What greater “punishment” could there be than when the human mother has turned away from the sacred gift of motherhood, she meets, on entering spirit life, her own neglected babe who welcomes her there? “Coals of fire!”
It is not always to visit scenes of sorrow and want that the spirit children are led to the earth: Houses, schools, playgrounds, “Lyceums,” where the little ones of earth are taught, places of entertainment and amusement where they play, and sing, and grow; there also are the playmates of the spirit-home mingling with them and endeavoring to impress them with thoughts and deeds of loving kindness with things of beauty.
Returning to the Realm of Spirit Children one finds such respite from care, such constant sources of happiness, such fashioning of forms of beauty. Oh, that all could know! Knowledge of all this has reached but few on Earth; yet more and more will human minds be pervaded by the methods of the Skies.
Those who have given new methods of “Education” to the people of Earth have been inspired somewhat by these Teachers in spirit states. Froebel, whose “Kindergarden” system was intended for “children” of all ages; A. J. Davis, whose “Progressive Lyceum” system was not intended exclusively for Sunday training of children but in its inception was a reproduction of the “teaching” in spirit states (as far as his mind and inspiration could reproduce such beautiful methods.) Even if one could give in human language the form of teaching (or methods) of the spirit states, the law of adaptation prevailing in the higher realms might not always be available in human life.
How beautiful to know that growth—and the best opportunity for the highest unfoldment with most loving teachers and Guardians surround the darlings who have passed from the households of Earth.
Here then, O human parents, O sisters and brothers, you who miss the bodily presence of the one who occupied the “vacant chair,” you who feel the pervading sense of the absence of the loved children: here they are; bringing to your very homes and hearts, could you but realize it, the love, the knowledge, the wisdom, the beauty of the skies.
Beauty and Harmony
Ever from childhood through all the years of Earth life beautiful scenery, tints of earth and sky, music, in fact all beautiful sights and sounds, strongly appealed to me. In the spirit states I noted that harmonious colors, beautiful scenes, and often exquisite music greeted me as we approached groups of radiant atmospheres, encircling spheres of light; such exquisite sounds of harmony as one dreams must be the “Music of the Spheres.” On approaching nearer I would perceive that the tints and sounds, as they reached me, were the radiations of thought, the spirit activities of these thus ensphered who have attained real harmony. They were not MAKING beautiful colors and music, but LIVING them.
The “Artists”
Perhaps I have elsewhere written that music in spirit states does not always accompany the one who was a “musician” on Earth; and harmony of color, beautiful surroundings may ensphere one who never thought of being an “artist.” Their lives have been interwoven with sweet and loving thoughts and deeds.