This earth is a Land of Winter, of storms and sorrows, but the Second Sphere is a Summer Land of repose and infinite blossoming. Provision is made for the complete gratification of the diversities of spiritual desires, so that all races and all states of mind will be at home in our Father's House which is eternal in the heavens. Let us think of the physical aspect of the Summer Land. Many persons have understood me to say that it is a globe, but it is really a solid belt of land extending above the earth, two-thirds of the distance from the sun and some seventy millions of miles wide, or immeasurably larger than the sun's path around Alcyone in the deep of immensity. Suppose this belt to be open at the sides, filled with worlds, crowned with stars and suns, while overhead and around is a firmament like the heaven about our earth. You behold therefore that which is seen here, but unfolded further and more perfectly—plans of an infinite temple which are here fragmentary only.
The Summer Land is in harmony with that circle of planets called the Milky Way.2 It is a zone or girdle of
real, substantial matter. When liberated at death we do not move on toward the sun but embark on a sidewise voyage directly above the southern quarter of our planet. We gain the shore of a land just like this earth, were the latter a stratified belt of the finest possible particles. Proportions and adaptations are the same. So far as the surrounding immensity is concerned, the Summer Land is bounded on all sides by aerial seas. Imagine yourself standing on one of its shining shores and contemplating with your spiritual eyes, now first opened. Looking toward the Earth, Sun, Mercury and Venus you would see an illimitable ocean of stars and golden suns, and you would realise a holy atmosphere on all sides, while from your feet would stretch an ocean without shore and void of all relations. If, however, your spiritual eyes had the light of far-penetrating clairvoyance you would perceive that the aerial ocean ripples off and divides into beautiful rivers flowing to the planets—to Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, even this Earth—and yet others to distant systems throughout the firmament. These rivers of the heavenly spaces are musical to the ear that can hear them flowing between the constellations.
Very many persons depart every day from our own Land of Winter for the Summer Land. When they are led through the celestial gardens and down by the shining shores, when they hear the lapping of musical waves as they ripple in from remote planets, bringing upon their undulating bosoms new persons who have left their gross bodies, it is as though you were to see beautiful spirits coming suddenly over the water by the seaside. I have frequently called your attention to the naturalness of the Summer Land. Its reality is among the philosophical discoveries of the present outfolding century.
You should know that its inhabitants live in harmonious accord with each other, because of the omniscient system which is adapted to the infinite varieties of human character and consequent diversities of destiny. When you arrive there you will not be a stranger, for you will have cultivated some prescience of the House constructed of different and many Mansions. Certain minds go into "the superior state" in natural slumber. The spirit rises up and attains a finer mode of thought and feeling. The life of the spirit is natural. You travel in the sleep-state as though you were awake and in open day. This arises from a projection of your consciousness into the open world about you. The scenes of the Second Sphere are reflected upon the human mind whenever it is accessible and impressible. This is accomplished either by our own clairvoyant powers or by our invisible guardians and their artistic pencillings upon our faculties.1
I would now like to tell you about Elgario, the plant of sorrow. In the Summer Land there are melancholy
characters, who seem disposed to dwell upon the hard times experienced on earth. They are downcast and sad for a while, but this celestial plant is their sweet medicine and perfect antidote. The sad ones are led to it; they begin to inhale its fragrance, to chew it a little every day; and they learn that this flower is for the healing of God's heart-stricken children. They carry its petals and are influenced; they make bouquets of it and these relieve them of their earth-born sorrows. Thus beautiful births take place out of confirmed despondency. A mother, for example, has been overworked to feed and clothe her children. She has at last died from excessive bodily fatigue and weariness of heart. She is borne away on the silvery river to the Summer Land; but she is still weary. This beautiful plant is brought to her, and it lifts her gradually into a superior state. She realises somewhat of heavenly comfort. She looks about and sees old acquaintances and loved friends. She finds them in the Father's House, where there are many Mansions. If it were not so, the seers would have told you.