When Your Spiritual Elixir Tastes Like Burnt Toast—What Now?
In Pursuit of the Good is a personal exploration of the challenges and joys of living a life guided by philosophy and the pursuit of the good. Each week, I investigate my philosophical struggles, the essence of beauty, and the quest for justice in our modern world. This column is a blend of ideas, reflections, and contemplations inspired by quotes and passages that resonate with me.
I remember early on, in the beginning of my search for beauty, on a bleary morning, when I still drank coffee. I found myself staring at the espresso machine, waiting for that divine elixir to pour into my cup. I was convinced this was the day I’d brew the perfect Americano. You know, the kind that transforms your soul and makes you feel like you’ve attained enlightenment with every sip. But as luck would have it, the Americano tasted like a mix of burnt toast and despair.
As I choked down the bitter disappointment of my failed Americano, a thought struck me: what have other renowned coffee makers, or—cough—mystics (since coffee is just a simile here), what were their how-tos to cultivate that special divine elixir for sweet perfection? This amusing idea led me to ponder the parallels between my daily grind (pun intended) and the profound spiritual journeys depicted by Teresa of Avila and my favorite, Plato.
In The Interior Castle, Teresa of Avila presents a captivating vision of the soul’s spiritual journey towards divine union. Written in 1577 following a visionary experience (probably not involving caffeine), the book outlines seven stages or ‘mansions’ within a crystalline castle, symbolizing the soul’s quest for God. Teresa begins her journey at the castle’s outer courtyard, representing the initial stages of prayer and meditation. As the soul progresses through the mansions, it cultivates virtues such as humility, prayer, and perseverance, crucial for advancing spiritually. The journey intensifies as the soul moves to the fourth mansion, where it begins to experience the prayer of recollection and quiet. The fifth mansion, depicting the prayer of union and spiritual betrothal, introduces a memorable image of the soul as a silkworm transforming into a butterfly—a profound metaphor for spiritual transformation and rebirth.
MidJourney: Divine Light (2024).
Plato’s philosophy, particularly as expressed in works like The Republic and The Symposium, also explores the soul’s ascent towards ultimate truth and the divine. In The Republic, Plato describes the Allegory of the Cave, where prisoners, initially trapped in darkness, gradually ascend towards the light of the sun, symbolizing the journey from ignorance to knowledge and truth. This ascent mirrors the soul’s journey in Christian mysticism, moving from the outer courtyards of worldly distractions towards the innermost chambers of divine union. Similarly, in The Symposium, Plato discusses the concept of love (Eros) as a driving force leading the soul upwards from physical attraction to the love of pure, unchanging beauty—the Form of the Good. This ascent through the stages of love parallels Teresa’s mansions, where the soul progresses from initial virtues to a deeper, more intimate union with God.
Both Christian mysticism and Platonism emphasize the importance of virtue in the soul’s journey. Teresa’s emphasis on humility, prayer, and perseverance echoes Plato’s virtues of wisdom, courage, and temperance. These virtues are essential for navigating the stages of spiritual and philosophical ascent, guiding the soul towards its ultimate goal. Transformation is another common theme. Teresa’s image of the soul as a silkworm becoming a butterfly beautifully encapsulates the transformative nature of the mystical journey. Similarly, Plato’s allegories often depict the soul’s transformation from ignorance to enlightenment, from the shadows of the cave to the brilliance of the sun. Finally, both traditions seek union with the divine. In The Interior Castle, the soul’s ultimate destination is the innermost room where it finds union with God. For Plato, the ultimate goal is the contemplation of the Form of the Good, the highest and most perfect reality. This union represents the culmination of the soul’s journey, a state of perfect harmony and fulfillment.
So, as I sat there, staring at my sad excuse for an Americano, I realized that my quest for perfection—even if it felt like I was failing from one morning to the next—was not in vain. It was a humorous but insightful lesson, reminding me to explore the teachings of other elixir seekers. Whether we’re navigating Teresa’s crystalline mansions or climbing out of Plato’s cave, the goal remains the same: a union with something greater than ourselves.
In the end, just like my pursuit of the perfect Americano, the soul’s journey is filled with trials and errors, moments of clarity, and bursts of enlightenment. And maybe, just maybe, the perfect cup and the divine union aren’t that different after all—both are quests that drive us to seek, strive, and ultimately find our way to the innermost chambers of our own spiritual castles with a Prince Charming and a divine kiss of true love.
