Who said if a man dies shall he live again?

Spirit Mary Washington describes her bewildering sense of joy, as she gathers strength to understand her condition―

She was dead, and is yet alive!  

In following my guide, I often stopped to wonder at the strange and beautiful scenes―

I would clasp my hands with joy, and thank God for all these blessings and glorious revelations, so different from what my soul had pictured of heaven.

This was no walled city―no remote place―but gorgeous with beautiful scenes, so like earth in her happiest moods and loveliest places.

The eye could never tire―or the soul faint, yet wonder and astonishment would hold me in their embrace at the strangeness and beauty, yet wonderful adaptation to the wants of spirit life so singularly near to our earthly desires.

How like my earthly home, I would say, as some strangely familiar scene would meet my gaze. 

My guide, tarrying, as we went, told me that all the scenery and conditions on this plane were nearly allied to earth, as it was more congenial and better adapted to the requirements of a spirit who had recently left earth―for the change must be gradual to retain the strength and hold the identity of our individualised condition.

When a full comprehension of the surroundings had been given, and the duties understood, I was told that I should pass through another sphere to others yet beyond―

All controlled by one universal power of love and wisdom.

The scenery was beautifully diversified by mountains, valleys, oceans, lakes and rivers, with a heavenly atmosphere―an arch of blue with fleecy clouds, moving in majesty, giving lights and shades to the gorgeous scenery that it filled my soul with joy and wonder. 

I thought―

Oh! that this beautiful home should not be known in its reality to human beings who remain on the earth, uncertain of their heavenly home. 

If it be possible, they shall know of it, and the joys that await them, that they may no longer be doomed to sadness and despair at the uncertainty of the afterlife.

Many who come are not rejoiced at first, for they pass to a plane, which their own unhappy earth lives have fitted for them, and it is a long time before they can be raised to higher and happier conditions. 

All are assisted by those of their friends on a higher plane, thus none are lost, but only retarded in their spiritual growth.

My experience does not differ I find materially from many others who have given their testimony to the world. 

The law governing the material world holds good in the spiritual. 

Order is God's first law, and the more harmonious the conditions, the better and higher will be the unfoldment of all truths, whether of earth―or heaven.

Since my advent to my bright spiritual home, I have not been idle, for one who sees the beautiful transfiguration of souls from physical conditions, and the varied change through which they are ushered into the different spheres, according to their adaptation, needs to be active and earnest to assist the unfledged spirit in its first reception to the new home. 

No infant needs more a mother's care than the spirit on its first entrance here. 

This being understood by the spirit band, the guarding spirit awaits, receives and embalms it in its magnetic embrace until restored to strength and consciousness  sufficient to understand its own condition. 

The question is often asked―

Why do so many spirits hang around earth? 

I answer that they lived solely for earth and destroyed all aspirations for good, ignoring everything outside of physical necessities at the expense of every sympathy, regarding nothing, but sensual passions, thereby severing the tie of spirituality that would elevate them to higher conditions. 

On changing worlds they are drawn by their desires to such gratifications as they most enjoyed in earth life, thereby holding them around their former haunts and associates who are on the same plane of desires with themselves―often controlling some unhappy individual with tastes and passions like themselves until they are gratified at the expense of the unfortunate being.

The Social Life of Heavenly Spheres