How do you work out karma accumulated in earth-life?

All those souls on the earth who behaved falsely to others―who betrayed trusts reposed in them―who tortured helpless women and innocent children―who took money for the accomplishment of vile deeds―and crossed over to this side unloving and unrepentant will suffer most horribly here. 

They will be sent to terribly dark and dismal places and will be surrounded by all the hosts of the Black Forces, rejoicing in the sufferings of their victims. 

The very worst of all are sent to the very lowest level―far down beneath the surface of your earth. 

They have to stay in these awful places until they realise the depth of their own iniquity.

When that time comes, they are only at the beginning of their upward climb. 

Do not let people think that directly a soul calls on the Most High God or the Master Christ, he is released from that terribly sad place.

He has still to work out the Karma he accumulated in his earth-life, but there is this difference―the great spirits can help him now though they were powerless before. 

Even the Master could not help until the soul asked him, as even here no one is compelled to be good―free-will still exists. 

The worst kinds of sufferings there are, the awful remorse and the appalling hopelessness. 

When the soul has reached that stage though, his special guide redoubles his efforts to influence him because remorse does mean a little light in the soul and shows that a glimmer of struggle for better things can be seen in him.

―The Witness