Heaven and Hell #142
142. The SECOND difference is that to the angels the east is always facing them, the west behind, the south to the right and the north to the left. But since this can scarcely be comprehended in the world, because man turns his face to every quarter, it will, therefore, be explained. The entire heaven turns to the Lord as to its common centre, thus all the angels turn to Him. It is known that also on the earth there is a directing of all things towards a common centre. But there is this difference between the directing in the world and in heaven, that in heaven the front parts are turned to their common centre, but in the world the lower parts. In the world this directing is called centripetal force and also gravitation. The interiors of the angels are indeed actually turned forwards; and since the interiors manifest themselves in the face, therefore it is the face that determines the quarters. 1
Footnotes:
1. [Swedenborg's footnote] In heaven all turn themselves to the Lord (Arcana Coelestia 9828, 10130, 10189, 10420).
Nevertheless, the angels do not turn themselves to the Lord, but the Lord turns them to Himself (Arcana Coelestia 10189).
It is not that the angels are present with the Lord, but the Lord is present with the angels (Arcana Coelestia 9415).
