Quite freely and boldly I stepped down a large stairway; by and by there was a ladder, below it there was a hole which went down to a great depth; it was difficult to get to the other side without falling into the hole. On the other side there were persons to whom I reached out my hand to help them cross over, I awoke. It is the danger in which I am of falling into t he abyss, unless I receive help. JD 20*
So begins a most remarkable journey into inner space and the worlds beyond. This is the privately recorded dream of Eman uel Swed enborg , wh o may have been one of the most gifted men to have ever lived. In itself the dr eam is rema rka ble en ou gh . Tho ugh wr it te n ove r two ce nt ur ie s ago, th e dreamer reflects a modern understanding of the nature of dreams. The dream is a dramatic representation of the present life of the dreamer. To get the most from it the dreamer shou ld ident ify with all part s of it. He coul d easily have flattered himself as the helper of others. Yet he sees the •See the Key to Abbreviations of Works Cited, p. 000.
