Arcana Coelestia#1451
1451. 'Being removed to the mountain on the east of Bethel means an advance made in the celestial things of love. This becomes clear from the meaning of 'a mountain' as that which is celestial, as shown in 795, 796; from the meaning of 'the east' as Jehovah Himself as regards love, who is the east itself, as has also been shown in 101 and elsewhere; and also from the meaning of 'Bethel' as knowledge of celestial things. Celestial things are implanted both independently of cognitions and together with cognitions. The implantation independently of cognitions occurs during infancy to childhood, as stated just above, whereas the implantation of them together with cognitions occurs after that, from childhood into adult life. And since the Lord was to advance into cognitions of celestial things, which are meant by 'Bethel', it is said here that 'he removed from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel'.
Arcana Coelestia#101
101. The Lord is 'the east'. This too is clear from several places in the Word, as in Ezekiel,
He brought me to the gate, to the gate facing the way of the east. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and His voice was like the voice of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory. Ezekiel 43:1-2, 4.
The Lord's being 'the east' was the reason for the sacred practice in the Jewish representative Church, before the Temple was built, of facing eastwards when praying.