688. CONCERNING HORSES SEEN Horses, and chariots drawn by horses, of various colors and sizes have been seen by me many times (concerning which see above [nos. 302, 560, 632]), which, as I learnt today and once before, signify man's learning - in a good sense, intelligence, in a perverted sense, learning that inverts true intelligence. Further, from the position of the horse one can know what it signifies, namely, when the hinder part of a horse is turned towards the face it then signifies that an inverted order and inverted faith have been induced by learning, that is to say, that men have thereby become insane, or altogether stupid in spiritual things, so that they believe nothing but earthly and worldly things that they will die like the animals, and that no life will remain after death. Thus their sciences suffocate all understanding and faith concerning spiritual life. To such the hinder parts of the horse are turned; indeed, they are cast into the horse, although unwilling they are thrust in, which is done to their great worry and shame. 1748, Feb. 9.