Heaven and Hell - Swedenborg Foundation

HEAVEN AND HELL 496
by the ways in which the spirits go. Good spirits there travel in
the ways that go toward heaven, but evil spirits in the ways that
go toward hell. Ways actually appear in that world; and that is
the reason why ways in the Word signify the truths that lead to
good, or in the opposite sense the falsities that lead to evil; and
for the same reason going, walking, and journeying in the
Word signify progressions of life. 291
Such ways I have often
been permitted to see, also spirits going and walking in them
freely, in accord with their affections and thoughts.
591. Evil continually breathes forth and ascends out of hell,
and good continually breathes forth and descends out of
heaven, because everyone is encompassed by a spiritual sphere;
and that sphere flows forth and pours out from the life of the
affections and the thoughts therefrom. 292
And as such a sphere
flows forth from every individual, it flows forth also from every
heavenly society and from every infernal society, consequently
from all together, that is, from the entire heaven and from the
entire hell. Good flows forth from heaven because all there are
in good; and evil flows forth from hell because all there are in
291. In the word “to journey,” as well as “to go,” signifies progression of
life (n. 3335, 4375, 4554, 4585, 4882, 5493, 5605, 5996, 8181, 8345,
8397, 8417, 8420, 8557).
“To go (and to walk) with the Lord” means to receive spiritual life, and
to live with Him (n. 10567). “To walk” means to live (n. 519, 1794, 8417,
8420).
292. A spiritual sphere, which is a sphere of life, flows forth and pours
forth from every man, spirit, and angel, and encompasses him (n. 4464,
5179, 7454, 8630).
It flows forth from the life of their affections and thoughts (n. 2489,
4464, 6206).
The quality of spirits is recognized at a distance from their spheres (n.
1048, 1053, 1316, 1504). Spheres from the evil are the opposites of spheres
from the good (n. 1695, 10187, 10312). Such spheres extend far into angelic
societies in accordance with the quality and quantity of good (n. 6598–6613,
8063, 8794, 8797). And into infernal societies in accordance with the quality
and quantity of evil (n. 8794).