5506. ABOUT VASTATIONS IN GENERAL. Vastations occur in three, four, or even five ways: (1) by the person being let into his life; and then they are detected who make one with him, and thus who made one with him in the world. These are taken away from him and cast into hells, or into other places; but they are taken away. Hence, his life is gradually diminished, as he is let into his loves or into his principles. (2) They are borne around, - which takes place in a circular course, from right to left. If, for example, they are in the west, [they proceed] to the south, afterwards to the east, then to the north, and to their former place; and, then, those are discovered who are of a like character, and are taken away; and, so far as these are taken away, so far the persons are vastated (3) These are also borne around; and those who have conjoined themselves with the one undergoing the vastation, are turned with their back towards him, and thus estranged from him as to disposition. They also separate themselves; and thus, likewise, his life is lessened. (4) These, also, are borne around, too; and all who make one with the evils belonging to them are cast into another place. When also they are together there, they are taken away from him, like a shirt from the body; and thus perishes communication, excitation, and his life therein. (5) General vastation takes place through punishments, which occur as often as the subject of the vastation tries to do evil to another. The punishments are severe according to the nature of the evil, and frequent according to the persistence in it. (6) He who cannot be vastated thus, is cast into the hells of the foolish, of the dumb and of the stupid, or into hells which suffocate the external life - the internal life remaining.