192. CONCERNING THE KINDS OF REPRESENTATIONS OF SPIRITS When the bodily senses are withdrawn from things internal, so that internals may operate and be brought forth, which is the case with very few at this day, imaginations of a kind different from those which are familiar are then as it were open. One kind is that in which it is allowed, not by any internal sight, but by a sense associated with an obscure sight, to perceive and observe the operations of spirits, also their changing presence, and their approach and departure, besides other things. In this kind of imagination in which I have now continued for almost three years by the merciful favor of God Messiah, I have perceived and observed so many things which concern the operations of spirits in particular, that they could never be described except by volumes. Nevertheless, I wish to relate the following as being worthy of mention: by this kind of phantasy evil spirits continually desire to excite enmities amongst themselves, and when it is permitted, simply by phantasy they represent their companions under various shapes of animals, as serpents of various kinds; nor can their companions, who are thus represented, liberate themselves from that phantasy before such permission is withdrawn. Thus they are turned into various kinds of animals, simply by representation, which is also the reason why in stories of olden times it was fabled of the devil and others that they were transformed into so many forms of animals, and why in the Word of God Messiah also they are thus represented, as by serpents, dragons, wolves, etc. This is done according to the cupidities and states of cupidities in which they are. With regard to the second kind of imaginations which are present in those to whom it is granted to separate externals from internals: they are representations which are as vivid when the eyes are closed as in full wakefulness, like those seen in lucid dreams, and sometimes as in a moderate light. Indeed, there is then usually presented a morning light, as it were, with flaming fire, and in that light, and apart from it, there are presented various objects, such as men and other things, as in a moderate light; and during the time there is for the most part conversation with the spirits who are representing those things. A third kind of imagination is vivid as in semi-wakefulness, conjoined with every sensation, so that there is no difference whatever; but in me this kind existed when the interior man was for a long time separated from the external. There is also given another state of active or living imagination, which should in particular be called the vision of the prophets, when single spiritual objects are represented by such things as are contained in the letter or the literal sense of the Prophets. It has also been granted me to perceive more subtle and purer representations, but rather imperceptible to me in this state; yet in the former state the objects were in some measure perceptible to me, but not to the spirits. That the ancients, especially the sons of the Ancient Church, were in that state, and they thus perceived various representations of spirits and angels, can be concluded and known for certain from very many indications, but for many reasons [this state no longer] exists.* * This paragraph is written in the left margin of the manuscript. The words in brackets have been supplied by the Editor of the Latin edition, the paper here having crumbled away. Here in the manuscript are some grammatical notes on Hebrew which may be found at the end of this volume.