Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 177
circumfluent atmosphere, in which are innumerable things in
their order derived from angelic wisdom, and these enter
another’s thought and affect him. The ideas of thought of
everyone, both angel and man, are presented to view in the
light of heaven, whenever the Lord pleases. 174
241. The speech of angels of the Lord’s celestial kingdom
resembles the speech of the angels of his spiritual kingdom, but
it is from more interior thought. Celestial angels are in good of
love to the Lord, and therefore speak from wisdom; while
spiritual angels are in the good of charity toward the neighbor,
which in its essence is truth (n. 215), and therefore speak from
intelligence, for wisdom is from good, and intelligence is from
truth. For this reason the speech of celestial angels is like a
gentle stream, soft, and as it were continuous; but the speech of
spiritual angels is slightly vibratory and divided. The speech of
celestial angels has much of the tones of the vowels u and o;
while the speech of spiritual angels has much of the tones of e
and i; 175
for the vowels stand for tone, and in the tone there is
affection, the tone of the speech of angels corresponding to
their affection, as has been said above (n. 236); while the vocal
articulations, which are words, correspond to the ideas of
thought which spring from affection. As the vowels are not
essential to a language, but serve by means of tones to elevate
the words to the various affections according to each one’s
state, so in the Hebrew tongue the vowels are not expressed,
174. The innumerable things contained in one idea of thought (n.
1008, 1869, 4946, 6613–6618). The ideas of man’s thought are opened in
the other life, and what they are is presented to view to the life (n. 1869,
3310, 5510). What their appearance is (n. 6601, 8885). The ideas of angels
of the inmost heaven present an appearance of flamy light (n. 6615). The
ideas of angels of the outmost heaven present an appearance of thin white
clouds (n. 6614). An angelic idea seen, from which there was a radiation
toward the Lord (n. 6620). Ideas of thought extend themselves widely into
the societies of angels round about (n. 6598–6613).
175. [As these vowels are pronounced in European languages.
—Translator.]