489. CONCERNING THE HARMONIC HYMNS OF THE ANGELS Today, I heard angels of the interior heaven, of whom there were very many in consociation, forming a hymn which was plainly audible to me, but I could not understand what they were saying because they were angels; neither could the spirits who were about me perceive what it was. I could only recognize from a certain variety of interior affection, that there was something heavenly in it. The angels perceived those hymns clearly. To me, they were like a continuous infantile sound, resembling that of a flute: and they were in a heavenly gyre which very many form, and they say and represent the same thing together. I was afterwards informed what they had been saying, namely, that by their hymns they had been forming a golden crown with diadems about the head of our Savior, which was effected both by means of heavenly representations, and by distinct ideas which are the beginnings of human words but intelligible to no spirit or man; and what is wonderful, very many say and represent this together. Nor does one command another, so that no one leads the choir, but all together lead each other mutually, and indeed the more there are, so much the more easily is this done; because all are governed by God Messiah, that harmony is incredible to man, nevertheless such is the nature of spiritual and celestial harmony. Moreover, they flow and are carried round into spiritual and celestial gyres which are of innumerable variety. I was also admitted into certain grosser gyres which I could follow.* But he who wants to act from himself and to command the others, and is unwilling to suffer himself to be led, can by no means be among them, except compulsorily. Into such harmonies and agreements are souls reduced by degrees, so that at length they can be among the angels** 1748, Jan. 18. * Crossed out: "but I am not yet [admitted] into such gyres, because I am a man; if I were admitted nothing could..." ** Crossed out: "Otherwise, they are rejected."