The concept of the afterlife—the belief in some form of continued existence after physical death—has captivated humankind for millennia. Across religions and spiritual traditions, it is typically understood in two ways: reincarnation, the soul’s rebirth in a new form, and eternal life, either in a realm of reward (heaven) or punishment (hell).

But what if there’s more? What if the afterlife isn't a single place, but a series of spiritual planes, each revealing deeper truths about our soul’s journey?

That’s exactly what author Chris Carter explores in The Case for the Afterlife, a book built upon the fascinating posthumous revelations of Frederic William Henry Myers—a British poet, classicist, philologist, and co-founder of the Society for Psychical Research. Myers passed away in 1901 at age 57, but according to Carter, he didn’t stop communicating.

Through mediums and spiritual messages received after his death, Myers allegedly described a seven-level journey of the soul, offering a profound glimpse into what might await us beyond the veil.

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✨ Level One: Earthly Life

Myers begins his account with the plane we all know—Earth. It’s the starting point, the realm where souls are tested, grow, and prepare for the journey beyond.

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🌫️ Level Two: The Borderland (Hades)

The second level, sometimes referred to as Hades, is described as a temporary resting place between two worlds.

"I died in Italy, a land I loved, and I was very weary at the time of my passing," Myers wrote.
"For me, Hades was a place of rest—a place of half-lights and drowsy peace."

Time spent in this realm varies, depending on the individual’s spiritual state. Children, for example, may pass through quickly, needing little rest before progressing.

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🧠 Level Three: The Plane of Terrene Imagination

This level mirrors earthly existence. Souls here live as they did in life, shaped by memory and imagination. But it is not always pleasant.

While some enjoy peaceful surroundings, others dwell in lower realms that are "dark, gloomy, desolate," reserved for those who lived selfish or harmful lives. These souls remain in this state until they choose to change—until they evolve morally and spiritually.

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🌈 Level Four: The First True Heaven

The fourth level is what Myers calls the first true heavenly plane—a place of indescribable beauty, where colors surpass anything seen on Earth.

Here, the soul begins to shed earthly limitations and embrace a higher, more joyful existence. This is where Myers said he ultimately arrived, signifying a turning point on the soul’s journey.

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🔥 Level Five: The Plane of Flame

This realm represents spiritual transformation. It is a level of purification and passion, where the soul is refined through light and energy. It prepares the individual for even higher forms of consciousness.

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💡 Level Six: The Plane of Light

At this point, the soul is no longer a visible being, but a presence of pure light—a manifestation of divine thought.

“The person has completely disappeared and exists only as white light, as the pure thought of their Creator,” Carter explains.

Though Myers had not reached this realm himself, he shared what others who had experienced it revealed: this is where one joins "the immortals."

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🕊️ Level Seven: The Divine Realm

The final level, according to Myers, is not the heaven or hell of religious texts. Instead, it is a plane where a true connection with the divine becomes possible.

“The mind creates the fire of hell,” Carter writes, suggesting that suffering after death is self-imposed through guilt and spiritual stagnation—not inflicted by others.

Here, God is not a person one meets, but a force of immense power and love, far beyond human comprehension.

“Myers, in his post-mortem communications, describes God as being far, far above the human,” Carter notes.
“The newly departed do not see God because we are, at first, too spiritually primitive… We occupy planes not yet exalted enough to approach the divine closely.”

This seventh plane offers the opportunity to move closer to God—not as a reward, but as the natural result of deep spiritual evolution.

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🧘‍♂️ Conclusion: A Soul’s Eternal Ascent

Whether seen as metaphor or message, the seven-level journey described by Frederic Myers invites us to reconsider everything we think we know about death—and life.

Far from being the end, death may be just the beginning of a magnificent and evolving spiritual voyage—one that challenges the soul, tests its growth, and leads it, eventually, toward the light of divine consciousness.

Chris Carter’s exploration of these accounts serves not only as a compelling case for life after death but also as a profound reminder: what we do here on Earth echoes far beyond it.