promised Land is the resting place of the Ancients. The life of the Ancients is one continuous journey. A journey to grow trees and plants, produce animals, and to raise Mako energy. Their harsh journeys continued throughout their lives… The place they returned to after their long journey… Their burial land is the Promised Land. Huh? Supreme Happiness? I believe that, for the Ancients, it was the moment that they were able to return to their Planet. At that moment they were released from their fate, and gained their supreme happiness… At least that’s what I believe. I really don’t know whether or not it’s the truth now.

Elder Hargo may have some important knowledge on the Ancients and the Promised Land, but he admitted that he isn’t sure if that is the truth. Also, Hargo is aware he is also not meant to find the Promised Land- it is a resting place for the Ancients. 

Cloud
        "We are going after Sephiroth.“
        "Sephiroth must be in search of the Promised Land.”
Cid
        "The Promised Land?“
Cloud
        "A land full of Mako energy, … or at least that’s what the
Shinra believe.”
        "I don’t know if it actually exists.“
Aerith
        "The Cetras return to the Promised Land. A land that promises
boundless happiness.”
Barret
        "Cetra? That some kinda disease?“
Aerith
        "That’s what the Ancients call themselves.”
        "Hey, didn’t you listen to the elders at Cosmo Canyon?“
        ”…You don’t 'know’ where the Promised Land of the Ancients is.“
        "You search and travel, until you feel it. Like you just know,
’…this is the Promised Land.’”

They learned that Sephiroth wanted to use the Black Materia and destroy the planet. they thought that finding the Promised Land will allow him to access unimaginable power. But at this point, Aerith knew that Sephiroth is wrong, and what he is seeking is beyond what he is capable of. 

Aerith
       "That’s right.“
       "One person’s power alone won’t do it.”
       "Somewhere special. Where there’s plenty of the Planet’s
energy…“
       "Oh yeah!”
       "The Promised Land!“
…
       "Sephiroth is different. He’s not an Ancient.”

Cloud
       "He shouldn’t be able to find the Promised Land.“

Sephiroth
        ”…Ah, but I have. I’m far superior to the Ancients. I became a traveler of the Lifestream and gained the knowledge and wisdom of the Ancients….I also gained the knowledge and wisdom of those after the extinction of the Ancients….And soon, I will create the future.“

 Aerith: "I won’t let you do it! The future is not only yours!”

We know the story. Aerith left the part and went to the Forgotten Capital on her own to pray to the planet, to protect her friends. And there she lost her life.

Cloud
        "…Aerith.“
        "This can’t be real!”

Sephiroth
        “Do not worry. Soon the girl will become part of the Planet’s
energy.”
        "All that is left is to go North. The 'Promised Land’ waits for
me over the snowy fields.“
        "There I will become a new being by uniting with the planet. As
will this girl…

Cloud
        ”…Shut up.“
The cycle of nature and your stupid plan don’t mean a thing.”
        “Aerith is gone.”
        "Aerith will no longer talk, no longer laugh, cry…… or get
angry……“

Sephiroth’s Promised Land is the Northern Crater- and  his idea of it is supreme power, while he tells Cloud that Aerith will merely be absorbed by the planet. Aerith is gone.

But the group learned that there is hope to stand against Meteor, Sephiroth’s spell that will destroy the planet and Aerith has successfully summoned Holy. 

Bugenhagen
      "Holy… the ultimate White Magic. Magic that might stand against
Meteor. Perhaps our last hope to save the planet from Meteor.”
      “If a soul seeking Holy reaches the planet, it will appear.”
      “It is up to the planet to decide.”
      “What is best for the planet. What is bad for the planet.”
      “All that is bad will disappear. That is all.”
      “Ho Ho Hooo.”
      “I wonder which we humans are?”

Cloud
      “Search for Holy… How do we do it?”

Bugenhagen
       ..
      “Then speak to the planet.”
      “If our wish reaches the planet, the White Materia will begin to
glow a pale green.”

Remember Aerith’s wish? That she wanted to got out of Midgar and speak to the planet? Aerith completed her journay as Cetra, and the planet decided what is good. Aerith prayed for Holy and it was answered.

Cloud: ……I think I’m beginning to understand.

       An answer from the Planet…
        the Promised Land…
        I think I can meet her… there.

Tifa: Yeah, let’s go meet her.

There are many ways to interpret this scene, but many forget the significance of the planet’s answer. From what I understood, I think that Cloud thought that it was their end. When the die they will rejoin the planet as part of the Lifestream- the endless sea of Mako. 

It was the Promised Land that Shinra desired, but it wasn’t a place of promises prosperity. It was merely where all life converges- and a human can reach it upon death. 

But Aerith was different. She will not be merely a part of the Lifestream but as Cetra she is destined for to transcend human existence.

I’m not sure how I can describe it, but Aerith’s life was tragic but she is ultimately triumphant against Sephiroth and Shinra. The former has lust for power and saw himself as a higher being, the latter a force of greed. Aerith was neither. She wanted a good future for everyone, and protected it with everything. To be able to do so was perhaps her supreme happiness. Aerith’s, Promised land was true-  not a delusion or false hope with material value. 

But again, I’d like to express my disagreement with the popular notion that Aerith gave away her life. Tifa summed it up perfectly:

“ I think she didn’t think she would die at all, but that she planned on coming back all along. She always used to talk about the 'Next time’. She talked about the future more that any of us…“

This is why I am personally against the interpretation that the Promised Land is supposed to be romantic, or that it proves the romantic themes of FFVII. Not that I am against the idea of romance between Cloud and Aerith, but the Promised Land is supposed to be seen from Aerith’s standpoint and there is no single instance in the original game of making this afterlife concept about Cloud’s journey.  Though I am aware the Promised Land may hold meaning to each people differently, in the grand scheme of FFVII, it is essentially about Aerith and the Cetra.

The Promised Land incredibly significant in the FFVII universe should be attributed to Aerith that embodies its meaning- not Cloud, Sephiroth or Shinra. Aerith completed her mission and reached the Promised Land. Let’s give the heroine the credit she deserves.

Thanks to @cateringisalie for some consultation and inspiration.