It has always been so and will probably continue until it is no longer necessary as a universal process. Therefore any ideas of this process being something new or weird, usually means that this concept hasn't been understood. Let us look more carefully at what Ascension is.
Evolution is basically a continuing growth through learning in many forms.
This growth comes about through greater spiritual wisdom, compassion, tolerance, integrity, true understanding and such qualities that lead us to unconditional love. Each person has their own unique energy vibration and it is this we are recognising when we feel someone is instantly familiar or we are immediately comfortable with someone. Our individual vibrational band as a being decides the world we see. Wisdom and love raise ones vibration, taking it from dense, slower moving frequencies to faster, finer frequencies. Ascension is merely a stage in this evolutionary process and involves reaching a place where one is ready to raise oneself to the frequency of Light, whereby the fifth dimension becomes accessible and visible.