This is my perspective, take what resonates with you, and let the rest fall away.
According to what I have read, the Bardo stages are "afterlife" stages that are experienced by those who have not ascended. The Ascension mirrors the Bardo stages except it happens during physical life.
Bardo Stage 1- Death of the Physical Body- Death of Individuality. Forgiveness can intercede at any stage and release the veil of the body. If the body is not released then the spirit becomes an earthbound ghost. Eventually, they move onto a life review.
Ascension Stage 1- "Awakening" Release of physical desires/addictions. First connections with the Soul. The Dark Night of the Soul. 1st Initiation.
Bardo Stage 2- Release of the Astral Layer or Emotional Body. Forgiveness can intercede at any stage and release the veil of the emotional body. If the emotional body is not released then the spirit becomes an astral ghost. Eventually, they move onto a life review.
Ascension Stage 2- "Baptism" "Shadow work" to clear emotional patterns from the emotional body. "Self-control" of emotions. Release of emotional desire. Merge with the Soul in the heart. 2nd Initiation.
Bardo Stage 3- Release of the Mental Layer or Mental Body.Forgiveness can intercede at any stage and release the veil of the mental body. If the mental body is not released then the spirit becomes a mental ghost. Eventually, they move onto a life review.
Ascension Stage 3- "Shadow work" continues but this time to release restrictive thoughts and beliefs. Release of mental desire. "Self-control of the mind and the thoughts." Leads to the Soul merging with the mind. "Enlightenment or Transfiguration" 3rd Initiation. This stage depends on God's Grace. First connection with the Oversoul.
Bardo Stage 4- Void- Life Review. Rebirth into another Physical Incarnation (Re-incarnation). The Soul or Causal Body contains actions that cannot be balanced unless balanced during physical incarnation. This stage depends on God's Grace- if the actions on Earth were balanced, then the lightbody can ascend to Higher Realms.
Ascension Stage 4- Experience of the Void. However, the Causal Body is destroyed because the physical actions on Earth have balanced the actions stored. Good karma resolves negative karma. 4th initiation. Freedom from re-incarnation. This stage depends on God's Grace- consciousness ascends to higher realms.