The Summerland

The Summerland is the name given by Theosophists,[1] Wiccans and other contemporary pagan religions to their conceptualization of an afterlife.[2][3]

## Contents

* 1 History of the concept
* 2 Theosophy
* 3 See also
* 4 References

## History of the concept

Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) inspired Andrew Jackson Davis (1826–1910), in his major work The Great Harmonia, to say that Summerland is the pinnacle of human spiritual achievement in the afterlife; that is, it is the highest level, or 'sphere', of the afterlife we can hope to enter. Summerland was a secular concept, which was appealing to some non-religious spiritualists.[4]

C.W. Leadbeater, a Theosophist, also taught that those who were good in their previous earthly incarnation went to a place called Summerland between incarnations.[1]

## Theosophy

In Theosophy, the term "Summerland" is used without the definite article "the". Summerland, also called the Astral plane Heaven, is depicted as where souls who have been good in their previous lives go between incarnations.

Theosophists believe the Summerlands are maintained by hosts of planetary angels serving Sanat Kumara, the Nordic alien from Venus who Theosophists believe is the governing deity of Earth and leader of the Spiritual Hierarchy of Earth. Sanat Kumara is believed to rule over our planet from the floating city of Shamballa, believed by Theosophists to exist on the etheric plane (a plane between the physical plane and the astral plane), about five miles (8 km) above the Gobi Desert.[1]

Theosophists also believe there is another higher level of heaven called Devachan, also called the Mental plane Heaven, which some but not all souls reach between incarnations — only those souls that are more highly developed spiritually reach this level, i.e., those souls that are at the first, second, and third levels of initiation.[1]

The final permanent eternal afterlife heaven to which Theosophists believe most people will go millions or billions of years in the future, after our cycle of reincarnations in this Round is over, is called Nirvana, and is located beyond this physical Cosmos.[1] In order to attain Nirvana, it is necessary to have attained the fourth level of initiation or higher, meaning one is an arhat and thus no longer needs to reincarnate.

## See also

* Aaru
* Bardo
* Happy hunting ground
* Otherworld

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Leadbeater, C.W A Textbook of Theosophy 1912
2. ↑ Patti Wigington (March 19, 2018). "What is the Summerland?". ThoughtCo.. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-the-summerland-2562874.
3. ↑ Myth Woodling (March 23, 2014). "FAQ:What is the Summerland? Do you think it is a real place?". Yet Another Wicca.... http://www.jesterbear.com/Wicca/FAQsummerland.html.
4. ↑ Randi, James (1995). An encyclopedia of claims, frauds, and hoaxes of the occult and supernatural: decidedly sceptical definitions of alternative realities. New York, NY: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 978-0-312-15119-5.

* v
* t
* e

Afterlife locations

Abrahamic
religions|

| Judaism|

* 7 Heavens and 7 Earths
* Throne of God
* Garden of Eden
* Olam Haba
* Sheol

|

Christianity|

* Heaven
* Hell
* Kingdom of God
* Garden of Eden
* Paradise
* Purgatory
* Limbo
* New Jerusalem
* Pearly gates

Islam|

* Barzakh
* Naar
* Jannah (and Jabarut)
* Sidrat al-Muntaha
* A'raf
* As-Sirāt

Mormonism|

* Celestial Kingdom
* Terrestrial Kingdom
* Telestial Kingdom
* Spirit world

European
mythologies|

| Celtic|

* Otherworld
* Annwn
* Tír na nÓg
* Mag Mell
* Tech Duinn

|

Finnic|

* Tuonela

Germanic|

* Asgard
* Fólkvangr
* Valhalla
* Neorxnawang
* Gimlé
* Helheimr

Greek|

* Hades
* Elysium
* Erebus
* Orcus
* Asphodel Meadows
* Myth of Er
* Empyrean
* Tartarus
* Fortunate Isles

Slavic|

* Iriy

Eastern/Asian
religions|

| Buddhism|

* Desire Realm
* Hell
* Pretaloka
* Animal world
* Human world
* Asura
* Heaven
* Form Realm
* Brahmā worlds
* Formless Realm
* Nirvana

|

Hinduism|

* 14 planetary systems
* Ādi Śeṣa
* Svarga
* Naraka
* Vaikuntha
* Kailash
* Goloka
* Akshardham

Jainism|

* Three Worlds
* Urdhva Loka
* Madhya Loka
* Adho Loka

Sikhism|

* Sach Khand

Taoism|

* Grotto-heavens

Chinese|

* Tian
* Diyu
* Youdu

Japanese|

* Yomi

Zoroastrianism|

* Chinvat Bridge
* Hamistagan

Tengrism|

* Uçmag
* Tamağ

Others|

| Mesoamerican|

* Mictlān
* Tamoanchan
* Thirteen Heavens
* Tlālōcān
* Xibalba

|

Plains Indians|

* Happy hunting ground

Tupi|

* Land without evil

Wicca|

* The Summerland

Theosophy|

* Summerland
* Devachan
* Nirvana

Ancient Egyptian|

* Aaru
* Duat

Millennialism
Utopianism
Great Unity
Golden Age
Arcadia
Avalon
The Guf
Well of Souls
Existential planes
Underworld
List of mythological places

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