When I had at last learned the lesson of self conquest my mind seemed to be free from a great oppressive weight, and I turned to the study of the spirit land and its conditions with renewed interest. At this period of my wanderings I used to see my friend Hassein very often, and he helped me to an understanding of many things which had perplexed me in my earthly life.
After finally mastering self-control, I felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted from my mind. With newfound enthusiasm, I turned my attention to exploring the spirit realm and its nature. During this phase of my journey, I frequently met with my friend Hassein, who helped me make sense of many issues that had confused me during my earthly existence.
On one occasion when we were seated in my little home enjoying one of our many conversations, I asked him to tell me more of the spheres and their relation to the earth.
During one of our many talks at my place, I asked him to explain more about the spheres and how they connect to Earth.
"The term spheres," said he, "is, as you have seen, applied to those great belts of spiritual matter which encircle the earth and other planets. It is likewise applied to those still vaster, more extended, thought waves which circle throughout all the universe. Thus we may say there are two classes of spheres--those which are in a measure material and encircle each their own planet or their own solar system and form the dwelling places of the spiritual inhabitants of each planet. These spheres are divided into circles indicating, like steps upon the ladder of progress, the moral advancement of the spirits.
"Spheres" refers to two things: the massive bands of spiritual matter surrounding Earth and other planets, and the even larger thought waves that permeate the entire universe. We can categorize spheres into two types. First, there are the somewhat material spheres that encircle individual planets or solar systems, serving as homes for the spiritual beings of each planet. These spheres are divided into levels, like rungs on a ladder, representing the moral progress of the spirits inhabiting them.
"The other class of spheres are mental, not material, in their constituents and do not belong to any planetary or solar system, but are as limitless as the universe, circling in ever widening currents of thought emanations from the central point, around which all the universe is held to be revolving, and which point is said to be the immediate environment of the Supreme Being, from whom these thought waves are held to proceed. It may perhaps make my meaning still clearer to say there is one great sphere of the intellectual faculties or attributes belonging essentially to the soul, and then to divide this sphere into circles such as the circles of Philosophy, of Art, of Music, of Literature, etc.
The other category of spheres is mental rather than physical. These spheres don't belong to any planetary or solar system. Instead, they're as vast as the universe itself, flowing in ever-expanding waves of thought. These emanations radiate from a central point, around which the entire universe is believed to revolve. This central point is said to be the direct surroundings of the Supreme Being, from whom these thought waves are believed to originate. To clarify further, we can imagine one grand sphere of intellectual faculties or attributes that are fundamental to the soul. This sphere can then be divided into circles, such as Philosophy, Art, Music, Literature, and so on.
It is a common mode of expression to call them spheres, but to my mind it is more correct to describe them as circles. These Intellectual Circles, like great wheels, inclose all those lesser wheels, those spiral rings, which surround each their own solar system, or parent planet, wheels within wheels, revolving around the one great centre continually. In the spirit world only those who are in sympathy ever remain together, and though the ties of relationship or the links of kind remembrance may at times draw together those who have no common bonds of union, these will be but flying visits, and each will return to their own circle and sphere, drawn back by the strong magnetic attraction which holds each sphere and each circle of a sphere in unison. A spirit belonging to the sphere of Music or Philosophy, will be drawn to others of a like disposition who are in the same stage of moral advancement as himself, but his development of a higher degree of music or philosophy will not enable him to ascend into a higher circle of the Moral Spheres, or planetary spheres, than his moral development entitles him to occupy. The central suns of each of the vast intellectual circles of the mental sphere shine as burnished magnets. They are as great prisms glowing with the celestial fires of purity and truth, and darting on all sides their glorious rays of knowledge, and in these rays cluster the multitudes of spirits who are seeking to light their lamps at these glowing shrines. In those rays which reach the earth pure and unbroken, are found those gems of truth which have illuminated the minds of men in all ages of the world's history, and shattered into a thousand fragments the great rocks of error and darkness, even as the lightning's flash shivers a granite rock, letting into the depths below the clear light of God's sun, and those spirits who are most highly advanced are those who are nearest to the central force, to the dazzling light of these starlike centres. These great spheres of the intellectual and moral faculties may, then, be termed the "universal" spheres; those around each planet, "planetary" spheres; and those surrounding the sun centres, "solar" spheres; the first being understood to consist of thought or sound essence, the others of various degrees of spiritualized matter."
In the spirit world, it's common to describe the structure as spheres, but I find it more accurate to call them circles. These Intellectual Circles, like massive wheels, encompass smaller wheels or spiral rings, each surrounding their own solar system or planet. These wheels within wheels revolve continuously around a central point. In this realm, only those with similar mindsets stay together. While family ties or fond memories may occasionally bring together those without common interests, these are brief encounters. Everyone eventually returns to their own circle, drawn back by a strong magnetic attraction that keeps each sphere and circle unified. A spirit belonging to the Music or Philosophy sphere will be drawn to others with similar interests and moral development. However, their advanced musical or philosophical skills won't allow them to ascend to a higher circle of the Moral or Planetary Spheres beyond their moral level. The central suns of each vast intellectual circle in the mental sphere shine like polished magnets. They're like enormous prisms glowing with celestial purity and truth, radiating knowledge in all directions. Countless spirits gather in these rays, seeking to illuminate their minds at these brilliant sources. The pure, unbroken rays that reach Earth contain truths that have enlightened humanity throughout history. These truths have shattered misconceptions and darkness, much like lightning splitting a granite rock and letting sunlight into its depths. The most advanced spirits are those closest to the central force and dazzling light of these star-like centers. These great spheres of intellectual and moral faculties can be categorized as "universal" spheres, with those around each planet called "planetary" spheres, and those surrounding sun centers termed "solar" spheres. The universal spheres consist of thought or sound essence, while the others comprise various levels of spiritualized matter.
"And how, then, would you describe the creation of a planet and its spheres?"
"So how would you explain the formation of a planet and its layers?"
"The creation of a planet may be said to begin from the time when it is cast off from the parent sun in the form of a nebulous mass of fiery vapor. In this stage it is a most powerful magnet, attracting to itself the minute particles of matter which float through all the ether of space. This ether has been supposed to be void of all material atoms such as float in the atmosphere of planets, but that is an incorrect supposition, the fact being that the atoms of matter are simply subdivided into even more minute particles compared to which a grain of sand is as the bulk of the sun to the earth. These atoms being thus subdivided and dispersed through space (instead of being clustered by the forces of magnetic attraction in the planet into atoms the size of those which float as motes in the earth's atmosphere), have become not only invisible to man's material sight but are also incapable of being detected by the ordinary chemical means at his disposal. They are, in fact, etherealized, and have become of the first degree of spirit matter in consequence of the amount of soul essence which has become amalgamated with their grosser elements. In becoming attracted to the glowing mass of an embryo plant, these atoms become so thickly clustered together that the more ethereal elements are pressed out and escape back into space, leaving the solid gross portion to form into rock, etc., through the constant attracting of fresh atoms and the necessarily vast increase of pressure thus caused. These atoms exist eternally, and are as indestructible as all the other elements which constitute the universe, and they are absorbed and cast off again by planet after planet as each passes through the various stages of its existence and development.
The formation of a planet begins when it separates from its parent star as a fiery, gaseous mass. At this stage, it acts as a powerful magnet, drawing in tiny particles of matter floating through space. While once thought to be empty, space actually contains matter broken down into particles far smaller than those in a planet's atmosphere. These particles are so small that a grain of sand would dwarf them like the sun dwarfs Earth. These minute particles are scattered throughout space, rather than clustered by magnetic forces as they are in planetary atmospheres. They're invisible to the human eye and undetectable by standard chemical analysis. In essence, they've become "etherealized," existing as a basic form of spirit matter due to their fusion with soul essence. As these particles are drawn to the growing mass of a forming planet, they cluster so densely that the more ethereal elements are forced out, returning to space. The remaining solid elements form into rock and other materials through the continuous attraction of new particles and the immense pressure this creates. These fundamental particles are eternal and indestructible, cycling through planets as each goes through its phases of existence and growth.
"The atoms of matter may be broadly classed under three heads, and again each of the three heads may be subdivided into an infinite number of degrees of density, in order to express the various stages of sublimation to which they have attained. The three principal classes may be termed, material or planetary matter--spiritual or soul enveloping matter, which is no longer visible to material sight--and soul essence, this last being so sublimated that it is not possible for me yet to describe its nature to you. Of the material matter the lowest, most gross form, is that of which mineral substances, such as rocks, earth, etc., are formed; these are thrown off into the atmosphere as dust and reabsorbed continually to be changed, by the process continually going on in nature everywhere, into plants, etc. The intermediate degree between the rocks and the plants is the fluidic, in which the more solid particles are held in solution by the various gases or vaporized form of the chemical elements which constitute them. The second degree of material matter is that of plant or vegetable life which is nourished by the blending of the most gross matter with the fluidic. Thus through infinite gradations of earthly matter we reach the highest, namely, flesh and bones and muscles which, whether it clothes the soul of man or one of the lower animals, is still the highest degree of material matter, containing in this highest degree of earthly material development all those elements of which the lower degrees are composed.
Matter can be broadly categorized into three types, each with countless degrees of density reflecting their level of refinement. The main categories are: 1. Physical or planetary matter 2. Spiritual or soul-enveloping matter (invisible to the naked eye) 3. Soul essence (too refined to describe at present) Physical matter exists in various forms. The densest includes minerals like rocks and soil. These particles are constantly recycled in nature, becoming airborne as dust and then reabsorbed to form plants. Between rocks and plants lies fluid matter, where solid particles are dissolved in gases or vaporized chemical elements. Plant life represents the second degree of physical matter, nourished by a combination of dense matter and fluids. Through countless gradations of earthly matter, we arrive at the highest form: flesh, bones, and muscles. This matter, whether in humans or animals, represents the peak of material development, containing all the elements found in lower forms.
"The second or spiritual form of matter is, as I have said, merely the etherealized development of the first or earthly form of matter, while the soul essence is the animating principle of both, the Divine germ, without which the two first forms of matter could not exist. It is a part of the law of the two first classes of matter that they should clothe the higher soul principle, or they lose their power of cohesion and are diffused into their elemental parts again. Soul matter is the only one which possesses any permanent identity. It is the true Ego, since by no power can it be disintegrated or lose its individuality. It is the true life of whatever lower forms of matter it may animate, and as such changes and shapes that lower matter into its own identity. Soul essence is in and of every type of life, from the mineral and vegetable to man, the highest type of animal, and each of these types is capable of development into the highest or celestial form, in which state it is found in the Heavenly Sphere of each planet and each solar system.
The second or spiritual form of matter is simply an ethereal version of the first, physical form. The soul essence animates both forms, acting as the divine spark without which neither could exist. Both physical and spiritual matter must envelop the higher soul principle, or they lose cohesion and break down into their basic elements. Only soul matter maintains a permanent identity. It is the true self, as it cannot be broken apart or lose its individuality. Soul essence gives life to whatever lower forms of matter it inhabits, shaping them to match its own identity. It exists in every type of life, from minerals and plants to humans, the most advanced animals. Each of these life forms can potentially evolve into the highest celestial state, which is found in the Heavenly Sphere of every planet and solar system.
"Since, then, we maintain that everything has its soul of a higher or lower type, it need not create surprise in the mind of any mortal to be told that there are plants and flowers, rocks and deserts, beasts and birds, in the spirit world. They exist there in their spiritualized or developed state, and are more etherealized as they advance higher, in accordance with the same law which governs alike the development of man, the highest type, and that of the lowest form of soul matter. When a plant dies or the solid rock is dispersed into dust or fused into gas, its soul essence passes with the spiritual matter pertaining to it, into the spirit world, and to that sphere to which its development is most akin--the most material portion being absorbed by the earth, the more sublimated particles of matter feeling less of the earth attraction and therefore floating farther from it. Thus in the early stages of a planet's life, when it possesses but a small portion of the soul essence and a large amount of gross matter, its spheres are thrown out first in the direction farthest from its sun and are very material, and the development of its spiritual inhabitants is very low.
Everything in our universe possesses a soul, ranging from simple to complex. It's no surprise that plants, flowers, rocks, deserts, animals, and birds exist in the spirit world. There, they appear in a more refined, ethereal state, becoming increasingly intangible as they progress to higher levels. This follows the same principle governing the evolution of all entities, from the most basic forms of soul matter to humans, the most advanced type. When a plant dies or a rock disintegrates into dust or gas, its soul essence, along with its spiritual components, transitions to the spirit world. It gravitates to the sphere that best matches its level of development. The densest parts are absorbed by the earth, while the more refined elements, less affected by Earth's pull, drift further away. In a planet's early stages, when it contains minimal soul essence and abundant physical matter, its spheres first extend furthest from its sun and are highly material. Consequently, the spiritual beings inhabiting these spheres are at a very basic level of development.
"At this early stage the vegetable as well as the animal and human types of soul life are coarse and gross, wanting in the refinement and beauty which may be observed as the evolution of the planet advances. Gradually the vegetation changes, the animals change, the races of men who appear become each higher, more perfect, and as a consequence the spiritual emanations thrown off become correspondingly higher. In the first stages of a planet's life the spheres scarcely exist. They may be likened to a cone in shape, the small end being represented by the planet itself, the earth plane being the highest sphere which has developed, and the lower spheres--by reason of the degraded tastes and low intellectual development of the planet's inhabitants--being like the wide end of the cone. As the planet develops the spheres increase in size and number, and the higher ones begin to form, the point of the cone receding from the planet towards the sun as each of the higher spheres begins its existence.
In the early stages of a planet's development, all forms of life - plant, animal, and human - are crude and unrefined, lacking the sophistication and beauty that emerge as the planet evolves. Over time, vegetation, animals, and human races all transform, becoming more advanced and complex. As a result, the spiritual energy they emit also becomes more refined. Initially, the spiritual spheres surrounding a planet are barely formed. They can be visualized as a cone shape, with the planet at the narrow end and the earth plane as the highest developed sphere. The lower spheres, influenced by the basic desires and limited intellectual capacity of the planet's inhabitants, form the wide base of the cone. As the planet progresses, these spheres grow in both size and number. Higher spheres begin to take shape, causing the cone's point to move away from the planet and towards the sun as each new, more advanced sphere comes into existence.
"Thus are the spheres formed below and above the planet by the constant influx of the atmoms thrown off from the parent planet. At a certain stage of their formation, when the intellectual and selfish propensities of man are more highly developed than his moral and unselfish faculties, these lower spheres in extent greatly exceed the higher ones, and these may be termed the Dark Ages of the World's History, when oppression and cruelty and greed spread their dark wings over mankind.
The planet's upper and lower spheres are created by a steady stream of particles ejected from it. During certain phases of development, when humans' intellectual and selfish tendencies outweigh their moral and altruistic qualities, the lower spheres greatly outnumber the higher ones. These periods can be called the Dark Ages of World History, marked by widespread oppression, cruelty, and greed casting a shadow over humanity.
"After a time the eternal law of the higher evolution of all things causes the higher and lower spheres to become equal in extent and number. Then may we see the forces of good and evil equally balanced, and this period may be termed the meridian of the planet's life. Next follows the period when by the gradual improvement of mankind the figure of the cone becomes gradually reversed, the earth plane becoming again the narrow end by reason of the shrinking and disappearance of the lower spheres, while the higher ones expand towards the highest of all, till at last only this highest sphere exists at all and the planet itself shrinks gradually away till all the material gross particles have been thrown off from it, and it vanishes from existence, all its gross atoms floating away imperceptibly, to be reabsorbed by other planets yet in process of formation.
Over time, the eternal law of evolution balances the higher and lower spheres in size and number. This equilibrium marks the midpoint of a planet's life cycle. As humanity progresses, the structure of existence shifts. The earthly realm narrows as lower spheres shrink and vanish, while higher realms expand towards the ultimate sphere. Eventually, only this highest sphere remains. The planet itself gradually diminishes, shedding its material particles until it disappears entirely. Its atoms disperse, ready to be absorbed by newly forming planets.
"Then will the sphere of that planet together with its inhabitants become absorbed into the great spheres of its solar system, and its inhabitants will exist there as do already many communities of spirits whose planets have passed out of existence. Each planetary community, however, will retain the characteristics and individuality of their planet--just as different nationalities on earth do--till they become gradually merged in the larger nationality of their solar system. So gradual, so imperceptible, are these processes of development, so vast the periods of time they take to accomplish, that the mind of mortal man may be forgiven for failing to grasp the immensity of the changes which take place. The lives of all planets are not similar in their duration, because size and position in the solar system, as well as other causes, contribute to modify and slightly alter their development, but the broad features will in all cases be found the same, just as the matter of which each planet is composed shows no chemical substance which does not exist in a greater or less degree in every other. Thus we are able to judge from the condition of the planets around us what has been the history of our earth in the past and what will be its ultimate destiny."
When a planet's time comes, it and its inhabitants will be absorbed into the greater spheres of its solar system. The planet's inhabitants will join existing communities of spirits whose own planets have already ceased to exist. Each planetary community will retain its unique characteristics and identity—much like different nationalities on Earth—until they gradually merge into the larger identity of their solar system. These processes of development are so gradual and imperceptible, occurring over such vast periods of time, that it's understandable for humans to struggle to grasp the immensity of these changes. Not all planets have the same lifespan. Factors like size, position in the solar system, and other variables contribute to slight variations in their development. However, the broad features of planetary evolution remain consistent across all cases. This similarity extends to their composition—every chemical substance found on one planet exists to some degree on all others. By observing the planets around us, we can infer Earth's past history and predict its ultimate fate.
"If, as you say, our spheres are to become absorbed into those of our sun centre, will our individuality as spirits become merged in that of the solar system?"
"If, as you suggest, our souls are destined to merge with those of our solar center, will we lose our individual spiritual identities in the process?"
"No! most certainly not. The individuality of each soul germ is indestructible; it is but a minute unit in the vast ocean of soul life, but still it is a distinct unit, the personality of each being in fact its Ego. It is this very individuality, this very impossibility of dispersing or destroying the soul which constitutes its immortality, which distinguishes it from all other matter, and makes its nature so difficult of explanation or analysis. You have become a member of our Brotherhood of Hope, yet you retain your individuality, and so it is with the soul eternally, no matter through what conditions of existence it may pass. Try to imagine a body so light that the most etherealized vapor is heavy beside it, yet a body possessing such power of cohesion that it is utterly impossible to disintegrate its particles, the power of resistance against all material or spiritual forms of matter which it possesses being equal to that which a bar of steel offers to a cloud of vapor. Imagine this and you will realize how it is that as a spirit you can pass through solid doors and walls of earthly matter, and how a spirit higher than yourself can pass with equal ease through these walls of spiritual matter which surround us here. The more perfectly the soul is freed from gross matter, the less can it be bound by any element, and the greater become its powers, since it is not the soul essence but its dense envelope which can be imprisoned on earth or in the spheres. To you now the walls of earthly houses offer no impediment to free ingress or egress. You pass through them as easily as your earthly body used to pass through the fog. The density of the fog might be disagreeable to you, but it could not arrest your progress. Moreover, when you passed through a fog there was no vacuum left to show where your passage through it had been. This was because the elements of which the fog was composed were attracted together again too quickly for you to perceive where they had been dispersed, and that is exactly what happens when we spirits pass through a material door or wall, the material atoms of which it is composed closing after our progress even more quickly than the fog."
No! Absolutely not. Each soul's individuality is indestructible. It's a tiny unit in the vast ocean of soul life, but it's still distinct. A person's Ego is, in fact, their personality. This very individuality, this impossibility of dispersing or destroying the soul, is what makes it immortal. It's what sets it apart from all other matter and makes its nature so hard to explain or analyze. You've become a member of our Brotherhood of Hope, yet you keep your individuality. It's the same with the soul eternally, no matter what conditions it experiences. Imagine a body so light that even the most ethereal vapor is heavy in comparison, yet it has such strong cohesion that it's impossible to break apart its particles. Its power to resist all forms of material or spiritual matter is like a steel bar against a cloud of vapor. This is how, as a spirit, you can pass through solid doors and earthly walls, and how a higher spirit can easily pass through the spiritual walls surrounding us here. The more the soul is freed from dense matter, the less it can be bound by any element, and the greater its powers become. It's not the soul's essence that can be imprisoned on earth or in the spheres, but its dense outer layer. Now, earthly walls don't stop you from entering or exiting. You pass through them as easily as your earthly body used to move through fog. The fog's density might have been unpleasant, but it couldn't stop you. Moreover, when you passed through fog, you didn't leave a vacuum behind. This was because the fog's elements came back together too quickly for you to notice where they'd been dispersed. That's exactly what happens when we spirits pass through a material door or wall – the material atoms close up behind us even faster than fog.
I understand you, and now if, as you say, each type of soul essence has a distinct individuality of its own you will not agree with those who believe in the transmigration of the soul of an animal of the lower type into a man, and vice versa."
I understand your point. If, as you suggest, each type of soul has its own unique identity, you must disagree with those who believe that an animal's soul can be reborn as a human, or the other way around.
"Certainly not. The soul of each type we hold to be capable of the highest degree of development in its own type; but the soul of man being the highest type of all is, therefore, capable of the highest degree of development, namely, into those advanced spirits we call angels. Angels are souls who have passed from the lowest degree of human planetary life through all the planetary spheres till they have attained to the celestial spheres of the solar system, our Heaven of Heavens, which is as far in advance of our Heaven of the planetary spheres as that is in advance of the planet itself. We believe that the soul will go on mounting continually as by ever widening spiral rings, till it has reached what we now term the centre of the universe, but whether when we do attain that summit of our present aspirations we shall not find it to be but a finite point revolving round a still greater centre I cannot say. My own feeling is that we shall attain to centre after centre, ever resting, it may be millions of years, in each, till our aspirations shall again urge us to heights as far again above us. The more one contemplates the subject the more vast and limitless it becomes. How, then, can we hope to see an end to our journeyings through that which has no end, and has had no beginning, and how can we even hope to form any clear idea of the nature and attributes of that Supreme Being whom we hold to be the Omnipotent Ruler of the universe, seeing that we cannot even fully and clearly grasp the magnitude of his creation?"
Certainly not. We believe each soul can reach its highest potential within its own category. However, the human soul, being the most advanced, can develop into what we call angels. These are souls that have progressed from the earliest stages of human planetary life through all planetary realms, ultimately reaching the celestial spheres of our solar system - our Heaven of Heavens. This celestial realm is as far beyond our planetary Heaven as that Heaven is beyond Earth itself. We believe the soul will continue to ascend in ever-widening spirals until it reaches what we currently consider the universe's center. However, I can't say whether, upon reaching this pinnacle of our current aspirations, we might discover it to be merely another finite point orbiting an even greater center. My personal belief is that we'll progress from one center to the next, possibly resting for millions of years in each, until our aspirations drive us towards heights as distant again as those we've already scaled. The more one ponders this subject, the more boundless it becomes. How, then, can we expect to see an end to our journey through the endless and beginningless? And how can we hope to form a clear understanding of the nature and qualities of the Supreme Being we consider the Omnipotent Ruler of the universe, when we can't even fully grasp the magnitude of His creation?