186. That it may be still better understood what discrete degrees are, what their nature is, and how they differ from continuous degrees, the angelic heavens may serve as an example. There are three heavens, and these are separated by degrees of height. Wherefore the heavens are one below another, nor do they communicate with each other except by influx, which is effected by the Lord through the heavens in their order to the lowest, but not the other way about. Each heaven by itself, however, is divided into regions not by degrees of height but by degrees of breadth. Those who are in the middle, or the centre, are in the light of wisdom, but those who are on the outside even at the boundaries, are in the shade of wisdom. Thus wisdom decreases, even to ignorance, just as the light decreases towards shade, which takes place by continuity. It is the same with men. The interiors belonging to their minds are separated into as many degrees as the angelic heavens, and these degrees are one above another. Therefore the interiors of men belonging to their minds are separated by discrete degrees, or degrees of height. Hence it is that man may be in the lowest degree, then in a higher, and even in the highest, according to the degree of his wisdom; and when he is only in the lowest degree, the higher degree is closed, but as he receives wisdom from the Lord, it is opened. There are also in man, as in heaven, continuous degrees or degrees of breadth. A man is like the heavens because as regards the interiors of his mind he is a heaven in the least form, to the extent that he is in love and wisdom from the Lord. That a man as regards the interiors of his mind is a heaven in the least form may be seen in the work HEAVEN AND HELL (n. 51-58).