EARTHS IN THE UNIVERSE.

1.  Inasmuch as, by the Divine mercy of the Lord, the interiors which are of my spirit have been opened in me, and it has thereby been given me to speak with spirits and angels, not only with those who are near our Earth, but also with those who are near other earths; and since I had an ardent desire to know whether there were other earths, and to know their character and the character of their inhabitants; it has been granted me by the Lord to speak and have intercourse with spirits and angels who are from other earths, with some for a day, with some for a week, with some for months; and to be instructed by them respecting the earths from and near which they were, and concerning the life, customs, and worship of their inhabitants, besides various other things there that are worthy of note.  And since it has been given me to become acquainted with these matters in this way, it is permitted me to describe them from the things which I have heard and seen.  It is necessary that it be known that all spirits and angels are from the human race[a], and that they are near their own earths[b], and are acquainted with what is upon them; and that a man may be instructed by them, if his interiors are so far opened as to enable him to speak and be in company with them:  for man in his essence is a spirit[c], and is in company with spirits as to his interiors[d]; wherefore he whose interiors are opened by the Lord, is able to speak with them, as man with man[e].  It has now been granted me to enjoy this privilege daily for twelve years.

[Footnote:  From the arcana COELESTIA:  in which work these and subsequent articles, which are inserted below the line, are explained and shown.]

[Footnote a:  There are no spirits and angels who are not from the human race, no. 1880.]

[Footnote b:  The spirits of every earth are near their own earth, because they are of its inhabitants, and of a similar genius; and they are meant to be of service to them, no. 9968.]

[Footnote c:  The soul, which lives after death, is the spirit of man, which in a man is the man himself, and also appears in the other life in a perfect human form, nos. 322, 1880, 1881, 3633, 4622, 4735, 6054, 6605, 6626, 7021, 10594.]

[Footnote d:  Man, even during his abode in the world, is, as to his interiors, consequently as to his spirit or soul, in the midst of spirits and angels who are of such a character as he himself is, nos. 2379, 3645, 4067, 4073, 4077.]

[Footnote e:  Man is capable of speaking with spirits and angels, and the ancients on our Earth frequently spoke with them, nos. 67, 68, 69, 784, 1634, 1636, 7802.  But at the present day it is dangerous for man to speak with them, unless he be in a true faith, and be led by the Lord, nos. 784, 9438, 10751.]