About the life of brute animals I spoke with angels, and I said that they are ruled by a kind of general vital force, which is the life of demons and spirits. For demons and spirits are arranged in classes, and by kinds and classes they are kept in their order and in their suborder. Now because they are forms of energy, a general life emanates from them that is actually concordant with the diverse powers and abilities brute animals possess. This is true of every other form of energy: it spreads itself out and builds up a field, which may be called a field of energy, and extends itself in the finer regions of nature to a great, in fact immeasurable distance. Every demon and spirit has their own field of energy, as has been demonstrated to me in many ways, as also do all collectively have one. The field of energy agrees with the rank in which they are, and unless that order were maintained by God the Messiah, every single life form on earth would perish, in fact the whole heaven would be thrown into confusion. This is the reason why animals live according to their own nature, and do not deviate from it, and why the various kinds of animals are aroused by different physical objects, and by changes in the condition of either blood.* Man, however, and evil spirits, because they live a life contrary to nature, must absolutely be ruled by God the Messiah through angels of various classes, and also by spirits who are given greater power to operate with a person who is let into temptations. And unless people on earth were ruled by God the Messiah through angels and spirits, the part of their mind devoted to understanding could by no means be opened, or instructed, for we are born without understanding, and the understanding develops in the course of time. It is different in the case of brute animals. * Probably referring to the "spirits" and the "serum," see 962.