Selection from Apocalypse Explained ~ Emanuel Swedenborg
Man is from birth in the midst of infernal societies, and extends himself into them precisely as he extends the evil affections of his will.All evil affections of the will are from the loves of self and the world and for the reason that those loves turn all things of the mind downwards and outwards, that is, towards hell, which is beneath and outside of themselves, thus turning them away from the Lord, and away from heaven.
Moreover, the interiors of all things of the human mind, and with them the interiors of all things of the spirit, are capable of being turned either downwards or upwards.
They are turned downwards when man loves himself above all things
They are turned upwards when he loves the Lord above all things.This is an actual turning. Man from himself turns them downwards, while the Lord from Himself turns them upwards. The ruling love is what turns. Thoughts do not turn the interiors of the mind except so far as they are derived from the will. That all this is true man does not know; and yet he ought to know it in order that he may understand how he is led out of hell and led into heaven by the Lord.
(Apocalypse Explained 1163:2)