INTRODUCTION

Swedenborg (1688-1772) worked for decades as a scientist (especially metallurgy and mining), but his reputation today is primarily as a mystic. He kept a dream journal during the period of his great change from engineer to visionary, early 1743 to late '44; one of the world's oldest surviving dream-journals. It was never meant for publication--scrawled, with scratch-outs, abbreviations and highly personal references--difficult even before translation. However, Swedenborg's scientific habits serve him well--dates are clear, dreams are in sequence, and he regularly attempts interpretation; he's practical, reasonable, and sometimes records multiple possibilities.

Yet he was devout; he seems determined to emulate Christ, purging all selfish and worldly urges to become, essentially, a saint. Curious ambition for a scientist! Odder still, he achieved it--at least his practical demonstrations of miraculous knowledge (see Swedenborg's Visions) were the best-documented of his century; he influenced Blake and Emerson, and troubled Kant. If he'd been Catholic he'd likely be a saint--if a controversial one like Francis of Assisi. As it is, he's a strange, powerful figure making both scientists and conventional Christians uncomfortable. Good for him!

SAVED TWICE

... Still I could not at all keep myself under, or hinder myself from seeking after the sex; though I was far from having any intention of committing acts; so that I thought in my dream that it was not so much against God's Ordinance. (I was in company with Prof. Oelreich in certain places.) Of this I was never forewarned, as of other things I had committed.

However, that which had been represented to me in a dream some days before happened to me; for in one day I was exposed to two deadly perils; this indeed happened to me, so that had not God then been my protector, I should have given away my life in two places. The particulars I will not describe.

However, the inward joy was so strong and lasting, especially when I was alone by myself, without company, mornings, evenings, days, that it may be likened to heavenly joy here upon earth. This I hope to keep, so long through our Lord's grace alone as I can go the pure way, and have the right view; for if I go aside and seek my joy in worldly things, it disappears...

Editor's Note

Maddening not to have details! He was on a trip to London at the time; that's all we know. Even without details, this much is clear: predictive dreams helped save his life twice. His later, spectacular feats of clairvoyance recorded by Kant--see Swedenborg's Visions--were not flukes.

No surprise. Most serious dreamworkers start having such ESP hits once they start scouring away their preconceptions, cultural brainwashing, and personal biases; at least, most published dream-journals contain paranormal experiences. See Dream-Journals, especially Al Davison, Jack Kerouac, Anna Kingsford, Vladimir Nabokov, Nancy Price, Rick Veitch...

Source: Swedenborg's Journal of Dreams 1743-1744, 1989 ed. with intro by Wilson van Dusen. Paragraphs 200-201. Descriptive titles are mine; untitled in journal. Interpretations are Swedenborg's, though run together with dream text; I offset interpretations for clarity.

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