The inner vision: some notes on mysticism

keep before our minds, with clear observation, the various lives and works of the saints. These works are their varied plumage, so gracious and beautiful, with which they adorned themselves and soared to heaven. They are birds we must observe with attention: if we resemble them in their plumage, we shall follow them to their eternal rest.

"On the purple color (that is, violet or blood-red, signifying generosity), we shall place water lilies, which symbolize the free possession of all God's treasures. We notice four things in the water lily: it always keeps itself above the water; it has four green leaves between the air and the water; it is rooted in the earth; and above, it opens up to the sun. Furthermore, it is a remedy for those suffering from fever. Similarly, through generosity and freedom of spirit, we may possess the waves of all God's riches. Between this free possession of our spirit and the waves of God's lavish gifts, we shall have green leaves—that is to say, an earnest consideration of how God’s eternal liberality flows forth with ever-new gifts to humanity. We shall also consider how these gifts are bestowed with discrimination, according to the nature of the beloved ones who receive them, and how the ultimate cause of all gifts is the generous outflow of divine love; the more immediate cause is the wisdom and generosity in human creatures, which makes them resemble God. For no one can know the wealth of God's gifts except the wise and generous person who, out of God's treasures, can give wisely and generously to all creatures.

"Thus, we shall adorn generosity, and then we shall be rooted in the soil of all gifts—that is to say, in the Holy Spirit, just as the water lily is rooted deep under the water. We shall open our hearts in the air above toward truth and the sun of righteousness. In this way, we become a remedy for all the world; for the generous heart that possesses the treasures of God ought to fill, console, refresh, and cool all those who are afflicted.

"And it is in this way that the purple color is adorned with the red color—that is, with burning love. Upon it, we shall place bright stars, by which I mean pious and devout prayer for the welfare of our neighbor, and reverent, secret communion between God and ourselves. These are the stars that illuminate the kingdoms of earth and heaven with their brightness; they make us inwardly light-giving and productive, and they fix us in the firmament of eternal life."

Some of the analogies of color in the chapter on fishes are wonderfully suggestive, and the titles of three other chapters should be noted: "The difference between the hirelings and the faithful servants of God," "The difference between the faithful servants and the secret friends of God," and "The difference between the secret friends and the hidden sons of God."