Gifts of Heaven · Volume 3 · Chapter 482

Strengthening the nerves

17th July 1849

On request of C.L.

[1] The bleak life in question has been weakened in it's innermost soul-associated nerves due to it's too exaggerated conscientiousness in connection with the honor of it's status.' These nerves, which cover the soul in a certain way and protect it from the too naked impressions from the outside world, cannot offer it now a complete, but only a partial protection, therefore it is then also touched too violently from the outside first in one, soon again in another life-relationship.

[2] Such a touch, which is not covered and damped enough by said nerves, then vibrates away in the extremely excitable soul for days, often even weeks and months, in the same vibration-form in which it was first excited. But this vibration then also puts all other normal, but naturally weaker impressions of the outside world into a confused, indeterminate shaking, for which reason the soul is then almost just as unsettled as the eye in every one of it's otherwise completely ordered life relationships and every situation, when it looks at the bottom of water, no matter how pure it is, when it's surface is furrowed by all kinds of cross waves.

[3] The eye can still see objects on the ground, but it can never determine with certainty what the objects are, because their actual shape is too torn and disfigured by too strong and too inconsistent diffraction of rays to reach the carefully prying eye. Often by convection(*1) of the uppermost water level, a small stone becomes a colossus, often again by a concave formation(*2) of the water level, a whole rock becomes a barely fist-sized shapeless lump.

[4] And see, just so it happens to a soul confused in the manner described. It then sees in this vibration, out of the impression that a mosquito has caused it, a frightening mammoth-sized monster, and an elephant not infrequently shrinks to mosquito size. Such people are then also constant scrupulants. If a button on their garment tears, it seems to them as if a world-body has been thrown off it's course, while they often hardly notice the collapse of a whole house.

[5] Such a physico-psychic evil can be healed and remedied firstly through a suitable natural remedy, because it is more a physical evil than a psychological one. Such remedies would be, for example, a five to six week long vacation from daily business, contact with cheerful people, frequent enjoyment of pure mountain air, steel baths and other iron-containing mineral baths, but no sulphur baths. Sea baths would also be good. Eat and drink what you like. However, a good wine is better than beer and a fresh broth better than coffee, the black one is the worst. So the enjoyment of pure alpine water would be highly recommended, as well as a stay on an alp with a few good, cheerful friends for a few weeks.

[6] If in this way the soul regains it's natural calm through the right strengthening of the nerves surrounding it, then it can easily be influenced again by good and wise words, which would now be almost a fruitless effort. In general, however, the suffering person concerned should also abstain from sexual intercourse as much as possible for a good period of time, so his healing will occur the sooner and easier. Also the use of the Protestant oil and wine ointment(*3) would do him a good service, and quite a lot of movement in free pure air, especially after a thunderstorm.

[7] This to My dear friend and brother for his insight, reassurance, and possible attention under My blessing and protection. Amen. Footnotes (*1) convex: curved outwardly (*2) concave: curved inwardly (*3) see "The evangelical cure", Gifts from Heaven vol.2