557. CONCERNING THE COMMUNICATION OF SPIRITS WITH MAN As was before said and shown [nos. 319, 445], when spirits, who are the souls of those who are dead as to the body, are with man and stand at his back, they suppose themselves to be altogether men; and if it were permitted them, by means of the man who speaks with them - but not with others - they could altogether be in the life of the world, and indeed so manifestly, that through another man they could communicate their thoughts, by means of words, and even by letters. For at times, yea very often, they have directed my hand when writing just as if it were their own, so that they supposed that it was they who were writing. This is indeed true, as I can testify. Indeed, if it were permitted, they could write in their own style, which also I know by some little experience; but this is not permitted. 1748, Jan. 26.* * A number of instances of this experience will be found in The Word Explained, nos. 1150, 1510a, 5652, 6327.