Life and labor in the spirit world: Being a description of localities, employments, surroundings, and conditions in the spheres.Longley, Mary T. (Mary Theresa)
Religion
Life and labor in the spirit world: Being a description of localities, employments, surroundings, and conditions in the spheres.
Longley, Mary T. (Mary Theresa)
Spirit writings; Spirits
All the events of my life passed before my inner vision like a panorama,
and I saw myself as others saw me,—the victim of wasted energies and an
ill-spent life. How keenly did I regret much that I had done, and much
more that I might have done, but did not! It was then and there, while
seemingly unconscious to mortal things, I began to fully realize that
omission is oftentimes as great a sin as commission,—that inactivity is
as disastrous to the spirit as misplaced volition.
At this time, I did not see the forms and faces of any of those I had
loved, and whom it might be supposed would be first at the death-bed of
one so near to them. These forms and phantoms that surrounded me were
encompassed by a cloud of heavy vapor, that entirely veiled the horizon
from my sight. I strove to turn from them, but could not; they hedged me
in on every side, and, while they spake no word, they seemed to mock me
with their taunting looks and gestures.
This was my first spirit experience. I have since learned that it
consisted entirely of the reflection of past recollections upon my mind,
but it was extremely annoying and unpleasant.
My next experience was standing by myself, outside of my physical body,
alone, so far as I could see, gazing down upon the old, worn-out
tenement, that I had recently vacated. I found myself clothed in a body
precisely similar to the one I had left, and not in much better
condition, apparently. I was perplexed and bewildered; for, though
spurning many of the old theologic notions of the Hereafter, this was
certainly not the fulfillment of my conceptions of a future life.
I gazed around, hoping to attract the attention of some one who could
give me an explanation, or in the expectation of meeting my boon
companions; but all in vain,—I could see no one. All was misty, or
rather in a smoky fog, like the streets of London at midday, though I
have since been informed that I was not alone; that there were loving,
helping spirits watching over me, to assist me when possible, but my
mental condition prevented me from perceiving them; and that the smoky
vapor was an emanation from my own spirit, and did not proceed from the
state of the atmosphere.
While ruminating to myself, as collectedly as my condition would allow,
I observed a party of individuals approach and take a view of my
remains; and what appeared very curious to me, while they seemed very
far away from me, I could distinctly hear their remarks. These parties
were mortals, still dwelling on earth, drawn by a morbid kind of
interest to take a final view of my body. However, I would they had
stayed away, for they did my spirit more harm than good.
“Poor devil,” said one, “he’s gone at last. Well, he made a wreck of
himself, sure enough.”
“Aye,” replied another; “he might have done better, but he would not;
and so he’s gone. I always knew how it would turn out.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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