The inner vision: some notes on mysticism

Here are some of Ruysbroeck's reflections—and refractions:

"This is why the symbolic law ordered the Jews to eat clean fish, which had scales and fins, while all other fish were unclean and forbidden by the law. By this, we understand that our inner life ought to have a clothing of virtues, and our inward devotions ought to be covered with the use of our reason, just as the fish is clothed and adorned with its scales. Our power to love should move in four different ways: by triumphing over our own will, by loving God, by desiring to resist our own nature, and by seeking to acquire virtues. These are four fins between which our inward life should swim, like fish in the water of divine grace. The fish also has a straight fin in the middle of its body that remains motionless during all its movements. Similarly, our inward feelings, firmly centered, should be empty of everything and without personal preference; in other words, we should allow God to act in us and in all things, both in Heaven and on earth. The fourth fin balances us in God's mercy and in true divine peace. Thus, our devotion has fins and scales and becomes pure nourishment for us that pleases God.

"But the scales that clothe and adorn our inward practices should be of four colors; for some fish have gray scales, others red, others green, and still others have white scales. The gray scales teach us that the images with which we clothe our devotions must be humble. In other words, we must think of our sins, of our lack of virtue, of the humility of our Lord Jesus Christ and his mother, and of all things that may humble and lower us. We shall love poverty and contempt, and be content to be unknown and despised by everyone. This is the gray color, which is very beautiful in the eyes of God.

"Furthermore, we shall clothe our devotions with red scales—that is to say, we shall remember that the Son of God laid down his life for love of us. We shall keep His Passion The suffering and death of Jesus Christ. in our memory like a glorious mirror before our inward eyes, so that we may remember His love and console ourselves in all our sorrows. We shall also think of the many torments of the martyrs, who through their sufferings followed our Lord into eternal life. These are red scales, well-arranged, and they are a delightful clothing for our inward emotions.

"Then, again, we shall adorn our secret thoughts with green scales. I mean that we shall earnestly meditate upon the noble lives of confessors Saints who suffered for their faith but were not martyred. and saints, remembering how they despised the world, and by what wonderful work and in what various ways they honored and served God. Green is the color that attracts and rejoices loving hearts and willing eyes. Let us move our fins, then, and follow the saints by imitating their good works to the best of our ability.

"Again, we shall clothe our inward exercise with white scales;