Spiritual Experiences (Buss) n. 1752

Previous Number Next Number Next Translation See Latin 

1752. CONCERNING VISIONS WHICH ARE ILLUSIONS. There are visions experienced by certain persons on the earth who say and boast that they have seen many [wonderful] sights; and they are also called seers [visionarii]. This kind of visions is such that when any object is presented, be it what it may, certain spirits induce upon it such an appearance by phantasies, that when a cloud for instance, or a certain lunar light is seen by night, then spirits hold his mind, and thus his imagination, in the representation of some particular thing, whether of an animal, or an infant, or any monstrosity; and as long as his imagination is held in things of this kind, he is persuaded that he actually sees such things. In this way very many visions are bruited, which are nothing else than illusions; but such thin often happen to those who indulge much in phantasies, and who thus labor under an infirmity of mind, which renders them credulous.


This page is part of the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg

© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church