t being then present I
conversed with them. Hence it is evident that earths in the spiritual
world are not distant as in the natural world, but only apparently so
according to the states of life of their inhabitants and spirits. The
state of life is the state of the affections as to love and faith.
In regard to a spirit, or, what is the same, a man as to his spirit,
being able to see the things that are on an earth, I may also explain
how the case therein is. Neither spirits nor angels are able, by their
own sight, to see anything that is in the world; for to them the light
of the world, that is, solar light, is as thick darkness: just as man
by his bodily sight cannot see anything that is in the other life;
for to him the light of heaven is as thick darkness. But nevertheless
spirits and angels, when it pleases the Lord, can see the things in
the natural world through the eyes of a man; but this is not granted
by the Lord with any except those whom He permits to speak with
spirits and angels, and to be together with them. It has been
permitted them to see through my eyes the things in this world, and as
plainly as I myself did; and even to hear men speaking with me. It has
sometimes happened that through me some have seen their friends,
with whom they had been intimate in the life of the body, altogether
present as before, and they have been amazed thereat. Wives also have
seen in this manner their husbands and children, and have wanted me to
tell them that they were present and saw them, and to inform them
of their state in the other life. But it was forbidden me to say and
reveal to them that they had been seen in this way, for the further
reason that they would have called me insane, or have thought my
information ravings of the mind (_animus_), for I was well aware that,
although they affirmed with their mouth, they yet did not at heart
believe in the existence of spirits, the resurrection of the dead and
their living among spirits, and these being able to see and hear by
means of a man. When my interior sight was first opened, and when
those who are in the other life saw through my eyes the world and the
things therein, they were so amazed that they called it the miracle of
miracles, and were affected with new joy that there was thus granted a
communication of the Earth with heaven, and of heaven with the Earth.
This joy continued for months; but afterwards it became familiar, and
now the wonder has ceased. I have