4250. About the life of spirits

About inward wakefulness

About spirits seen of old, as by Abraham

In my sleep at night, when it was completely night and nothing was visible, then I was conducted into a state of inward wakefulness, which was such that I knew absolutely nothing else but that I was awake. I thought as if awake, I saw as if awake, I was convinced that I was, so that I believed I was entirely awake. But it was an inward wakefulness, one of the spirit in me, not of the body, as I then enjoyed the full use of all the senses, with the same acumen and perspicuity. I seemed to myself to be in bed, and there was a little boy there with me, and it seemed to me that there was someone sitting near me who appeared just like a person on earth, so dressed, having a human face and similar speech. He told his name, but I was prompted to tell him that even though he so appears, yet he is a spirit. This it was granted me to show him, for when he touched me with his hand and arm, they went right through mine, but afterwards it also happened differently and they did not pass through mine, and my sense of touch was entirely as when I am awake.

[2] Afterwards there came another man with a larger face, with whom I also spoke. He appeared entirely as a person on earth, also dressed. Then there came others, also women, who appeared to me entirely as in full daylight, with whom I also spoke. Also seen was a bed spread most beautifully with white sheets, on which was the little boy. Then there was also a man closed up in a kind of room, whereupon I called a certain other to see this man who was closed up, asking whether he judged that this was a spirit so closed up, since he appeared alive as a person on earth. Finally I came out of this wakeful state of the spirit into one of bodily wakefulness, and I was surprised to find it was a dark night, and I spoke with those I had been with in that state of inward wakefulness, and heard them saying that a person on earth can easily be brought back into such a state, but that at this day it is not permitted; and that Abraham had been brought back into that state when he saw angels, then also Lot, and Gideon, when they saw angels. Then they said that they live in that state of wakefulness of the spirit, and do not know otherwise than that they are people on earth, and that this happens with a person on earth not only in a state of sleep, but also in one of half wakefulness - even while walking, as has also happened with me two or three times. Hence it has been granted me to learn how the case was with angels in the Jewish Church. When I have awakened otherwise, and in the usual manner, I have also seen spirits, which has happened very frequently. 1749, the night between 1 and 2 May.