420. On the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.- That this signifies everywhere in the spiritual world, even to its ultimates, with those in whom there is any perception, is evident from the signification of "the earth," as denoting the whole spiritual world, and therefore, all the angels and spirits there; for earth in its general and most evident meaning, has this signification, because in the spiritual world just as in the natural, there are lands (terroe), mountains, hills, plains, valleys, and also seas; concerning which see above (n. 304:3, 342:3, 413:4), and from the signification of "the sea," as denoting the ultimates of the land (terra) in the spiritual world, because the ultimate boundaries there are seas, concerning which see above (n. 342), and from the signification of a tree, as denoting perception and also knowledge, of which we shall speak presently. Because the earth, the sea, and a tree, signify such things, therefore all three, embraced under one meaning, signify everything in the spiritual world, even to its ultimates, with those in whom there is any perception. A tree signifies in general, perception and cognition, because a garden signifies intelligence, and all intelligence is proportionate to cognitions and the perception of them, and therefore each distinct species of trees signifies something pertaining to knowledge (scientia) and intelligence. Since a tree in general signifies perception and cognition, it therefore also signifies the interiors of man's mind, and also the whole man, for a man's quality is such as the interiors of his mind are, and these are according to his perception from cognitions. That a tree signifies the interiors of man's mind, and also the man himself, may be seen above (n. 109, 110); that a tree signifies perception and cognition, see, Arcana Coelestia 103, 2163, 2682, 2722, 2972, 7692). That the ancients had divine worship in groves under trees, according to their significations (n. 2722, 4552); that this was not allowed to the Jewish nation, and the reasons (n. 2722); that paradises and gardens signify intelligence (n. 100, 108, 3220); also in Heaven and Hell (n. 176), and above (n. 110).

110. But at the present day no one can know the spiritual things in heaven to which the natural things in the world correspond except from heaven, since the knowledge of correspondences is now wholly lost. But the nature of the correspondence of spiritual things with natural I shall be glad to illustrate by some examples. The animals of the earth correspond in general to affection, mild and useful animals to good affections, fierce and useless ones to evil affections. In particular, cattle and their young correspond to the affections of the natural mind, sheep and lambs to the affections of the spiritual mind; while birds correspond, according to their species, to the intellectual things of the natural or the spiritual mind. ¹ For this reason various animals, as cattle and their young, rams, sheep, he-goats, and she-goats, he-lambs and she-lambs, also pigeons and turtledoves, were devoted to a sacred use in the Israelitish Church, which was a representative church, and sacrifices and burnt offerings were made of them. For they correspond in that use to spiritual things, and in heaven these were understood in accordance with the correspondences. Moreover, animals according to their kinds and species, because they have life, are affections; and the life of each one is solely from affection and in accordance with affection; consequently every animal has an innate knowledge that is in accord with its life's affection. Man is like an animal so far as his natural man is concerned, and is therefore likened to animals in common speech; for example, if he is gentle he is called a sheep or lamb, if fierce a bear or wolf, if cunning a fox or serpent, and so on.

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