SEM (Odhner) n. 4545

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4545

4545.

[VOLUME THREE part two, containing the paragraphs numbered from 4545[a] to [4832a], formerly called the Minor Diary]

About order in regard to conscience

The first plane is the innermost of the rational mind, and pertains to inner sight thus to love to the Lord, consequently to goodness and to the goodness of truth. The second plane is the middle of the rational mind, and pertains to the conscience of goodness and truth, thus to piety, and is the plane of the Church and the Kingdom of the Lord. The third plane is that of the conscience of what is just and fair - thus of one's function in civil life - consequently that of society and of the common good, pertaining to the lower rational mind. The fourth plane is that of honorableness and good manners, thus that of getting along, that is, among friends and acquaintances, and pertains to the physical faculties.
These planes can be joined together, and the more inward flow into the more outward, in which case the outermost plane, namely of what is honorable and good manners, is good, because it flows in from its own proper origin.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4546

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4546

4546. But when the more outward plane is separated from the more inward one, so as to appear honorable, or is put on for the sake of one's own honor, reputation, profit, or [fear of] the laws, not from the more inward one, then it is counterfeit and of no account. This was clearly seen.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4547

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4547

4547. A conscience without caring for the neighbor does not exist. People on earth have such an obscure sense and mental image that they cannot tell whether they are caring, because they do not feel affection very strongly, and if they do have it, do not reflect on it. But it is recognized by their zeal for what is good and true, and for what is just and fair. When they are zealous for these, they have charity, namely, a zeal for punishing the evil with the purpose that they may become good, and that the good may not be harmed, and that the community or public may be freed of such persons - for then they are caring toward the neighbor, even though it may not appear so and they themselves may be unaware of it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4548

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4548

4548. About the aura of a certain person who habitually poured forth poisonous witticisms against others
Gustav Benzelstierna

There was a certain one in the life of the body who was able to pour forth against others such witticisms that they could not be responded to, because he gave them such a twist that the person against whom they were directed was stupified, so to speak, and angered at being unable to retort.
He had this trait from an innate character familiar with the practice of hurting the feelings of others with double talk and the like. But because he imagined himself to be more learned than others, he was inspired to pour forth such witty remarks, one of which was shown, namely that he could favorably receive the views of my mind, but he did not know where to store them - thus mocking them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4549

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4549

4549. His aura was shown rolling around him like a scroll stretched out to its length [rolls up] into the roundness of a scroll. Whether it bent itself toward itself, I did not see. Likewise it also rolled in a horizontal scroll, around him - such was his aura, as I had not seen before. The scroll was a kind of airy something, and I noticed that it came from those who had despised others in comparison with themselves, and who had not thought well of others.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4550

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4550

4550. What memory is like in the other life

I spoke with spirits about memory, namely, about the fact that languages, thus a memory of words, does not exist with them, nor a memory of sciences insofar as they are matters of memory, but whatever they have learned by means of languages and sciences, looking to what is fair and good, do. Thus neither do theological matters insofar as they are matters of memory.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4551

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4551

4551. About the cruelty of some by means of burning tow, a fantasy

Certain ones practice that cruelty by means of fantasy, that they seem to hold a burning candle, and to burn others round about with it, on whom they try to induce an apparently physical sensation. Some light tow on fire, and burn others with it by fantasies that also induce sensation.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4552

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4552

4552. A certain one was holding such tow and carrying it about, but the fire of the tow was turned into his palm and his finger. He cried out that he had been seriously burned. This serves to illustrate how such sensations can be brought on by fantasies, unless they are liberated by the Lord.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4553

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4553

4553. Mental imagery

The mental imagery of the memory is various, such as that of a person, namely whatever one has heard, or seen of him or her, or observed while conversing with or thinking about the person, favorable or unfavorable, all remains, and more than one was ever aware of, which seemed to have gone unnoticed - all such mental imagery remains, and is displayed together in the other life when someone is being thought about.

But still this is done in such a way that when someone is being well thought of, then evils are so to speak rejected to the circumference, but when evils are, then goods are rejected to the circumference. Thus at the same time, or instantaneously thousands of things are displayed, and appear before good spirits and angels, or are seen together. Therefore, those who have thought nothing but ill about people cannot think other than evils concerning them, and those who have thought well cannot think otherwise than well, and so forth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4554

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4554

4554. Mental imagery also of places are displayed at the same time, and together with them, all things that had occurred there, the things which had occurred there clinging to the memory of the place, and being displayed at the same time - thus thousands of things together.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4555

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4555

4555. In like manner, mental imagery of things, such as matters of the sciences, and of whatever the person had learned and thought about a given matter, is displayed at the same time, this the more richly when the person had grasped more particulars concerning the matter.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4556

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4556

4556. That more particulars enter the imagery than the person grasps, was shown when I walked on the street of a city, and in a grove, I was told that those things which I lightly scanned with my eye and hardly observed except as fleeting shadows, still cling, and can be recalled. So it is with persons, and with things.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4557

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4557

4557. Spirits speak among themselves by means of mental imagery, and I have spoken with them many times by this means, and then in a minute second, or minute beat of the pulse, they declare all that they think about a given matter, which they had been scarcely able to utter so as to be understood in a half-hour's time, thus many, many things one after the other, and this so rapidly and coherently, that it is incredible. And the imagery becomes richer and richer, according to the formation of their inward memory.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4558

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4558

4558. I did not need to do anything but think about a person with a mental image of his quality, at the same time about a place, a position, and some other aspect, without any image of a face, a body, and characteristics by which a person is described in human speech - least of all a name - and at once, they recognized who he was, and what he was like in my thought.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4559

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4559

4559. The same applied to countries, cities, and the like.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4560

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4560

4560. Moreover, I have thought about a certain matter by an obscure, somewhat hostile mental image, in which image there was nothing but obscurity, while the spirits were seeing the particulars clearly, because they are able so to speak to read the more subtle details in my memory without my knowing it, thus to fill in and clarify those things that to me are darkness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4561

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4561

4561. About Paul

Paul when he lived thought about the other life in no other than a worldly way. He supposed that there would be worldly glory there, not knowing what heavenly glory was, and whether it was anything, and he imagined then that it would be he who introduced all into heaven, and that the Lord would receive them from him, besides which he thought himself deserving more than others. For the sake of that glory, namely the worldly glory that he might be the greatest, he underwent numerous dangers and punishments. Therefore he had a different motive than what the Lord taught, namely that he who wanted to be the greatest would not enter, but who wanted to be the least, and that the last shall be first [Matt. 18:1-4, 19:30, 20:16, 22:11; Mark 9:34-5, 10:31; Luke 9:46-8, 13:30, 22:24-6]. Hence it is that he associated on several occasions with evil spirits and devils in order to make for himself a separate, hellish heaven, and that he rejected the inward parts of the Word, because they are contrary to worldly glory, and contrary to merit.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4562

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4562

4562. He appears to have with him a sheet of paper, and whatever he observes, he writes down, but the manner in which he wrote was shown to me, namely by lines curved around at the ends. Probably this kind of writing with them answers to their language. This is allowed him so that such things as are to be observed may be better impressed on his memory. I am not sure that he reviews them, but if he does, probably then some things are recalled to his memory that are advantageous to him. Paul was finally given a dwelling by himself, above toward the left, but he still in turns wanted to cause a turmoil. At length he was brought lower down, where he does not know that he had been Paul.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4563

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4563

4563. Evil spirits have rationality

I was surprised that evil spirits are also able to sense what is good and true, and to be clearly convinced even to the point of admission that something is good and true, both moral and spiritual, and this according to the gift they had possessed in the life of the body. As a result, I thought that they were good, or that they could become good, but when they fell away from that state of mind, and had returned into a life of evil, or into their own nature, they were devils, and some among the worst. So the faculty of knowing is a separate entity, by means of which they can sense goodness and truth, and because this does not join itself with their evil life, it is therefore separated from them when they return into the life of evil.
This is why the worst hellish spirits can sometimes reason as well as good ones, even bring forth truths, when they are in that state, but still they are hellish, like Adam Lejel, who is among the worst infernals. He sometimes draws truths so well by deductions from [truths of] nature, that he is thoroughly convinced - yet still he is among the worst hellish spirits.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4564

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4564

4564. Concerning the urine a Correspondence

Adam Lejel among the worst hellish spirits, whenever I thought about the urine, fell back into his scandalous principles corresponding to his life, out of which principles unutterable things came forth - not principles, but other wickedness, and this happened very often; nor was he able to hold himself back from them, except by tortures when he persisted. In this way the urine by itself causes him to fall into such wicked principles, for such evils interact with it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4565

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4565

4565. About the Saints: Anthony, Ignatius, Francis Xavier, Agnes

I spoke with Anthony of Padua, and I was instructed that in his bodily life he had collected many testimonials of a saintly life, which would remain after his death, and which he had entrusted to friends in the hope that he would help them if he became a saint. He is a subtle spirit, not wishing it to be manifest that he is worshipped, but still holds in his mind that he ought to be worshipped, and is thus in secret ways intent on it. He knows that if it became manifest, he would be thrust down into hell. But he was told that such cunning maneuvers are turned into stupidity, and more grievous hellish conditions, and that he ought to act with a sincere heart.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4566

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4566

4566. Anthony stood nearby overhead and caused me to be quite unable to speak, taking away the principle of the mental imagery of speech. He was therefore a more subtle spirit than the others, making it so that I could in no way push out the least word. It was said that he had learned such magic that he thereby entered the mental imagery of spirits, and led them secretly where he wished, thus to the admiration and adoration of himself. He said that he could also lead a person on earth, but received the reply that he leads swine and pigs, not people. He was also let into a pig in order to control it, namely, into a pig into which someone had been turned who had polluted himself with the obscenities of adulteries, and had become one. This is also because an inward magic is nothing but inward adulteries, for it produces them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4567

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4567

4567. It seems that Anthony employs the ministry of the white Jesuits, discussed below.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4568

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4568

4568. Anthony has an inflow into the inward parts of the tongue, namely into the muscular tissues. It was shown of what quality inward magic was, namely, that it is secret hatred against the Lord and against the innocent. He was sent into a hell deep down, among the profane, and after that lifted up, and then those spoke with him whom he had deceived, rebuking him for being of that character. But he kept on trying to deceive them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4569

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4569

4569. Anthony also made himself divine by means of fantasies, but by a fantasy image of a voice all around him. But then he was turned into a most revolting, poisonous animal, and cast down into hell.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4570

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4570

4570. Francis Xavier, second father of the Jesuits, appeared deep down beneath the buttocks. He was a still more subtle magician, operating profanely through marriage love and innocence, and very secretly: the inside of the urethra. Perhaps someone else.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4571

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4571

4571. Ignatius, was toward the front, up above, a Jesuit father, was subtle, but I was not able to observe otherwise than that he was good, not wanting, nor intending, that they should be of this character. He shunned being worshipped, making himself out to be as filthy as a sow.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4572

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4572

4572. Agnes of the Parisians is toward the right, among the upright women, who love her. Whenever they worship her, she says that she is filthy, and turns into something filthy, and so at last she was welcomed by them in their society.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4573

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4573

4573. About the white Jesuits

There are Jesuits who had desired to obtain all things in the life of the body by means of prayers, in order that they might thus command others in the life of the body and in the other life, so that the prayers were for the sake of self as their purpose. They prayed in their own way out of their books which are in daily use, and which they read every day, in compliance with Church rules. They appear small, dressed in white, toward the front near the earth, a little toward the left, descending into their own hell by means of ladders, and climbing up by ladders, just as the angels are portrayed seen by Jacob [ascending and descending] by means of a ladder [Gen. 28:12]. They ascended, and were then seen standing in a line with books in their hands, reading. They are capable of deceiving the guiltless. But because their reading and praying regards themselves, this one may conclude what their character is like, and that they think themselves righteous from themselves.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4574

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4574

4574. About spirits who take away from others the life of thinking

There are spirits who in the world had gone about with others without any other purpose, nor enjoyment, than to be there, being possessed of no other life. They are of two kinds. Some listen to others speaking, with no other purpose than to hear, some speak in that way, without any other purpose than arouse and recite whatever they learn from the other. They are distinct groups, those who listen being above, toward the front a little to the left, those who speak being lower down, nearer to the head.
Whenever they spoke, there first arose a kind of indigestion of the stomach, so they offensively affected the stomach, then at the same time taking away from others and from me all the life of thought. This was because they were devoid of purpose and use, and in purpose and use is life, and such a life [as the purpose and use]. When they saw anything that others understood, or that I wished to say, they asked about it. Otherwise, they are not evil, but are most bothersome.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4575

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4575

4575. About the portrayal of scissors
Something magical

Quite high overhead, scissors (sax*) were portrayed by a magical art, and I did not know what it symbolized, but I was instructed that as long as scissors appears there, an open womb is persistently visible. For then the hellish spirits are in that kind of fantasy, whence a scissors appears; and it is something magical.
* Swedish for "scissors."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4576

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4576

4576. About the portrayal of a shoulder
Something magical

Also portrayed magically are shoulders, broad toward the left and toward the right, like the shoulders of a human being. This occurs toward the right, at the level of the human shoulder. They appear like naked posts, and when they appear, it is a sign that magicians are thinking about diverting those things which others are thinking, and the resulting speech, to a different location. When I had spoken, then the right shoulder was moved, and then the imagery of thought and of speech was diverted elsewhere, or to others - nor was it aimed toward him to whom I spoke. When the magicians have this in view, such shoulders are displayed in that place.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4577

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4577

4577. A characteristic mark of the evil and of the good

A characteristic mark of the evil is that their imagery of thought and of speech usually begin from goodness, but end in evil, and that of the good, that their imagery of thought and of speech may begin from evil, but end in goodness. For with the evil, evil reigns universally, hence they are bent toward it; but with the good, goodness reigns universally, so that their mental imagery is bent toward goodness. That which reigns universally is the end in view, and the affirmative principle, as the plane to which [all things tend].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4578

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4578

4578. How futile the modern sciences are, by virtue of which they pass for wise

I spoke with spirits about the modern sciences, by virtue of which they are seen as wise. Generally speaking, the sciences are nothing else but means for becoming wise, or for forming one's rational mind, just as languages are means for developing thoughts. Those who have truths are able by means of the sciences to acquire for themselves many confirmations, and thus enrich their mental imagery. Those who have falsities are also able by means of the same sciences to have confirmations, and thus fill their mental imagery with falsities.
Useful sciences are Physics, optics, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, anatomy, mathematics, astronomy, architecture, Botany, metallurgy, history, the governments of kingdoms, and the like, by all of which as means anyone can become rational.
But there are certain ones that utterly destroy the faculty of thinking and break down the rational faculty, such as scholastics, namely when they try by means of numerous scholastic terms to describe a single lucid matter that is intelligible to almost everyone, even until no one understands it. Another such science is Philosophy, when a judgment is reached by a series of conclusions from definitions of terms, and resulting conclusions - which series when linked together display such things as can be understood by no one, neither themselves nor their relevance - for then that science takes away all reason, when yet it involves nothing else than something that can be explained so simply that anyone can understand it. Another such is Logic, which focuses on truths and subjects them to doubts - even more so when by a number of people a single matter is analyzed as to what it involves. The conclusion drawn is clearly such as to be intelligible without any syllogism. Geometry and Algebra are also in this category, when simple truths are being demonstrated by means of them, and yet a matter is expressed in such a complicated manner by means of angular, circular, and curved figures, and explained according to them, that it is not understandable to anyone. Such sciences, and such applications of sciences, cause people to lose their common sense, and to become insane.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4579

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4579

4579. At this day, such people pass for wise, when yet they are more stupid than the most simple, such being modern wisdom. Ancient wisdom was never like this. It taught naked truths, and mankind was able to know and to think innumerable truths, while at this day, people [know and think] scarcely any.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4580

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4580

4580. About affirmative doubt, and negative doubt
Miracles

I was pressed about by very many spirits, with whom I spoke. They wanted this or that to happen, so that they could find out whether the power of the Lord is as great as it was said to be. But it was answered that this could have been done, but these things would be of no use, since they wanted to determine in that way the power of the Lord, just as by miracles. It was said that certain spirits are in affirmative doubt, certain ones in negative doubt, the former able to be convinced, but the latter in no way, for they would always form for themselves new doubt, even if it should go on forever, for they inwardly deny this.
The reason for this is that those who had lived a good life are in the beginning in doubt, but in affirmative doubt, because good itself is the receiver of the affirmative, or in good itself there is the faculty of receiving - which they do not realize while they are in the doubt. These are able by such means, by experiences and by miracles, to be led to affirmation; but those who lead an evil life are not, because evil is the receiver of the negative, so that all such doubt leads to and ultimately becomes, denial.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4581

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4581

4581. About magic

Magical arts in the other life are in such abundance, and so malicious, that they can in no wise be described. They know how to tie themselves to a person, if it were a spirit in the other life like myself, in wicked ways, namely by binding all things in the face, the mouth, the head, the occiput, where the general sense is located entering into and binding the mental imagery by diverse methods, cunningly and deceitfully. It is done in deceitful ways by a spiral figure, and what is amazing, they also are tied up, as I could tangibly feel, for they are tied so that they will conduct the outward elements of the memory and the thought.
The reason for this is that the spirits and demons who are there and flow into the imagery, form around the person an aura, and join themselves to the spirits in hell, so that they can be led by them to think in the same way. Moreover, there are also spirits who think themselves to be the person. Through these they also operate in a general manner. The methods of those magicians are numerous, nor can those spirits ever be separated, except by the aid and mercy of the Lord.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4582

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4582

4582. Envy

The envious are those who lie hidden below, quite deep down, under the province of the scrotum, and those who are more envious operate into the scrotum, and into the ligaments going toward the testicles.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4583

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4583

4583. What is meant by the poor, the wretched, strangers, those in prison, the sick, orphans, and widows [Matt. 25:35-6]

The poor are those who thirst and hunger for goods and truths, and know that they have few if any; nor do they desire gold and silver, thinking that they would be too much for them, but copper and iron, which they indeed receive as gifts.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4584

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4584

4584. The wretched are all in general, both the poor, and strangers and the bound. While the poor regard truths, the wretched regard goods.
Strangers are all who do not know truths and goods, who must be instructed, which instruction is a good of charity.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4585

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4585

4585. Those in prison are all who are held in bondage by evil, and are aware of the fact, as those are for the most part who are in temptation.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4586

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4586

4586. The sick are those who are distressed by evil and falsities, and who are to be visited, by some who bring comfort, by others who bring a remedy.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4587

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4587

4587. Orphans are those in a state of innocence. Widows are those imbued with the goodness of caring [for others].
But it must be seen from the Word whether these things are so;

SEM (Odhner) n. 4588

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4588

4588. then the maimed, the halt, the blind, Luke 14:21; then the deaf.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4589

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4589

4589. How the truths of faith enter into love, and love enriches them

Take, for example, loving some king or prince - that love comes forth and grows according to the virtues with him that one esteems and reveres. Thus if he is compassionate, if he is just, if he is generous, etc., then the love of mercy in itself enters that love, then the love of justice, of generosity, each of which qualities, namely compassion, justice, generosity, has with it reverence and love - all the above loves entering into the general love, and thus strengthening it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4590

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4590

4590. If, however, he is not of this character, but of a contrary one, but is still loved because he is king, it is a foul and filthy love, thus on account of the vices he loves.
Then, if he is loved without possessing such qualities, only because he is king, whatever his character, it is an ordinary love, and varies in quality with the righteous in heart according to virtues and their relative values.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4591

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4591

4591. With regard to the Lord, all such properties are called truths of faith that enter and strengthen love, and these are only higher knowledge of the nature of the Lord, the nature of oneself, the nature of the Lord's kingdom, the nature of the neighbor, and the nature of love. Faith without regard to love is only a memory knowledge of those matters.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4592

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4592

4592. How these qualities enter into a general love, which is like that of infants toward their parents, and strengthen it, and how they are imbued with love, may now be evident from the above.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4593

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4593

4593. They who have love toward the neighbor do not always have love to the Lord, as, for instance, the spiritual, but they have reverence, and esteem, which is strengthened by truths of faith.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4594

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4594

4594. About those who appear like bodies

Certain ones were seen nearby toward the front, rising up as if out of the deep, exactly like hairy bodies, who are the kind that return almost into their bodily parts. When they rise up, there appears something like a sword aimed at piercing the head.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4595

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4595

4595. When I spoke with them, they said that all things down to the least details appeared to them just as if they were in the body; likewise the things that they see and touch (Gripenhjelm) - a sign that they had been bodily-minded.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4596

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4596

4596. About magic
The skin
The general love toward the neighbor

It would be too much to enumerate all the magical arts, for it has been granted me to see many of them, and how they bind up others so as to cling [to them]. To me they were thus bound for several days, as to the face, the forehead, and the occiput - but as I complained, by magic, nor was I able to speak except together with them, though I was able to think without them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4597

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4597

4597. Calluses appear in the skin of the head, and in the skull, to which they had fastened themselves, and which cause a pain perhaps in order that they might soften, for they interact with upright and true qualities in the left side of the skull, which was the first area to undergo softening. The fastenings take place for the reason that then the interacting spirits are associated, who are the kind that know nothing but the general matters of faith, not the particulars, still less the minute details, thus who had had a general love toward the neighbor without discrimination as to who is the neighbor and as to the quality of the love. Such people greatly abound at this day, and allow themselves to be led astray by any deceitful spirit, hypocrite or dissembler whatever, nor do they grasp that they are of that character, even though they are told.
[2] They are for the most part sensuous people, entering but little into reasons, and constitute the skin - in this case the scalp. I spoke with them, and they said they had no sensation of horror at criminals if only they put on a pleasant and upright countenance, and they allow themselves to be convinced only with difficulty. There are many different kinds of such, interacting with the scalp in various spots. There are others toward the occiput, others toward the forehead, others at the face, others at the rest of the skin of the body. This shows how necessary it is to imbue a higher knowledge of what is right and true, and to put it into practice, and to strengthen love. I presume that there are many such in the Roman Catholic religion, where they are not acquainted with the truths of faith, but are persuaded by the monks. But they have a general feeling, and this on account of the desire for the salvation of the soul after death.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4598

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4598

4598. The language of angelic spirits

Twice I have engaged in speech almost like that of angelic spirits, being at the time as if in a half-wakeful state, and my thought was shaped concerning the truths of faith in an inexpressible manner. It was an inward sight, and can in no wise be described in words.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4599

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4599

4599. How those operate who have a general feeling

Those were present who had a general feeling, in which there was nothing specific. It was as if they took away the life of the body, or brought on a sluggishness of mind, together, so to speak, with a sluggishness of the body, and some indigestion to the stomach - this for the reason that there is little vitality in that general feeling. Life itself consists in the intelligence and wisdom of truth, and where this is absent, there is but little vitality, or there is sluggishness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4600

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4600

4600. Evil spirits must not be dispelled

For some time diabolic spirit clung to the mental imagery and feelings of the body, and I tried several times to dispel them by various means, but in vain. In this way I experienced that they are not cast out, but that they fall down of themselves. They are stubborn, and take pleasure in fighting, and a little hope for it increases their pleasure. So they are not dispelled in this manner, but when left alone, then they fall down of themselves.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4601

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4601

4601. About a tower

There appeared to me in a state of semi-wakefulness a tower of ordinary height, but presently there appeared an immense tower, with cross-boards round about by which one could climb up to a height great beyond the telling. Midway in its height it vanished in the sky and could be seen no farther; but I was not told what it symbolized. Perhaps the ascent of the angels into the heavens was thus portrayed.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4602

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4602

4602. About those representing the earlobe

There are spirits, not evil, who climb up within at the left side, toward the internal ear, and there apply their own ear, so that they may see what is going on in the world of spirits. It was told that when they rise up and apply their ear, my sight would be held in the world of spirits in such a way that it could not be removed from it about which circumstance I complained several times.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4603

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4603

4603. A conversation with a certain Roman Catholic about their saints

I spoke with a certain spirit who had been of the Roman Catholic religion, concerning their saints, whom it is said they worship as the gentiles do their idols. He said that they only revere them, and were instructed by their example, but it was said that they actually fall down on their knees before them, praying that they bring help, and this by crowds in the sight of their priests, who in no way deter them or admonish them; also that their prayers in their sacred books are such as to implore their saints for help.
[2] He thought that they would intercede, and that this was tolerated on account of the people's simplicity, but was told that their sacred prayers were thus established and that they were persuaded by the monks, for the sake of gain and honors, showing off their miracles, giving them lip-service, and showing them in the Church, to observe this practice. To this he was unable to reply.
It was said that they are worse than the heathen, for the gentiles do not know that idolatry is a sin, whereas the saints know it, so they are to be condemned before the former. He said that the saints intercede, but he was told that many of the saints are in hell, being magicians more than others - and certain ones were named, such as Anthony, Francis Xavier, David, Paul was also discussed and that they did not know what heaven is. More things were said that I do not remember, as that it is well known, that everyone is permitted to approach the Lord with prayers, and that He hears them all, and that He Alone is to be worshiped.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4604

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4604

4604. On marriage love, and mutual love

Those who in the life of the body had lived in marriage love are together in the other life, for the reason that marriage love is innocence, thus there is nothing of lascivious love attached to it, even if they appear to one another as naked.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4605

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4605

4605. But those who had lived in a different marriage, in which there was not marriage love, but lascivious love, they are separated, for nothing of lascivious love is tolerated in the other life. Those partners are separated even more who had been averse toward each other, and still more those who had lived in hatred.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4606

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4606

4606. Marriage love is such that one wishes to be the other's, and this mutually.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4607

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4607

4607. Mutual love is such that one wishes better to the other than to oneself, and thus that one wishes to give the other what is one's own (namely, one's goods).

SEM (Odhner) n. 4608

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4608

4608. Those who inspire, in order to be worshipped

There are devils near to the left side toward the back quarter, who inspire others to declare that they should be worshipped. They are down below under the plane of the sole, toward the heel. When others were saying that they should seek them and that they would gain their favor, then it was they who inspired that, which they do skillfully. Beyond that, I do not know the character of that gang.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4609

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4609

4609. What a mental image of the infinite and eternal is like if the mental imagery is from space and time

I spoke with spirits also about a mental image of the infinite and eternal derived from space and time, saying that an image of them entirely perishes and becomes none, causing disbelief in the Divinity. It was suggested to think of the eternal before the creation of the world, and that if time is in the thought, there is no idea of it. If we think from time, that finite notion arises that there was some beginning to the existence of God, thus that He arose. It is not possible to think otherwise, from time.
[2] The case is the same with regard to space outside of the universe, which also cannot exist to infinity, if we think from space. There would be no endpoint, and so forth - although one is never led away from that absurdity except when one's notion of time and space perishes. The more interiorly anyone is elevated into heaven, the farther he or she is removed from the mental image of time and space; and the more deeply one is removed from heaven, the more one comes into the image of time and space - thus the farther away one is from a mental image of the infinite and eternal, thus from faith.
Time and space are what fix human mental imagery and cause it to be entirely earthly and to relate to other imagery, of which the person is unaware. And they constitute the earthly person, who reasons.
The same applies to the Divine Humanity of the Lord, whose finite image we conceive of from the bodily properties in ourselves and in others. Unless we are removed from this image, we cannot conceive otherwise than that the Lord is just as any other human being. Likewise, the image of Three in the one God: the numerical image of a trine is one of space and time. From the human, the finite image is conceived of as a separated trine, but according to the angelic mental image as one.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4610

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4610

4610. How principles break feelings

How principles of truth change and break passions or enjoyments of evil, has become well known to me from experience. When I was having a feeling of evil, and principles of truth were instilled within me, then those pleasures began to cease, so that they were recognized to be evil.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4611

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4611

4611. This shows how faith, or the higher knowledge of truth, operates in the conscience, and how man is reformed by means of truths, for in faith, or truths instilled by the Lord within, there is an imperceptible blessedness looking to eternal blessedness, which is preferred to evil enjoyments. This shows how reformation by means of the truths of faith takes place.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4612

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4612

4612. Also feelings of goodness can be and customarily are broken by principles of falsity, namely, when falsity is seized upon as truth. For example, when someone who has marriage love adopts the principle that to love the married partner is only an obligation by covenant, and nothing more - if one is confirmed in this false principle, then one destroys marriage love, and turns it into wantonness, and at the same time considers adulteries as nothing.
So it is in other cases, such as one who embraces the principle that piety and the goodness of caring for others are of no account, due to which principle one destroys charity and the feeling for goodness, and no longer cares about how one lives, and so forth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4613

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4613

4613. How strongly principles operate may be evident only from the example of one who believes that a food one has enjoyed is harmful, and then due to that principle abstains from that food, and finally finds it disgusting, once that conviction takes hold or comes in from some physician one supposes to know. So it is in many such cases; so that principles break feelings. This shows how important it is to have higher knowledge of truth, and to believe that this is the truth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4614

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4614

4614. When a person has, and accepts, and believes principles of truth, or the truths of faith, then although the operation of that knowledge is imperceptible while man is living in the world, yet the Lord still pours blessedness into it, which, if he does not realize it in the life of the body, he does in the other life - and this all the better when he has acquired the habit and begun both to shun and to be disgusted with evil enjoyments. But this takes time, for it cannot take place in a moment. In this way to change one's enjoyments, much time is needed, for they belong to a life acquired from childhood on.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4615

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4615

4615. About the worship of God, that it is an outward gesture

I spoke with a certain woman whom I had known slightly in the life of the body, and this with a sense of her quality, and then that of very many others, namely, that with them Divine worship is an outward gesture that does not move the person, thus that the worship does not penetrate to the inward parts, nor to the outward parts of the person, but that it is just something added on outwardly. This happens because it has become customary from early childhood, and because a person is judged on the basis of it by others, no matter what he or she is like. Therefore their worship in its outward form touches scarcely anything of their inward parts, that is, their mental imagery, still less of their feelings, when yet worship above all things ought to move people, because from it they have life after death.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4616

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4616

4616. About mental imagery

Mental imagery of thought is so obscure to people on earth that they do not know what it is, and do not know that they have mental imagery, the reason being that they do not reflect on the matter, nor do they notice in that obscurity what it is like; and because they do not observe what that imagery is like, neither do they know what it is - when yet thought consists only of mental images, distinct from one another.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4617

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4617

4617. How much more perfect the mental imagery of thought is than the words of speech, is shown by the fact that a person can think more in a moment than he or she can utter or describe in an hour. Speech after death is divided up into, and consists of, mental images, which are in the place of words, and so are sounds among spirits, for a sound among spirits interacts with a thought, which in itself is silent speech, but to spirits is audible.
This all shows what the speech of spirits is like, namely, that it is more perfect than human speech, just as thought is than the speech of words. It was granted me to observe what it is like, because I spoke with spirits by means of mental imagery - also at times together with words. At such times, mental images presented things more abundantly than words, marvelously enriching the meaning, and sometimes presenting things that could not be uttered in words.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4618

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4618

4618. There are mental images of every human being, and of each thing, taken from all things one had heard and seen about the person, and about all one has thought about him. These occur to the person all at the same time when he thinks of the person, and when he sees him, yet all at the same time obscurely. For the most part there is something evil and good regarding that person. When it is an image of evil, good is removed; when it is an image of good, evil is removed. Also the species of evil or of good is determined, but still all qualities are together, arranged in various ways; so when such a mental image occurs in the other life, the person appears as present.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4619

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4619

4619. The same applies to the mental image of any subject whatever, which is richer, the more one learns about that subject such as the mental image of the sky. One who has studied astronomy has a much richer mental image of the sky than one who has none except that he has seen the stars and the sun.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4620

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4620

4620. There is wonderful mental imagery in the other life. If it is of a city, one need only to think about the city, and at the same time of the things that are there, and at once they know what city it is. Mental imagery is wonderful in the other life. There are formed by means of ineffable scenes things that can never be described, then also by means of shades and lights, and their movements and varied colorations.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4621

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4621

4621. Man does not know that he never has anything impressed on the memory that does not leave some mental image, even things of which he is unconscious. He is unaware that there are such things as mental images, and still more what they are like, but in the other life, they are clearly manifested, even if he says nothing when some subject comes up.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4622

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4622

4622. It is of great importance what kind of mental image a person has acquired concerning the truths of faith, which mental imagery even if it varies [from person to person], nevertheless when the end in view is good, and it is good in which it is implanted, the imagery is still good.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4623

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4623

4623. The most secret mysteries also have a mental image remaining after death, such as the Trinity. Christians are seldom able to have any other image than one of three gods, because they acknowledge three persons, and say the Father is God, the son is God, the Holy Spirit is God, and nevertheless there is one God, thus they have with them a mental image of three gods, which the heathen have not. Therefore it is of great importance to lead back the imagery of Christians to one God, namely to the Lord, in whom is the whole, perfect trine.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4624

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4624

4624. Imagery of falsity and imagery of evil can with difficulty if at all be broken or bent, except by goodness of life.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4625

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4625

4625. Principles that conform with order, namely truths of faith, can be animated by the Lord, because they are in accordance with order, and when they are enlivened, they become feelings for truth. With principles of falsity it is not so. But if there are feelings for goodness, then untrue principles can be bent into true ones, and thus be changed, so to speak, and man thus be saved - but never, unless there are feelings for goodness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4626

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4626

4626. About caring for others, and faith

Caring exists without faith, as with little children and gentiles, who easily allow themselves to be instructed, as clearly appears from all that has been said about little children and the gentiles.
But faith without caring for others does not exist, such as these three kinds:
1) Whoever believe that the Lord has redeemed themselves and saved them from hell, who do not love the Lord or the neighbor, do not believe this; if they say that they believe, it is with the mouth, not the heart; to believe with the heart is from love, and without love one is not moved, so it is faith of the mouth.
[2] 2) To believe that all good is from the Lord: unless there is caring for others, neither is there good, so the person does not know what is truly good, thinking what is bodily and worldly is really good - because the person does not believe that good itself is from the Lord, real goodness being most unknown to him or her.
[3] 3) One who believes that all evil is from oneself must be caring, and must learn to distinguish between good and evil. One who has not charity supposes good to be evil, and evil to be good, and therefore has no faith - which shows that there can never be any faith unless there is a caring for others, or what amounts to the same, that faith can never be implanted except in the good of charity, that is, in a new will.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4627

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4627

4627. The almost irresistible wittiness of a person

I spoke with a certain one about (Anton Swab), saying that he could speak with such intelligence, kindness, and a semblance of reason, that he could hardly be resisted. Such wit with the evil, or those looking to not good motives, were portrayed by the head of a certain animal, which I did not see, from which there went forth crude spikes of salt, like this, [drawing of two lines converging to the right] of a yellowish color. I was told that etterfullas* when they penetrate, cannot be pulled out, and at the same time pour in etter, a toxic substance.
* Swedish for "they are filled with poison."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4628

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4628

4628. About love of the married partner, and of little children

Men of the most ancient Church loved their married partners more than their children, their descendents loved their children more than their married partners. Marriage love is heavenly, so that love begins from that source, because it is innocence. But to love their children and not their married partner, this the worst can do, because they see in their children an image of their own glory, but not in their partner. They can contract aversion for the partners, and love their children, and can be with the partner, and not love, which is upside down. This is done for the sake of the children's education, of domestic matters, as well as for other reasons. It is then a love of lasciviousness that prevails, at the cessation of which there is no love. And if there are no children, they disdain her from the heart.
[When there is marriage love,] then at every moment there appears something like when they were first married, or joined together in marriage, and then they are like little children, and play together in almost the same way. But this love recedes if there is not marriage love.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4629

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4629

4629. Marriage love is such that the one wishes to be the other's, entirely as one, and that it is the highest happiness not to be one's own, but to be the other's, and the reverse. It is such a joining together of hearts and minds that the life of the one is the life of the other, and this reciprocally.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4630

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4630

4630. About the misfortunes of the faithful

I spoke with spirits about the misfortunes of the faithful, who, as is well known, suffer them equally as, and even more than the unfaithful. The reason was told, that some of them are thus let into temptation, some to the point that they do not attribute good to themselves, for if the faithful were exempted from them, then they would attribute it to their own goodness, thus claiming merit and righteousness to themselves. Lest this should happen, they are let into and pass through misfortunes as to everyday life, and as to wealth and possessions, equally as others. If, however, they were not this kind that therefore attributed good to themselves, they were very often exempted from everyday misfortunes.
Thus there are hidden causes at work, for it is well known that when misfortune is at the door, many of the faithful think about good, and that on account of the good they have done, they should be spared; and if they were spared, would boast that it was because of the good, and would hold this up to the evil, thereby arrogating the good to themselves

SEM (Odhner) n. 4631

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4631

4631. About Paul

I spoke with Paul, saying that he wished to be the introducer, and that the Lord would accept those whom he introduced which is ridiculous, since introduction is not arbitrary, but the result of one's life, which no one knows but the Lord. I said that if he had understood the Word according to the letter, this function must belong to Peter, to whom the keys of the kingdom of the heavens had been given [Matt. 16:19], and that therefore he would be stealing from him. He said that he wanted to steal that function from him and claim it for himself, because he has labored more. Paul has an utter aversion to Peter, and says that he understands nothing, and therefore can do nothing.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4632

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4632

4632. About caring for others

One who has charity keeps all the precepts in their inner meaning, namely, adores and worships the Lord; honors the parents in the inner sense, thus the Lord, who is father of all; kills no one, that is, harbors hatred for no one; does not steal, that is, attribute righteousness to self, for this is against charity; does not commit adultery, that is, is not unfaithful, or against the goods and truths of faith; does not covet what belongs to others, that is, does not respond to evil lusts; and so forth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4633

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4633

4633. About the Neighbor

What the neighbor is can be known from its opposite: those who love themselves say they are neighbors to themselves, and behave accordingly. Next they treat their friends [as neighbors], for the sake of honor and profit, enjoyments, and sociability. The rest they do not call the neighbor except insofar as they favor them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4634

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4634

4634. These considerations reveal what the neighbor is in the inner meaning, namely, that it is the Lord, next the Kingdom of the Lord in heaven and on earth, then all who are in the Kingdom of the Lord, according to all the levels of caring for others and of faith, thus with all shades of difference, which are infinite.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4635

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4635

4635. About the order into which man is born

If mankind were without hereditary evil, they would be born into the Divine order itself, namely into love to the Lord and into love toward the neighbor, in whom there would thus be implanted all and the very least elements of faith. Just as the animals, which are born into their own order are born into feelings natural to them, whereby they have in them everything pertinent to their life. But when contrary to order, the case is different.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4636

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4636

4636. The sons of the most ancient Church were born almost in this way, namely into feelings of good, so that in their very feelings there was something of the good and truth that the doctrine of faith teaches, but still in the course of time it was given them by means of instruction, experience, inspiration and revelation to learn all the tenets of faith, to which they at once inwardly assented, so that they had an inner sight of them, because they agreed with their feelings.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4637

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4637

4637. About charity toward the neighbor

When holiness and goodness falls down from the Lord through angels into mankind and its enjoyments of life, then it is almost like a hidden seed falling into the ground. If the enjoyment is pride, or the love of self, then it falls into bad ground, containing thorns [Matt. 13:7, Mark 4:7, Luke 8:7], so also if it falls into the person's enjoyment of the lusting after profit, so that this kind of ground is looked upon by the angels as something sterile, rotten, and excremental, into which nothing of good can fall, without being swallowed up by evils. But if goodness and holiness from the Lord falls into the enjoyment of caring for others, into the affection for justice and righteousness, as well as into contempt for profit and honor except for the sake of a use, then it falls into good ground, and bears much seed [Matt. 13:8, Mark 4:8, Luke 8:8]. The affection itself is the ground, the quality of which is sensed from no other source than the person's enjoyment. The best ground is there if there is the affection of caring for others, and in fact, if there is the caring of faith in the Lord.
mThe enjoyment of honor and position not on account of use is the worst ground, as also the enjoyment of riches not on account of use. Such as the quality of the use is, such is the enjoyment.n

SEM (Odhner) n. 4638

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4638

4638. About the Holy Spirit

It could be obvious to everyone that all holiness is from the Lord, and that the holiness itself of the holy spirit is the Lord's, because it emanates from the Lord. Anything in the holy spirit that does not proceed from the Lord, cannot be holy. The holy spirit itself cannot proceed from the Lord, but His holiness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4639

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4639

4639. About Charity and good works

Good works are especially for one to exercise justice, for he who does this does good, both to the public, and to the good, even to the evil because he corrects them by means of punishments. Thus all those who are caring for the neighbor, who practice justice and fairness - thus in every activity.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4640

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4640

4640. By someone, on the principle of the law of Nature

He said - it was a person on earth - that the epitome of natural law is conformity of all things of the universal world with the Divine, such that it wills to destroy nothing.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4641

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4641

4641. About Marriage

Those who live in marriage love have a reciprocity, and this in all and the least things, so that the wife wishes to be the husband's, and the husband the wife's - this in all and the least matters of life - in all and the least feelings and thoughts. This was shown to me by experience.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4642

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4642

4642. Those who live in goodness and truth can live in marriage love, but not others, even though they imagine that they do, for marriage love descends from the Divine marriage, which is one of Goodness and Truth, and of Truth and Goodness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4643

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4643

4643. Those who had not lived in marriage love, or if unmarried in the marriage of goodness and truth or Divine marriage, but in things opposite such as adulteries, are not able to be in heaven. For when the angels think and speak of the Kingdom of the Lord as being a marriage, and of the Church as being a virgin, filthy mental imagery at once comes up with those who are immersed in adulteries, when the words marriage and virgin are only named. The imagery is so filthy that it cannot be described, about the belly, the privy parts, and such things as the person had filled his thought with while in the world. Clearly, these things are utterly abominable and profane when the heavenly marriage is being thought of, in which there is nothing but what is holy and chaste, and are directly contrary to angelic thoughts.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4644

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4644

4644. About perception

I spoke with spirits about perception, saying that perception is twofold, one kind in regard to civil and moral matters, being a perception of what is just and right, the second in regard to heavenly and spiritual matters, being a perception of goodness and truth. The former is for people in the world, which they come by at birth, the latter for people in the other life, or for their spirit. The former kind is inward, or higher, the latter is outward, or lower, and the latter is a base for the former, for good and truth can flow into justice and righteousness, with which they interact.
As for the lower kind of perception, or the kind in civil and moral matters, it exists with people on earth, and pertains to what is just and right, and is called common sense. Those who have a sense of what is just are able at once from the few things they know to perceive whether something is just or not; while those who have a sense of what is right cannot know this in the same way, but from laws, and from what they have learned. That the former is superior to the latter, is obvious. These perceptions they come by at birth. But at this day there is not a perception of heavenly good and spiritual truth. A perception of heavenly good had been given to those who were from the heavenly Church, and is called the perception of good, and is directly from the Lord. A perception of truth is given to those who have conscience, but according to truth that they have learned, impressed upon themselves, and are familiar with. These perceptions being also from the Lord, by means of conscience, are therefore called spiritual; but how different they are, is clear. From the perception in civil and moral matters, they are called rational, from the perception of good, they are called heavenly, and from that of truth, [they are called] spiritual and are eminently rational.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4645

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4645

4645. As the tree falls, it remains - how this is to be understood
Memory

As long as people live, they are in the lowest level of order, have a bodily memory, which grows, and in which those things are to take root what belong to the inward memory. Consequently, the more harmony and interaction of good and truth there is in them, and between them, the more of life they have from the Lord, and the more they can be perfected in the other life. But it is that outward or bodily memory in which inward qualities take root. People after death indeed have with them all their outward or bodily memory, in all and the least details, but it can no longer grow, and where it is not functioning, new harmony and interaction cannot be formed. Nevertheless, all things of their inward memory are also grounded in their outward memory, even though it is not permitted them to use it.
This all shows what it means that as the tree falls, so it remains [Eccl. 11:3]not that those imbued with good cannot be perfected: such can be perfected immensely, even unto angelic wisdom, but to the level corresponding to the harmony and interaction that had existed between their inner and outer qualities when they lived in the world. After the life of the body, no one receives outer, but only inward, and inner qualities.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4646

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4646

4646. As for that dogma that the tree remains where it falls, its meaning is not as it is usually explained, but it is the degree of harmony of our inner or spiritual person with our outer or earthly one, that remains as it falls, both of which man has with him in the other life. The inner or spiritual quality is grounded in his outer or earthly one as its base. The inner or spiritual person is perfected in the other life, but depending on the harmony it is able to find in the outer or earthly one. But the latter, namely outer or earthly one cannot be perfected in the other life, but remains of the quality it had acquired in the life of the body, and is perfected in that life by the removal of the love of self and of the world, and then by the reception of the good of charity, and of the truth of faith, from the Lord. Hence it is the harmony or disharmony that is the tree, together with its root, that remains after death, where it falls.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4647

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4647

4647. About the marvelous speech of spirits

The speech of spirits compared to the speech of people on earth is as the sight compared to the hearing, and even more excellent than sight. It sees the realities themselves, from which the spirits make marvelous and inexpressible shapes. One who does not know better would surmise that from realities they do not become forms, but only from objects of sight, and yet they do become forms, which contain many, many parts. In the middle of them there is something definite visible, within and around it something hardly visible that is perceived by inward vision, which they cannot put in words. In a moment more things are displayed than can be described in an hour, and yet not even half would be expressible.
This is the speech of spirits, the speech of spiritual angels being still more perfect, just as the speech of spirits is compared to human speech. The speech of heavenly angels is still more perfect, more eminent to a like degree. This language they do not learn, but it is given to them, and is innate without their learning it. Every human being who becomes a spirit has that language in them, and every spirit who becomes an angel.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4648

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4648

4648. Interactions in illnesses

Illnesses do indeed occur due to natural causes with people on earth who are not together with a spirit in the other life, but whenever they do occur, spirits drift toward them who interact with that illness. For spirits who are immersed in evil and falsity produce precisely such symptoms as those felt by the senses in illness, as I have most clearly experienced from hypocrites, when their presence brought about a pain in the teeth and gums, and also that part of the skull, and this unmistakably [4348, 4419, 4558-9]. When I labored with a kind of heaviness of the stomach and the bowels, spirits interacting with that illness attached themselves to those places, as I keenly felt, and they spoke somewhat - so in the case of other illnesses. This is why, because such spirits attach themselves there, and by their presence aggravate the illness, if they are removed by the Lord, the person at once recovers.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4649

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4649

4649. For there are evil and false spirits with whom illnesses and sicknesses of every kind interact, but one who is as to the spirit in the other life is exempt from such conditions for as long as the Lord grants that the person lives in the world. And because he speaks with spirits, and feels their presence, he is also given to learn such things.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4650

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4650

4650. But because we do not believe that spirits are around us, all those conditions are attributed to natural causes. Medicines help, but more still, as they say, the providence of the Lord, and strangely enough, they pray to God that they may recover, and declare that they have been restored to health from God, but still, every one of them, when they have come out of that state, attributes it to nature.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4651

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4651

4651. How hellish it is that self-love destroys order

Besides countless evils caused by the love of self, it was also observed by angels that unless that love had been entirely trampled under foot by the Lord, no one of spirits and no one of people on earth would have been able to think, or to live. It flows from very many sources into every particular of thought of spirit and man, and if one should seize the power over another, he would obstruct all inflow round about, resulting in no thought. It was clearly realized that the order of thought is controlled by the Lord by means of angels and spirits, and that those are removed who wish to rule over others. Otherwise the inflow would be from that love, and thought would utterly perish. This clearly results from the inflow.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4652

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4652

4652. About the Foresight and Providence of the Lord

I realized, and spoke with angels about the fact, that the singular, most minute intervals of the life of a human being each have a series of consequences to eternity, which unless they were controlled even to the very least intervals of all, he could never at all obtain salvation, and that this shows that the eternity of the Lord, or Foresight and Providence to eternity is from the Lord, and that thus man is ruled in the very least moments. Without such Providence in the most minute moments of all, neither could anyone have salvation, for man rushes on his own at every moment toward hell - nor would there be any prediction of the future, nor most general state of civility, nor state of the Church, nor Kingdom of the Lord. Hence it is also clear that man is led by the Lord through continuous necessities to foreseen goals, yet still in freedom.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4653

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4653

4653. About intellectual hypocrites

There are hypocrites who outwardly dissemble goodness, even to the extent that they appear good to almost all - in deed, in gesture, in speech, but inwardly are without conscience, without compassion. This kind of hypocrite is feeling oriented.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4654

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4654

4654. Hypocrites of a second kind are those who speak well outwardly, and appear as intellectuals (Ad. Lejel), giving lip service to truths that are commonly acknowledged, but believing nothing inwardly, and are devoid of conscience. They reason well and properly and sometimes wisely concerning Divine matters, but in generalities, saying that a thing is so, because it is generally accepted - in other matters that it might be so, that there are diverse opinions, according to each one's confirmed principles, and character. Thus they seem wise because of such generalities, besides many more of the same kind. So they believe truths less than they do falsities, and inwardly they do not believe anything but falsity - which they do not confess to anyone on account of many outer restraints. They always stick with the popular judgment regarding the opinions of people, no matter who they are, whether in evil and falsity, or whether in good or truth. These seem very wise in the eyes of the world.
mThere are intellectual hypocrites, such as are also meant by the Lord [Matt. 23 and elsewhere]. They are very malicious in the other life.n

SEM (Odhner) n. 4655

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4655

4655. About Philosophy and Freedom

I spoke with angels about Philosophy, or the human system by means of which one will learn to think clearly, so they claim, saying that it brings darkness upon the mind of man, and its vision, and takes away its freedom. This was portrayed, when some understandable truth was being declared, by the fact that such people at once plunge themselves into terms, and contemplate them, and their definitions, and fill their mental landscape with them. This was portrayed as a thick forest into which they plunge, where they no longer see anything of the sky, or its light, but wander about here and there.
But from those who are in a state of simple goodness, free from the aimless wanderings of such wisdom, that forest is removed, and they are in an open field, where they see round about, far into the distance. Therefore the simple have a much clearer vision of goodness and truth than such educated persons, as also anyone can know from manifold experience who reflects about them. It was also said that those who are in an open field of thinking, free of such imposed darkness, are in freedom, and that their states can be changed, and bent freely. Those, however who have that kind of wisdom, lose all their freedom, not only freedom of a clearness of vision, but also of feeling, for the feeling then sinks immediately into a feeling for self, and one of self-love, or self-glorification, making the person even more stupid, so that the love of truth at once perishes so that they cannot be in freedom, but in slavery. Moreover, such persons close heaven to themselves, which is quite evident from those in the other life. Such wise people seem to themselves to be wiser than others, but are unable to have even a single glimmer of spiritual truth, for the moment an image of truth occurs, they cast themselves into such darkness, and then know nothing. In short, they do not have common sense.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4657

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4657

4657. But still, there are many useful sciences that corroborate and illustrate ideas, such as the whole Physical, or natural science in the three kingdoms of the world, especially experimental ones like Astronomy, Geometry, Optics, Chemistry, Mechanics, History, Anatomy, Medicine, civil law, as well as such as are also called philosophical.
Just as hypocrites bring on pains of the teeth, so other spirits bring on corresponding pains to the body.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4658

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4658

4658. There was a spirit who upon merely approaching me so twistingly tortured my body, it was as if I would be entirely broken. This was a special twisting method, from what nature [of spirit] had not been made evident to me.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4659

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4659

4659. They were spirits who brought on a most severe pain in the spine of my back near the cauda equina, to the point where I was almost overcome whenever it occurred.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4660

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4660

4660. There were spirits who brought on a pain in the skin of the knee bone and its cartilage, so that when that disk of the knee was touched, it was affected with quite a severe pain. It was told who they are, namely, those who were indeed kind and pious, care mainly for themselves, not so much for the common good, thus neither for the Kingdom of the Lord.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4661

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4661

4661. Spirits who pour in feelings

The spirits who are in the dark place had been from the ancient Church. When they come out thence into the world of spirits, they pour in affection and compassion for me. They had been several times in the world of spirits, and had done this, about which I spoke with other spirits, and it was said that the reason they do this to them is, lest anyone should do them harm, and that in this way they can be among others.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4662

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4662

4662. About the Holy Spirit

That not the Holy Spirit, but an angel spoke to the prophets, is evident from many passages. The prophets say, "an angel spoke in me," also David, I think. Also an angel spoke to Zachariah, to Mary, to the shepherds, Luke 1:2. Thus those who spoke the Word to the prophets were angels, these being called the Holy Spirit, because holiness came through them from the Lord.
[2] The Spirit of Jehovah here and there in the prophets is called the Divine, but the Jews, like their fathers, called whomsoever spoke with them, God, because he called himself God, for a reason spoken of elsewhere. Therefore also at the time of the coming of the Lord, they worshiped the holy spirit, which, because the concept could not be eradicated in a moment, is also called the holy spirit, but by it the holiness of the spirit is meant, or the Divine, as in the Old Testament.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4663

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4663

4663. I spoke with spirits in the other life about the holy spirit, asking what concept, or what mental image of it they had had, because they acknowledged it as God, and separately, as is obvious from the articles of faith and chants, namely, that it is indeed worshiped separately. Asked whether they had had a mental image of one, or of many, or of a countless number, they answered with variety, that some had the image of one, some of many, some of a countless number, from eternity - some as of a certain Divine aura, some as of an out-breathing from the Lord, some differently.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4664

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4664

4664. Moreover, there are many spirits who claim themselves as the Holy Spirit, for the reason that they are present with Quakers, and some with the papists, then some with other people who worship the holy spirit separately. But these are among the most foolish, for a spirit who believes he is god is engrossed in foolishness beyond all others, being at the epitome of self-love.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4665

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4665

4665. About the inward manners of speech of spirits and angels, in their sequence

I spoke with spirits about angelic manners of speech, realizing, and saying, that the languages of people on earth pass over into the speech of spirits, which is incomprehensible to those on earth, even though they have it within them, thus thinking in it when they are withdrawn from material mental imagery and words.
And I said that the speech of inward angels relates in the same way to that of spirits, being incomprehensible to them, even though they have it within them, and when withdrawn from the mental imagery by which they speak, think in it.
The speech of the spiritual angels of the third heaven is to them in turn, namely to the angels of the second heaven, not comprehensible, even though they have it within them and think in it when withdrawn from their own mental imagery.
Again, the speech of the innermost heavenly angels is incomprehensible to the former, so much so that they do not in the least know how it takes place. It takes place through innermost feelings, and is extremely rich, so that what they are able to express in a moment, the spiritual angels can scarcely utter as to the hundredth part.
Lastly, there is the infinite, which is incomprehensible, whence comes all the light of wisdom and intelligence.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4666

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4666

4666. This all shows how it is with the inner meaning of the Word. These matters that are being told are only according to the comprehension of spirits. If they were told in the way the inward angels comprehend them, and still more, the innermost angels, they would be utterly incredible.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4667

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4667

4667. This matter is almost comparable to the case of a human action, which appears as a single thing, but flows in from innumerable modifications of the muscles, these from the modifications of the motor fibers and blood vessels, these from the neural fibers. And it is like the case of the outer human figure - innumerable elements contribute to it that are within the skin, or on the inside, which would appear to man as paradoxical if it were told that they flowed forth from that source.
The inward aspects of thought contain in themselves, and in their arrangement among themselves, many more incredible wonders, as has been said, all down to the very least of which gush forth from the feelings. The thoughts and matters of understanding are therefore only the appearing shapes of the feelings, or feelings in form, and if they are closed, so that the least details are not inspired by the feeling within, then there is something as it were dead - but still, some feeling results from the harmony of those things - and so forth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4668

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4668

4668. About the divine aura of ends and uses

I clearly sensed the Divine aura of ends and uses, and many more things than can be put into words, and that from that aura all and the least things flow and are governed that pertain to thought and speech, about which matter I spoke with spirits.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4669

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4669

4669. Where profanation comes from

From a profane hell, or a profane siren spoken of earlier [4496], it could be found out whence profanation comes, that is, that she had known and acknowledged holy things, and had believed them, because at an earlier age they had been taught and enjoined upon her, and she had thus imbued them, and afterwards had never rejected faith in eternal life, even to the point that she had believed in the resurrection. All this notwithstanding, she had committed enormous crimes with a little child, was a sorceress, an adulteress, had harbored hatred while pretending friendship outwardly, and such. Hence is the profanation of holy things.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4670

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4670

4670. About conviction, and the light of persuasion

Several times I was in a certain light, such that my imaginative faculty was taken away, but I was then with those who are in the light of persuasion. The light was such that persuasive images flow in quite vividly, but when they were absent, I was in thick darkness, even though they were truths. And it was said that this light is darkness to the angels, as I also realized, for darkness hovered before my eyes, even in regard to truths, whenever I was not under the persuasion of those spirits.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4671

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4671

4671. This light of persuasion is with those who have truths, and want to rule by means of truths, thus to seem greater than others, and to derive their enjoyment from this. There are many of this kind, among them also women. They are overhead, the women at the left, toward the front, and they had a medium that was clinging to the left side of the head in front. He was diabolical, taking away that kind of light.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4672

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4672

4672. The light of fantasy is when there are falsities, the light of persuasion when there are truths.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4673

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4673

4673. What is meant by grinding, or millers

In the other life those seem to themselves to be grinding who assiduously pursue many studies, write, and instruct themselves, without a useful purpose in view, only for the sake of their own pleasure and enjoyment.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4674

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4674

4674. Those who had been of this character in the world appear to themselves to be grinding in the other life. Hence it is plain what it means that two will be grinding, one will be taken, the other left [Matt. 24:41, Luke 17:35].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4675

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4675

4675. Societies of spirits have their own proper means of defense

Societies of spirits, who are not yet so spiritual and heavenly that evil genii may be held off by opposition, but who are still spirits, dwelling among themselves, when evil spirits come to them wanting to bring evil upon them, and to steal among them secretly, they are permitted to defend themselves by certain methods - these societies in their way, others in theirs. Some spirits of the feminine sex, when the evil were secretly stealing among them, were then by a certain method pushing them down by so to speak focusing their humming sound and then their powers upon them, driving them far away, other societies in other ways, or by different methods. This is also portrayed in nature, in that every animal has its own means of defense.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4676

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4676

4676. About the wicked aura of self-love
Cederholm
To strike a stone

For several days he was with me, and was recognized, also from his life, when he imagined himself to be the wisest of all, and able to accomplish all things, but by such methods as constantly seeking out the faults and vices of others, and finding them out, and publishing them. So he imagined that he had defeated others and could rule them, so that they would serve him, and he could become greater than all, also despising all others in comparison with himself. Such was his nature, thus immersed in the love of self and of the world beyond others, and those who would not serve him, or fear him, he would persecute in every way, and harbor hatred against them. He could praise scarcely anyone from the heart.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4677

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4677

4677. His aura in those days was of the kind and so wicked, that it penetrated to the inward parts, so far that I did not feel it except by the fact that all desire for writing and doing anything useful was entirely taken away from me. Others complained that the same happened to them. It was such a wicked aura, that it extinguished the heat of the inward parts, inducing dullness and inertia of mind and finally also of body. For when enjoyment is failing, transpiration also fails, and the condition of the body suffers. It was like a most intense cold lying hidden, that extinguishes the fire from within. Such are they who are addicted to the love of self and of the world, despising all the rest, esteeming no one.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4678

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4678

4678. That aura was entirely contrary to the Divine aura, which is that of uses. He took away from the very least things in me, as well as from my whole being, the enjoyment of use, for the reason that he did not wish that anyone should do anything useful, unless he could take the credit for it. The same person because he had believed himself to have understood more in worldly matters than all others, and to have deserved more, seemed to himself to be striking a white stone with an iron instrument, wanting to split it. He rushed to this chore whenever he was being thought about.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4679

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4679

4679. The odor of prunes

Swiska lugt, som de aro nar de aro kokade, betyder noje som achta folck hafwa wid sammanlegande, naml. sialfwa noje at allenast vara hos sin maka, ligga nar den.*
* Swedish for "The odor of prunes as they are when they are boiled, symbolizes the enjoyment married couples have in lying together, namely that enjoyment of just being with their partner, lying next to him or her."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4680

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4680

4680. Correspondences of illnesses

Sirens cause an obstruction of the back side of the sacroiliac, where the spinal marrow ends, and produce a pain there. They operate into the lower intestines, especially the rectum, and cause a kind of colic there, and difficulties in disburdening the belly.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4681

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4681

4681. How man has a heavenly self from the Lord

I was in a heavenly mental image portraying that a certain one wanted to give me his all, and indeed, so much so that he would have nothing left for himself, this out of love, so that he would communicate his all to me, and I would thus have what was his own. In this way it was suggested how it is with the heavenly own from the Lord, namely, that from Divine Love it continually desires to give mankind its own, and does give it insofar as man is able to receive it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4682

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4682

4682. About the balance between heaven and hell, and then about the light and warmth in which heaven is, and the darkness and cold in which hell is

It was seen that where the angels are, or heaven, there is an aura of serene light as that of morning and midday, then too, of warmth as of springtime, and whatever is there is in that light and warmth. But on the contrary, the infernals or hell are in a gross atmosphere, misty and filthy, and in cold, that burns at times with the heat of passions. I saw that between those two in general a balance exists, and insofar as a spirit is instilled with love, charity and the resulting faith, so far he is in the aura of light; and the reverse is the case in the hellish atmosphere. The light has intelligence within it, the heat wisdom, and the darkness insanity, and the cold or filthy burning, stupidity.
A certain one was let into the infernal atmosphere, and inner sight was granted to him from which he spoke, saying that there was so much insane raging against goodness and against truth, consequently against the Lord, that he was dumbfounded, and that it could never be restrained, for they were panting for nothing but slaughter and the like so vehemently that they wanted to destroy all of heaven - so that if this rage were not repulsed by the Lord, the whole human race would perish.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4683

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4683

4683. About the opposite position relative to each other, of angels and infernal spirits

All those who are in the world of spirits appear before the eyes as having the head upward, but still actually, and according to angelic sight, the angels are in vertical position, that is, with their head toward the Lord, Who is in the highest, whence all position and location is determined, and is as the acting force from above to beneath. But the infernals appear before the inner, angelic sight as having their head toward hell, and their feet upward, thus in the opposite position. Thus [the head leans] successively in an oblique direction, then beneath; for beneath to the infernals is their above, and the above of the angels [their] beneath. Thus they are turned successively upside down, until they arrive at that position that is their general one.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4684

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4684

4684. How the Church portrays the heart and lungs

It was seen by spiritual mental images how the Church represents the heart and lungs, by means of a cylinder or axis in the middle of which are the heavenly qualities of love, around it the spiritual qualities, and that from the heavenly ones there is an inflow into the spiritual ones, and then more toward the peripheries even to the last, and that then the communication of love takes place in order.
Thus also the people of the Church who are instilled with good, as to their souls are in the middle, those instilled with truth around it, no matter how far away on earth, and not knowing each other, for they are nevertheless souls in heaven. That middle is the heart, around it are the lungs. Therefore when there is no Church, there is no heart or lung, and consequently no communication with those in the circumference. This must be the case with people on earth, because with them earthly matters are carried on, so there is an inflow into earthly qualities.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4685

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4685

4685. On the communication of heaven with hell

This morning I was in company with many who were acting as one in thinking and speaking, according to their custom. This penetrated toward hell, into which it was continued, and those who were there also seemed to act, and to think and speak, as one, but the fact was, that what was with the angels, which was good and true, by a remarkable twisting figure, or gyre, was turned into evil and falsity, as it gradually flowed down toward hell, where those there acted as one through fantasies of falsity and passions of evil.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4686

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4686

4686. How feelings and loves conjoin, and disjoin

There were spirits with me for quite some time, a little above the head, neither so very good, nor so very evil. They were able to flow into feelings for writing about matters regarding the inner meaning of the Word, and because they had entered for a while more deeply into my affection, they joined themselves to me, so that they were then hardly able to be separated. I spoke with them about this, explaining that it was necessary that they be separated, for many reasons, but they could not achieve this by their own power. From this it could be realized how strongly feelings and loves bind themselves. When they did separate themselves, and were by themselves, then they so dulled my thoughts, that I could scarcely think, except disconnectedly.
There was an evil spirit who noticed this, and by such methods harassed me exceedingly - in fact, when they were separated from the others, I felt a pain in my head like those have who fall into a swoon. This showed me that many fainting spells are caused in this way, and this revealed how loves conjoin, and that in this way all in the other life are conjoined, and also disjoined, by loves. Truths do not effect this so much, only feelings for truth, which, depending on their quality, are also conjoined - thus not by faith, but by the affection that pertains to faith. I had realized this occasionally before, but did not know the reasons at the time.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4687

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4687

4687. This all shows how a person is conjoined, even bound, with heaven or with hell by means of loves, by the love of self and of the world with hell, and by heavenly and spiritual loves with heaven.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4688

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4688

4688. Then it also shows that a person bound to hell can never be released from it except by the Lord, and this by Divine methods. This was also shown to me by the fact that those who were bound with me were separated with difficulty and not except by the Lord, and this by successive means - some of which I also saw - as by intermediate loves, by which they were conjoined with others, step by step.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4689

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4689

4689. It was also noticeable that while they were being separated, they were also being removed far away from there, and this to the left side toward the front, which had also happened before with others who had joined in.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4690

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4690

4690.
It was also noticed that when on their own, they withdrew from me and were by themselves, as said above [4686], then other malicious spirits took their place, for the reason that then the state of feelings had changed.
This was further shown by changes of the state of feelings in myself, and as the feelings were changing, so the spirits were withdrawing who did not share that feeling, and then complained that they had thus been removed.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4691

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4691

4691. The lips interact with truths

Truths in general were called forth, spiritual ones, and then the lips were moved in a general manner, revealing that the lips have an interaction with truths.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4692

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4692

4692. About Providence, and fate

I spoke with spirits about Providence, and some also were present who had believed somewhat in fate, and they were shown how the matter stands. They supposed that all things were accomplished out of a sheer inevitability, and thus that all life was the inevitable, consequently that the Lord was bound by the inevitable, and that there was nothing but such a force to keep things coming, so that this is the Divine. But it was shown to them that they possess all freedom, and if there is freedom, things are not inevitable, because there are so many contingencies that bear us along in freedom, [even] to opposites.
[2] This was shown by means of pebbles that were so placed as to form a certain figure, then if it were inevitable that one pebble were placed in order after the other, and the person was being carried along by the inevitable, it would not go beyond the next one. But the fact is that the pebbles are placed now here, now there, so as to appear scattered, and this according to freedom, and the Lord foresees the figure, namely, where the person wishes to go in freedom, but directs him elsewhere, and thus foresees the figure, and permits him to go hither and thither, so that the moments of his life appear just like the scattered pebbles. But the Lord fills in the gaps, now with this and now with that, seeing what is lacking, and where, and often that which is the next following, after 100 or 1000 years; and so forth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4693

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4693

4693. About spirits who enter into the bodily parts of man

Spirits do not know where people on earth are. They ask, but are unable to find out. So it is provided that they do not know, for if they knew, they would destroy the human race. They would invade them and cause them to be possessed, as in ancient times. When perchance they fall upon them as they sleep, there seems as if outside of them to be a sound of crying out, and it seems as if someone falls down next to the person's bed, and as it were passes under the bed, and stays there. The person then imagines that this is either an illusion, or a vision, but it is from that source. It has happened to me several times when I slept and awoke from sleep, and was instructed that it was from that source.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4694

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4694

4694. About Inflow

It has been granted me now over many years, almost continually, to observe that all things down to the very least flow by turns into the thoughts and feelings, and this through spirits and angels, so that due to this constant experience I can be sure of it, but still, when these were inward goods and truths, they appeared entirely as if they were mine, or from my own self. For the angels do not flow in in any other way than so that it may appear that they belong to the person. They are in an inward realm, which is therefore not noticed in the outward or earthly realm, and furthermore the angels are of such a character that they claim nothing to themselves as being from themselves, but know that it is from the Lord
But those in whom the inward realms have not been opened, and who do not have faith that this is the case, because they love themselves and therefore what is their own, as do all who are immersed in falsities and evils, cannot realize this. As in the life of the body, also after death when they have become spirits, it is contrary to their feeling and thence contrary to their enjoyment to realize that thoughts and feelings flow in from another source. When they are told that life is not theirs, but flows in, and that they [only] appear to live from themselves, at this they turn away, wanting to live from themselves.
[2] And when they are actually shown by experience that everything they think flows in from others, they then indeed confess that it is so, yet soon shake their heads, and deny it. This fact has been supported by much experience. And evil spirits, even though they know that they speak through others, and those who are called mediums - and also declare when questioned that they as mediums think nothing on their own power - still do not wish to know that they think and are carried along by others, even to the point that when they are told that if they wish, they may know by whom, they refuse, saying they do not wish to know, because this is contrary to their enjoyment. Neither do mediums themselves believe otherwise than that they think and speak all things from their own power.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4695

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4695

4695. Indeed, when they saw that all things with me flowed in, they declared on many occasions that I am inanimate, so to speak, and "he does not think at all, because he does not think on his own."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4696

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4696

4696. The state of calm and of peace has no other origin than the sense on the part of the angel that all things flow in, thus that evil is not his, nor good his. Thus he is in peace, and yet makes good to be as if his own.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4697

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4697

4697. About a certain gentile deeply moved by the Word

I had written about Esau and Jacob, Genesis Chapter 27, [A.C.] n. 3509, and then a gentile, on hearing that there is such a countless content in the Word of infinite or Divine matters, was so deeply moved by this that his emotion was felt from within, and I heard how he lamented the fact that in the world he had not heard of these things, and that he had nevertheless thought that such Divinity was somewhere latent in the Word. He said that if he had known this he would have fled his own country to where that Divine Word was to be found. And because he was so deeply moved, he was told that in the country where he now resides, he can enjoy it, and be informed about those matters, like the little children in heaven. But he replied mournfully that he could not be received, perhaps because in the life of the body he had not had love toward the neighbor, as he should have. Many gentiles are of this character. He was welcomed by the angels.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4698

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4698

4698. ABOUT THE STATE OF HELL

For a whole night, when I was asleep, I had been tormented in hell, so that I might learn what the state of those there is like. For they had fallen upon me, for then they were able to torment my spirit, but I was still without vision as of a dream. It was an uninterrupted torment, one after another, where they are placed upon tables and miserably torn to pieces, and their lust of ruling is aroused, and as long as that passion persists, they are tormented until it subsides. So it goes from one devil to another, as from one place of hell to another, upon tables. When the lust then abates, a period of rest is given them so that they may enjoy some passion of their own. In this manner the head of the serpent is trampled underfoot.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4699

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4699

4699. About spirits with man

I did something, and I realized that it was with almost the same gesture as a certain spirit had made when he was a person on earth. Presently I spoke with him, and he said that he did not know it had come from him, but still realized that it was from him. I was surprised (slag olikskalet*), and then spoke with others, saying that this is the case with spirits that are with man, and that they are not aware that they act upon people. But he said that he did not seem to himself to be doing the same thing, but something else that corresponded, so that he had flowed in by means of the interaction.
* Swedish for "on account of our difference of character."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4700

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4700

4700. About a hellish spirit who appeared like a dragon serpent, huge
About native goodness

There was a certain spirit who attached himself beneath the left side of the head, under the cerebellum there, who was somewhat hidden. But I was told by angels that a large serpent appeared there, huge as a beam, and then that four feet went out from him. He was horrible, more horrible than any seen before. He was compelled to speak, and in this way recognized, and then it was realized what he was - a natural hypocrite, outwardly doing good, inwardly misleading. So he had goodness quite strongly on the outside, by which he was capable of leading almost anyone astray. Whomsoever he saw with me, or in my memory, he would attract according to their nature, and it was said that he would arrange them in a way that they would be of service to him or perform duties on his behalf. All this he indeed carried out, and it was said that he then had in mind - so it was told - to form for himself some kind of heaven. This practice he brought with him from his life [in the world], when he behaved in this way. His drawing power was concealed, so that they did not know that they were being drawn, because he skillfully entered into their good feelings, and thus joined them to himself. It was said that he then appeared as if he were about to swallow them up. Such do those become who have native goodness, and fill it with malice. He could argue quite correctly about matters of civil life, and the characters and attitudes there encountered.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4701

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4701

4701. Moreover, he was also skillful in repelling, outside of himself, genuine good and truth, lest it harm him - which he was able to do because he had goodness outwardly appearing as genuine, but he was not able to have genuine goodness inwardly. All these particulars were vividly seen or sensed, and I noticed before he was exposed, that I was not able to grasp truths in my thought, because he repelled those that flowed in.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4702

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4702

4702. About the resuscitation of the dead

Two or three times I have been let into a place where the resurrection of the dead is taking place, for it is a state that is called a place, where heavenly spirits are. It is recognized by a kind of balsamic aroma which is sensed emanating from the corpses, when the Lord is present, and the heavenly angels. And I was told that the Lord is especially present there, for which reason also heavenly angels are there, because without such a presence of the Lord, there would be no resurrection of a dead person.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4703

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4703

4703. Some particulars regarding the hells: mice, dumb dogs, cats

The hell of the profane is toward the left underground. It appears there, and they are the kind that investigate who are present with someone, as with myself, by means of feelings inspired into a medium, and by variations of them, as well as by gazing into different parts of the head. Because this is done by variations of the feelings, it takes place in a clearly observable succession. These spirits are said to represent mice. They acted on me for a long time.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4704

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4704

4704. Another hell is in front of the right foot, where those are who examine one after another all parts from the eyes even to the chin, and also to the navel. But they operate silently, at the same time inspiring a concealed state in the extremities of a kind of calm pleasure. Meanwhile they examine, perusing those parts in such a way that I could hardly tell that they were doing so, for when they are at the same time breathing in that calm pleasure, it is not noticed. They station a medium overhead, but when they act upon the medium, as someone else, then the medium rises up and stands poised to resist them. So do they mutually harass each other in hell. Their thoughts penetrate quite deeply - nor do they appear to be evil, but they are more deceitful than the others. They are mute dogs [Is. 56:10].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4705

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4705

4705. At the back a gang rose upward, along the spinal marrow, under the head, and higher, nor was it perceived except as a unit. It was said that they were those who represent cats, and by them, those representing mice were alarmed, complaining and lamenting that now they would perish. They appeared to themselves also as mice, asking for help. They are silent, caressing, and most deceitful. When they are acting upon such spirits, the odor of mice is perceived among them. But the gang was scattered, and then the terror ceased.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4706

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4706

4706. Those who are mute dogs appear in outer form as good spirits, so that they cannot be distinguished from them. They also inspire goodness, so that others cannot believe differently. In this manner also they speak and behave, but from an evil and harmful motive as far as they dare, which they bring into practice insofar as outer restraints are taken away. In outer form they do not appear arrogant, or to have outwardly something of self-love, but when denigrated, and also when they were called mute dogs, they did not care. But still, they have a disposition to rule, placing enjoyment in the fact that by deception through outer qualities they can bend the minds of others in any direction they wish - so that there is inward love of self with them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4707

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4707

4707. If the brightness that appears to encircle them is taken away, then they become insane. That brightness is from the good spirits who flow in, for as to their most superficial qualities they are able somewhat to be with the good; but they are quickly exposed.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4708

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4708

4708. When this hell was being opened, then a snow white streak appeared to be lifted up toward the higher regions in a long line, and this possibly to a considerable height. At that time certain ones were complaining, saying that they were perishing. That snow white streak was the exhalation from their pernicious deceptions mixed with apparent goodness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4709

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4709

4709. They showed how they customarily take away from others that snow white streak encircling others like themselves. [One of them] turned around like an axle, and then thinking from many convictions joined to feelings, he then allured to himself outwardly good spirits, and stole them away from a second spirit, whereupon the second one appeared black, or without the bright circle around him. Others do likewise who are of the same character but more refined, but they turn around not like an axle, but transversely lengthwise, while holding their thoughts in their feelings, or putting themselves into a state of feelings - then they steal [the snow white streak] away from that spirit. They are a little more inward than the others, and appear blacker.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4710

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4710

4710. About the grand human being, and interaction

It is the most universal fact that the Lord is the sun of heaven, or of angels and spirits, to whom the light of the world does not even appear, to whom it is as darkness. There is a most universal interaction that there is a Light of heaven in which there is love and intelligence. With love, heat interacts, and to intelligence light interacts, so that love is even called spiritual heat, and intelligence spiritual light. From this interaction all things are derived, and correspond. But interactions are such that they are otherwise not the same, etc., etc.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4711

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4711

4711. About the grand human being, in regard to the faculty of the will

I was shown how the matter stands in general with regard to the faculties of the will and of the understanding. The heavenly angels, or the heavenly heaven, in which were the people of the most ancient Church, had a voluntary faculty in which there was something of good, on which account they were also able to be regenerated even as to the will. But the spiritual angels, or the spiritual heaven, in which were the people of the ancient Church and are those of the Church at this day, have a voluntary faculty entirely corrupted, and cannot be regenerated except only as to the faculty of understanding, in which a new will is formed by the Lord, from which their own will is entirely separated.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4712

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4712

4712. What the people of the most ancient Church, who were heavenly, and consequently the heavenly Kingdom of the Lord, was like, was shown to me by means of a kind of pillar descending out of heaven. It was of a dark sky blue color, having at its left side a brilliance, like the brilliance of the solar flame, which drifted toward me. By this was portrayed their earlier state. The sky blue color is such as to contain good, but after regeneration, the sky blue of the pillar successively passed over into a dark flaming brilliance. At that juncture the two lives, will and understanding, acted as a one, and were as shown. The flaming appearance symbolizes love. So the matter stood in general with the people of the most ancient Church, so likewise in every particular, thus in the very least parts of the inward organic forms, for as the general is, so are the particulars, for these are images of the general.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4713

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4713

4713. But as to the quality of the person of the spiritual Church, it was told that that pillar was entirely black, and cannot be dissolved and tempered, so that part is miraculously separated from the part devoted to understanding. When that part has been regenerated, it appears entirely light-filled, not flaming, and does not enter the black pillar. Out of the pillar there often exhales thick blackness into that snow whiteness, and displays some lovely color.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4714

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4714

4714. But it was seen how the will part and the understanding part are separated. There are spirits who represent the general sense, and keep their abode under the occiput, where the evil are entirely separated from those who have goodness of the will part, and when they have been separated, there can be no inflow into the understanding from the will part, for nothing is then aroused from the will part. Those spirits belong to the province of the cerebellum, the others to the province of the cerebrum. The spirits of both of those provinces are miraculously entirely separated, for the sake of the spiritual, when yet they should make a one - just as in a person on earth the cerebellum is separated from the cerebrum - but still they communicate, both in general also in the medulla oblongata, and in the individual tissues and nerves. Their communication is so great that there is not a single tissue that does not have something from the cerebrum and from the cerebellum - thus from the voluntary and the involuntary faculties - in the absence of which mankind would perish in a moment. By the involuntary faculty the voluntary is ruled in a miraculous manner.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4715

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4715

4715. Who in general represent the cerebellum and the cerebrum

Those in the world who appear facially as good and pleasant, so that one cannot believe otherwise than that they are such, and who inwardly think evil of all, and do not publish it, except secretly among their own people, but think it - those are the malignant spirits representing the area under the occiput. But those who are inwardly evil, and [outwardly] courteous, but with whom it is a show that can be recognized - they are not there.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4716

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4716

4716. How societies of friendship take away enjoyments from others

Sometimes I have noticed societies of friendship passing through overhead and taking away all my pleasure, enjoyment, and delight, so that I felt nothing but displeasure. There were others also who were better, when they joined themselves more closely by feelings to the things that I was writing, and when I was writing things they did not find delightful, then they withdrew. By this also all enjoyment and delight was taken away, and thus the life from my mental imagery and thought, and then evil spirits and demons took their place, because they could not be removed from thence by such things as are truly delightful, for they cannot be in that kind of aura.
I spoke with them about this matter, and they acknowledged it The reason was discovered, namely that they were more closely tied to the affection for a thing, and then when they withdrew, they also withdrew the affection, for it flowed in through them, and therefore when they removed themselves, many spirits in connection turned away from my delights, and betook themselves to their enjoyment and delight. This also caused me sadness, and sometimes as if I were in hell.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4717

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4717

4717. About a dissembler of respectability, a devil

There are those in the other life who from their speaking and the aura emanating from it seem to be honorable, and on account of their outer respectability have induced others to believe that they are of that character, and were esteemed as such, and seemed to themselves to be such. In the other life they convince others of their respectability, and consequently have upright spirits around them, knowing no otherwise; but that those are simple outer spirits, who are later removed.
Some are of that character, and they are inwardly filthy, full of the love of themselves, revenge and hatred against all who do not favor them, resulting in cruelty. All these qualities they cover under a respectable demeanor, inducing others to believe that such behavior is righteous and fair, and that such opponents must be treated with cruelty - of which those others are easily convinced by such spirits, who speak completely on their honor, while inwardly they are as described.
[2] He was shown what a devil he was, and he was unusually diabolical, as dissemblers of respectability go. They like to be styled devils as long as they are able to command the hells and be the highest among those who fight against goodness and truth. They are never appeased except by being worshipped as gods - as they had been in the world, so they want to be in the other life. They appeared toward the left side at a considerable height, and in back at a considerable distance. But they are punished severely, as I have also heard, even until they desist from leading others astray by a semblance of respectability. That mask was also taken away from him, that is when the simple spirits had withdrawn, and then he spoke in a different tone of voice. It is the tone of the speech especially that leads astray, and then a certain put on seriousness and consequent authority.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4718

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4718

4718. About a certain hellish spirit who had a considerable inner sight of truth
A. Lejel

Among those there had been one in the life of the body who appeared in outer form to be gifted with much ingenuity and prudence, nor could anyone have surmised but that he possessed sound reason also with respect to spiritual matters. But it was found that he had ascribed all to the things of nature, because he had lived only an earthly life, as spoken of above [4488, 4563[a]-64[a], 4654[a], 4654[a]].
[2] He had a considerable inner sight of truth in the other life, to the point that [spirits] thought he could be converted, which he wished to be, even to the point that many took his side because he was so bright. But he was told that this was of no avail, but his life, for he had preferred using his reason to support evils and resulting falsities, and if he wanted to become better, he should put on a different nature, then outward evil spirits, and inward ones especially, in whose company he is, and to whom he is tied, would be removed, and that this cannot happen except over a long period of time, and by losing the life he has put on.
He was told it was well known how long it takes to reform the upright - how much longer will it take for such as he? And meanwhile he would serve the evil as an instrument or medium, especially the deceitful, and the most deceitful. Hence it is plain that it is the life [that counts], not the faculty of reasoning well and of keen inner sight.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4719

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4719

4719. What [is meant by] dragging the net and pulling out fish

A certain one appeared who seemed outwardly sincere, but was inwardly a devil. His speech also sounded sincere, for which reason there were associated with him upright spirits, simple ones, who do not grasp inward matters - as happens in the other life. When he was reflecting on the fact that he was attracting simple, upright spirits, who were of an earthly quality, he seemed to himself to be holding a net, and to sink it down and pull it in, thus to allure the upright.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4720

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4720

4720. About those who pound

Those who in the life of the body had been righteous and fair in their works and actions, and yet had inwardly acknowledged neither God nor the life after death - thus inwardly had engaged in no worship - appear in the other life to be pounding, but what is thus being pounded is imagined to be flour, but it is human dung, as we read in the prophet [Ezech. 4:12], and tastes urinous. From such a one I also felt a coldness in my ankles, and he was called by spirits a shoemaker, because he abode in outermost earthly qualities, symbolized by shoes.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4721

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4721

4721. About changes of state, and that angels must be held in goodness and truth in every state

I sensed a change of state relative to the goodness and truth I had been held in before, and such as had been pleasant and delightful. Then I was as in a similar circumstance, and not in a state of pleasure and delight, and yet there was inflow into the truth I remembered that I had delighted in in that former state, and was thus sustained, and fought back. This experience showed me how it is with the angels and their changes of state, and that in every state they are able to be held in goodness and truth.

[2] Even though the same thing in a different state seems to them unpleasant and sad, still, due to the remembrance [of its pleasantness] they allow themselves to be held in a state of goodness and truth.
From this it was also plain to me how when a person only resists a little, or fights back against evil and falsity, he or she is able to be held in a state opposite to them, one of pleasure and delight. So sometimes the mere taking notice of a repugnance, or recollection of it, is sufficient, and bears this out.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4722

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4722

4722. About naturalists

Beneath the left foot slightly toward the left are the kind of spirits who had attributed all things to nature. They were examined as to whether they had believed in any supreme deity, creator of all things, but it was seen when their mental image was displayed to them that there was a certain inanimate entity with them, so that they attributed absolutely nothing of life to it, which showed that they had not acknowledged any creator of the universe, but only an entirely dead nature. They also declared that they were unable to form a mental picture of a living deity.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4723

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4723

4723. About certain reasoners high overhead

There are reasoners sharper than others overhead a little toward the front, high overhead. They speak when they appear, in a swift and lively manner, but they appear flying straight upward when they speak. They are among the spiritual like themselves, and wish to be called angels, because they are not so bad, but reason quite sharply about Divine matters, and in such a way that they firmly believe that the matter is as they reason.
I spoke with them, and they said that they knew how it stood with regard to matters that are still not true with them, and they maintained that a certain matter was thus and so, when yet it was not true. But when I asked whether they are good, they replied that they are, as they appear flying perpendicularly - which symbolizes reason. They said that this is their nature. Reasonings appear thus to fly, and the sharper they are, the more accurate and swift is their flight.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4724

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4724

4724. Why miracles were performed at the time of the apostles so that the Church would be established

I spoke with angels about miracles at the time of the apostles, and about their speaking in strange tongues, and their sense perception of the inflow of spirits [Acts 2, 10, 19, 1 Cor. 12-14], saying that this occurred because it was utterly unknown everywhere that the Lord had come into the world, Who would save souls, and that thus He would never be received by anyone without miracles. It occurred also lest He be received by some like those who worship idols or people after death - which would have made worship idolatrous. For these reasons miracles were performed, and now that doctrine has been received, they are no longer performed. The implanting of truth and good with the gentiles is done by outer means, but with Christians, who have higher knowledge of the inner qualities, the case is different.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4725

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4725

4725. A certain one heard of it, on the same day his body was buried, bisettes*
About king Frederick

He was with me the 15th day after his passing, and had heard the same day that he was buried, bisettes, and he also saw something, heard also the sound of bells, and spoke with me for many hours, and was surprised that even though he was dead, he saw and heard those things; he was happy then that he was still alive.
* Swedish for "taken to the mortuary."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4726

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4726

4726. About those who had slept much
Sleep

There was a certain one who had slept much in the life of the body, and from it had derived the enjoyment of his life. He drifted up to the spirits who were with me, and I was at once seized with sleepiness - about which the spirits also complained. I was told that that was his character, and that such spirits are of almost no use, but that they are rejected, for they bring on others a sluggishness, so that they cannot think. For thought belongs to the wakeful state, and produces wakefulness.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4727

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4727

4727. About those who obtain good repute by means of outer uprightness

There was a spirit who was able to arouse the upright, and even angels, but as he claimed, from no evil motive. His motives had not been disclosed. He let himself into a state of uprightness, and then communicated with good spirits, and because the angels communicate through them, even they were able to be aroused. He was exposed, and expelled. It was said that such are not able to be among societies of the good, because they still commit evils, and that outer uprightness must be taken away from him, and his evils fill in in its place - for otherwise he would be giving the evil the opportunity of doing harm to the good.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4728

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4728

4728. About the light and understanding that is from self, and that which is from the Lord, thus about one's own prudence and wisdom

There was a spirit with me who was filled with his own intelligence and wisdom, and therefore of such a character that he believed he knew and saw all things, and was therefore in control of all things. He was sent then by a certain society to serve as a medium, because he was troublesome, and took away the sight of what is true and good. I spoke with him, saying that it would be better if he would go away, but because he was filled with self-intelligence, he did not want to do so. Finally he was shown the quality of self-intelligence, and that of intelligence from the Divine, by means of lights, which were actually portrayed in the way that is possible in the other life - namely that the light from self is scattered round about like that from a false or coal-fire, having a small extension or aura, with darkness around it; and that the light of heaven, or through heaven from the Lord cannot enter, and so not be received, because of the darkness around and within that kind of fire, which at once extinguishes, suffocates or perverts heavenly light.
But intelligence from the Divine was portrayed by a light extending into the universal heaven, and entering from all sides, and causing man to understand. It was a bright light of the greatest extension, which man can receive, if he does not trust in himself, but the Lord. For the Lord works through the universal heaven, and into people on earth according to their quality and outreach by not trusting in themselves but the Lord - and especially if they believe with their whole heart that they have nothing of intelligence from what is their own, or that they are nothing in comparison. That they appear to exist from themselves, is so that they may live, and may be regenerated, and little by little receive the Divine light, so that the false light may be dissipated - which process begins by their being kept in the knowledge that it is so, and finally in the will that it be so.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4729

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4729

4729. About inner sight [or perception]

I spoke with angels about inner sight, saying that people on earth do not have it, because otherwise they would increase their wickedness, so much so that they would inwardly and secretly hurt each other. Inner sight is the ability to find out what another is thinking, and what another wills, for this is granted to spirits in the other life. They perceive what another is like just from their approach. Angels perceive still more qualities, and inward ones, from the Lord.

[4730.] And at that time I also spoke about wild animals, saying that they too have perception, each in keeping with its own species, and this because they are in their own order, and therefore they are born with their complete nature, and are fully in it from their very birth, having no need to learn it. For example, they know their food, their master, their enemies, their companions, and very much more instinctive knowledge recorded by natural history. It appears that this is due to a certain sense of smell, but it is not, for perception is the beginning of the sense of smell, and it turns into smell in the other life at the Lord's good pleasure, see number [3132 ff., 3333 ff.].

[4731.] And this was the reason that the sparrows had the knowledge to pluck out the first shoots of the chick peas, because they were aware by perception that the chick pea they wanted to draw out lay hidden beneath.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4730

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4730

4730. [4732.] About social relations according to feelings in the other life, and about the freedom to choose societies

A certain person had been among the more respected (Jacob Benzelius), and while living in the world had been looked up to for his learning, and his character was not well known to some, but in the other life after some time it had become plain that he was deceitful. When he had been among those there for some time, and had often suffered hardships, and also endured severe punishments, he began to desire to be removed from that state, and then he said he would like to come into heaven. But he was told that if he desired this, it is permissible, for whatever anyone desires, this is given, and that all social relations are according to feelings, thus according to desires, which are feelings. But it was also said that if he came there, he would not be able to stay, and would cast himself headlong from there, since he had nothing of the life [of heaven] because nothing of that kind of feeling or love.
[2] He said that he desired to be released from that society in which he was, being among the deceitful, whereupon he was released according to his desire, and came into a different society, but he declared that he was not able to be there. The same occurred when he desired to go to a different one - he came, but was not content to be there, either, wishing to be released from them, and said that he desired to go to a society of the good, and that there he would be able to stay, to be led by them, and to live with them. This also was granted, and he came to a society a little overhead toward the front, where there were simple good spirits, but when he was there he began to try to take charge, saying at first that he would instruct them, but because they were good spirits, they welcomed him, and did not want to reject him. But after he had been there for about an hour's time, those who were there began to lament, saying that he was taking away from them all inner sight and destroying their good faculties, since he then tries to enter like the deceitful into their inner sight. The upper part of his nose seemed to be badly furrowed with an ugly wound, for which reason he could not tarry there either, casting himself forward hither and thither.

This all shows, as he was also told, that people are allotted a society according to the desires of their life acquired in the world, and that they cannot be content elsewhere; so it is needful for them to be with those of a like disposition, that they may practice their deceptions, for in them had lain the enjoyment of their life. Hence it is clear that everyone in the other life is in social relationships agreeing with their life's feelings.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4731

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4731

4731. [4733.] About spirits who bring on sickness

Spirits were with me who produced a most severe fit of vomiting, so bad that I hardly seemed able to survive it. It was so foul smelling, that with others it would have been able to bring on a fainting spell. It was accompanied by a loss of my vital powers, and was like the swoons of death. I was told that there were spirits with me, who brought this on.
[2] And I was instructed that they were the kind who in the life of the body had not devoted themselves to any activity, not even a domestic one, but only to pleasure - mainly that of eating, being delighted only by that. What domestic functions are or other activities pertaining to man or wife, were things unknown.
Such in the other life become as described, and this after several centuries. They then have so little life that they cannot be driven off by any amount of persuasion, but remain fixed where they are - like certain insects. It was said that they cannot be driven off, except by the Lord, and if they are not driven off, they bring on the person's death. They are almost imperceptible. Spirits such as they sometimes come among the sick, causing their death; and it was said that sicknesses among people on earth are spirits bringing on and aggravating such sicknesses, and others.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4732

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4732

4732. [4734.] About the hells, and about the basilisk

Among the many hells there is also a certain one toward the left in front, quite deep down, where there are those who cultivate the art of enticing and so to speak drawing to themselves other spirits, and this by many arts, so that the spirits are unable to resist. When they have thus been drawn there, they throw them into their hell, and maltreat them, and if they cannot do this, they drive them to some criminal act, so that they can condemn them. Those spirits are quite dangerous, so that such as they are not let out.
A certain one of them betook himself to the mouth of a different hell, and tried to do this with me. It almost seemed to me that I wished to go there, but I was withheld by the Lord, and that spirit was punished severely. Such spirits are those, I think, who are symbolized by the basilisks [Is. 11:8, 14:29].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4733

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4733

4733. [4735.] About those who have earthly goodness, but no sense of what is good and fair
A society of friendship

There are very many today in the Christian world who have earthly goodness and serve in special positions, who reason much about goodness and fairness, and believe themselves most wise on that account, but still have no sense of what is just and fair, still less of spiritual goodness and truth, but grasp at any opinion at all. Whether it had come from those in authority, or from parents, or from themselves, they defend it, having obtained confirmations from all sides, so as to be able to defend the pro and the contra, and confirm themselves in it, but whether it is just and fair, they do not know from any other source, for they do not have an extended mental insight, only a limited one.
In the other life those people also believe themselves wise beyond others, but are able to be equally in evil as in good societies, and thus equally defend evil and false causes as just and fair ones. I spoke with them, and they believed that they know what is just and fair better than others, and that no one has a more extensive aura of insight into justice and fairness. They have not any other soil in which spiritual goodness and truth can take root than in their own confirmatory arguments, which are also false.
When they come to a given society, especially those who are convinced that they are wise, or know truths, better than others, then they take away their power of reflection, so that they are unable to reflect whether something is so; thus also they take away the enjoyment of reflection, thus of what is just and fair among them. Consequently, they also, like the societies of friendship, divert the enjoyment of another to themselves.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4734

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4734

4734. [4736.] About the educated of this century

It has been granted several times that the educated be present while I was writing those passages concerning the inner meaning of the Word, and immediately then darkness intervened, and also difficulty in understanding anything, without their aura [suggesting] that nothing at all was being understood - for their aura has this with it. But when those were present who were not educated, yet still had the power of comprehension, and had lived a good life, and held a position of dignity, then suddenly there was light, and the least details were understood. It was therefore granted me to speak with those educated persons, who now wanted to guide the writing. I told them that they pour in mere darkness, and take away all understanding of a matter. Even in their least words there was something commanding to think in their way and no other, for they do not allow themselves to be led. They imagine they surpass others, when yet they are the most unwise. But it was granted me to tell them that their mental imagery utterly conflicts with the imagery instilled into me from heaven, and that their imagery on the earthly level does not agree with it, but is such that it does not confirm, but rather destroys it, and therefore at their approach the imagery conflicts, causing that darkness, and due to the opposition, it is understandable to no one.
It was shown that when those who had been uneducated were present, there was light, and they understood everything down to the least detail, and it was granted me to tell that in the world, these things cannot be received by such educated people, but by those who are not educated, and that it is just like the case with the shepherds, who made known the birth of the Lord, that they were able to receive, and believe, and celebrate Him from the goodness of faith [Luke 2:8-20]. But this was not the case with the Rabbis, among whom, if an angel flowed in, he would at once be rejected, and destroyed - and that so it would be in the world with the inner meaning of the Word.
But if the educated were imbued with goodness, then they would be of such a mind to want to know truth, and thus allow themselves to be led, and to listen, but not to command, and then [truths] could be received. But those who were not imbued with goodness, are commanding, and never receive, for they love a life of evil, and confirm their own doctrinal principles - not with the end of becoming good, but with the end of becoming great and rich.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4735

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4735

4735. [4737.] On symbolism in the other life
About copper

There was a certain one (Swab), who had given much thought in bodily life to the subject of copper. When he was defending himself against the evil, his mental imagery of copper was turned into an upside down bronze pot, which he seemed to himself to cast over them, who being thus closed in could not do anything against him. He wondered whence this came, and was told that copper symbolizes native goodness, and that is the reason. Because such things are symbolic in the other life, therefore those who are imbued with earthly goodness have its symbolic counterpart there, and then those who are against native goodness cannot do anything.
[2] Those imbued with native goodness in the inward aura do not see anything of copper, but still the same then takes place. Therefore it was also granted to tell him how the matter stands in the Word where copper is mentioned, that it stands for native goodness, and so with other things, indeed, with every single word there. The Word is not comparable to any other writing. For example also, when bread is mentioned in the Lord's Prayer, the angels then feel the goodness of love when the person prays it in a holy manner. For it is love, because love itself is the verimost heavenly bread; so in other cases.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4736

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4736

4736. [4738.] About the inward memory

What the inward memory is like was shown from the fact that certain ones seem to be reading in books, and to be seeing and reading all and the least words, as in the life of the body, nor is the least word lacking. In the Word, for example, those indeed read there who had delighted in doing so in the life of the body, and they read every single word, so that not the least thing is lost, even though they may have read it scanningly in bodily life.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4737

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4737

4737. [4739.] About those who KNOW from others, and not from themselves, except that they confirm that knowledge, and are thereby hailed as learned
A comparison with the growths ON TREES, etc.

I spoke with angels about those who become wise only from others, and do not think for themselves whether something is so, either in. spiritual matters or in other types of knowledge. It was said that they are like the growths on trees such as the excretions of the sponge or other growth, which fix themselves in the bark, outside of it, and draw forth from the sap of the trees a thick substance, and also sometimes produce something leaf-shaped, green all around. These are not from the tree, but wither and decay, and are separated from it. But those who indeed become wise from others, but for whom that wisdom serves as a means for thinking whether things are so, are like trees. If they produce goods and truths, they are like trees that bear good fruits, if evils and falsities, like trees that bear evil fruits.

[4740.] They are also likened to growths and tumors that grow out on the outside of the body, clinging outwardly to the scaly skin, and thence extract a thick sap. Those who become wise from others and not from themselves, are like those things which cling outwardly to the scales and grow onto them. But those who do so also from themselves are like the fleshy matter that clings inwardly to the scaly skin, communicating with the interiors of the body, and which have feeling, and perform bodily functions at their location.

[4741.] Those, however, who learn such arts, as well as languages, without any use, so that they do not thereby cultivate the rational faculty, are something similar to scale upon scales, which grow farther and thicken the outer skin and take away sensation from the inward parts, so that the sharpness of sensation perishes. Such as these are rejected after death, because they are of no use, since they had been of no use [in life].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4738

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4738

4738. [4742.] About sicknesses

A certain one in the life of the body [King Fredrick] had been an adulterer, and had placed his highest enjoyment therein, without any conscience about harming the matrimonial covenant, and promiscuous as well to the highest degree, and wholly given up to pleasures. He had been unwilling to perform any use - only to himself and for the sake of his adultery, and of his own pleasure. He had been with me for several days, under the feet, and when his state changed, wherever he went he inflicted a certain pain on the periostea and the nerves there - as he is now doing to the left side of the loins at the back, now to the toe at the sole of the left foot, now to the periostea of the breastbones under the diaphragm at the right, and also to the lower row of teeth, as well as here and there.

[4743.] His aura when he was operating caused great heaviness of the stomach, so heavy that I thought I was falling into a sickness, because he was invading and damaging all the periostea, even those of my head, if permitted - because he was also a dissembling hypocrite - and [he operated even] into the periosteum of the right eye.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4739

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4739

4739. [4744.] All life is from the Lord
Inflow

Those may know this only who are strong in judgment, and who reflect, for they declare, and want it to be believed that all goodness is from the Lord, and that all of the effort to do good is not from man, but is from the Lord, and that in man there is evil. Because they want this to be believed, they were also able to conclude that all of life, even to the least, all the goodness of life, flows in - thus to think what is good, and to will what is good, consequently all conscience of goodness - man's ability to think and to will is his life - and hence all of life, flows in.
Moreover, they also attribute the evil that they do to the devil, and say when anyone has committed some crime, that they allowed themselves to be led by the devil, and urge them not to let themselves be led by the devil, thus not to think evil, and to will evil - from all of which they were also able to conclude that all evil also flows in, and thence falsity. But they believe differently than they teach. At least they should realize that if that which makes up their thinking and willing, and thence their action, did not flow in, that their teaching [about good and evil flowing in] would be empty and wrong.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4740

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4740

4740. [4745.] About kings and queens who believe they have absolute power, and hold the lives of people in their sway
Profanity

There was a queen, said to be from Africa, who had absolute power, and believed that she had power over the lives of people, namely, that she was permitted to kill whatsoever woman she wished, whether it be an innocent person or not innocent. Moreover she knew from her religion, and also acknowledged, that there was a God. This queen was promiscuous to an extreme degree, and admitted lovers, but afterwards she had them killed, lest the report should leak out to the public that this was her character.
She appeared, and was black, like the inhabitants of that region, with a beautiful face, and also beautiful hair. It was granted me to speak with her, and to say that absolute power does not confer that kind of power, but that those who acted contrary to the laws, and to what is just and fair - against them she should act, not against the innocent. But she imagined that she had [that power], because it had been bestowed on her by them. It was given me to reply that she knew there is a divinity who is above her, and that it is against the divinity and its laws to do so - but this being more than she could stand, she became silent. She was profane, because she acknowledged the divinity, and yet lived in this way. She suffered many very severe punishments, and it was said that her hell was a most grievous one, such as is the lot of profaners, where such would finally become like skeletons, hardly hanging together, in which there is so little of life that they are scarcely anything. For profanity has this with it, because holiness that clings together with profanity cannot be separated as it can with others, but is torn apart, and then the life that is only in holy things, that is, in goodness and truths, perishes, or remains as a most foul, offensive odor, accompanied with torture.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4741

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4741

4741. [4746.] About those who have an inner sense of understanding, and are so to speak in the light of heaven, and yet are evil

Those who are in a false light are those who either suffocate the light of heaven, or snuff it out, or pervert it; but there are also those who let in the light of heaven, and yet are evil (Borge - Postal director). They are able to sense clearly how a matter stands. I spoke with such a one, and it was found that he acknowledged truths, and saw falsities, but nevertheless wanted to employ that ability for domination, knowing that he would thus have communication with angels of the inward heaven, who were in the circumference, and that he could thus be in the hells, and yet prevail. But it was granted to tell him that that kind of light is the light of winter, in which even colored objects appear equally as in the light of summer, yet all things become numb; and that the aura of his purposes is such that when it exhales toward the angels, they cannot bear it, and at once rebounds - which is what happened.
mSuch spirits are the serpents of the tree of knowledge.n

SEM (Odhner) n. 4742

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4742

4742. [4747.] They who in the other life are sensual corporeal
Sicknesses

There are those who had lived in the world only for their own benefit, having themselves in view in everything they did, and whatever good they had done for the neighbor they did for their own sake - namely to serve themselves, nor had any other regard for the public weal and the neighbor than for the sake of their own honor and gain. Those people in the other life become sensual corporeal, being such that a gross aura exhales from them almost like a bodily one. Their speech is not like that of spirits, since theirs is inwardly not the speech proper to spirits, but proper to people on earth. So their bodily grossness follows them (Carl Gyllenborg). The character of their disposition, which is gross, and of their behavior, which is pleasure seeking, follows from their nature and the fact that they attribute all things to themselves.
One such in fact appeared not so long after his death. It was said that those spirits are at first in a lodge for the worthless, and pass some time there. Such a lodge was seen, but what their life is like after that was not so fully disclosed, only from one or two who were of that character, who appeared like a body. That their future state was wretched is evident from the fact that they are going into grosser elements, thus as it were into corpses again. They are beneath the buttocks.

[4748.] These latter finally become of such a gross disposition and so stupid, that it is not at all like the stupidity of anyone in the world.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4743

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4743

4743. [4749.] About demons and refined spirits

There were two with me who did not ascend any higher than the loins. For many hours of the nighttime, when I was awake, they were observing all the mental images of my thought, even to the very least ones, and also the slightest feelings, to the very least, as well as all their changes, so that nothing escaped them. They also observed with me more than I could possibly know and be aware of, and this in a moment, or instantaneously, and then they bent those things in a thousand ways into their contraries, so that there was nothing that they did not so suddenly bend, taking away all my enjoyment and pleasure. This was their intention and doing, which continued for many hours.
Afterwards I spoke with them, and what I was thinking at the time they sensed better than I. I was given to say that they were hellish spirits, and that they were immersed in things contrary to the qualities of heaven, and that [those in] heaven do not take away enjoyments and pleasures from anyone, but promote them in every way, and that heavenly joy consists in doing this, as they also clearly realized. I asked them whether they wished to come into heaven. They replied that they wished to. I said that then they would not be able to live, for their enjoyment is contrary to that of those there. They replied that if this is so, they did not wish to come there. After that it was granted to speak with them about their lot, in that such enjoyment would be taken away from them, and that then they would become most stupid, because their inward enjoyment gave them that cleverness and brightness, and that then they will reside in torment until that enjoyment is extinguished; and that if they have anything of goodness in what is left of them, this will remain; thus insofar as that residual goodness were able to spread, so far they will have life - which will obviously be little.
I spoke then also with some recently arrived from the world, saying that infernal spirits are indeed that bright, and yet they are infernal spirits; and that the brightness that is called ingenuity contributes nothing to salvation, but goodness and the enjoyment from it, and in this enjoyment, brightness - thus from the light of heaven.

[4750.] I also reasoned with them, saying that they should know, because they are so bright, that they are opposed to the Divine, that all those evils that they intended are turned into good by the Divine, and that it is then granted to know not only what many hellish spirits are like, but also that from the opposites, I felt all the more enjoyment and delight. For all things are relative, and without the sense of opposites there are no relationships extending in accordance with the given sense of opposites. This they understood quite clearly, and also affirmed to be as stated. Next they were shown to others, who declared that they were most hideous infernal spirits, or devils.
They said further that they wished to abstain, but received the reply that they could not, because when they are engrossed in their enjoyment, they are lulled to sleep so that they are unable to will and think by means of some truth poured in from another source than from that enjoyment. Enjoyment has the effect of putting one to sleep.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4744

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4744

4744. [4751.] About fear, and resulting misfortunes

There were spirits of the female sex, who were good, and had something of innocence, but were fearful when anything of evil happened to them, fearing that they would be hurt. They were continually in that state of fear, as I was given to know from the fact that when they were moved away, then at once the fear was at once dissipated, and miraculously, those also were removed at the same time who were constantly trying to bring on the evil.
The reason was told to me why fear has this with it, namely, that it dissipates itself from there into the minds of those who are nearby, and are joined by some common feeling; and when there is fear, then those are at once present who wish to bring on, and do bring on, the evil. And that this results in many misfortunes, some intentional and some not intentional, but from an aura of intention or malice that pours itself around, causing misfortunes with those who for various reasons must undergo them. It was also shown that many misfortunes are from that source. But these are still not of such a nature that, in the absence of more experience, any rule can be drawn from them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4745

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4745

4745. [4752.] About the understanding of those who only confirm principles passed down or acquired

There was a certain one whom, while he lived in the world, they believed to be learned because he had confirmed religious principles into which he had been born, and this extensively. But it was shown with what kind of understanding he was endowed. He appeared as if tied up as to the face and head - which was his inclination to that insight into matters which he had had in the world. When he had been thus tied or wrapped up, he said that he understood nothing. I spoke with him, saying that this is how he had been in bodily life, even though he believed himself enlightened beyond others because he was well acquainted with heresies and all the opinions, and had confirmed the tenets of his religion.
And I said that he still had lacked any extensive insight as to whether a thing was true that he had confirmed, and that it would have been all the same if he had also confirmed truths, if he had not seen first that something is true from inward light. Those who are instilled with goodness are enlightened by the Lord. Such is the case with learned at this day that they are believed to be the learned and scholars if they only know a lot, and more so if they have discovered additional confirmations on their own - when yet this is not being learned, that is, enlightened, for falsities can equally be confirmed, and due to the confirmation one can be persuaded that a thing is so.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4746

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4746

4746. [4753.] About sorcerers
About Samson
Hair

Those men or women who in the life of the body had been skilled in and practiced magical arts, in the other life become sorceresses of a peculiar kind, for they know not only how to enchant people, but also to take away from them so to speak the power of thinking and willing, and this in a moment - which they do to almost all to whom they drift up, so that they are no longer in their right mind. Then it appears as if they wrap them up either in coverings [of the body] or around the head in a variety of ways, which is the enchantment or deprivation of the power of another. When such a one is let free, he says he is in such darkness that he cannot think at all, and hardly see. The women who practiced knowledge of magical arts become such, and are many in number. I heard their murmuring, showing that there was a multitude. The murmur was unpleasant, gruff, almost without any understanding. When they speak individually, they also do so slowly and in a certain unpleasant tone, at which time they also appear to behave as insane women.

[4754.] Their enchantment consists in this, that they cling with their thought to the least mental images of the one speaking or thinking, following them with a similar breathing, and thus they enchant the inward imagery of thoughts, likewise the outward imagery, and then they appear to tie themselves to the hair, and to revolve in a certain manner. This is the cause of their enchantment, for then they make the thoughts of the other their own.

[4755.] Such spirits, when they drift up, are obstinate and stubborn to the highest degree, never refraining. The hellish spirits who are deep down under the feet, and are the most wicked, when they are perchance let out of hell - such spirits fly up to them and hold them captive, and so stubbornly that they do not desist, until they betake themselves to their own hell.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4747

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4747

4747. [4756.] Such things are also symbolized in the inner meaning by Samson, when he was kept asleep by his harlot, and she (listade)* him [Judg. 16:15-20], by which such things are symbolized. And she was perhaps such a sorceress, skilled in that art. Hairs there symbolize earthly mental imagery.
* Swedish for "deceived."

[4757.] They also attacked me with the same art, but they were severely punished, and for a long time, their punishment enduring uninterruptedly for many hours.

[4758.] Those sorceresses had also been with me, trying many devices, but in vain. However, I could clearly feel their effect, as well as how they operate.

[4759.] Because those spirits are the most obstinate of all, and when they break out of hell, as happens sometimes, or are called forth by others, they assail with their enchantments all whomsoever they encounter, and attempt to bring evil upon them, and easily bring it about. Therefore many of them are cast to those before the flood, whose nature it is by means of deadly persuasions to be able to take away from such spirits all their ability to think and to will, so that they seem to themselves to be half dead. So they are deprived of that faculty. The life that afterwards remains in them is so slight that they are unable to perform any but the lowest functions of all, that require very little vitality.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4748

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4748

4748. [4760.] About the most cunning ones
Richelieu

Certain ones in the other life are so cunning that they do not speak anything but what is just and fair, and what is good and true, and they had also reduced themselves into such a state that they do not think otherwise as far as this reaches the awareness of those nearest by. But they harbor evil motives, such as that of ruling over others, motives that lie in the inward aura. Spirits from there were also shown, and they were within the chest, toward the left side, devising evil. There are also other, more crude ones (such as Postal director Borg) who likewise dominate by speaking the truth, spoken of earlier [4746a]. He was admitted there because he desired it, but he was comparatively crude. He had been in their society, and while there, so they say, had been treated badly, like one who is relatively insane.

[4761.] The former ones are of such a character that when they are thinking, a vasning,* is heard like that of serpents. This sound issues from their motives, which are thus perceived in the lower aura.
* Swedish for "hissing sound."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4749

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4749

4749. [4762.] About the Moravian Church

There were with me certain ones from the Moravian Church, and one among them who had come recently into the other life, and who said that he had known me in the world. He was a little toward the front down below, near the earth of the lower ones. The rest, however, were above, somewhat. I spoke with the one who was down below, while the rest were flowing in in community, because in community they operated as one. With the one who had come fresh from the world, I spoke for many hours, and in fact, about faith and caring for others. He preferred faith, saying that by it, man is saved, and that faith is the confidence or trust that they are saved by the merit of the Lord, which they keep calling the blood of the Lord.
But about these matters, I offered various comments, as that they do not yet know what caring for others is, consequently what faith and what confidence is. One who does not know what caring is, cannot at all know what confidence is, because caring for others is its essence and life force, and when they do not know this, they do not know what faith is, nor the merit of the Lord, for it is known that the merit of the Lord is universal, namely, for the universal human race, but it is also known that it is a matter of reception, for many nevertheless come to hell, and many to heaven. Therefore this shows that it is reception, and that reception is not through faith, but through the life of faith, which is charity. I also observed that he admits the word charity with difficulty, and with even greater difficulty the word love, unless the Lord is thought about at the same time.

[4763.] It was further shown what they are like, namely, that it is a society of inward friendship, for just as societies of friendship, wherever they pass through, take away the outer enjoyment of life from others with whom they flow in, so do these latter take away the enjoyment of inward life, thus their blessedness, so they are a society of inward friendship. They did not want to admit this, but were convinced that it is so. For they call brothers all who are within the society, and share with them the enjoyment of inward life, but all others who are outside of the society, they scorn, and call them the dead. So they despise others in comparison with themselves, and thus condemn them to hell, believing themselves to be the only chosen people.
Moreover, all the good of charity that others do, whether they give to the poor, or pour out prayers, or frequent Churches out of piety, and thus the piety of all others who are outside of their congregation, they look down on, indeed, they ridicule, believing that such place merit in those actions and are saved with greater difficulty than robbers, adulterers, and criminals, thus utterly rejecting the life of goodness. But the life of good of those within their congregation they praise, provided only that it is not such as stands out and is apparent. But they do this not out of caring for others, but out of inward friendship, for friend praises friend, and thinks well of him, and this to the degree that he feels enjoyment in going about with him.

[4764.] The former - except for those among them who do not despise others in comparison with themselves, or believe them to be infernals, and they themselves the only chosen people, and who believe that the good of life makes the Church, and not the doctrine of faith - are such in the other life that wherever they come, they destroy those qualities that pertain to innocence and heavenly love.

[4765.] They were told what the heaven of the Lord is like, namely, that it is beyond measure, and that there are those who represent all the provinces of the body as to both its inward and outward regions, and that those there, if they aspire to regions beyond those in agreement with their life, do not obtain heaven.

[4766.] They were also shown that they can never have true humility toward the Lord, consequently love to Him, if they believe they are the chosen more than others, and that they become saints by the blood, that is by the merit of the Lord. One who does not believe that he himself is a hell, and hence that it is the mercy of the Lord that holds them back from hell, he can never have humility, then also if they believe that faith alone saves, and that charity is nothing, consequently that doctrine and not life [saves]because everyone's life remains with them. Doctrine and life cannot be divided. If true doctrine raises them up to heaven, and their life draws them to hell, they would be divided into two, or hang between heaven and hell, which does not happen. But when the life is evil, then the truths of doctrine are taken away, and the person is cast into hell; but if the life is good, then the truths of doctrine are joined to the person, who is then elevated into heaven.

[4767.] Truth of doctrine were also spoken of, and the fact that they teach how one should life, and if not for this purpose, they are worthless.

[4768.] Then it was said that life is not external, or doing good, unless this is from willing good. In willing good and thinking good there is life, thus as much as willing good and thinking good is in the doing of good, so much there is life in the outer effects, and he who wills good and thinks good, the same does good, for life cannot exist without an effect. But he who does not will good and think good, and yet does good, the same is a hypocrite.

[4769.] The Lord's words in Matt. Chapter 25 were also spoken of, concerning the last judgment, where only the works of charity are mentioned, but not faith, and they were surprised that the Lord spoke in this way, so that they were not at all able to reply. What they thought was not disclosed to me. It was later plain that he had spoken thus for the sake of the most simple, who are in complete ignorance.

[4770.] As for the Word of the Lord, they also reject the Old Testament as abrogated, not do they pay it any heed; and they were told that it is most holy, and that all and the very least things there contain an inner meaning, and that it is Divine.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4750

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4750

4750. [4771.] About those who have true principles, but an evil will
The first abode of innocence

A certain one whom I had known in the life of the body (Peter Schonstrom), who had done much thinking on his own, and in many matters correctly, had been married, and had in fact delighted in his partner in his own way, but she was one among adulteresses. He had noticed that there was a certain abode in the forecourt to innocence, or to those who are in a state of innocence. Because he had lived in marriage love in his own way, he explored this abode, and also felt a delight in being transferred to that place, believing that he could stay there. All who are there are naked, because there is no promiscuity there to offend modesty. When he arrived there, he also thought that he could stay there, but he was deceived, because although he had possessed principles of what is right, in life he did not follow his principles, and also had loved himself more than others, nor did he care about the misfortunes of others, but had considered them as unimportant, if only he were safe, even if he himself had brought harm upon them, as long as outer restraints did not hold him back. When he arrived there, he allowed himself to be led by the hellish gang, which inflated him with the notion that he could remain there. He had therefore several times been let into his thoughts and principles, whereupon he saw several things very well, but when he was left to his own life, he at once departed from his principles, so that his life became disharmonious, so that after some time he was removed from it - he himself then confessing that he could not remain there, and that his life was in disharmony with his doctrine, or his will part with his understanding. I do not yet know to where he has been cast out.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4751

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4751

4751. [4772.] About him who came to the feast, or heaven [without] a wedding garment, and was cast out

A certain one among the more deceitful, whom I had known in the life of the body (Jacob Benzelius), realizing that I was in heaven, in a certain society there, wanting as he had before to attack me, but did not know how to come there. Therefore he betook himself to his tricks, for he was able to devise inward deceptions, and then by semblances of goodness and truth enticed certain simple good spirits - first those in the world of spirits, soon also those who were in the inward aura - for he knew their whereabouts, this by means of cunning tricks he had practiced earlier. Then he inwardly or very subtly devised deceits, pretending goodness, for such practices in the other life do not take place by manifest, but by tacit speech, and by thoughts, for the latter penetrate round about just like sounds from the mouth.
Hence certain ones were taken by angelic spirits, who are in the threshold of the second heaven, and they associated themselves with him and helped him to come into the society where I was together with others, and then he began to imitate an angel of light. But by his presence, he began to infest me, for the aura from such a one being present attacks those who are in a heavenly society. But finally he lost all the faculty of thinking, finally appearing to be tied up hands and feet, and cast down. The appearance of the tying up of the hands means that he had no power of willing and thinking, consequently neither of plotting anything by deceptions. For when he was below, he received a wide belt, to distinguish him from others. This reveals how the deceitful are able to struggle into certain heavenly societies, namely, by imitating innocence. This appeared by means of an infant that he held in his hands, and which he rolled around and enfolded in various ways - as the thought of anyone imitating innocence appears to do - and later by various thoughts of goodness and truth, he penetrated even to the simple there, who helped him. He was skilled in that art of imitating sincerity, but inwardly fostered deceptions. So he thought deceitfully while speaking sincerely.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4752

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4752

4752. [4773.] About a certain person raised up shortly after death and seeing his own burial
Polhem

Polhem died om mandagen,* he spoke with me om torsdagen,** and I was invited to the funeral, I saw his likkista,*** also those who were there, as well as the whole procession, and also when he was being let down in the grave, and he spoke with me the while, asking why they were burying him when he is alive? Then also why the priest said that he would be raised up at the last judgment, when yet he was already raised up. And he was surprised that such a belief exists that people would be raised up at the last judgment, when yet he was still alive, and that the body would rise up when yet he felt that he was in the body - along with other questions.
* Swedish for "Monday."
** Swedish for "Thursday."
*** Swedish for "coffin."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4753

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4753

4753. [4774.] About revenge together with deceit

The same spirit, namely Jacob Benzelius, the archbishop [4772a], was finally let down toward the front, in front of the right foot, in the hellish earth there. He took the greatest enjoyment in devising deceptions, in thought. And he began, inspired by the hellish gang, that was down below there, to scheme filthy moves against marriage love, which it is not permitted to divulge, and because he had in the life of the body plotted somewhat deceitfully against that love and thus exceeded the limits of his enjoyment, therefore he was severely punished by inward pains, and I realized that at the time when he was then undergoing punishment, he still held onto his vengefulness, for which reason that severe punishment lasted a long time. For they are not left, until something of correction or aversion for such behavior is clearly sensed by the angels. But still he retained his vengefulness, no matter how much he was punished.
[2] After this, when he was again left to himself, the urge for revenge began little by little to be aroused in him by the hells, and he began to undertake similar deceptions for the sake of revenge, so that he was continuing the previous practices. Therefore he was again given over to more severe punishment, so that his internal organs were as it were set on fire, and he was shown in a living manner that punishment by burning could have been worsened indefinitely. Therefore, when left to himself once more he at first began cautiously to think of revenge, then more and more, then finally also to come into the enjoyment of revenge, and from the lust for revenge began [again], so that even though he was being punished, he would bear with it.
This all made it clear that the lust for doing evil from inward deceit leads a spirit into passions he had not previously exercised in act, but which he had hereditarily. For they then rush into such things, when they can no longer be deterred by punishment, and so also their life becomes more and more infernal, so that the life which is life decreases, or can no longer flow in from the inner region without falling into the passion for revenge, and at the same time into the deceitful enjoyment of torturing anyone they encountered. It was said that those who harbor the lust for revenge, and at the same time deceit, become such that they no longer resemble a human being, but appear like burned out skeletons.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4754

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4754

4754. [4775.] About hellish dust, and about those who are against marriage love

In the same place where the one was, spoken of just above, namely, in front of the right foot in the hellish earth under that place there are infernal caves, where those are who plot against marriage love, and all things pertaining to that love, and they are the most filthy of all, for marriage love is the most holy love of all. There he was by magical arts stirring up the dust there with his foot in various ways, and then he opened part of the caves, so that those who were there would flow into such things, to which he also contributed by thought, for thought is communicated, as mentioned below [4776a], and as he stirred up the dust there, and plunged his great toes or soles of his feet into it, he thus opened up the infernal caves, so widely, and the filthiness against marriage love thus flowed in from there. Because he had done all this out of the lust for revenge, and also from deceit, helping by thought in various ways, he was punished in this manner, that his feet were accursed and appeared black from burning, like a black crust, and he also drew in through his nostrils some of the hellish dust. From there he was let down lower into a certain cave, from which place he again began to plot. He was told that he had drawn the curse up as far as the knees, and that if he does not desist, it will spread upward to the houghs and beyond. This showed what the accursed dust is, and what the accursed dust that was given to a wife who was charged by the husband with adultery [Num. 5:17], namely, that it was symbolic of such behavior, and that those who plot deceitfully and with vengeance against marriage love, incur such punishments.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4755

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4755

4755. [4776.] About communication by means of thoughts

Among spirits there is a communication of all thoughts, of which magical art primarily consists, so that they can communicate to others their criminal and filthy qualities by means of thoughts, and that they may induce the impression of piety, respectability, innocence, and such qualities, and spread it around in various ways, thus bringing simple spirits to suppose that such a spirit is pious, respectable, innocent, or such, and arousing compassion. Therefore they readily allow themselves to be led on, because they are simple, and do not see him or know where he is. That filthy spirit (Jacob Benzelius) was most highly skilled in such arts, and fortified himself in crimes and wickedness by means of them in many ways, and thus perpetrated his wicked deeds. Of such practices and many similar ones, magic there consists.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4756

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4756

4756. [4777.] How reflection is given in the other life

After death, reflection upon troublesome matters and hardships is taken away from people, for outer restraints are removed and they are left to their own character, thus to their own enjoyments of life, to act according to them. For a different kind of reflection is needed in the other life than in the life of the body, in which they reflect on honors, profits, reputation, life-threatening dangers, and the like. These are taken away, and the spirit is left to his own character, which he has acquired in the life of the body. To those who have committed evils reflection is given by means of numerous punishments, until they are finally averse to, and horrified at doing evils - especially to societies where they have suffered. This reflection is of the outer kind, that is given to the evil, and then they are kept in hells, nor do they get out from thence. They undergo punishments so prolonged and so severe, that at last that reflection comes up as if by itself. But to the good, reflection is given by means of the delights and enjoyments of heaven, besides which they have some reflection upon coming into the other life, which increases.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4757

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4757

4757. [4778.] About those who are under strong persuasion

Some of those from the Christian world coming into the other life are strongly persuaded that what they say and think is the truth, even what is contrary to the faith and to heaven. When they first come into the other life, they appear to be wrapped about the head with a linen band, which is a sign that the persuasive spirits in whose company they had been previously, had been taken away from them. A certain person well known to me (Polhem) was such a one, due to confidence in his own knowledge and imagination.

[4779.] But the sorcerers, when they had noticed this, caused some communication by means of a magical art, so that he was deprived of some of the linen band. This was done by means of an augur's staff or magic wand, prepared by art. But then there appeared a naked man, whose back I saw. It was a certain heaven that was thus appearing. I noticed the inflow from it, and he not only exposed all of those sorcerers, but also cast them out of their place, casting them forth into other places, and this as easily as if they had been flies, among many other things.

[4780.] The persuasion that there is nothing hidden from him, but that he knows all things, and hence that he is the wisest of all, brings with it the propensity to rush into the most filthy, thus wicked deeds, and to persuade himself that they are allowable. And when they are of this character, then by their persuasions they so close up the understanding, that it cannot be opened.

[4781.] Such spirits are in the very deepest hell, beneath the feet, so closed in that not a breath can exhale from it, for there they are immersed in the most filthy and wicked activities.

[4782.] A certain one having the appearance of a man in a snow white garment and a square cap went down there, and then opened it. Those there appeared like swine, and like tree stumps devoid of life. The man in snow white was an appearance of heaven, gazing down [on the scene].

[4783.] Those who are of that persuasion that they believe themselves wiser than all others, despising others in comparison with themselves, in the other life when they look at other spirits, the spirits appear like torn clothing, without a body, for such a persuasion brings this with it, that they look on others in this way. For garments are truths, thus matters of knowledge and intelligence.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4758

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4758

4758. [4784.] About misfortune and fortune, then about chance, their origin
Inflow

There were certain spirits who were arousing an aura of misfortune, namely by stirring up such spirits as wanted to destroy, or rather, that kind of aura among the spirits. Then misfortunes occurred which had not been foreseen by them, and because they had used that art, they were also punished. This also revealed the origin of misfortunes, and of unforeseen eventualities that are thought to be accidental, namely that they are from spirits who are constantly trying to destroy mankind, thus from their endeavor.
In this way it was also granted me to learn the origin of fortune, especially that which tends toward people's salvation, namely that it is from the constant will of the Lord that it should be well with mankind and that they should be saved, and that the aura itself coming through the angels should contribute to it. Unprovided misfortunes are nothing else but the perpetual efforts of evil spirits, and this because unprovided goods come forth from the Lord. This is from experience. It appears incredible, but still it is so.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4759

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4759

4759. [4785.] About those who appear in the stomach

They who are very worried about the future, and still more they who do so out of possessiveness and greed, appear as if in the stomach. Many have thus appeared to me. Their aura can be compared to that nauseating stench that is exhaled from the stomach.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4760

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4760

4760. [4786.] About the hell of those who are inwardly malicious, and are desirous of revenge
Gustaf Benzelstierne

There was someone well known to me in the life of the body, Gustaf Benzelstierne, who in outer form appeared respectable, and seemed to have led a life of his own. He had the custom of responding to anyone against whom he meditated evil, by uttering witty remarks inwardly so stinging, that they could not be answered. He was so accustomed to doing this that his sarcasms flowed forth from within him, consequently that he had a mind, as it were, to kill the souls of others. This wittiness remained with him after death, and there he was shown what he was like. He was inwardly like a hard lump, like a hidden, diseased ulcer, and his exhalation out of the deep hells breathed out from him when he spoke. It was later disclosed what he was like, for in time the inward qualities of all are exposed in the other life, gradually, and then he was found to be of this character, and also that he had deceitfully plotted many things, and this quietly, without anyone observing it. With me he raised an adulterous spirit, whose presence inflicted a severe pain on the hinge of the loins.
[2] This he did by means of another spirit who was above, in front, on the right. Therefore, because he was of this character, he was sent into a hell quite deep down beneath the feet, where such spirits are beginning to reside, and this by degrees, and all the while he was observed so as to find out what he had been like. It was found that he had harbored inextinguishable vengefulness, and also contempt, and a kind of hatred against the universal human race. For this reason he was sent beneath a rock - for there is a misty rock that separates those there who are of that kind to a lesser degree - and there he appeared with a chain around his neck, so that he was bound up. He complained about that, and meanwhile he was examined with regard to revenge, and it was found to be murderous; so he was sent down deeper. There, as was already told, one is seen to devour the other, and to those looking on it appears no otherwise - such hatred displays this picture. He also did likewise, so he was sent down deeper. From that hell when it is opened, the exhalation is such that it infects those whom it encounters, driving them crazy. For it arouses inward evils. When they speak, it is as if a quiet hissing sound is heard [see 4761a], coming out of inward deceit.

[4787.] The same spirit, because he was still breathing revenge out of a deeper hell, was submerged in the sea here, for a turbulent sea appears there, and after he had labored at swimming, he sank to the bottom, from where I heard him speaking, saying that there are various monsters there, which he had never seen in the world. But from there he still breathed forth the venom of revenge, infecting certain ones around me. And because it was revenge, so that I was tortured at the hinges of the loins, I was tormented severely, for they attracted (Kung* Fredrick), from whom came an aura that tormented that part, as well as the bones round about, even to the ribs, and so on.
* Swedish for "King."

[4788.] At that depth are those who had breathed deadly revenges, and at a greater depth to the degree that they breathed more inward ones, even as far as killing, and the more enjoyment they had felt in revenges, and the more tenacious they had been in regard to them.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4761

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4761

4761. [4789.] About those who are strong in intelligence, but had led an evil life

There was a certain person well known to me in the life of the body (kyrkoherden* Arnel), who while living in the world was endowed with the gift of ingenuity, which he also retained in the other life, when I spoke with him. But I perceived that he was among the deceitful, so that he had devised deceptions in the life of the body, and thus, loving self and the world, neither had he led a good life, nor believed anything regarding a life after death, being among the ingenious and the deceitful in a certain hell. He imagined that since he understood truths, and clearly perceived them, he could then be saved, or come into heaven, but he was answered by the angels that such [truths] were just like women beautiful in outer form, but filthy and criminal within, and like those who give off a foul odor, no matter how they may appear outwardly - so that if he came into a heavenly society, he could not be tolerated on account of the rank smell. For his understanding has beauty, but his life stinks.
* Swedish for "pastor."

SEM (Odhner) n. 4762

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4762

4762. [4790.] About fallacies of the senses

With spirits I spoke about fallacies of the senses, and one was present who had hardly believed anything but what his senses had sensed. It was shown what fallacies of the senses are, and this vividly by means of symbolism, as is usual in the other life; namely, that fallacies of the senses are: 1) That the eye sees on its own, whereas it is the spirit that sees - which was shown by the fact that spirits see through my eyes; then that the ear hears, the tongue tastes, the nostrils smell, the body feels. 2) That the body lives, and not the spirit in the body. 3) That man, spirit, angel live of themselves, whereas it was shown that they live through others, and that when others are taken away from a spirit, he falls down as if dead, and is kept in life that he is lacking by spirits of the inward aura, and that he lives by virtue of the society in which he is, as does everyone. 4) It is a fallacy of the senses that the sun rises and sets, whereas the earth revolves around it, as is shown by the fact that the whole starry heaven circles it every 24 hours, and that they do not change their position; that such a large globe as the sun should accomplish several thousand miles every minute, and its flame appear everywhere, when yet it is a fiery globe around which the planets orbit, as the moon [orbits the earth], being like moons to it, and it was shown that the earth is a small globe in comparison. 5) Fallacies of sense were illustrated were illustrated by a mirror behind which a person like oneself stands. Vessels of silver were placed and seen behind the mirrors, and it was stated that if one should go by the fallacies of the senses, one could multiply one's riches beyond numbering by means of a single mirror, whereas they are a fallacy of the senses. 6) It was also shown that by a fallacy of sense, the same person could be in two places at the same time, and they would see each other mutually. 7) It is a fallacy of sense that color is in a flower, whereas it is from the sun's light thus variegated. And it was added that there are countless such cases - as that one may appear to be at rest on a ship, whereas one is being carried along, and that when one sees any fixed object from the ship, it may appear to be moving, and the person to be at rest. So in innumerable cases.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4763

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4763

4763. [4791.] How hellish spirits are sent into hell

This was seen in the case of (Jacob Benzelius). Spirits who are infernal abide quite a long time in the world of spirits, where they practice their malicious deeds, for the sake of tempting spirits, and this even until the measures of their evil are filled. And meanwhile, they endure many severe punishments, although still such that they are not entirely frightened off from them. At length, when those measures are filled, then they undergo more severe, and finally most severe punishments, and this in a rather long sequence, on the way to hell, with many repetitions, and at last they are cast into hell, where they chastise and punish each other mutually. Then they do not open their mouth from there any more, and become such that they at once see the state of punishments if they dare to go thence. Therefore those in hell do not dare to go thence, and are more submissive than they had been when they were in the world of spirits; and in that state they also become more prudent, and laugh at those in the world of spirits when they are such.

[4792.] Evils cannot be tamed in any other way than by means of punishments and so that they dare not do evils without being left to the enjoyments of their own nature, and their outer restraints being taken away from them. And when they behave according to the nature they have acquired for themselves, then they have almost no judgment, but act from their nature, which cannot be tamed in any other way. For they are not receptive of exhortations and the like, their nature acting against them. It often takes many years before the nature allows itself to be tamed.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4764

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4764

4764. [4793.] About demons of the thought

There was a certain one in a location above the occiput, a little toward the back, who gave the impression by voice, accent and speech of imitating my father, in which he was indeed so dexterously skilled that he raised him up very often. He lay concealed in the dark, so that they could not tell where he came from. At length after some time, he was discovered, and then forced to confess his crimes, which were such as not a single spirit had ever committed before. He had lurked there and observed on all sides where spirits were so inclined and of such a nature, so that he knew round about the female spirits whom he was also able to stir up, pouring into them dexterously what he thought, wanted. He confessed how he had done this, and where they were. Hence he became such that whatever came alone, he had been able to change, and indeed would have changed, had the Lord not controlled me by means of inward spirits. He would have been able to turn around and pervert feelings, but also thoughts and their feelings, for he had learned where they were, and had meditated on this almost continually when he was there in the dark. So he had thought he could rule all things, and make himself a god. Many hells were also flowing in from the back side, one of which was discovered, where spirits were of the kind who arrogated to themselves the power to do all things by means of their arts, and thus by a controlling of order in the other life. He had been punished severely, but still persists, so that a more severe punishment threatens him before he is thrust into hell, where such spirits are. These spirits can be called demons in respect to thoughts and their feelings.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4765

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4765

4765. [4794.] About adulteries
King Fredrick
Hell

He was transferred under the buttocks or the large intestine, and there he spoke saying that there are only latrines there. Those who were there were speaking with him, and led him into the latrines, which were many, and of varied construction, by which was symbolized that he was given over to mere pleasures, such as those who are there had been. Afterwards he was led to a different place, a little to the left from where he had been, and when he was there, he declared that a most foul stench exhaled from the holes there, and that he could not move a step without falling down into those holes. This symbolized the fact that those there had been defiled by such foul adultery. He was continually wanting new [women], and once they had been touched, he spewed them out.

[4795.] Out of the caverns there also exhaled the stink of cadavers, for the reason that he had also been deceitful.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4766

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4766

4766. [4796.] Those that answer to the anus

There are spirits below the anus, who are those who had worried much about future events, and when they came into their thought also brought themselves into anxiety, and beyond this they are not evil. They answer to the anus. They had been with me on several occasions, at which I noticed that anxiety. They kept the mind tenaciously in such thoughts. They also know this.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4767

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4767

4767. [4797.] About those from the Moravian Church

A certain one had stood up above toward the right, a little higher forwards toward the head, and then when those who were of that Church were discussed, he exposed himself by the fact that he was continually defending everything pertaining to them. Finally I spoke with him, and it was revealed what he was like. He withdrew himself to the congregation where his comrades were, being below in the same line, a little toward the right, on the level of the foot-sole, and there at the same time as if in a certain city. And they were then examined as to their character, namely that they considered those outside of their congregation as dead people, thus devoid of life, and only themselves as alive and in light. But they are such that they despise the inward sense of the Word. Infernal spirits were acting through them when they were pouring in their contempt. They only love faith, etc.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4768

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4768

4768. [4798.] About floods of a twofold origin

Something like a flood appears in the other life, but of a twofold origin - for the good, when they are flooded by various auras of the hells, which auras are directed by the Lord, and then produce anxieties and temptations which penetrate, depending on the state, to the feet, above the feet, to the stomach, to the neck, and to the head, seldom above the head.

[4799.] The second kind of flood is for the evil, who are in the hells. When they begin to go crazy, and have to be restrained, then an aura of the heavenly heaven is let down, and penetrates even so far, and wherever it comes, there they are as if in a flood, and seem to themselves to be sunk under waters, to be cast into abysses, and this with terror and clamor, entirely like those who are perishing in a deluge.
Each kind of flood has appeared to me.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4769

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4769

4769. [4800.] About the raining down of fire and brimstone

Likewise in the other life, there appears a raining down of fire and brimstone, together with the feeling of burning; and then the earth where they are gapes open, and becomes like a lake, and evil demons are in a marsh there. The latter I have not yet seen, but I sensed it, and told about it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4770

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4770

4770. [4801.] About drunkards

The hellish spirits sometimes come into a state where they become insane, like crazy people, nor do they know what they are thinking or talking about. This insanity is what is called "drunkenness" in the Word.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4771

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4771

4771. [4802.] About teeth

Several times there were with me those who were trying to bring on a gnashing of the teeth, and I noticed that they were such as seemed to themselves to be in certain hells, especially where those are who had impressed on themselves earthly falsities, and had confirmed themselves in them and had drawn from them many conclusions, and who argue from them about spiritual things in the other life. For there is no agreement [between their earthly falsities and spiritual truths], but they conflict; hence the gnashing of teeth.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4772

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4772

4772. [4803.]
About those who hold to the principles of their doctrinal tenets, and about bears

There was a certain one who came to me, and the spirits wondered who he might be. It was sensed from his aura that the spirits felt a repugnance, and afterwards he spoke, saying that he had been led astray, and did not know where he was going, and had drifted to this place. He was a man who had been educated, and had confirmed himself in the principles of his own doctrinal tenets, and especially those regarding faith, and opposed to charity.
There had been much discussion of these matters, but he still had not wanted to be confirmed except only when he heard something that closely approached to his own [doctrine]. Thereupon he betook himself to that congregation of those who are from the Moravian Church, a little below, toward the right, and because he wanted there also to rule them according to his opinions, he was an annoyance to them and, and was cast out from there.
When he had been cast out, he seemed to happen upon a bear, which overcame him, and seemed to maul him, but was unable to do so. He said then that he quite often encountered bears, and they tried to maltreat him, but in vain, and so often that he now cares nothing about them. It was told by angels that those appear to be attacked by bears who had confirmed themselves in doctrinal principles, and tenaciously cling to them, and tried to control the minds of others in accordance with them, thus to rule over them - especially when they are false doctrinal tenets. The keep on being harassed until they no longer care to rule others, but are content that everyone should adhere to their own doctrine.

[4804.] Next I spoke with him who appeared as a bear. He was a little above the head, and it was noticeable that unfriendliness and antipathy, so to speak, existed between the kind of spirits who dispute about truths, and do not permit others to think everyone according to their own understanding, but want to rule over the conscience of others. Hence it was plain that every vice has its own adversaries. He who was a bear said that he is not aware that he appears as such, nor does he know where the urge comes from that drives him against the former one.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4773

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4773

4773. [4805.] Joy in heaven is not apart from use

I have spoken several times with spirits about heavenly joy, saying that they do not know at this day what heavenly joy is, thus what heaven is, but that they imagine it to consist in being served by angels and spirits, and thus breathing joy in idleness, and this to eternity. That this is false was shown to them by the fact, first, that there are no other spirits and angels than those who had been people on earth; secondly, that in heaven it is not granted them to be served by others, but to serve others; then that the mere joy in idleness vanishes within several hours or days, for it is without life; idle pastimes finally become boring to everyone, no matter what joy they may have;
[2] but that heavenly joy consists in an active life, thus in use, and that they have joy in the measure of their use, thus that use is the medium of joy, and that this without the medium from which it comes, never exists.
About the uses which the angels perform, and by virtue of which they feel joy, it was also said that they are very many, and more important than people on earth could ever believe. Glorifying the Lord is not a use, but a recreation, for they glorify the Lord in every use - this the Lord loves. And their uses also are 1) to be with mankind, to impart there goods and truths, 2) to instruct spirits coming out of the world, 3) to instruct little children, 4) to raise the dead, and to lead those raised up, and to educate them, 5) to watch over them, and in addition to take care of domestic matters there, for there are such matters there as people on earth do not know about besides innumerable others. In those uses the angels feel an unutterable joy, for they pertain to mutual love, or caring for the neighbor.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4774

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4774

4774. [4806.] About the Moravian congregation

It had been stated earlier [4762a, 4797a] that there are societies of inward friendship, but they are not among the best, for the reason that they believe they alone are the chosen people, and alive, but the rest are not the chosen, but dead. Thus they look upon the others as dead, and despise them. Indeed, they are even displeased that others are saved. They were asked how they can be of the opinion that the Lord allows so many people to be born who must be tormented in hell, whether this would not be unmerciful, whether they know that the Lord loves everyone, and that He has His Church scattered over the whole globe. Indeed, this is how they are when they realize that others are saved. They think little about the Lord, and owing to their indignation, not well. Moreover, they hold more than others to principles regarding faith, as being saving by itself, and he was asked what he felt about the words the Lord had spoken concerning the last day, that those will inherit heaven who had done good works? They said that those are the fruits of faith. So they were told that the fruits of faith are good works, and that only if they do them from faith, they are saved, and if they do not do them from faith, they are among those who had not done such works [Matt. 25:41-6].
To these words they could not make any reply, for they simply do not want to hear about good works, believing that no one is able to think about them without placing merit in them, but it was shown that this is false. For good works are the same as uses, with which the whole of heaven is engaged. There they do not think of merit. But because [those spirits] are such that they laugh at all outside of their own congregation, who do any good of piety, I spoke with them about this matter, declaring that they are immersed in falsity, and that no one can be saved from faith separated from uses.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4775

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4775

4775. [4807.] Those come together in the other life who had hated each other in the life of the body

There were many evil spirits who lay concealed for a long time, enclosed in a special hell out of which they were unable to break forth. I wondered on several occasions who they might be. One evening they were let out, and the loud sound of them was heard below me, like a turmoil, that lasted the whole night, and when they were granted the opportunity to speak, I heard their blasphemies against me, and [saw] their effort in trying to ascend and destroy me. I asked from the angels the reason, and they said that they had harbored hatred against me when they were alive, and yet they were people I had never done any harm. I was instructed that when they but sense the aura of someone they had held in hatred, they become enraged, and pant for the person's destruction; but they were sent again into their own hell.

[4808.] That those who had mutually harbored hatred for one another come together in the other life, and from both sides attempt many evils against each other, became very well known to me from many examples. For hatred interacts with antipathy, and becomes like a spiritual antipathy, for when they sense the other's aura, they at once become enraged. This shows what it involves that the Lord says of those who are enemies, that they should be reconciled: "if you have ought against your brother, go to him...." [Matt. 5:23-4].

SEM (Odhner) n. 4776

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4776

4776. [4809.] About faith, and the fruits of faith

I once spoke with spirits recently from the world about good works, who had believed them not to be necessary for salvation, saying that they nevertheless call good works, about which the Lord speaks so many times, especially in Matt. 25, the fruits of faith; and that by its fruits the tree is known [Matt. 12:33, Luke 6:44], and it was given me to speak in the same way as they had in the life of the body, saying that if faith is the tree, and good works are its fruits - if this is so - how do they believe that tree will look in the heavenly paradise if it only has leaves, and is without fruits - would it not be as the Lord said, that such a tree should be cut down [Matt. 3:10, 7:19; Luke 3:9]? To this they could make no reply.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4777

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4777

4777. [4810.] About the love of friendship

In a dream I saw a virgin in a room together with others, also with men, who had the inclination of socializing from love, which was seen by the fact that she socialized more intimately and felt a deeper enjoyment with them. The virgin did not wish for me to be let in, although she was among others, because she did not sense with me a like sociability, familiarity, and love of friendship, for they are kind to her.
Afterwards, however, when I became awake, being aroused from sleep, I spoke with her about sociability, familiarity and love of friendship, saying that such qualities may appear in outer form as respectable and praiseworthy, but that the inner form is not like that, but that the inner form has within it either lewdness, or the enjoyment of idleness, or contempt for others, thus that in the inner form there is not anything of friendship, still less of love. She was in every respect kind, prudent in her speaking and actions, appearing like an angelic virgin, but when sent among her female friends and male friends, and separated from the others who were listening, then her inward quality shone forth, she spoke contemptuously about others, and also insultingly, to the degree that the shame in her friendship was relaxed, and she communicated with societies of adultery and promiscuity. She was shown what kind of glory and splendor those enjoy who entertain friendship for goodness, with whomever it may be, and that if she should come among such, she could not be tolerated, that she would cause them trouble.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4778

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4778

4778. [4811.] About Light in the other life
Letters printed with type were seen

It was shown to me in what kind of light those things appear that are in the other life. I once saw in a room certain spirits working on something, and this in such a light that the noonday light of the sun would not equal it by half.

[4812.] It was also granted me to see printed letters, which I read, and this in such bright light that our noonday light would not be enough to lighten them. The least details of a single letter I saw and read, this in order that I might learn in what kind of light those things are that are in the other life, and also that they have written Letters, as well as those as it were printed, and that in the other life they also know how to read.
But I did not understand the language in which it was written. It was said that if this so, it is a special language in which it is written, composed of a variation of sound following the feelings, thus a rational language, and that the very oldest language, to which Hebrew comes very close, was of this nature - if this is true.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4779

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4779

4779. [4813.] Those belonging to the province of the earlobe

There was a spirit with me who flowed rather forcefully into my thought, whenever I was treating about matters concerned with Providence (such as the concern that I might not receive a response from the printer); and each time I was driven into anxious thoughts about this matter. Then I was told that it was a spirit belonging to the province of the outer ear, and in fact the earlobe, or fleshy appendage hanging below the cartilaginous part, or rather, where the thick membranous cartilage is, who was doing this. And it was told that he had been of a mind in the life of the body that when he had prayed for something, and had not obtained it, he would become very indignant, and come into doubt concerning Providence - and yet, when he was outside of that state of mind, he still practiced piety, obediently, as the elders had instilled into him. These are those who are imbued with simple obedience.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4780

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4780

4780. [4814.] About a certain east wind

There were societies badly composed, and then there came those which I had previously called an east wind [2121-7, 2972, 3414]. They came with a rough sound from the right side, a little from above. Something of terror that they bring with them was communicated, but I noticed from the mourning sound of those who were in hell, and normally not fearful, that there was great terror, for they were mourning, and fleeing away, hiding themselves wherever they could.
What they were like appeared to me. They appeared like large heads of wolves, and they gnashed their teeth, and wherever they came, they examined everyone, turning them into a luminous, yellowish something, and him who was thus changed they seized with the mouth, and cast forth. It appeared as if they were devouring him. Later on, those who had been changed and devoured in other hells were heard. This happens when deceitful societies have been badly composed, their composition being effected by the deceitful overhead.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4781

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4781

4781. [4815.] About various hells

A certain one who had been well known to me in the life of the body (Lagerberg) had a strong aura from truth, and protected in that aura, wandered through many hells, and all the while spoke with me about them. I compared him to Aeneus, who had been sent down into places of hell and into the Elysian fields, and wandered through them. Everywhere he came, they either fled away, or were deprived of powers of doing anything against him, or lamented, being everywhere in fear [of him]such [a power] does a person have who is imbued with truth. The hells to which he came were toward the front under the earth, and from there he wandered forward toward the right, and then toward the right where the magical hells were. They were the hells of promiscuous men and women, who were immersed in mud and dirt. After that he went on farther toward the front, a little more to the right, toward the hells of criminals, who wanted to plunder at will. Next, more toward the right, were the hells of sorcerers, and the farther one goes into it, the worse they are. He described how some lie in dirt, some in dung, and some among corpses, and how some look just like corpses, with little life, and yet were able to speak. Some appeared so horrible in the face that they could never be described, and there were so many that they could not be numbered.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4782

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4782

4782. [4816.] Next he went to the hells that were under the earth toward the front, where the kind were who could inspire feelings, and by inspiring feelings attempt to seduce the simple good, which, as was shown, they had frequently attempted to do. From there he also spoke with me, as he had done from the rest of the hells, saying that there they appear with a pale yellow face, like a corpse, hideous, and that they are immersed in dirt. They tried to inspire him with feelings, and also to make him shed tears, but with little success. Those who are such, and who think evil, are spiritual hypocrites.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4783

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4783

4783. [4817.] He advanced still farther forward and came down into a cavern. It was said that no one had ever been there before. Those are there who had devoted themselves to prayers, and under their piety had concealed cruelties. About them, he declared that they were like corpses, indeed, a cadaverous stench wafted out from there toward me. These are the kind who are diametrically opposite to the heavenly ones, and are demons, while those spoken of earlier [4749a- 50a, 4793a], who are opposite to the spiritual, are spirits. The former, namely those who are opposite to the heavenly, or those demons, also flow into the pulse.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4784

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4784

4784. [4818.] He advanced still farther forward, somewhat deeper down, then coming to places that were entirely dark, so that he did not know where he was going, but was still being conducted by angels. From there he said that it was entirely dark, and that there were demons flitting around like ghosts, that they were in no way able to see. It was said that the kind are there who loved darkness and places where light cannot flow in. They were demons from among the hypocritical demons spoken of just above [4816a], and profaners.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4785

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4785

4785. [4819.] When he had finally advanced a little toward the front, then something faint appeared coming from the light, so that he was able to see a little, and then he arrived at the profaners of what is holy, namely those who outwardly behaved in a holy manner for the sake of seducing, but inwardly had thought in a profane manner about holy matters, and in whom holy and profane things had been joined together. They appeared to him like skeletons, and the smell of corpses exhaled from that place. One had a little wheel-like disk around a cylinder, and said that he threw it into the hearts of certain ones, and that then they are no longer conscious of anything, but fall on their face as dead; and that then, they plunder them.

[4820.] There were also those there who, from evil, say that they are profane, and thereby holy, for if only they could confess their profaneness, they would then be freed of it.

[4821.] He went farther from them toward the front, and then to those who are skilled in bringing others to the hopeless thoughts that no one is ever saved, but that all become condemned, such as they. They indeed poured in despair with certain ones, so that I would know what it was like. They came into the anxiety of despair.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4786

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4786

4786. [4822.] * On another day, he proceeded to others in the lower earth, somewhat higher up, arriving at a certain place there where there were enthusiastic** spirits, who declare that they were the holy spirit; and asked where that came from, they said, because they had been made holy by baptism and the holy sacraments.
* This paragraph is emphasized marginally in the autograph by a wavy vertical line.
** I.e. divinely inspired, or fanatic.

[4823.] He went on toward others, who said they have the keys of Peter [Matt. 16:19], and that they, in Peter's stead, open heaven when he is absent, and let people in, and one opened to him, and he was let in. Silver and gold in immense supply were seen by him in a vision, in their vessels and little boxes, with which every nook and cranny was filled. They said that heaven was there, insisting that heaven itself consists in possessing and beholding those things. They added that sometimes they have many such treasures, and that sometimes they vanish, and that this happens for the reason that they then become blind, so that they cannot see them, but when their eyes are opened, they see them. And they had actually had the enjoyment of their life in seeing those things, being simple spirits. This was due to the fact that they had seen the treasures of monasteries, and had derived great enjoyment from them, imagining that the joy of heaven consisted in such things.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4787

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4787

4787. [4824.] The hells of profaners

Round about from far off, there appeared a black fogginess, more or less mixed with a fiery or bloody color, the sight of which brought on horror. In that fog are profaners, thus cast very, very far away. One profaning spirit was sent there, and it was said that there is there nothing but gnashing of teeth and fury of one against the other. It was said that they are round about, at the most far off circumference.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4788

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4788

4788. [4825.] Principles of falsity and enjoyments of evil take away inflow

By actual experience it was granted me to learn that principles of falsity and enjoyments of evil, thus those things belonging to oneself, take away the inflow from heaven and from the Lord. I was being held in a spiritual enjoyment, and there flowed in out of heaven, with variation, a feeling and thought in accord with the inflow, but as soon as I was left to any enjoyment from what was my own, then my thought would cling to it, and thus cut off the inflow. Worry about future events and the resulting anxiety are especially the cause of this.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4789

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4789

4789. [4826.] Those who represent the Stomach

Many anxieties appear to have their seat in the stomach, and the inflow of such spirits is felt there, and sometimes to be there, such as the anxieties associated with greed, which are many. Such people, when they are distressed on account of having to give money, appear to dwell there. There are also other anxieties, which are likewise plainly felt in the stomach, certain ones more deeply, higher up and lower down, depending on their different types. I have often spoken with spirits who brought them on, and who are from the province of the stomach. They interact with indigestion, and the consequent heavy feeling.

[4827.] Moreover, the stomach interacts with the desire to learn, for the sake of use, thus to digest and appropriate those elements which are of use. Then the stomach is in its freedom, expanding freely, and the lung operates freely upon it, with the resulting pleasant life. In the former case it is constricted, unable to obtain its freedom.

[4828.] There were certain ones with me overhead for several hours. I did not notice their presence from any other source than a certain anxious feeling strongly perceptible in the lower part of the stomach. This showed that they had communication with the kind who infested the stomach and those who held the province there. I spoke with the same, saying that I wished that they would withdraw, because they do not harmonize with the aura of those spirits who are with me - for they are repugnant to it.

[4829.] Then also there was a conversation about auras, and the fact that there are many such auras around people, nor do they realize that they are there, and that they also put forth many effects, such as from kissing, from repugnance at anyone's presence, from gladness and freedom, among other effects - and very many others - so that auras are also operative with people on earth. But because they deny all that they do not see, or feel with the body, and because they attribute to nature anything that appears rather occult, and scarcely anyone [believes] that such a thing is from the spiritual world, therefore few reflect upon those matters, and those who do reflect, reject them, either as a hidden [phenomenon] of nature, or as nothing, because they do not understand it.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4790

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4790

4790. [4830.] About writings in the other life

I have noticed on several occasions that those in the other life both read writings, and also write, and I wondered how this could be, because it is contrary to [our] mental imagery regarding their state. But sometimes there appeared before my eyes sheets written by hand, and also printed as if by types, and today a writing that I also read clearly, but I did not understand the words. They were in the ordinary style, but the languages were of some region on earth.
I read it in sequence, but did not understand it. But there was an angel with me, and he understood everything. It was said that such was the style in the other life, fashioned according to their mental imagery, and that inner sight is given them as they read, to understand them. There were also numbers intermingled. They were not foreign characters, but in the style of the Latin letters.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4791

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4791

4791. [4831.] About the Lord seen in a dream

In a dream the Lord was seen by me, with the face and the figure in which He had been when He was in the world. He was such as to be inwardly full, so that He could have ruled the whole heaven from within. There was a certain one not far away from Him at whom He was gazing, and then He raised His eyes a little, and knew at once who, and of what character the person was. And He was often sleeping with His eyes, so to speak, when He was inwardly in Himself. Also when I awoke He was faintly seen by me, and it was said that so He had appeared, in short, He was filled with heaven and with the Divine. In the night between 18 and 19 Nov., 1751.

SEM (Odhner) n. 4792

Spiritual Experiences Minor (Odhner) n. 4792

4792. [4832.] About the Jews, about the Messiah and Bethlehem

When I was writing about Bethlehem, whence the Messiah came [A.C.] no. 4593, to the effect that they knew earlier that the Messiah would be born there, then the Jews realized, and thought about the Messiah, that the prophetical parts [of the Word] declare this, but that now it is hardly known where Bethlehem is located, nor can it be believed that the Messiah, Whom they await, would be born there, for they expect Him from somewhere else. Thus they did not know what they should believe.