930. Thus they can also be explored as to what kind of idea they have concerning the Lord, heaven, the life after bodily life, and the like, and other things which concern general society and [particular] societies. There is, as it were, a sphere exhaling and operating very actively, so that it perverts or bends the thoughts of others, and persuades him that the thoughts which are active with them are as it were his own. Moreover, the activity of this sphere is usually stronger, or weaker, according to the actuality inrooted in the man from the ends which he has desired, more or less; in this way also the ends to which his desires are determined by the man can be ascertained, for he is the same in the means. Spirits who are rather weak, also those who are susceptible to the operations of another, can easily be induced to believe that they are of a certain nature, because the state of others is induced upon them; but such states cannot affect the angels. 1748, Feb. 22.