Arcana Coelestia (Elliott) n. 1884

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1884. In the case of the second - described by 'carried away by the spirit into another place'- I have been shown what it is and what it is like through actual experience, but only two or three times, of which let merely one experience be described. Walking through the streets of a city and through countryside, and being at the same time engaged in conversation with spirits, I knew no other than that I was fully awake and seeing things as at other times, so that I walked on without going astray. Yet during all that time I was in a vision, seeing groves, rivers, palaces, houses, people, and many other things. But after I had walked for several hours in this fashion I suddenly found myself seeing with my physical eyes, and I realized that I was in another place. In my utter astonishment I recognized that I had been in the kind of state experienced by people who are said to have been 'carried away by the spirit into another place', for while it all lasts no thought is given to the route that is taken, even though it were one of many miles. Nor is any thought given to the time involved, even though it were a matter of many hours or days. Nor are there any feelings of tiredness. Furthermore that person is led along paths unknown to him until the destination is reached. This happened to me so that I might know that the Lord can lead a person without his knowing where he has come from or is going to.


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