The spirits who remain on the transitional plane live in a constant, uniform twilight. It is depicted on the diagram as a one dimensional line because unlike all other spiritual planes, it contains no gradations of spiritual light. For many of the spirits that remain on the transitional plane, time comes to a stop and is perceived mostly as a daily routine that never changes. This is often because they believe that they are still alive and immersed in the same daily routines they were accustomed to in the days and months just prior to their bodily death. Nothing ever really changes for the earthbound souls trapped on the transitional plane. There, every day, and sometimes every moment of every day is Groundhog Day.
In contrast, the conditions in the mainstream sequence vary from the blackness of the deepest hells to the brilliantly bright heavens above the planes of illusion. From the twilight of the transitional plane, the doorway to the heavenly mainstream looks very bright, at least for the souls who will be progressing into the summerlands. The term “going into the light” or “crossing over” refers to souls leaving the transitional plane and entering into the real spiritual world where they can begin their spiritual evolution in earnest.
Since most people make many positive personal connections during their lifetimes, they will be surrounded by their friends and relatives on the transitional plane immediately after the death of the body. No matter how confused they may be upon their awakening into Spirit, friendly spirits will usher them into their proper place in the mainstream spiritual realm. These souls never have to confront any barrier at all and do not experience the time distortions that souls trapped on the transitional plane experience. Just being a “good person” during their lifetimes is their one-way ticket to Heaven.
Any soul can cross through the doorway from the transitional plane into the structured world of spirit at any time, but some don’t. We all know that many people, actually a minority, live narcissistic and self centered lives. During the course of their lives, they make few real friends, and the earthly connections they do make tend to be as narcissistic as themselves. These souls are not likely to be met by higher spirits when they first arrive on the transitional plane. They find themselves alone, confused and lost.
Other spirits might become trapped on the transitional plane because of their manner of death. Sudden, unexpected deaths cause serious confusion, and some spirits will immediately start searching for their former homes in the twilight. Some may recognize the spirits of their deceased loved ones who have come to help them as ghosts and in their ignorance, they run away. Some, not recognizing that they have died might fear that the circumstances surrounding their death still exist and try to escape or hide.
For these souls, things are a great more difficult. They must find their own way into the light. They are generally ignorant about their new condition, and this confusion is compounded by the spiritual physics of time. These are the origins of the earthbound spirits.