pare the thread. The women sit down on
a seat, with their backs bent, and twist the threads with their toes;
and when twisted they draw the threads towards them, and work them
with their hands.

147. They said also, that on that earth a husband has only one wife,
and no more; and that they beget from ten to fifteen children. They
added, that there are likewise found harlots on that earth; but that
these, after the life of the body, when they become spirits, are
sorceresses, and are cast into hell.

THE THIRD EARTH IN THE STARRY HEAVEN, AND ITS SPIRITS AND INHABITANTS.

148. There appeared some spirits at a distance, who were unwilling
to approach. The reason was, that they could not be together with the
spirits of our Earth who were then about me. From this I apperceived
that they were from another earth; and I was told afterwards that they
were from a certain earth in the universe; but where that earth is,
was not made known to me. These spirits, unlike the spirits from our
Earth, were absolutely unwilling to think about their body, or even
about anything corporeal and material; hence it was that they were
unwilling to approach; yet, after the removal of some of the spirits
of our Earth, they drew nearer, and spoke with me. But then there
was a sense of anxiety arising from the collision of the spheres; for
spiritual spheres surround all spirits and societies of spirits[cc];
and since they emanate from the life of the affections and the
consequent thoughts, therefore where the affections are contrary
collision takes place, and hence arises anxiety. The spirits of our
Earth related, that they dare not even approach them; since, on their
approach, they are not only seized with anxiety, but also appear to
themselves as if they were bound hand and foot with serpents, from
which they cannot be freed till they have departed. This appearance
takes its origin from correspondence; for the spirits of our Earth,
in the Grand Man, have relation to external sense, consequently to the
corporeal Sensual, and this Sensual is represented in the other life
by serpents[xx].

[Footnote xx: The external Sensual of man in the spiritual world is
represented by serpents, because it is in the lowest [parts], and
relatively to the more interior things in man, lies on the ground, and
as it were creeps; and on this ground they were called serpents who
reasoned from that Sensual, nos. 195-197, 6398, 6949.]

149. As the spirits of tha