620. From the information conveyed by communications submitted in the
preceding pages, as well as others, it appears that there are seven
spheres recognised in the spirit world. The terrestrial abode forms the
first or rudimental sphere.
621. At the distance of about sixty miles from the terrestrial
surface, the spirit world commences. It consists of six bands or
zones, designated as spheres, surrounding the earth, so as to have
one common centre with it and with each other. An idea of these rings
may be formed from that of the planet Saturn, excepting that they are
comparatively much nearer to their planet, and that they have their
broad surfaces parallel to the planet, and at right angles to the
ecliptic, instead of being like Saturn’s rings, so arranged that their
surfaces are parallel to the plane in which his ecliptic exists.
622. Supposing the earth to be represented by a globe of thirteen and
a half inches in diameter, the lower surface of the lowest of the
spiritual spheres, if represented in due proportion to the actual
distance from the earth, would be only one-tenth of an inch from the
terrestrial surface. The bands observed over the regions in the planet
Jupiter which correspond with our tropical regions, agree very well
in relative position with those which are assigned to our spiritual
spheres. They are probably the spiritual spheres of that planet.
It having struck me as possible that these bands might be due to
spiritual spheres appertaining to Jupiter, I inquired of the spirits;
their reply was confirmatory.
623. The objection naturally occurs that ours are invisible to us; yet
we know that light may be polarized in passing through transparent
masses so as to produce effects in one case which it does not in others
when not so polarized. It would have to pass through the spheres of
Jupiter, and return through them again. This light, twice subjected
to the ordeal of passing through the spirit world, when contrasted
with that which goes and returns without any such ordeal, may undergo
a change of a nature to produce an effect upon the eye, when, in the
absence of this contrast, no visual change should be perceptible.
624. I am aware that it has been alleged that the bands do not appear
always to occupy the same boundaries, and at times appear separated
or more unequally distributed than at others. This may be due in part
to actual changes which the spiritual essence may undergo as to its
relative position, or optical delusions, if not deviations, resulting
from the susceptibility of polarizing causes.
625. Possibly some peculiarity in the reflecting surface of the planet
may be productive of such polarizing variations in the state of the
light as to cause a difference sufficient for detection.
626. Alum, transparent to the rays of light, intercepts nearly the
whole of the rays of heat. Opaque black glass intercepts the rays of
light entirely, those of heat but partially.
627. Rock salt, a substance analogous to alum, intercepts radiant heat
only to a very small extent.
628. When the rays of the setting sun fall upon the glass of windows,
we see one portion reflected with great effulgence, yet another goes
through the glass. The last-mentioned portion of the rays received on a
second pane are reflected, while those which were reflected will pass
through another pane without reflection.
629. This may demonstrate that the conditions requisite to the
permeability of media by rays is affected by diversities of intestinal
arrangements which are inscrutable to us.
630. The interval between the lower boundaries of the first spiritual
sphere and the second is estimated at thirty miles as a maximum, but
this interval is represented to be less, as the spheres between which
it may exist are more elevated or remote from the terrestrial centre.
631. Each sphere is divided into six “circles” or plains. More
properly these may be described as concentric zones, occupying each
about one-sixth of the space comprised within the boundaries of the
sphere. There being six subdivisions to each of the six spheres, in all
there must be thirty-six gradations.
632. These boundaries are not marked by any visible partition, but
spirits have in this respect a peculiar sense, which makes them feel
when they are passing the boundaries of one sphere in order to get to
the next.
633. This allegation of the existence of an invisible spirit world
within the clear azure space intervening between the surface of this
globe and the lunar orbit may startle the reader; and yet this idea may
have been presented by Scripture to the same mind, without awakening
skepticism. It was urged by a spirit friend—Is it more wonderful that
you should find our habitations invisible, than that we are invisible?
634. It is plain that between the lowest degrees of vice, ignorance,
and folly, and the highest degrees of virtue, learning, and wisdom,
there are many gradations. When we are translated to the spheres,
we take a rank proportional to our merit, which seems to be there
intuitively susceptible of estimation by the law above alluded to,
of the grossness being greater as the character is more imperfect.
Both the spirits and spheres are represented as having a gradation
in constitutional refinement, so that the sphere to which a spirit
belongs is intuitively manifest. Rank is determined by a sort of moral
specific gravity, in which merit is inversely as weight. Another
means of distinction is a circumambient halo by which every spirit
is accompanied, which passes from a darkness to effulgency as the
spirit belongs to a higher plane. Even mortals are alleged to be
surrounded with a halo visible to spirits, although not to themselves.
Intuitively, from the extent and nature of this halo, spirits perceive
the sphere to which any mundane being belongs. The effulgence of the
higher spirits is represented as splendid. As soon as emancipated from
their corporeal tenement, spirits enter the spheres, and are entitled
to a station higher in direct proportion to their morality, wisdom,
knowledge, and intellectual refinement.
635. The first spiritual sphere, or the second in the whole series, is
as large as all the other five above it. This is the hell or Hades of
the spirit world, where all sensual, malevolent, selfish beings reside.
The next sphere above this, or the third in the whole series, is the
habitation of all well-meaning persons, however bigoted, fanatical, or
ignorant. Here they are tolerably happy.
636. In proportion as spirits improve in purity, benevolence, and
wisdom, they ascend. They may ascend as love-spirits, in consequence
of the two first-mentioned attributes; but cannot go up on account of
wisdom alone. A knave, however wise, cannot advance in the spheres.
There are, in fact, two modes of ascent—love, so called, and love and
wisdom united. Those who go up in love are called _love_-spirits; those
who unite both qualifications are called wisdom-spirits. A feminine
spirit, who had been remarkable for her disinterested devotion to her
relatives and friends, ascended almost forthwith to the fifth sphere.
My friend W. W. had an ascent equally rapid to the same sphere. Yet
another spirit, who was fully as free from vice as either of those
above alluded to, took many years to ascend in _wisdom_ to the
fifth sphere, not being satisfied to rise unless accompanied by the
attributes of wisdom, as well as love. Spirit B. alleged that because
he was a free-thinker he went up more quickly than another spirit, A.
A., being questioned, admitted that B. had got on more speedily, in
consequence of superior liberality.