TRAVEL AND PENETRATION OF MATERIAL 

In a general sense, discarnate Spirits are able to travel throughout the universe, and they do so by use of their will/thought and at the speed of thought (or may choose to do so at a speed in which it is aware of the space it traverses). Likewise, matter does not obstruct a Spirit's movement. They are able to pass through air, earth, water, fire, any man-made material, etc. These abilities in transportation, however, as well as the regions to which they may travel, depend on the degree of the Spirit's moral and intellectual evolution and it's present state of awareness.

 PERCEPTIONS AND SENSATIONS 

This depends on the Spirits degree of evolution. The less evolved Spirits still involve themselves with the things that they were engaged in during their Earthly lives. For example, a miser, once disincarnated, will still try to guard and look after his treasure, and suffers for not being able to touch and handle his gold. Another Spirit who, as a person on Earth, cultivated resentments toward another, will continue to focus their thoughts and energies on the same after passing on to the Spirit Realm, seeking to act upon such sentiments. Moral vices continue to hold their grip even when a Spirit loses its material body, and their victims will continue to seek out satisfaction for their cravings. However, Spirits of a morally sound nature have occupations of a more intellectual and charitable nature. They engage themselves in study and in work that involves the assistance and guidance of men and inferior Spirits, all the while without forgetting those still living on Earth for whom they hold loving affections and who they work to protect and guide as much as they can.

 TENDENCIES, VICES AND VIRTUES

As Kardec writes, "it would be illogical to assume that the Spirit of a savage or criminal suddenly becomes wise and virtuous. It would also be illogical to suppose that, contrary to God's justice, they continue perpetually in a state of inferiority." The study of Spirits who reveal themselves (through their words, appearance, and behaviors) to be at a variety of levels, as well as the instructions received from Superior Spirits, have confirmed that just as there are humans at all levels of knowledge and ignorance, of goodness and badness, the same is true for the discarnate Spirits that populate the Spirit World.

Therefore, freedom from the physical body does not rid a Spirit from its inclinations or tendencies. On the contrary, its elevation as a Spirit is proportional to its advancements made over multiple existences. As said before, Spirits are merely the souls of men; from one incarnation to the next, and between the incarnations, all Spirits maintain their individuality and their own level of moral and intellectual advancement. Therefore, the Spirit world reflects all the vices and virtues of human beings living on Earth; in fact the scale is even greater in the Spirit realm because it includes Spirits that come from other worlds, whereby they can be at levels far higher than the most distinguished of men, or far lower than the least advanced person on Earth.

In a most generalized classification, the spirit-instructors describe three principle classes among Spirits: the pure Spirits, who have attained the highest degree of perfection; the good Spirits, characterized by the predominance of their ethical nature; and the inferior Spirits, characterized by the predominance of their material instincts and a possible tendency for harmful acts.

To read more about these three principle orders among Spirits, as well as ten sub-classes described by Kardec, follow the link for Spirit Hierarchy on the menu bar at left..

Kardec, Allan. "Spirits." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 35.

Kardec, Allan. "The Incarnation of Spirits." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 50-54.

Kardec, Allan. "Spirit Life." The Spirits' Book.  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from 2nd edition in French). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1996. 98-102. 

Kardec, Allan. "Elementary Principles of Spiritism." Christian Spiritism (a compilation of two Kardec books: Spiritism Reduced to Its Simplest Expression and What is Spiritism).  Trans. Allan Kardec Educational Society (translated from original French editions, published 1860 and 1859, respectively). Philadelphia, PA. Allan Kardec Educational Society. 1985. (About The Spirits), pgs 125-129.

Palhano Jr., Lamartine. "Seres Espirituais" [Spiritual Beings]. Teología Espírita [Spiritist Theology]. Rio de Janeiro: Centro Espírita Léon Denis [Leon Denis Spiritist Center]. 2001. 54-58