Spiritualist visions of the A2erlife
Spiritual Geography Conflic9ng messages about the spirit world received by mediums is understood to reflect the varying levels of spiritual development of the souls doing the communica9ng Enough spirit messages have been recorded, however, for Spiritualists to piece together a kind of spiritual geography Based on these messages, most Spiritualists believe in mul9ple levels of the a2erlife, known as the spheres. There are 7 known spheres, and may be many more, beyond the level of human comprehension.
The 1 st Sphere closest to Earth - Dark, barren, nothing grows. Spirits o2en congregate in ci9es, houses poorly constructed, collapsing the exterior reflects the inner confusion of the souls who dwell here Murderers, suicides, dogma9c monks/priests, alcoholics, etc. those who cannot admit the truth of their spiritual state and seek progress Although Spiritualists do not believe in the Chris9an Hell, this level may be experienced as Hell by the spirits who dwell here a place of confusion, torment, suffering, brought about by the soul s own spiritual state (NOT a place of divine punishment) These spirits are drawn to earth, and seek to relive their lives here they do not realize they have passed beyond their earthly existence. This is the level, I think, that is represented in Annie s Hell in What Dreams May Come.
The 2nd Sphere: S9ll gloomy, nothing grows, a wasteland Spirits here know they are dead, and so are not trapped in the illusion of life like those in the 1st sphere. They have begun to hope for spiritual growth, but are s9ll caught up in worldly concerns o2en guilt, remorse for wrongs done on earth. Souls here need to take responsibility for wrongs done on earth, and must learn forgiveness (of themselves, others) before passing to the next level
The 3 rd sphere is called the Summerland. This is the sphere where most souls first go upon death, including all who die as children. The beau9es of earth are accentuated here; there are no imperfect condi9ons. Surroundings are shaped by thoughts and expecta9ons, everything conforms to your ideas. If you expect the a2erlife to be filled with angels, that is what you will find. If you expect it to be like a perfect version of your country co^age, that is what you will find. This is the level represented in Christy s a2erlife in What Dreams May Come. Most spirits who communicate with the living dwell in this sphere.
The 4th Sphere Everything is brighter, more refined, dazzling, but the souls who dwell here are adapted to the light. Thought creates everything, and souls congregate according to their common concerns philosophy, science, music, art. Souls who dwell here help train souls in the Summerland to become missionaries, who in turn pass along their knowledge to souls in lower spheres, and to those on earth. Ian, the son in What Dreams May Come was called a missionary. Souls from this sphere some9mes also act directly as inspira9on to those on earth to Doctors, scien9sts, ar9sts, etc.
The 5 th Sphere This sphere is similar to the fourth, but s9ll more perfect with a brighter light. Souls are more calm, serene and balanced than in lower spheres, and more advanced in their spiritual understandings. This sphere has colleges and schools for fine arts, astronomy, mathema9cs, agriculture and other subjects, and trains spiritual teachers to help those on the lower levels of the Spirit world.
The 6 th Sphere Light dominates here, and the barrier between this sphere and the next is permeable. Souls here are focused exclusively on spiritual concerns, spending their 9me in contempla9on and study, and in teaching spiritual subjects to souls in lower spheres.
The 7th sphere Souls here have reached perfec9on. All earthly 9es and trappings have been transcended there is no need for physical bodies, ci9es, gardens, etc. everything is simply energy and love. Souls here can return to lower spheres to teach and guide should they choose to, but most are focused on other worlds looking ahead to their con9nued spiritual progress, beyond human concepts and language.
Work Souls in the spheres choose work that is suited to their natures and levels of spiritual a^ainment. Some teach, some guide, some are missionaries, some heal, some study, some help raise the souls of those who die as children, some serve as guardian angels to those on the earth plane, etc. To serve, to help, are spiritual quali9es.
Soul Mates Soul mates are rare, and represent souls who met first in the spirit world, formed a bond based solely on their spiritual natures. Earthly marriage is dissolved at death. Soul mates can be at different stages of spiritual a^ainment, but if this happens, the more highly evolved soul will work to teach the lower one, un9l both a^ain the higher level. Recognizing your soul mate in the spirit world is instantaneous. To find your soul mate on earth is difficult and rare. Gender is irrelevant to soul mates.
Suicide The film What Dreams May Come has one key difference from Spiritualist doctrine, and that is on the topic of suicide. Spiritualists believe that those who commit suicide suffer from the consequences of their own confusion and despair that they cannot realize their changed spiritual state at first. However, one central tenet of Spiritualism is that the door to spiritual progress is never closed ALL souls can progress spiritually, including suicides. So the film states that no one who ever commi^ed suicide has been rescued or freed from their insanity but this is not how Spiritualists would see it. Could be the film made that claim just to add theatrical weight to the danger and triumph faced by Christy.
Rebirth Reincarna9on is a hot topic in Spiritualism, many Spiritualists do not believe in it. Many others do, however. For those who do, it is common to believe that groups of souls choose to be incarnated together within the same family, or within the same peer group, to share experiences and opportuni9es for spiritual growth. For reincarna9onist Spiritualists, the earth plane takes more prominence as a place for learning spiritual lessons. Souls sign up for a set of lessons that can only be learned on earth, then live a human life to learn them.
Animals Most Spiritualists believe that animals have souls, and will go to the a2erlife. Animals go to the Summerland, the same sphere most humans first go to a2er bodily death. Some believe they retain their individual iden9ty as long as their loved ones con9nue to need them, then merge with a kind of collec9ve species- specific soul. Others believe that animal souls, like human souls, retain their individuality all through the different spheres of heavenly existence.