Part 1

MY EXPERIENCES WHILE OUT OF MY BODY

MY EXPERIENCES WHILE OUT OF MY BODY

AND

My Return After Many Days

BY REV. CORA L. V. RICHMOND

[Illustration]

_Copyright, 1915_ BY REV. CORA L. V. RICHMOND

Christopher Press Boston

DEDICATION

PRIMARILY TO MY HEAVENLY GUIDES:

Those Teachers and Inspirers who, in early childhood, awakened and have unfolded the Spiritual gifts that were mine, and have borne forward to the present hour the work appointed me to do; and

TO THOSE BELOVED FRIENDS

who, having received the ministration through my humble instrumentality have constantly given from hearts and hands the sympathy and aid needed to perform that work--and during the feebleness of the body have sent strength and succor; and _especially_ to the beloved and loving friends: DR. CHAS. H. BUSHNELL, whose skill, healing power and faithful attendance were given without stint or measure and _most lovingly_, SARAH J. ASHTON, co-worker for more than a quarter of a century, Assistant Pastor of my Congregation and, above all else, _faithful, devoted friend_, without whose unfailing care and constant helpfulness for long months my spirit could not have returned to its human habitation to take up its assigned work,

This imperfect record of experiences is most _lovingly_ and _gratefully_ inscribed.

CORA L. V. RICHMOND.

MY EXPERIENCES WHILE OUT OF MY BODY AND MY RETURN--AFTER MANY DAYS

_by_

REV. CORA L. V. RICHMOND

THE RELEASE

It was true then: I was suddenly and finally released from my body; “this time,” I said, or thought: “I will not have to return.”

Many times, almost numberless, I had experienced the wonderful consciousness of being absent from my human form, of mingling with arisen friends in their higher state of existence, but, until this time I had always known that it was only for a brief season and that there was a tie--a vital and psychic tie--binding me to return to my earth form. But _now; now_; could it be true? Was I set free to live and work with the Beloved--the dear ones--in this their higher, more perfect state?

The Best Beloved, those who had preceded me into this wondrous life, came thronging around, by degrees, to welcome me: not all at once, but first those who were by tenderest ties the nearest and the dearest.

They did not answer my question: “Have I really come to stay”?

The Guide--the Guardian, took me gently in charge that I might not even think of the form I had so lately left. A great sense of relief; of being set free from the limitations of the body, filled me, far greater than I had ever experienced before. A feeling pervaded me that _all of me_ was released. It surely _seemed_ that my work in the human body was done: that the last word was spoken, the last pen-stroke made.

O, the wonder, the unspeakable joy of thus being united with the Beloved--those whom I knew had never died, but had thrown off their garments of dust for the more beautiful raiment of the spirit!

In a narrative written for others to read one cannot dwell minutely on the sacred meetings with those who were ever nearest and dearest; those of the household, related by ties of consanguinity and those who were kindred in spirit, united to one in thought and aspiration. All that such reunion means, more than can be dreamed or imagined where one is in the human state, was now my possession.

“Turn away, turn away from all thought of the Earth-form;” said the one appointed to lead and guide me in this newer, grander flight.

One by one--or in groups--the dear ones of the Earth-home joined us, welcoming me ever, yet ever evading the oft recurring question, “Am I really here to stay?”

My attention was continually attracted to some group or company that had not been seen by me--always a surprise to find them “_all there_.” They would smile and seem to answer, “Yes, all here, in our own particular states, and doing our own appointed work.”

THE VASTNESS OF THE SPIRIT REALM

There was a perception of great _Light_, a consciousness of Illumination, an awakening to the _vastness_, the _unlimitation_ of this Realm of Spirit.

O how often, when in “dreams” or “visions” I had been permitted and aided by my Guides to visit the Spirit States, this inner and higher Realm, I had longed to remain! But ever willing to answer the call of duty, of added work to be performed by me, I would return to fill my place at the appointed time. NOW; NOW?--

All else was swallowed up--eclipsed by the wonderful experiences that came--the Beloved Presences--the vistas of luminous Spirits! This was a state of _Super_-Consciousness; the awakening of faculties and perceptions before unknown, of _being aware_, almost without limitation: of KNOWING. Whatever _is_ the nature and state of the _real Ego_ this seemed as near to the _Absolute_ as one could well conceive! There was so _much_ of me! There was so _little_ of me! There were so many and such surpassing Spirits! How one shrinks in the presence of the mighty ones! How one expands in the Knowledge of the Infinite: His Image!

Often in approaching a transcendent Light there would appear an atmosphere of ensphering tints--there would also seem to be a sphere of sound, of surpassing music. On being admitted to that sphere it would prove to be a group of spirits who thus in accord _are Light_ and _Harmony_. Where one can enter such an “atmosphere” communing with such a group it is because one has _need_ of and is in harmony with the spirits of that group.

SENSES MERGED IN PERCEPTION

Objective scenes seemed ever to be _adaptations_ to my state, and would often vanish as I became aware of the minds or spirits suggested by the scenes.

“All human sensations, as sight and hearing, are readily perceived by one awakening to spiritual states to be but _manifestations of consciousness through the physical limitations_ to which the spirit in its mental states of earth becomes accustomed. But _here_ all is merged in _perception_--where one _perceives_ and _understands_,” thus said the Guide.

This added consciousness--uniting or releasing the faculties--is not all at once: I found myself thinking in the accustomed channels, in _words_ as well as thoughts, _listening_ for replies instead of knowing that the answer had been _thought_ to me, really was there before I had questioned; of _looking_ for beautiful _forms_ and scenes instead of _perceiving_ the _Soul of Beauty_ which was (is) everywhere.

I became more and more aware that the whole of me, released from the fetters of the bodily senses, could perceive and receive more perfectly the answer to every question, even before its formulation in thought.

“Formulation is a process of limitation, sometimes of hindrance,” said the Guide. “A feeble comparison of what ‘perception’ really is may be found in an artist (of Earth) whose _prepared mind_ (and therefore vision) sees the beauty in a landscape, a sunset sky that another sees not at all, or dimly. Prepared senses are the result of prepared minds, of being pervaded by the _awareness_ of the Spirit,” said the Presence.

It is of little avail, however, to attempt to bring into outward forms of thought and expression the _perceptions_ one is aware of while one is in that inner state, excepting that they relate to conditions under which those loved and loving ones in that state can reach and change for the better the sorrowing hearts in human life, the shadowed conditions of earth existence.

THE BODY IN CHARGE OF GUARDIANS

After a time (I did not know it as _time_) I became aware of being led to where the earthly form was still breathing, being cared for and imbued with breath by a beloved Guardian spirit and by devoted friends in human life. I was to return after all! It was necessary to keep my spirit _en rapport_ with the body as the _Psychic Cord_ was _not_ severed that connected body and spirit. But not at once was I to return.

These periods of calling my attention to and visiting the body were brief--just enough to keep the “vital spark” alive, and aid the dear attendants in both worlds to prevent the complete separation which for many days seemed imminent.

A VAST CONGREGATION

It is well known to those who may be interested in reading these pages that during all the years of my mortal life (since the age of eleven) I have been brought before audiences and assemblies of people--many thousands; among them were hundreds who became friends--some of them life-long, some of later years. I had known of the “passing on” of very many who had been members of those audiences and of my own “Flock,” but I was not prepared for the _vast congregation_ that came out of their respective groups composing a still greater concourse to meet me, nor was I prepared to realize that I knew most of them as friends on Earth!

There were those who had heard the utterances of my Guides through my lips when I was a child; those who had attended and were my personal friends when I was “still in my ’teens”; and those who in later years had been of the audiences in many places; and those of my own beloved Congregation!

How difficult to realize that they were all gathered into the larger “Congregation of the skies.” Each and all unfolding, working in whatever line of knowledge and work was theirs to attain and achieve! And to find all the treasured jewels of friendship more bright in the added lustre of the larger life; the flowers in the Garden of true Affection growing more and more transcendently fair!

This is indeed Heaven! Next in blessedness to the Homes of the Best Beloved which are the very _Kingdom of Heaven_!

MINISTRATIONS OF SPIRITS

It was wonderful to note the ministrations of spirits to those in other less fortunate states--especially to those in Earthly forms. Wherever the ties of consanguinity were also of real affection the spirit guardians of the household responded to the “call,” perhaps only a thought, a longing, or a silent prayer for aid and strength, or a _need_ unknown to the one ministered unto.

Time is not a factor on the spirit side, the response to a need--an aspiration, a prayer is instantaneous. Where there seems to be delay, and often doubt in the minds of those on Earth as to the presence and ministration of the loved one who has been summoned, it is because of Earthly barriers, because those in the human state cannot perceive--and many, alas, are not willing to receive the spirit friend. I saw that the usual barriers are: Uncontrolled, selfish grief--mourning for the one who has “passed on” and often forgetting the other dear ones of the household who are left; seeking for the communion to forward a purely _selfish_ purpose; and, in general, the obstruction of false education, theological and material, through which the spiritual faculties have been closed for generations.

When human hands and hearts, even though the latter is wrung by pain, seek to _help others_ who are in sorrow or need, then the way is opened and the _helpers_ are helped by the ministering ones.

To mourn the friend as utterly “gone” who has only dropped the outer garments of the dust is to close, for the time, the avenue of communication or ministration. Long must the spirit helpers work and wait for people to be ready to receive their response to the call for aid. So many did I see who could not reach the recognition of their loved ones that I wished _over_ and _over_ again _that there were more real_ “_Message bearers_,” more to give comfort to those that mourn! And then the Presence answered: “Not all are ready to whom the Messages now are given, nor are those protected adequately who are the chosen Instruments for Message bearing, but the seed is being sown and will take root in thousands of lives.”

THOUGHT-FORMS

I was shown those who existed in the _thought-forms_ and scenes of their recent human states: Such as these were surrounded with the “things” (forms of things) familiar to them on Earth, and apparently necessary to their happiness even in the new state of existence. These scenes illustrated that our lives even in the human state, consist largely of “_states of mind_,” that we see the things we are accustomed to see, or have trained our minds or wishes to see omitting many and sometimes _most_ of the things of beauty and of import that we _might_ see.

The spirit states that are “exactly like the scenes of Earth” are composed of the thought-forms of the spirits’ imaging or reproduction, and _are_ the _reality_ to them. I recalled the weaving of a web that I had once seen an industrious spider perfect and he was afterward caught in his own web. I wondered if we are not often in human life--and the states that immediately follow the weavers of many such “cobwebs”? These thought-webs seemed to proceed from the minds of the spirits fashioning them and in which the spirits seemed to be ensphered, sometimes enshadowed. Before my questionings had _taken form in my mind_ the answer came from the Presence: “No, they are not enmeshed _by_ the thought-forms; their creation is the result of the present _condition_; remove the power to produce thought-forms, _i.e._, to create ones own environment and you remove all activity of mind. As the Spirit unfolds the thought-forms change and then disappear as _perception_ takes the place of limitation by the senses.”

With the almost axiomatic proposition that “our world of life is what we make it” our spirit-surroundings and conditions the result of our states of unfoldment, it became less difficult even when returning to the limitations of human organism to understand the conditions of existence in the “next stage” of personal experience beyond the “transition” misnamed “death.”

_Spirit states are as varied as are the personal states of those composing them; the knowledge--or lack of it--possessed by the person_ IS _the spirit state_, i.e., _knowledge of spiritual principles_.

Oh, if one could coin new words, or new understandings, in order better to express that which one knows when set free from Earthly environment! Yes, the _New Understanding_; that is the great need; and that must really be _attained_ by _unfoldment_, growth from within, the pervading all illuminating power of the spirit.

Those in the spirit states who were reproducing the familiar scenes of their recent Earth conditions were satisfied and even very happy--especially when the scenes so reproduced were of a nature that had brought comparative happiness in Earth life--in their ability to make things seem “exactly as they did in Earth life,” not even knowing that this similitude was the result of their own thought-forms instead of being _inherent_ or _organic_ in the “spirit land.”

Interesting and absorbing as were these lessons of observing, the process of weaving their thoughts into the forms most desired or needed by the spirits producing them, there were many whose reproductions were of the shadowed kind and were not voluntary, but results of the deep impress that the shadows of Earth-experiences had made upon their minds. No _one_ illustration could serve--but all states and conditions that I could realize were shown.

TIME NOT A FACTOR

_Time_ does not seem to be a factor in the realm of spirits except as related to people and events in the human state with which spirits have connection.

It was, however, a source of continual wonder and surprise to note the changing forms and _atmospheres_ in the surroundings of those with whom I was brought in contact. I saw spirits who, when in Earth life had been in positions of external power--usually considered “exalted”--as of kings or rulers--the result of no “merit” or achievement of their own, but the “incident” or “accident” of birth, who were arrayed in their _own thought-robes_ of power, but closer observation would reveal the poverty and meagerness of their “Robes of Royalty” and they were sometimes seeking somewhat with which to clothe themselves, something to _conceal_ their paucity of raiment and surroundings. Most of those, however, who had held such positions as are the result of “titles,” “rank” and “castes,” seemed endowed with perception enough to know that those external conditions are not perpetuated in spirit states, unless one has become so imbued with the _idea_ that “titles,” “wealth,” and outward “honors” are _valuable_ in _themselves_. And that the “Divine Right of Kings” is indeed a “right” derived from Heaven.

THE TRULY GREAT ARE HUMBLE

I saw many of those who had been poor in worldly possessions, even despised and scorned among men or put to death because of their advocacy of an unpopular “cause” now radiant in their own spiritual brightness, unconsciously

“Wearing their sunbright thoughts For Robes of Royalty.”

Ah! How beautiful were they! These of the shining faces and radiant hearts! Ever intent on trying to aid humanity, whether in shadowed spirit states or in Earthly conditions.

One may not give the names (even if one knew them) by which these in the various spirit states were known on Earth. I saw many who were known to be Great: Great in thoughts, deeds and words for the enlightenment of their fellow-beings. Ever were they humble, as ever are the truly _Great_. None in spirit life are outwardly _adorned_ with the “honors” given to them or their “memory” by a tardy World. The truly exalted are far too intent on ameliorating the adverse conditions of spirit and human states to take note of the praise and pomp of Earthly “celebrations” in “memory” of them, sometimes tardily bestowed.

To be truly Beloved by an individual, a country or a world is indeed blessed, and exalted souls do know and understand the true meaning of being “appreciated and beloved.”

The Light of the Shining ones, the Great ones, is not dimmed in the brightness of the higher spheres, for they are of its light a part.

SPIRIT GROUPS AND INSPIRERS

It is because of the spirit possessions that those of kindred thoughts, perceptions, aspirations are attracted to each other and form groups--not conventional or arbitrary--interchanging ideas--purposes--and working _together_ for others. I saw them “_moving upon_” the minds of those in Earth-forms whom they could reach, sometimes singly, sometimes in groups, as the conditions might require. The Student in his library, the Inventor in his “work shop” or laboratory, the “Discoverer” in his Observatory searching for new worlds or on ships of “exploration” sailing for Unknown lands, more particularly those who are seeking to solve the vexed “problems” of human life.

Ah! It was indeed a scene of wonder to see each and every spirit thus intent on doing good to his kind, imparting some needed thought, some “clue” or “thread” of an intricate proposition that would solve the whole! Long are these “Inventions” and “discoveries” known in Spirit states before the one is “born” into human life that can give them outward Expression. How luminous seemed the Atmospheres of Spirit thus surrounding those in Earth life when the Heavenly presences were near! And such lives are always luminous in their own brightness or the Higher ones could not “draw near” and inspire them.

The people know the names of some of those now on Earth whose “discoveries,” “inventions,” and works have transformed the world! Those arisen ones who aid in bearing forward the Works Beautiful, direct their thoughts to such as are ready in Earth life. Here are the “Thinkers,” whose knowledge of the Truths of the Universe constitutes the source of all power, Ideas that born of those Truths reach the minds prepared to receive them and _move the world_. We saw and paused among assemblies, groups pursuing their usual course of conferring, interchanging of ideals and preparing to impart more and more the knowledge that is theirs--as minds are prepared to receive.

_Knowledge is imparted by adaptation._

All such _imparting_ of _knowledge must be by adaptation_. The Spirit is attracted--would be from the very nature of the Spirit--to the one best prepared to receive _from that Spirit_. Thus the subtle law of imparting knowledge by adaptation governs the realm of spirit and constitutes the basis of deciding concerning “Guides,” “Guardian Spirits,” and all “ministering ones.” _Affection_ determines the intimate personal guardians.

FROM SPIRIT TO SPIRIT

It was most interesting and enlightening to see--as I was permitted to witness--a number of those who are in human states receiving from luminous and illuminating spirits some new application of science or art, some new presentation of Truth! The minds of Earth so impressed are not narrowly questioning “from whence do the ideas come”? Fearful, if from another _mind_ that those receiving them may “lose their Individuality.” Such minds know that Truths belong to _minds_--and that _somewhere_ are greater minds than one’s own--who can impart knowledge. _Truth is the common heritage of souls_; of Intelligence; and happy is the mind, spirit or Angel that can perceive or receive it _from any source_. Intelligence alone perceives and imparts Intelligence.

The process of imparting knowledge from spirit to spirit (whether those imparting and receiving are in spirit states or still in Earth-forms), grows ever more and more interesting as one passes into greater awakening and perception of the _realities_, the _verities_ of spirit. “Teaching,” “Education” (in the human sense) only exists in those states or conditions in the spirit realm where the human methods and forms of thought still govern the minds of the spirits.

Love is the great Illuminator in all realms and worlds, and thus _adaptation_ of Teacher and the one to be taught _must_ be the keynote to all reception of knowledge.

One would like to say so much while comparing the “Educational” process of spirit states with the methods of Earth (excellent as some of the latter have become); but one must hasten to record added experiences while they are near to the outward consciousness from within. For when one enters again into the daily life of Earth, even although it is ever pervaded by those surpassing scenes, the vividness of the higher state becomes dimmed by the necessary veiling that human conditions bring.

THERE IS AN ANSWER FOR EVERY QUESTION

Everything that I _wished to know_ found ready answer; even before the wish was formed into _thought_. I could realize that the answer came from the Guide, who was my teacher by adaptation. I could realize that for every _real_ aspiration there is ever an answer; in fact that the answer from within and above prompts the aspiration, the wish to know. That there is a solution for every so-called “problem”; for, in the final analysis, there _are_ no “problems”--except _states_ of _non-perception_.

All this and a thousand times more of inward awakening came to me as I grew in the perception of the Knowledge of the Spirit.

“THOSE WHO LOVE THEIR FELLOW-BEINGS”

I saw a countless multitude growing brighter, more resplendent, as I was led nearer. Among them were those more radiant than the others--greater, it seemed, in the scope and power of their spirits.

I recognized--not always from personal knowledge on Earth--some of the individuals who were there, centers of groups of radiant ones, those who, when in Earth life “loved their fellow men”; and who, by word and deed had sought to overcome the errors and abuses heaped upon humanity. Their battles with tongue and pen (no armaments or weapons of war), their shining armors of Righteousness--were finally known and appreciated by many minds (souls) on Earth.