People Swedenborg Knew While on Earth Part 2

Sometimes helpful and uplifting teachings are found in unlikely places. Helen continues to look at some of the famous people that Swedenborg described meeting in the spiritual world. Helen finds it hopeful and uplifting to read the story of a couple that meets and marries in heaven - both as proof that all find true married love in heaven and that those relationships are similar to those on earth. -Editor

Empress Elizabeth (1709 - 1761) of Russia was the daughter of Peter the Great. It is said that she "grew up to be a beautiful, charming, intelligent and vivacious young woman" (Encyclopedia Britannica). Elizabeth was very popular among the guards, often visiting them on special occasions and acting as godmother to their children. At 32, when she was threatened with banishment to a convent upon the death of the Russian ruler, she staged a coup d'etat with the help of the guards, and was proclaimed Empress of Russia.

Rather than assume a dominant role in government as [her father] Peter had done, Elizabeth occupied herself with splendid court and church activities, and the purchase of stylish western clothing. She also encouraged the development of education and art, founding Russia's first university [in Moscow] and the Academy of Arts [in St. Petersburg]. She left control of most state affairs to her advisers and favorites, under whose leadership the effectiveness of Russia's government was handicapped by continual court intrigues. The country's financial situation deteriorated, and the gentry acquired broad privileges at the expense of the peasantry. (Encyclopedia Britannica)

At the same time, though, Russia grew as a major European power because of these trusted advisors (ibid).

Magnus Julius De la Gardie (1668-1741) was a Swedish general and statesman. He started his military career in the French army but later joined the Swedish army, becoming Lieutenant General in 1717. After the death of King Charles XII in 1718, De la Gardie became a member of the Privy Council of Sweden. He was a vocal friend of the French kingdom. "Inspired by French customs, he arranged political salons, a novelty never heard of in Sweden at the beginning of the 18th century" (Wikipedia). De la Gardie died in Stockholm in 1741 (ibid), the first year of Elizabeth’s reign. Elizabeth died in 1762.

De la Gardie had been married to Hedvig Catharina Lilje, and was the father of Eva Ekeblad, a scientist who is known for making alcohol out of potatoes. This freed large quantities of grain for the people to eat, and the effect of it was to greatly reduce hunger among the peasants because it freed up the grain that had previously been used for making alcohol.

De la Gardie’s grandson, Axel von Fersen, fought under Rochambeau in the American Revolution, distinguishing himself at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. In addition, he became a close friend of Marie Antoinette of France. In 1791, after the French Revolution, he arranged the unsuccessful escape attempt of the king and queen, and himself drove the coach in which they left Paris.

All of the following is from Spiritual Diary 6027 and is what Swedenborg wrote about the spiritual marriage of Elizabeth and De la Gardie. The story, of course, takes place over the spiritual equivalent of time, and some parts, which are digressions, are left out.

Before anything much could happen between Elizabeth and De la Gardie, each one had to separate from the people on earth they had had romantic attachments to. Swedenborg writes that the Empress

came to speak with the Bishop in Lubeck to whom she had been engaged; but she was not pleased with him, particularly as there appeared with him a pretty-faced woman who was his mistress, whom he loved much and whom he had not abandoned in the world.

She then saw

where his home now was, which was down in hell, where it looked bad, and he had low work to do, as is usual there. In this way her fancy for him was dispelled. She afterwards spoke with one from Holstein and Mecklenburg who had courted her, [and she] observed him. But she found dissimilarity, and would have nothing to do with him, as also was the case in the world.

In the spiritual world

De la Gardie was separated from his wife with whom he had sometimes had intercourse, but latterly seldom. He referred, however, to the council to get a divorce. They examined and found that there was no similarity as to affections, and so they were divorced.

After all this, Elizabeth

traveled round and came far from her place; and then, as often happens [in the spiritual world], she did not know where she was, nor who she herself was. On the way she met Count De la Gardie and accompanied him, both unknown to one another, when they...found pleasure in each other.

For a second time she traveled, and Swedenborg reports he did not see what happened to her.

A third time she traveled the same way as the first; and then, also of Divine Providence, she met De la Gardie. And then, they saw, as is usual, that one was destined for the other, loved each other well, and were then carried home each to his [or her] own society.

The Empress was placed at the head of the best society of Russians [in the spiritual world], who loved her well.” De la Gardie came also to govern a fine society.

Then De la Gardie came to her palace, and it was decided between them about the marriage, they having been together long enough. When it was decided on, an angel, in beautiful white garments, was sent from here up to heaven to get a priest from there to marry them, which was done in this way, simply...he asked both if they consented, and when he had heard that, he wished them the grace and blessing of God. Nothing more. This happened on the 5th day of March, 1762.

Then De la Gardie traveled with Elizabeth

behind four pairs of horses, splendid. Afterwards congratulations were received: from small children who were brought from heaven to speak to them, and it so moved [Elizabeth] that she went into another room and wept from heavenly joy over their speech. When she returned, eight older children came and made a very pretty congratulation. When they went away, she kissed them all. Afterwards, adults who had died as children and been reared in heaven. Lastly came such from the Russian nation as also had been reared in heaven, and brought their congratulations. Finally, there were heard short congratulations from the societies in heaven one after the other; although [short, they were] pretty, according to the number of provinces there; and were continued to [the number of] from one hundred to two or three hundred, one after the other. And there were yet many who wanted to congratulate, but as it took a long time, many together made one congratulation, and so on. Music was also heard accompanying the affections of the children who had been there.

A feast was afterwards held, which was splendid, at which were thirty persons. In the morning, after they slept together, they sat down together in a carriage,

and Elizabeth traveled with De la Gardie to his home.

When they reached there, the house was changed into a beautiful palace with many rooms, at which he wondered much. They went about these [rooms]. It was beautiful everywhere. Afterwards, they went into the upper story and found servants who belonged to the society, whom she at once recognized. And there were many rooms in which, as yet, nobody was, a kind of sign that the society was likely to increase.

They then traveled to her [home]. Their love grew so strong that she desired to be one with him even as to body, which also took place, and they found it agreeable that it can be so when desired. Then they seemed to be lifted up, as it were, from the mass [of people]. Thus they can be one, and be two as to body, yet with one life.

De la Gardie had been of such a mind that he always used to speak of useful things discursively, both carefully and vivaciously, and of many spiritually—to speak understandingly, and not from memory only.

Afterwards, they were round in a carriage within the society to show themselves, as is done in the world. She was seen afterwards, and was thoroughly good-looking.

Afterwards came Queen Ulrica, [mentioned in last week’s article] with her consort, to visit them...She made her speech at first simple, afterwards more and more interior, which was answered in order, and somewhat more.

On the 25th of March both were in a state of innocence together, and went about, and were seen as small children by many. (Spiritual Diary 6027)

This story has uplifted me for years, helping me realize that heavenly married love happens for real people, if not in this life, then in the next (Conjugial Love 49). As in the story of Ulrika, most likely Elizabeth and De la Gardie did not know each other on earth; he died the year she ascended to the throne. De la Gardie and his wife must have had some form of attraction when they were in the spiritual world, enough to meet, have intercourse at times, and eventually realize they did not belong together. In addition, De la Gardie needed to apply to a Council to become divorced, similar to here on earth where a judge in a courtroom declares the divorce.

Elizabeth had to meet her past romantic partners, also. The story tells about Elizabeth meeting two of them, a Bishop in Lubeck, and an unidentified suitor from Holstein and Mecklenburg in Germany. With both she saw that a relationship would not work, especially with the first because he always had a mistress, presumably even when he was engaged to Elizabeth. This is an extremely serious spiritual wrong, and the Bishop was paying the price for his wrong attachment, because his home was "down in hell, where it looked bad, and he had low work to do, as is usual there" (Spiritual Diary 6027). Perhaps seeing him in that condition was what was needed for any lingering romantic feelings in Elizabeth to be dispelled.

Startling in its simplicity was the marriage between Elizabeth and De la Gardie, making beautiful sense once I grasped that the declarations of intention were all that was needed, so unlike our endless preparations and irrelevant detail. An aspect that added sanctity was the priest from heaven coming to bless the marriage. He probably was only a witness while the two married one another. In addition, he made known the Lord's presence through the blessing for the couple. The wedding feast was stark in its simplicity, also, attended by thirty people, not hundreds as might be expected for rulers in a society. Instead of a huge crowd, the wedding dinner seemed warm, intimate and enjoyable, a meal attended by only the spiritually closest friends and relatives. But not Elizabeth’s father, Peter; Swedenborg reports that “he was off with some Jesuits.”

There was celebration with large numbers of people, though, happening before the wedding dinner. And it all seemed spontaneous, happy and beautiful: children from heaven whose innocence and sincerity moved Elizabeth to tears; adults who had been born in Russia raised in heaven; heavenly societies of two, three hundred and more, all wanting to congratulate the couple, so many that they had to send their congratulations all at once. To have that many people happy for you is a reminder that there are never-ending surprises and joys awaiting every one of us when we live to eternity.

Swedenborg says of Count De la Gardie that he, "used to speak of useful things discursively, both carefully and vivaciously, and of many spiritually" (Spiritual Diary 6027). These qualities make me think of a man with many interests, given to careful detail, and the enthusiasm in his conversation giving life to the things he is talking about. Swedenborg includes the fact that many of them were spiritual topics, which must have served him well when he went into the next world.

The story of this happy couple ends with Swedenborg saying they rode in a carriage "within the society to show themselves, as is done in the world." The social nature of this is appealing and shows that social considerations have a place in the next life, too. They’re not something we shed because of the more important things there.

I loved reading this story with all its facets, filled with so many fairy tale elements, yet knowing these people lived real problem-filled lives on earth, worked through their regeneration, and were brought to a real kind of spiritual life. It is not disembodied or separated from who they were, yet is a vast improvement over who they were on earth. The book, "Elizabeth and Catherine," about the two Empresses of Russia, tells of Elizabeth's last decade on earth as being sickly, desperately trying to stay young, and wasting vast quantities of money on clothing. Though intimate details of De la Gardie's life may be hard to come by, he was a general in the army, fighting in wars, and presumably sending many men into battle. Somehow the Lord brought them through all their natural states, and “fitted them for heaven to live with Him there." The reason why the line from the children's Christmas carol is so fitting is that, twenty days after the marriage, heavenly qualities filled the couple to the point of innocence, and they "went about...seen as small children by many" (Spiritual Diary 6027). The endearing qualities of happiness, sincerity and playfulness, in addition to others, give a picture of the couple's inner states, showing they were filled with an innocence from the Lord making them [and eventually us], able to live in a marriage that is continuously joy-filled and happy forever.

Helen Kennedy

Helen has been writing for many years, and, after going through a long spell of writer’s block, has finally returned to the writing she loves. Currently, essays have been her main focus, and she finds the material in Swedenborg’s Writings packed with unique, interesting, and ponderable concepts. They make living forever a joyful prospect.