331. The beginning of jealousy that is seen in little children is most sweet

From an experience today, I learned that the apparent envy in little children toward other little children when in rivalry over the mother, arises from a most pleasant beginning, and from love, thus through heaven. For while I was being kept in thought about envy in little children, it was said to me aloud from heaven that they felt a heavenly sweetness, which varied according to the individuals.

From this one can conclude that the very passions and desires in a person all come from a heavenly starting point, and from Love Itself, therefore through heaven; but that on the way, outside of heaven, they are turned by spirits into something opposite, likewise by each person as receiver [they are qualified] by his or her essential form, and its variations with their changing states of mind.