An article about Emanuel Swedenborg from Wikipedia explains that this Swedish scientist and philosopher underwent a spiritual transformation in 1744 while visiting the Netherlands. He began having dreams of angels and demons and believed he was given tours through Heaven, Hell and everything in between. He described these in between places as spiritual spheres that souls evolve through to be admitted into Heaven. He eventually founded his own denomination of Christianity called the Church of the New Jerusalem. The tenants embraced what would later become spiritualistic beliefs, which the spirits of the dead could communicate with the living.
Trance medium Cora L. V. Richmond envisioned these spheres and described them in her book, Spiritual Spheres.
First Sphere: The Sphere of Self
Cora describes the first level not too different from the material world, except everyone is self-involved, inconsiderate and materialistic. She believed that most souls have no even realized they have passed on, so they are bound to this earth until they become aware of their condition.
Second Sphere: The Sphere of Beneficence
Cora describes the second level where souls reside once they let go of their selfishness and dedicate themselves to being charitable, helpful and kind to other souls.
Third Sphere: The Sphere of Love and Wisdom
Cora describes the third level as the soul’s progression into love of others and wisdom. The souls here have become very concerned with the physical, mental and emotional pain of others. For this reason, Richmond believed, souls of physically, mentally and emotionally disabled persons are brought straight to this dimension.
Seven Spheres
With the invention of spiritualism in the wake of the Fox Sisters, more and more mediums popped up all across the globe. Many were familiar with spiritualistic writings, such as Swedenborg and Richmond. However, when asked about these spheres, their spirit controls, or guardians, described not three but seven levels of spiritual evolution the soul goes through for perfection. These spheres were discussed in a thesis titled, “The Spirit World: Descriptions by Early Spiritualists,” by Barbara N. Starr, based on the book The Drama of Life After Death: A Study of the Spiritualist Religion (1932) by George Lawton (who had attained his information from the book Spirit Intercourse: Its Theory and Practice (1917) by James Hewat McKenzie).
First Sphere
Barbara N. Starr calls this sphere Hell. However, don’t Starr’s title prejudice you about the appearance of this sphere. It is nothing like the commonly held concept of Hell depicted by Judeo-Christianity. There is no lake of fire populated by fork-tailed, red demons poking people with pitchforks here. It is similar to the early concept of Greek abode of the dead, Hades and the Hebrew Sheol. Here, it is always gloomy and the earth is barren. This sphere is reserved for the wicked, however no judgment is passed by any divinity or authoritative presence. Starr points out that the majority of mediums did not believe that the souls of any children entered this place because they did not have the chance to become wicked while alive. In her book, Exploring the Levels of Creation, Sylvia Browne contradicts the long-held spiritualist view of this sphere by calling it Utopia. She believes that all natural wonders and national parks exist here.
Second Sphere
This sphere is where Barbara N. Starr believes the Catholic plane of Purgatory resides. To this denomination, Purgatory is reserved for anyone who has died but isn’t pure enough to enter into Heaven. They remain in a sort of limbo of painless fire that purifies the soul. However, Starr’s thesis explains that this sphere is not too unlike the first, except it is less gloomy and there are rotting fruits for the souls to eat. In her book, Exploring the Levels of Creation, Sylvia Browne contradicts this long-held spiritualist view of this sphere by saying that a council of advanced souls reside here that review your life with you.
Third Sphere
Many spiritualists believe this is the spiritual sphere the majority of well-intentioned people, and all children, enter after death, regardless of their particular religious beliefs or lack there of, or their actions or inactions on earth. It was called the Summerland by the American Spiritualist and clairvoyant healer, Andrew Jackson Davis; this term was later adopted by neo-pagans as an afterlife. It is properly named because many mediums have described this sphere as having the appearance of constant summer. Nothing is imperfect and food is plentiful. Starr believes the majority of spirit communications come from this plane of existance.
Forth Sphere
George Lawton calls this plane the Philosophers’ Sphere. Spirits who have evolved to this dimension are concerned with knowledge and often interact with the living by inspiring them. This sphere is where Barbara N. Starr believes homes, food and clothes are made of thought.
Fifth Sphere
George Lawton calls this plane the Advanced Contemplative and Intellectual Sphere. Barbara N. Starr relates how many mediums believe in this sphere souls are almost completely unconcerned with the living. They surroundings are serene and calm and all souls are at peace. In her book, Exploring the Levels of Creation, Sylvia Browne believes that great peacemakers and spiritual leaders are influenced from beings in this dimension.
Sixth Sphere
George Lawton calls this plane the Love Sphere. Barbara N. Starr relates a beautiful picture described by various mediums. All homes are palaces, everything is luminous and there is ethereal music all around. In essence, this realm is what the majority of Judeo-Christians would call Heaven. However, Starr explains earlier that the spirits who have described this sphere through living mediums still do not interact with God. In her book, Exploring the Levels of Creation, Sylvia Browne believes that guardian spirits reside in this dimension.
Seventh Sphere
George Lawton calls this plane the Christ Sphere. Barbara N. Starr describes a realm where souls are no longer concerned with physical containers. They are transparent and are one with the light that is the source of all things. The souls have nearly lost their identity and find it extremely difficult to remember ever actually being contained in a biological human form. Past experiences and family are no longer a concern. The soul has become a part of everything, is secure and knows that everything will work out for the best. In her book, Exploring the Levels of Creation, Sylvia Browne accepts this doctrine and believes that when the soul becomes completely depersonalized, but is now a part of God.
