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!

MUSCULAR STUDY

It seemed to me that Doctor Moraeus paid court to a pretty girl, obtained her consent, and thus had the means of taking her where he chose. I joked with her about the readiness with which she said "Yes." etc.. etc. She was a pretty girl, and grew bigger and prettier.

It meant that I should inform myself about the muscles and reflect upon them.

Dr. Moraeus was Swedenborg's cousin.

Editor's Note

Freud would no doubt see Swedenborg's interpretation as mere denial. In the introduction to Swedenborg's dream-journal, Wilson van Dusen, a Jungian, claims dreams are only concerned with one's inner journey to spiritual development, so Swedenborg's wrong to assume his dreams can address his scientific work. Sorry, I side with Swedenborg. He was at the time writing a major anatomical study focused on the nerves; why shouldn't his dreams comment on an area he's neglecting? My dreams are just as interested in creativity, health, work and finance as in spiritual progress, and sex can symbolize nonsexual issues just as well as a nonsexual image can symbolize sex. Example: Take Stock of the Pelvis!

Source: Swedenborg's Journal of Dreams 1743-1744, 1989 ed. with intro by Wilson van Dusen. Paragraph 126. 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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