Scholar Explores Alleged Posthumous Accounts of the Afterlife through Historical Psychic Testimony
The concept of life after death has captivated human imagination for centuries, yet remains beyond the scope of definitive understanding. One individual deeply immersed in this subject is author Chris Carter, who delves into reported post-mortem experiences through the figure of Frederic Myers—an English poet and founding member of the Society for Psychical Research who passed away in 1901.
In his work The Case for the Afterlife, Carter examines purported communications from Myers that allegedly occurred decades after his death through psychic intermediaries. These messages are said to detail a structured journey of the soul beyond physical death, encompassing multiple metaphysical realms.
According to Carter, Myers outlined a progression through seven distinct planes of existence, beginning with the earthly realm, described as the first level in this metaphysical framework.
Second Plane: Hades (The Intermediate Realm)
The next stage, referred to by Myers as Hades, corresponds to what is often termed the astral plane—a transitional domain situated between physical life and higher spiritual existence. Myers reportedly characterized this phase as a restful interlude, tailored to the individual’s spiritual needs. For example, he claimed to have experienced Hades as a peaceful, dimly lit place of repose following a weary passing in Italy.
Third Plane: The Sphere of Terrene Imagination
Myers described the third level as a reality resembling Earth in form but imbued with enhanced beauty. In this realm, individuals with similar interests may join together to form communal living spaces shaped by collective or personal imagination. However, the nature of one’s experience on this plane is believed to be contingent on their moral and spiritual condition during life. Those who led selfish or malevolent lives reportedly inhabit darker, more desolate regions of this plane, with their duration there depending on their own willingness to evolve morally.
Fourth Plane: Eido
The fourth realm, known as Eido, is presented as the first of the true celestial spheres. This plane is described as possessing extraordinary beauty, with vivid colors and sensations surpassing anything conceivable in the physical world. Myers claimed this was the level he ultimately reached.
Fifth Plane: The Plane of Flame
As the soul advances further, the planes become increasingly abstract and difficult to describe in earthly terms. The fifth level, called the Plane of Flame, marks the beginning of a realm less accessible to human understanding, yet regarded as increasingly elevated in spiritual significance.
Sixth Plane: The Plane of Light
In this dimension, the individual no longer retains a physical form and exists purely as light—an expression of pure thought emanating from the Creator. This stage is interpreted as a union with immortal consciousness.
Seventh Plane: The Out-Yonder
The final stage, termed “Out-Yonder,” is described as a realm entirely beyond the physical universe. Contrary to religious teachings that often depict defined notions of heaven or hell, Carter suggests that such places do not exist in the forms traditionally envisioned. Hell, in Myers’ view, is not a place of external torment, but a state of inner suffering derived from the mind. Similarly, encountering God is not immediate. According to Carter’s interpretation of Myers’ communications, the divine is far beyond human comprehension, and direct proximity to the Creator becomes conceivable only upon reaching this final plane of spiritual development.
Carter concludes that the soul’s journey is one of progressive refinement, where direct communion with the divine is possible only after considerable transformation and elevation through these planes.
