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Summaries of Afterlife Realms from a Variety of Sources
The following article contains
summaries of afterlife realms from a variety of
sources profiled on this website. Having them all
in one article allows you to compare and analyze
them for yourself. Note that everyone's experience
in the afterlife is not the same. What one experiences
after death is based on a wide variety of factors
including religious beliefs (or lack thereof), cultural
influences, personal experiences and perspectives,
education, etc. With this in mind, I hope you enjoy
this article.
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Table
of Contents |
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1. Tibetan
Book of the Dead |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/buddhism01.html |
The
first period after death is called the "first
bardo." At the very moment of death, there dawns
the "Clear Light of Ultimate Reality"
which is the soul's own mind and self. This is the
first stage. If the soul recognizes this fact and
acts in a way to remain in this state, it has been
liberated from the cycle of birth and rebirth on
Earth and can stay in this condition in the highest
dimension for eternity. If the soul does not recognize
this fact, it is pulled down by the weight of its
karma into the second stage of the first bardo,
called the "Secondary Clear Light". If
the soul is not liberated at this stage, it will
descend to the second bardo.
The second
bardo is divided into two stages. In the first stage,
the soul encounters seven great peaceful light beings
one at a time along with lights from the six dimensions
of the Buddhist universe. When the soul encounters
one of these light beings, if the soul is attracted
to the light of one of these beings, it will inhabit
the dimension associated with that light being.
If at any time, the soul realizes the light is from
the soul's own mind and self, it will be liberated.
In the final
stage, if the soul has not attained liberation,
it encounters seven great angry light beings. If
the soul realizes these lights stem from the soul's
own mind and self, it will be liberated. If not,
it will descend to the third bardo.
In the third
bardo, the soul is judged by the "Lord of Death"
who holds up to the soul "the Mirror of Karma"
which reflects all the soul's deeds. The soul can
attain liberation here, as well, if it recognizes
its oneness with the light. If not, the lights of
the six dimensions of the universe appear again
and into one of these dimensions the soul is reborn
into the world.
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2. Timothy
Leary |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/lsd02.html |
Timothy
Leary's psychedelic pattern was based on the use
of LSD to reach these higher states of consciousness
and was based on the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Leary
divides the psychedelic experience into three periods
as does the Book of the Dead. For the initiated,
the first period lasts longer. For most persons
the second period is the longest. For the unprepared,
the heavy role players, those who anxiously cling
to their egos, the struggle to regain reality begins
early and usually lasts all the way to the end.
During the
first period, the soul undergoes complete transcendence
beyond words, beyond space-time, beyond self. There
are no visions, no sense of self, no thoughts. There
are only pure awareness and ecstatic freedom from
all role playing and biological involvements.
During the
second period, the soul engages in external role
playing in sharp exquisite clarity or in
the form of karmic apparitions.
During the
third period the soul returns to routine role playing.
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3. Emanuel
Swedenborg |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/triggers14.html |
In
general, immediately following death, there is a
period of self-discovery in which the social masks
worn on Earth dissolve away and the true self is
revealed. Each person then shapes their own eternity
to correspond with their real inner nature. Some
become irrational, driven by fear and greed and
they are in the state called "hell."
Hell is
a psychological condition which corresponds to the
suffering we experience on Earth when we allow ourselves
to be driven by the blind greed of our own egos.
In hell, each person acts out of their own malice
by tormenting others.
Others find
themselves in "heaven", a joyous condition
and a state of expanded awareness, of perceiving
more and more of the grand plan of creation.
The first
stage after death involves a soul's more outward
aspects: face, speech, manner, and personality.
Here the soul meets family and friends, and is instructed
about the afterlife state, and then it may be taken
around to different locations, such as cities, gardens,
parks, etc. Then, the soul is connected either with
a particular community in heaven or a particular
community in hell.
The second
stage after death involves a soul's more inward
aspects: mind, intent and resultant thought. Here,
it communicates with higher beings.
A separation
of evil souls from good souls occurs here in various
ways. Generally, it happens by taking the evil soul
around to those communities it was in touch with
through its good thoughts and affections during
the first stage. In this way, it is taken to those
communities which were persuaded by the soul's outward
appearance that it is not evil. Normally, it is
taken on an extensive circuit, and everywhere it
is exposed as it really is to good souls. Good souls
turn away from evil souls upon seeing them and as
they turn away, the evil souls go toward the hellish
dimension that better suits them.
The final
stage after death is a state of preparation by means
of instruction. Afterward, the souls are taken to
higher spiritual dimensions and are committed to
guardians.
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4. Frederick
W. H. Myers |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/paranormal05.html |
According
to Frederick Myers, stage one is the Earth dimension. As
soon as the Earth experience has been thoroughly
comprehended – either through reincarnation, or
through the exchange of experiences with others
in other dimensions – the soul may proceed to dimensions
beyond the reach of the material dimension.
Stage two
is called the Intermediate Realm or Hades. This
is the spiritual condition which is referred to
in the ancient religious traditions as "hell." This
is the realm where all must go upon experiencing
the Earth realm. Here, memories of our entire past
lives flash before us. Whether or not this experience
is "hellish" depends upon the memory of the particular
person. If it contains sinister episodes and terrifying
experiences, these will drift by the person's vision
along with the more joyful happenings.
Some persons
begin at this stage to feel what is called "the
Earth pull, the birth pull" and the person may decide
to return to stage one, the Earth realm. For others,
stage two is brief and is followed by entry into
a more stable world which is stage three, the Realm
of illusion.
The Realm
of Illusion is a dimension where things may be created
with the mind and shaped by the direct action of
the imagination. Though a person may linger in this
stage for undeterminable period of time, an eventual
decision must be made. The soul either returns to
Earth or progresses to stage four. Before leaving,
however, the more enterprising souls may have an
opportunity to experience one of the great wonders
of this dimension of consciousness – a tour through
some section of "The Great Memory." Just as on Earth,
one may go to a library and see newsreels of important
Earth events of history, so, in stage three, one
may witness any event that occurred from the beginning
of human experience. Everything that has ever happened
has been recorded by the Cosmic Memory.
Stage four
is the Realm of Color. This dimension is an indescribably
lovely existence. Here one must leave behind all
rigid intellectual structures and dogmas, be they
scientific, religious, or philosophical. An infinite
variety of new sounds, colors and feelings are experienced
here and souls find a much wider freedom to function
with highly energized intellect and spirit. If,
in this dimension, the soul becomes free from the
Earth pull, it is qualified to experience cosmic
ranges beyond Earth's confines, such as the next
dimension.
Stage five
is the Realm of Flame. In this dimension, the
soul acquires a body of flame, enabling it to tour
the stellar universe without being harmed by its
temperatures and turbulence and to return with a
fuller experience of these cosmic reaches.
Stage six
is the Realm of Light. Souls in this dimension
are matured spirits, having lived through, with
conscious comprehension, all the aspects of the
created universe. They are capable of living now
without form, of existing as white light in the
pure thought of the Creator. They have joined the
immortals, thus fulfilling their final purpose of
the evolution of consciousness.
Stage seven
is the Realm of Timelessness. In this dimension,
souls enter full partnership with God. This dimension
is of an advanced spiritual nature, so close to
the ultimate essence of creativity that no adequate
vocabulary has yet been evolved to describe it,
and hence it is difficult to communicate to Earth-level
beings.
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5. Kabbalah |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/ judaism05.html |
The
Kabbalah are books of Jewish mysticism which have
been around for many centuries and has been revered
by Jewish people and Gentile alike. According to
the Kabbalah, the first dimension is the Earth. The
second dimension is the moon. The third dimension
is Mercury. The fourth dimension is Venus. The
fifth dimension is the Sun. The sixth dimension
is Mars. The seventh dimension is Jupiter. The
eighth dimension is Saturn. The ninth dimension
is the dimension represented by the zodiac. The
tenth dimension is the dimension represented by
fixed stars.
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6. Spiritualism |
Source:
www.spiritualists.org
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According
to spiritualists, the first realm after death is
called the first heaven or the lower astral realm. This
is a hell-like realm of purgatory and self-recrimination
from which escape is very slow and difficult. It
may take hundreds of years of Earth time for its
inhabitants to accept their misdeeds, put them right
and move upward. Here you would certainly find criminals
and materially-obsessed individuals. We are told
that the demons and poltergeists, which readily
interfere with life on Earth, originate here. The
"bad" parts of heaven are the closest to Earth,
which explains why religion wrongly equates the
occult as a pact with the devil. Messages on Ouija
boards, for instance, often come from troubled souls
in these near-Earth realms.
The next
dimension, according to spiritualists, is called
the second heaven. Most people who die initially
find themselves in the second heaven or intermediate
astral dimensions. Viewed as a sort of resting point
on the way from Earth to the more rarified upper
dimensions, it is a thought-created universe that
closely resembles an idealized Earth. It's inhabitants
seem to live in physical bodies, wear clothes and
so forth – but of an etheric kind that would be
invisible to those living on Earth. Most attempts
to communicate from heaven stem from here; but because
the inhabitants of Earth are as yet unfamiliar with
the afterlife these communications can be confusing
or wrong.
The next dimension is
called by many names, such as the third heaven,
Summerland,
or Marduk. This dimension is the closest thing to
the Christian concept of paradise. The most inspired
and pure souls from Earth pass directly here after
death; most people, however, must strive to reach
it after a sojourn in the second heaven, where they
assess their life on Earth and try to understand
what they did wrong. It is from the third heaven
that rebirth back on Earth supposedly occurs
although the decision to go back and try again is
allegedly an individual one, and some may opt to
forsake material life altogether and move into the
higher spiritual dimensions. Some of the most accurate
and most inspirational messages received via mediums
are said to originate here.
The fourth
heaven is the mental and causal realms. Here,
most of the trappings of materialism have gone.
It is here that selfless individuals work together
to bring spiritual enlightenment to the lower dimensions
and Earth. Supposedly all great inventions, religious
and moral progressions, spiritual leadership and
so on come from here, inspired by beings who were
once on Earth but have had the opportunity to increase
their talents in the afterlife. A few rebirths to
Earth do take place from this higher place: great
teachers are sent back for special reasons. Spirit
guides who talk through mediums are often in this
dimension as well, bringing their enhanced knowledge
to Earth.
The fifth
heaven is the next dimension. Reaching this dimension
is difficult, for it is devoid of a physical state
and aspired to by great religious figures, from
Jesus to Buddha. Even those in lower dimensions
view it as most of us still on Earth imagine heaven
– a distant, magical, unknown place.
The sixth
heaven is the next dimension. This dimension is
cosmic consciousness, where the unity of souls is
perfected and a kind of universal being exists.
This may be close to what we think of as God, but
it is even less understood by those in the lower
dimensions.
The seventh
heaven is the next dimension. To reach the
seventh heaven one has to step not only beyond material
and physical reality but beyond mental and individual
reality as well. It is simply not possible to define
what this ultimate level may be, but it is supposedly
the goal of all individual souls. Everything we
do, on Earth and in the higher dimensions, is directed
toward that final transformation. For there is evolution
of the soul in just the same way as there is evolution
of the body, or indeed of all life, back on Earth.
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7. Rudolf
Steiner |
Source:
wwww.rsarchive.org |
In
essence, after death, Steiner said we expand into
the planetary spheres. The moral disposition we
carry over with us allows or prevents us from moving
on in a conscious manner. After this experience,
we fall asleep and the cosmic forces act directly
upon us preparing us for the next earthly experience.
Our cosmic sleep regenerates us. There comes a time
when the desire to reincarnate starts to work on
us. When that happens, we begin the process of going
back through the planetary spheres picking up what
we will need from each in order to fulfill our purpose
in the next Earth life. The soul "germ"
is carried in to the embryo, forgets the whole trip
and is born again on Earth.
The first
stage after death is the dimension represented by
the moon. Here the soul reflects upon the life just
lived on Earth. The second stage is the dimension
represented by the planet Mercury. Here the soul
reflects upon moral issues. The third stage
is the dimension represented by the planet Venus.
Here the soul reflects upon religious beliefs. The
fourth stage is the dimension represented by the
Sun. Here the soul is given the opportunity
to reconcile the "true and false" aspects of the
Earth dimension. The fifth stage is the dimension
represented by the planet Mars. Here the soul experiences
cosmic reality. The sixth stage after death
is the dimension represented by the planet Jupiter.
Here the harmony of the spheres increases in volume.
The seventh stage after death is the dimension represented
by the planet Saturn. Here the soul is shown the
sum total of the last incarnation as it formed itself
karmically during that life. We behold our last
earthly life from a cosmic viewpoint. As mentioned
earlier, as the soul travels through these realms,
the soul sheds karma. After the soul expands into
the planetary spheres, it begins to contract. The
soul then moves through these planetary spheres
again only this time picking up the karma it left
behind. The soul then enters the Earth realm again
for another soul experience.
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8. Edgar
Cayce |
Source:
www.near-death.com/cayce.html |
According
to Cayce's revelations, our experience relates more
to the entire solar system and not just three-dimensional
life on Earth. Cayce stated that each solar system
is like a university with many dimensions of learning
available and through which we must travel. Our
solar system has nine planets which are physical
representations of nine afterlife realms of which
Earth represents the third.
The afterlife
realms are associated with the planets of our solar
system. This does not mean souls actually live on
the surface of planets as we do on Earth, but rather,
souls live in fourth and fifth level afterlife realms
represented physically by the planets.
These afterlife
realms that are associated with the planets are
realms that souls can experience when not active
in the physical body on Earth (such as deep sleep,
meditation, or other altered states that free the
subconscious from its normal physical constraints).
Reincarnation
takes place not only in the Earth realm, but souls
also reincarnate to other realms between Earth incarnations.
If a soul incarnates to Earth from one of afterlife
realms associated with our solar system, the soul
will manifest a personality based on the influence
of the afterlife realm they came from. These influences
are defined in astrological terms and are related
to the afterlife realm represented by the planet. Each
planet in our solar system exerts a particular influence
on us which certain lessons can be learned and for
which we are tested on Earth.
The first
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Saturn. This is a realm that is equivalent
to the Catholic concept of purgatory, a place for
the purification of souls that have not kept their
ways clean on Earth. It is the realm for starting
over. Cayce called this realm to be of "earthly
woes" and a place where "all inadequate flesh goes
to be redone." This realm is the "Great Changer",
the great force for starting over. It is a realm
where "the Lord loves those who are willing to start
over."
The second
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Mercury, the astrological realm of the mind.
This realm gives us the ability to consider problems
as a whole and has the influence to develop a keenness
of perception in mental things. From this realm
comes mental insight into the operative elements
of ennobling, of virtues, of good, of beautiful,
with the mysteries of the universal forces, given
understanding, brings the development to the soul's
forces.
The third
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Earth, the astrological realm of testing
of the flesh. If souls believe something and they
really want to test it out, they can come to Earth
to be tested and apply themselves. By actually going
through the experience themselves on Earth souls
can realize if what they believe is true or not
for themselves. Earth is a place for souls to overcome
certain weaknesses by applying themselves to see
that those weaknesses are truly overcome. Here they
can learn for certain whether they have really changed.
The fourth
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Venus, the astrological realm of love. In
this realm is the beauty, the joy, and the ability
to write. This afterlife realm is where love is
dominant and where souls find the expressions in
activities in which there is the beauty seen in
love, in companionship, in association, in music,
in art, in all the things that bespeak of the loveliness
even of nature and material things, rather than
the expression of same in the earthly form or manner.
Cayce did
not identify which planet is the physical representation
of the fifth afterlife realm but it is probably
Mars, the astrological realm of anger. This is are
realm where souls learn how to control the warrior-like
power, aggressions and urges that each soul has
the ability to project. This realm is were we learn
to control our ability to hate as well as to love.
Cayce did
not identify which planet is the physical representation
of the sixth afterlife realm, but it is probably
Neptune, the astrological realm of mysticism. This
realm is where souls have the ability to have direct
experience with the Creator and perceive the Creator.
It is the realm were souls find mystical, mysterious,
and spiritual insight.
The seventh
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Jupiter, the astrological realm of strength.
This realm brings the bigness of vision, the nobleness
of purpose, the patience with self as well as with
others. Here, souls find the Universal Consciousness,
that longing for the knowledge of something outside
of self, the universal desire or the desire to be
of help to many irrespective of the cost to self.
This realm is where souls find abilities in a helpful,
universal way and manner. This realm strengths the
souls ability to depict situations, to analyze people
and places, things and conditions. Here, the soul
may become gifted in writing, lecturing, and in
group direction.
The eighth
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Uranus, the astrological realm of the psyche.
This realm is where the soul develops psychic ability.
This realm can develop extremes and extremism within
a soul. Also, a soul can develop an interest in
the occult and the mystic forces; as visions, hearings,
seeing and knowing without having the physical contact
with experiences in the mental body. This realm
influences an interest in the spiritual things.
All psychics on Earth had a sojourn within this
afterlife realm before incarnating to the Earth.
The ninth
afterlife realm is physically represented by the
planet Pluto, the astrological realm of the subconscious.
Here, souls can attain the final development of
full consciousness. This realm has spiritual-minded
influences outside of self. It influences demonstrative
activity in the future affairs or developments of
humanity.
The final afterlife realm
is physically represented not by a planet but by
the star
Arcturus,
the astrological realm of developing. This afterlife
realm is a kind of weigh station, a transient place
where souls choose to travel to other realms and
other solar systems. It is the door in and out of
our solar system. This realm is the junction between
the spheres of activity as related to the cosmic
force. This is both a usual and an unusual step
in soul evolution.
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9.
George W. Meek |
Source:
www.victorzammit.com/book/chapter04.html
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The
first realm is the Earth realm. Here a person exists
in a physical, etheric and astral body. It is the
astral body that survives death and travels to other
realms. The second realm is called the Lowest
Astral Realm. This realm is the equivalent
of emotional excesses, demonic possession, and hell. The
third realm is called the Intermediate Astral Realm.
Rest and rehabilitation await the soul here. This
realm is similar to Earth except lovelier, with
many opportunities to learn. On this realm, the
soul decides to progress to higher realms or to
reincarnate to Earth. The fourth realm is called
the Highest Astral Realm or "Summerland." Here
the soul finds angelic assistance and unconditional
love. Wider perspectives about life are gained and
greater vistas to creation are revealed. Here the
astral body can be shed (the "second death")
and the spirit can be reborn into a higher realm
for which it has become qualified. The fifth
and sixth realms are the Mental and Causal Realms.
These realms offer the person unlimited realms for
the development of the mind and soul. Access to
all accumulated wisdom is here and one can have
a final opportunity for rebirth into the Earth before
ascending to higher realms. Most of man's inventions
and inspirations are passed down to Earth from this
realm. The seventh realm is called the Celestial
Realm or the "Third Heaven." On this realm,
one can have contact with the Godhead and learn
the secrets of miracles and of all creation. The
eighth realm is called the First Cosmic Realm. This
is the last realm of our solar system and the one
where the soul can reach "at-one-ment"
with the Godhead. The ninth realm is called
the Second Cosmic Realm. This realm is the end of
manifest, vibratory creation. The tenth realm
is called the Third Cosmic Realm. This realm is
the so-called "Void",
a realm of non-vibratory, pure consciousness. The
eleventh and final realm is the Fourth Cosmic Realm.
This is the realm of full "at-one-ment"
with the Godhead and the entry into states of consciousness
beyond human comprehension.
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10. Michael
Newton |
Source:
www.near-death.com/newton.html |
According
to Newton, the hypnotherapist and author of
Journey of Souls,
the first realm after death is the so-called "earthbound
dimension." Those who do not accept the fact
their physical body is dead and fight returning
to the spirit world for reasons of personal anguish
go to this dimension. These souls are often called "ghosts"
or falsely called "demons." These souls refuse
to go to the spirit home after physical death and
often have unpleasant influences on those of us
who would like to finish out our human lives in
peace.
Another
dimension might be called seclusion. Those who have
been subverted by, or had complicity with, criminal
abnormalities in a human body go to this dimension.
After death, they are separated from others in the
spirit world. This happens at the time of their
orientation with their guides. They are not activated
along the same travel routes as other souls and
will go into seclusion upon reentering the spirit
world.
All souls,
regardless of experience, eventually arrive at a
central port in the spirit world that is like a
staging area. A large number of souls are conveyed
in a spiritual form of mass transit. Souls are brought
in, collected, and then projected out to their proper
final destinations similar to a central terminal
of a metropolitan airport that has the capacity
to fly people out in any direction. The most outstanding
characteristic of this world is a continuous feeling
of a powerful mental force directing everything
in uncanny harmony. People say this is a place of
pure thought.
Souls travel
to the soul group level which depends upon the souls'
development.
After souls arrive into
their soul groups, they are summoned to appear before
a "Council of Elders." While the Council is
not prosecutorial, they do engage in direct examination
of each soul's activities before returning them
to the groups. Should they decide to reincarnate
to Earth, they must meet again with this "Council
of Elders" to aid in their reincarnation.
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11. Sylvia
Browne |
Source:
www.near-death.com/experiences/paranormal07.html |
Upon
death, most people go through a heavenly process
before entering into heaven. Evil people, instead
of experiencing the tunnel and bright light upon
death, are sent through the "left door" and enter
into an abyss of empty, joyless, nothingness for
a brief period of time. After they have reflected
upon their actions, they are reincarnated back to
Earth.
People who
commit suicide are sent to a "holding place" which
is purgatory. Here they must make a choice to either
proceed through the "left door" or embrace God and
move on to the light. People in purgatory shuffle
slowly around in despair in a gray fog with their
heads down until they make their decision.
Most people,
who go through the heavenly process, go through
a tunnel and towards the light of God. They return
home to the place they came from on the other side.
Here, they have a reunion with family and friends
who have departed before them. After the reunion,
most of us are lead by our spirit guide to a building
on the other side called the "Hall of Wisdom." In
a sacred room, we see our lives flash before us
on a "scanning machine." This device is a
domed screen where our lives are placed out in three-dimensional
holographic form. Once we have fully evaluated our
lives, we are debriefed in an orientation process.
This is when we discuss the lifetime previously
lived and reviewed in the scanning machine. We meet
with guides who are trained orientators who discuss
ways of amending for previous mistakes. We receive
help if we were unprepared for our crossing over
into the spirit realm.
If those
whose transition is especially difficult, the orientation
process is preceded by another process called "cocooning."
This is when the person is put into a restful, healing
sleep for as long as it takes for them to feel healthy.
In extreme cases, people are taken to a structure
called the "Towers" where extremely confused people
undergo a "deprogramming" process.
Once a person
has adjusted to the transition, they can visit a
place called the "Hall of Records" where
historical data is stored such as the records of
everyone's past lives. Another beautiful structure
is the "Hall of Justice" where people
go before a "Council of Elders" who are
highly advanced spokespersons of God who help us
decide how we are to progress further into the spirit
realm.
At some
point, people recognize the need for even further
advancement and therefore choose to return to Earth
to gain this spiritual advancement. With the help
of a spirit guide, they decide on an incarnation
which will meet their goals. They then proceed to
the Hall of Justice where they meet once again with
the Council of Elders. Here, the Council prepares
people for their next incarnation. When they are
ready to incarnate, their family and friends are
gathered together to bid farewell. Once they have
said their goodbyes, they can meet with a Spiritual
Teacher, such as Buddha or Jesus, to embrace them
in their divine light. People are then taken to
the Towers and are eased into a deep sleep. The
descent into the womb begins and a new life is born
on Earth.
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