The time came at last for me to leave the House of Hope and go forth, strong in the lessons I had learned there, to work out my atonement on the earth plane and in those lower spheres to which my earthly life had sunk me
The moment finally arrived for me to depart from the House of Hope. I left feeling empowered by the lessons I had learned there, ready to work towards my redemption in the physical world and in the lower spiritual realms to which my earthly life had consigned me.
Eight or nine months had elapsed since I had died, and I had grown strong and vigorous once more. I could move freely over the great sphere of the earth plane. My sight and my other senses were so far developed that I could see and hear and speak clearly. The light around me now was that of a faint twilight or when the night first begins to dawn into the day. To my eyes so long accustomed to the darkness, this dull light was very welcome, though after a time I grew so to long for the true day to dawn that this dull twilight was most monotonous and oppressive. Those countries which are situated in this, the third circle of the earth plane or first sphere, are called "The Twilight Lands," and it is thither that those spirits pass whose lives have been too selfish and material to allow their souls to reach any higher state of development. Even these Twilight Lands, however, are a degree above those "Haunting" spirits of the earth plane who are literally earthbound to their former habitations.
About eight or nine months after my death, I had regained strength and vigor. I could now move freely across the vast expanse of the earth plane. My senses, including sight, had developed to the point where I could see, hear, and speak clearly. The surrounding light resembled a faint twilight or the first hints of dawn. After so long in darkness, I welcomed this dim light, though eventually I longed for true daylight to such an extent that the persistent twilight became monotonous and oppressive. The regions in this third circle of the earth plane, also known as the first sphere, are called "The Twilight Lands." This is where spirits whose lives were too self-centered and materialistic to achieve a higher state of development reside. However, even these Twilight Lands are a step above the "Haunting" spirits of the earth plane, who remain literally bound to their former earthly dwellings.
My work was to be begun upon the earth itself, and in those haunts which men of the world call the haunts of pleasure, though no pleasure is so fleeting, no degradation so sure, as that which they produce even during the earthly life. And now I found the value of the teachings and the experience I had gained during my stay in the House of Hope. Temptations that might once have seemed such to me were such no longer. I knew the satisfaction such pleasures give, and the cost at which alone they can be bought, and thus in controlling a mortal, as I often had to do, I was proof against the temptation such control offered of using his body for my own gratification.
My task was to begin on Earth itself, in places that worldly people call pleasure spots, though their pleasures are fleeting and their degradation certain, even during one's mortal life. It was then that I realized the value of the teachings and experiences I had gained in the House of Hope. What might have once tempted me no longer held any appeal. I understood the fleeting satisfaction these pleasures offered and the steep price one pays for them. Thus, when controlling a mortal, as I often had to do, I was immune to the temptation of using their body for my own gratification.
Few people yet in their earthly envelopes understand that spirits can, and very often do, take such complete possession of the bodies of mortal men and women that, for the time, it is as though that earth body belonged to the disembodied and not the embodied spirit. Many cases of so-called temporary madness are due to the controlling power of very low spirits of evil desires or frivolous minds, who are, through the weakness of will or other causes, put into complete rapport with the embodied spirit whose body they seek to use. Amongst many ancient races this fact was acknowledged and studied as well as many branches of the occult sciences which we of the nineteenth century have grown too wise, forsooth, to look into, even to discover, if we can, those germs of truth with which all ages have been blessed and which are worth disinterring from the mass of rubbish in which succeeding generations of men have buried them.
Few people understand that spirits can often take complete control of human bodies, making it seem as if the body belongs to the disembodied spirit rather than the living person. Many instances of so-called temporary insanity are actually caused by the influence of malevolent or frivolous spirits. These spirits, through the weakness of will or other factors, establish a strong connection with the embodied spirit whose body they seek to use. Many ancient cultures recognized and studied this phenomenon, along with various branches of the occult sciences. We in the modern era have become too arrogant to explore these fields, let alone attempt to uncover the kernels of truth that have been present in all ages. These truths are worth uncovering from the accumulation of misconceptions that subsequent generations have piled upon them.
The work upon which I was now engaged will seem no less strange to you than it did at first to me. The great Brotherhood of Hope was only one of a countless variety of societies which exist in the spirit world for the purpose of giving help to all who are in need. Their operations are carried on everywhere and in all spheres, and their members are to be found from the very lowest and darkest spheres to the very highest which surround the earth, and even extend into the spheres of the solar systems. They are like immense chains of spirits, the lowest and humblest being always helped and protected by those above.
The project I was working on may seem as strange to you as it initially did to me. The Brotherhood of Hope is just one of countless societies in the spirit world dedicated to helping those in need. These organizations operate everywhere, across all spheres, with members ranging from the darkest, lowest realms to the highest surrounding Earth, and even extending into other solar systems. They form vast networks of spirits, with those above always supporting and protecting the lowest and most humble members.
A message would be sent to the Brotherhood that help was required to assist some struggling mortal or unhappy spirit, and such one of the brothers as was thought to be most fit would be sent to help. Such a one of us would be sent as had in his own earth life yielded to a similar temptation, and had suffered all the bitter consequences and remorse for his sin. Often the man or woman to be helped had unconsciously sent out an aspiration for help and strength to resist temptation, and that of itself was a prayer, which would be heard in the spirit world as a cry from earth's children that appealed to all in the spirit world who had been themselves earth's sons and daughters; or it might be that some spirit to whom the struggling one was very dear would seek for help on their behalf and would thus appeal to us to come to their aid. Our task would be to follow and control the one we desired to help till the temptation had been overcome. We would identify ourselves so closely with the mortal that for a time we actually shared his life, his thoughts, everything, and during this dual state of existence we ourselves often suffered most keenly both from our anxiety for the man whose thoughts became almost as our own, and from the fact that his anxieties were as ours, while in thus going over again a chapter in our past lives we endured all the sorrow, remorse and bitterness of the past time. He on his side felt, though not in so keen a degree, the sorrowful state of our mind, and where the control was very complete and the mortal highly sensitive, he would often fancy that things which we had done must have been done by himself, either in some former forgotten stage of existence, or else seen in some vivid dream they could scarcely recall.
A call for assistance would be sent to the Brotherhood to help a struggling person or troubled spirit. The most suitable member would be chosen, typically someone who had faced similar temptations in their earthly life and experienced the painful consequences and guilt of their actions. Often, the person needing help had unknowingly sent out a plea for support and strength to resist temptation. This plea, in itself a prayer, would be heard in the spirit world as a cry from Earth's inhabitants, resonating with all spirits who had once been human. Alternatively, a spirit close to the struggling individual might seek help on their behalf, appealing to us for aid. Our mission would be to guide and influence the person until they overcame the temptation. We would connect so deeply with the individual that we'd temporarily share their life, thoughts, and experiences. During this merged state, we often suffered intensely, both from our concern for the person whose thoughts became almost indistinguishable from our own, and from reliving our past struggles. We would endure all the sorrow, remorse, and bitterness of our past experiences. The person we were helping would also sense, though less acutely, our sorrowful state of mind. In cases where our influence was strong and the individual was highly sensitive, they might imagine that our past actions were their own, either from a forgotten period in their life or from a vivid, half-remembered dream.
This controlling or overshadowing of a mortal by an immortal is used in many ways, and those who foolishly make themselves liable to it either by a careless evil life, or by seeking in a frivolous spirit of mere curiousity to search out mysteries too deep for their shallow minds to fathom, often find to their cost that the low spirits who haunt the earth plane, and even those from much lower spheres, can often obtain so great a hold over a mortal that at last he becomes a mere puppet in their hands, whose body they can use at will. Many a weak-willed man and woman who in pure surroundings would lead only good and pure lives, are drawn by evil surroundings into sins for which they are but partly responsible--sins for which indeed those controlling spirits who have thus made use of these weak mortals, will be held responsible as well as the mortal sinner himself. For thus tempting and using another's organism those evil spirits will have to render a terrible account, since they have been doubly guilty. In sinning, themselves, and in dragging down another soul with them, they sink themselves to a depth from which many years, and in come instances many centuries of suffering cannot free them.
Immortal beings can control or overshadow mortals in various ways. Those who carelessly open themselves to this influence, either through reckless living or by frivolously pursuing mysteries beyond their understanding, often fall victim to low-level spirits. These entities, including those from even lower realms, can gain such control over a person that they become mere puppets, their bodies used at will. Many individuals with weak willpower, who might otherwise lead virtuous lives in positive environments, can be drawn into sins through negative influences. In such cases, they are only partly responsible for their actions. The controlling spirits who manipulate these vulnerable mortals will also be held accountable for these sins. These malevolent spirits will face severe consequences for tempting and exploiting another's body. They are doubly guilty: for their own sins and for dragging down another soul with them. As a result, they sink to depths from which it may take years, or even centuries, of suffering to escape.
In my work I have had to act the part of controlling spirit many times, but I was sent to do so only in order that I might impress the mortal with a sense of the terrible consequences of yielding to sin, and also that I might, when not actually controlling the mortal myself, act as guard and watchman to protect him from the control of the wandering tempting spirits of the earth plane. My work was to raise the barrier of my strong will-force against theirs, and keep them back so that they could not come sufficiently en rapport with my charge to control him.
In my line of work, I've often had to play the role of a controlling spirit. However, my purpose was always to impress upon the living the severe consequences of giving in to sin. Additionally, when not directly controlling someone, I served as a guardian and watchman, protecting them from the influence of wandering, tempting spirits from the earthly realm. My job was to use my strong willpower as a barrier against these spirits, keeping them at bay so they couldn't establish enough of a connection with my charge to control them.
If, however, he had allowed himself to be already controlled by these lower spirits, they would still be able to project their thoughts and suggestions to him, though they did so with difficulty.
However, if he had already given in to these lesser spirits' influence, they could still send their thoughts and ideas to him, albeit with some difficulty.
Although I did not know it at the time, and believed that upon myself would rest the responsibility of keeping safe those I was sent to guard, I was only the last link in a long chain of spirits who were all helping at the same time. Each spirit was a step in advance of the one below him, and each had to strengthen and help the one below him should he faint or fail in his task. My part was also intended to be a lesson to myself in self-denial and the sacrifice of my own comfort that I might help another. My condition as a spirit on the earth plane made me of use, seeing that I could oppose a material force of will against those tempting spirits in an atmosphere where a more refined spirit would have been unable to penetrate, and I as one of the earth-bound myself could come en rapport with the mortal more closely than a more advanced spirit would have been able to do. I had, by means of dreams when he slept and constant haunting thoughts while he waked, to impress upon the mind of the man I controlled what my experience had been, to make him feel all the terrible sufferings of remorse and fear, all the loathing of himself through which I had passed, and through which I passed again in bitter agony of soul while thus recalling them. All my feelings were transferred to his mind till he might truly have said he was haunted by all the terrible possibilities of his meditated sins.
Though I was unaware at the time, believing the responsibility of safeguarding those I was sent to protect rested solely on me, I was actually the final link in a chain of spirits working together. Each spirit was more advanced than the one below, tasked with supporting and strengthening their subordinate if they faltered. My role was also meant to teach me self-sacrifice and putting others' needs before my own comfort. My status as an earth-bound spirit made me valuable, as I could use my material willpower to counter tempting spirits in an environment where more refined spirits couldn't reach. Being earth-bound myself, I could connect more closely with mortals than advanced spirits could. Through dreams during sleep and persistent thoughts while awake, I had to impress upon the mind of the man I controlled my own experiences. I made him feel the terrible remorse, fear, and self-loathing I had endured, reliving these agonizing emotions in the process. All my feelings transferred to his mind, to the point where he truly felt haunted by the dire consequences of his planned misdeeds.
Over this particular phase of my experiences I shall not dwell longer now, since it is one familiar to many on this side of life. I will but say that I returned from my mission with a consciousness that I had saved many others from the pitfalls into which I had fallen, and thereby had atoned in part for my own sins. Several times was I sent upon such missions and each time returned successful; and here I must pause to say that if my progress in the spirit world has been so rapid as to surprise most who knew of my first condition on entering it, and if I again and again resisted all the temptations that befell me, the credit is not so much due to myself as to the wonderful help and comfort that was given to me by the constant and unvarying love of her who was indeed my good angel, and whose image ever came between me and all harm. When all others might have pleaded to me in vain, I ever hearkened to her voice and turned aside.
I won't dwell further on this particular phase of my experiences, as it's familiar to many in the afterlife. Suffice it to say, I returned from my mission knowing I'd saved others from the traps I'd fallen into, partly atoning for my own sins. I undertook several such missions, each time returning successful. Here, I must note that if my progress in the spirit world has been surprisingly rapid to those aware of my initial state, and if I repeatedly resisted temptation, the credit lies not so much with me as with the incredible support and comfort I received from the constant, unwavering love of my true guardian angel. Her image always stood between me and harm. When all others' pleas might have fallen on deaf ears, I always listened to her voice and changed course.
When I was not helping someone yet in the earth body, I was sent to work amongst the unhappy spirits of the earth plane who were still wandering in its darkness even as I had at first done. And to them I went as one of the great Brotherhood of Hope, bearing in my hand the tiny starlike light which is the symbol of that order. Its rays would dispel the darkness around me, and I would see poor unhappy spirits crouching on the ground two or three together, or sunk in helpless misery in some corner by themselves, too hopeless, too unhappy to heed anything.
When I wasn't assisting those still living, I was assigned to help the troubled spirits stuck in the darkness of the earth plane, much like I had been at first. I approached them as a member of the Brotherhood of Hope, carrying our order's symbol: a small, star-like light. Its glow would illuminate the darkness, revealing miserable spirits huddled on the ground in small groups or alone in corners, too despondent and wretched to notice anything around them.
To them it was my work to point out how they could either be taken to such a House of Hope as the one in which I had been, or in other cases how they might, by trying to help others around them, help themselves and earn the gratitude of those who were even more hopeless than themselves. To each poor suffering soul a different balm of healing would be given, for each had known a different experience and each had had a different cause for his sins.
My role was to show them options for recovery. I could direct them to a rehabilitation center like the one I had attended, or in some cases, suggest how they might help themselves by assisting others in worse situations. This approach often earned them gratitude from those even more desperate. Each struggling individual received tailored advice, as everyone had unique experiences and reasons behind their mistakes.