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USS Enterprise Command Pin This article is a stub. Please help STEU by expanding it.

Katra is a Vulcan term for the "living spirit," or soul, of a being. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

The points on a humanoid being's face (or other parts of the anatomy for a Horta) that a Vulcan touches for a mind meld are known as the katra points. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")

In extreme cases, such as when facing immanent death, a Vulcan may be able to transfer their katra to another being via a mind meld. Captain Spock once transferred his katra to Doctor McCoy in this manner; it was later restored to his rejuvenated body via the fal-tor-pan ritual. (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

A katra may also be transferred into a special receptacle, known as vre'katra, translated as a "katric ark" or an "urn of memory." On Vulcan, these receptacles are enshrined in the Hall of Ancient Thought where adepts may commune with the katras of ancient masters. (ENT: "Awakening", TOS novel: The Lost Years, Avenger, Exodus)

In late 2379, Svek entrusted his katra to Timothy Sinclair, who later returned it to Vulcan. (Star Trek: Pendragon: "Twilight's Call")

A popular Star Trek fanzine series, focusing on Lieutenant Saavik, Vulcans and Klingons, published by New Zealand's Lana Pennington-Brown in the 80s and 90s, used the title Katra: the living spirit.

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