What is a spiritual sphere?

Are we right in speaking of the spirit spheres, as places or localities, separated by distance, and higher and lower?

Yes—I have I think spoken of this before. It is difficult to convey the idea, but I will try. Take, for example, the earth, which, as compared with other bodies, revolving in space, is but as a grain of sand—

Well then, take this globe of yours, and look on it, as a great flat plain, for you do not  look on it as a round body—over that plain you have outspread various countries—India, Ethiopia, Persia, Greece, in every degree of latitude and according to the position they occupy in relation to the sun's rays, so is their appearance. 

Here you have on the one hand districts, which are cold and dreary, rugged and barren—on the other, perpetual summer and the most luxuriant vegetation—while between these two extremes there are many countries possessed of climates well adapted for man's development in physical and intellectual vigour. 

Even so is it in the spirit world—each part of the whole is adapted to the varied states or conditions. 

But the spirit is not always confined to one part, as he advances in condition, so does he pass from one part to another adapted to his condition.

Then how does that correspond with the oft-repeated statement—that in spirit, space is annihilated?

It does not matter whether you view space from the mortal or from the spiritual standpoint, it remains the same. You propose to go on a journey, and you calculate the distance and the time you will take to accomplish the journey, but in our case, the flight is so rapid, quick as thought, that we may well say time and space are annihilated—the space is there nevertheless.

Are there subdivisions in the various spheres, that is, taking, for example, the second and third, are there grades of spirits, occupying higher and lower conditions in these spheres?

They are all much alike in the second sphere. In the third, they are like men on earth in their various states while each possesses a certain degree of light, according to his capacity to receive it, and he is under no obligation to have more than that. Let me illustrate my meaning by an example—we will take an earthly one. 

A number of merchants resolve to cross the Arabian desert, for the purpose of reaching Persia. Having selected their camels for riding on, a number, say twenty, are set apart, for the carrying of skins of water. 

Well—here are the twenty camels, all differing in size and strength, but are all these to bear along the same burden of water? 

No—the skins, varying in size or capacity are apportioned, according to the strength of the animals, and all, from the strongest to the weakest, set out equally burdened, and all, as they proceed on the march are equally lightened, so that, as they become weaker in strength by the weary journey, their burdens become lighter and lighter. 

And so is it in spirit life—each according to capacity has his amount of light—has his duties to perform. 

This applies to the third sphere and all the spheres beyond with all their varied states or conditions.

Are there in the spheres mentioned, conclaves of artists, philosophers, theologians, astronomers, and so on—that is, do they come together because of intellectual sympathies or from moral obligations?

It is only in this sphere that such assemblages as you refer to take place, and that within the great Temple. In lower states of the spirit world, they begin to draw together and have their meetings, but not to the same extent—all, however, are pressing onward, striving after higher, and still higher attainments.

On one occasion I was present when a female spirit (who was evidently in the second sphere) earnestly entreated a gentleman and a medium to meet together for special prayer on her behalf—they met as desired, and at our next sitting thereafter, she told us that she had escaped from her evil surroundings—Will you say whether such cases are common?

Such a case, as you describe is not common. But though there are so many in that sphere whose hearts are closed against all right influences, they are not all lost—there are some there who may be led to break off from their associates in evil and induced to rise to a better condition.

—Hafed, Prince of Persia