1057. About a portrayal of spiritual things, and their distinct difference from heavenly ones
There are many spiritual methods of understanding things, some of them obvious, others almost secret, but still becoming evident enough. Spiritual qualities are depicted spiritually by rather sharp, but glittering shapes, by linear and back-and-forth flowing motions, by stripes, by white and shining things - but when the heavenly quality is reigning [in them], by brilliant shining things - and the like.
1057. CONCERNING THE REPRESENTATION OF SPIRITUAL THINGS, AND THEIR DISTINCTION FROM THINGS CELESTIAL
There are many spiritual ways of perceiving things. Some are manifest, and others are secret, as it were, but yet become sufficiently plain. Spiritual things are represented in a spiritual manner by what is quite sharp, though vibrating, by fluctions as it were both linear and reciprocal, by things striated, also by things white and shining. When, on the contrary, the celestial rules, they are represented by splendid shining things, and the like.
1057. De repraesentatione spiritualium, et distinctione eorum a coelestibus
Modi spirituales percipiendi res sunt plures, sunt manifestae, et sunt aliae quasi arcanae, sed usque satis patescunt; spiritualia repraesentantur modo spirituali per acutiora, usque se vibrantia, per fluxiones quasi lineares et reciprocas, per striata, praeter per alba, et candida; at vero dum coeleste regnat, per candida splendida, ac similia.