Experimental investigation of the spirit manifestations, [electronic ...

COMiMUNICATIONS FllOM THE SI'IRIT WORLD. 95diflfcrcnt iuJiviJuals. When you raise your arm, as in the act of liftingor moving a body, you direct by the force of your will-power galvaniccurrents on the muscles required to perform the function. The musclesacting as levers,through the stimulus of the subtle element, act and reacton the more solid parts, the bones, and thus is the object laid hold of andmoved, and still you do not come into direct contact with the object. Now,this is called a very simple operation, and so it would appear, but who understandsit ?Although advanced spirits arc much more conversant with theforces operating in nature than the most intellectually developed man inthe form, still they do not, nor can they ever, as long as eternity rolls on,understand the hidden sphere of cause. The operation of tbe will it isimpossible to understand. Now, as I have said, we are not possessed ofphysical bodies;still we can make the imponderable elements subserve ourpurposes by acting as bones, nerves, and muscles.459. Touching our peregrinations and voyages of discovery, about whichso much has been said by spirits, as well as mortals, I will say that it is afallacy to suppose that every spirit can visit at will the planets of the solarsystem, much less those of the more remote systems, since I am certainthat none but the residents of the seventh sphere, or the angels of the''Supernal Heavens," have the power to do so;because each planet, beingan inhabited globe, hath its concentric or spiritual spheres, through allof which in order to reach it a spirit must pass. It is obvious, therefore,according to the immutable law of progression, that the transit of a spiritto a distant planet would require its adaptation to the highest sphere ofthat body.460. Having spoken of the angels of the "Supernal Heavens," I willexplain what is meant by this designation. They are those pure andcomparatively exalted beings who, having advanced beyond the highestsphere of the planet to which they belonged, and attained a very highstate of moral and intellectual development, have been admittedgreat and illimitablespheres, and in which the greatestinto thatsphere of progression which lies outside of all otherconceivable degree of harmony reigns.It is composed of one grand harmonial society, whose members are privilegedto go wheresoever they will through the boundless empire of space.They are principally from the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and hold a muchmore distinguishedrank in the intellectual, moral, and social system thanthe inhabitants of earth. I have not learned that any spirit from ourplanet has yet reached the Supernal Heaven.461. It has been said that spirits hunger, thirst, and stand in need ofrepose. It is true that those states do pertain to spirit life agreeablyto the law of spiritual correspondences. The grosser and more undevelopedthe spirit, the closer is the analogy between it and the physicalstates.46*2. Physical laws and substances are gross or externalized spiritual