The windmills and the climb toward gold

Afterwards I came to a place where there were wonderfully large and tall windmills going at a terrible speed. I then came into a darkness, so that I crept on the ground, being afraid that one of the wings would catch me, which would have been the end of me. I did come beneath a wing which then stopped, and brought myself well within it, so that the wing helped me. It meant that during the day I had been in conflict with my thoughts, which are signified by the wings of the mill, and that sometimes I did not know whither I was tending. Yet, by the grace of God, they were calmed and I was brought forth safe and sound; wherefore, glory and praise to God, who looks not upon my weakness.

Afterwards it seemed to me I was in company with some persons who appeared as if desirous to make gold, but they saw that they would have to climb up, which they were not able to do, and that otherwise it would be impossible to make gold; this continued for some time, until after a while I was together with two persons who nevertheless attempted to climb up, although our Lord was not with them. I said that it could not be done, and then went up before them; I had a rope, and pulled, but noticed that there was something beneath which pulled strongly against me; finally I saw that it was a man, but I was stronger and pulled up; then I was glad and said that it was as I had said.

It means, I believe, that the gold signifies what is good and pleasing to God; in order to gain it one must climb up, which is not in our power, even though we are able to do it by our own strength, and that we then find that there is something pulling strongly against us, but after a while there is victory, by the grace of God.

Afterwards I remained long in the same thought, which became more and more luminously red; this light signifies that the grace of God is written within it; and everything pointed to this, that we must actually do that which is good, by the grace of God and in faith, which God may grant, and to perform it; this is to make gold, for then we receive from our Lord everything that is needed and useful. This was very powerfully represented, that what is good ought to be put into effect, and that the gold consisted in this.

Night of April 12–13, 1744