How did St. Teresa explain the journey to self-awareness?
St. Teresa of Avila uses images of the soul as a caterpillar, butterfly or the hard working bee to help explain developing spiritual self-awareness and the part God plays in that growth. Teresa found symbols helpful in undrstanding this relationship. We can develop our own symbols and images, helping us grasp and vocalise the hidden parts of our shadow and God’s action therein.
When our prayer is wordless, or we find our sentiments are inexpressible, a symbol or image can help focus and bring out what needs further work and consideration. God is working slowly in us, bringing about transformation through this ‘purgation’ or purification, leading to greater union with Himself, through increased self-awareness. Dreams can operate similarly, also providing symbols. Carl Jung said symbols helped to express unconscious mystical ideas as yet unknown to our conscious mind.
Teresa doesn’t consider inner work as specifically psychological, for her it is all part of profound prayer. She believed imagination and understanding to be all one. Teresa believed the mind can find peace and healing by prayerfully working through the various issues arising, leading to increased understanding of where we are at with God, in humility, and therefore closer union with Him.
We don't need to worry if our thoughts and imagination are upset or confused by what comes up in prayer, in images and symbols or dreams. Even if our mind is in turmoil, interiorly, if our will and understanding are fixed on God, who can help being at peace?
As well as the "reptiles and lizards" of unresolved issues lurking at the door of the castle, we face our “snakes and vipers”, as Teresa calls our sinful tendencies, left in our souls due to original sin. This aspect of inner work and truthful acknowledgement is essentual for self-awareness. We know we’re not alone, that we sin and we have sinful tendencies, through the wounds picked up along the way through life experience, habits and individual brokenness.
Through Confession we can work hard to fight our root sin and our tendencies to repeat the same sins, (by prayerfuly asking God to help us work on developing their opposite virtues).
Being sorry for our sins, Teresa’s says, and once free of past sins, we will grow in understanding of our dignity as beloved of God, made in His image. Teresa says we must be grateful for the graces received and aware we always have capacity for more progress and greater holiness. When God’s light reveals our true worth to us, we will avoid pride and be grateful for all the graces received, hoping to merit them and continue making progress.
Self-knowledge in the spiritual journey is a developing, humble awareness of our situation in the concrete. We begin to see ourselves, ‘warts and all’, in the light of God’s love, mercy and acceptance, in reality. Over time we will begin to develop a ‘God’s-eye-view’ on our situation - for good or ill.
He reaches out in friendship, helping us know ourselves, unashamed and unafraid. Seeing our situation through His eyes, increasing self-awareness, we learn to accept God’s mercy and move forward in our prayer journey. God does this so we will see ourselves clearly.
Teresa points out another advantage: our understanding and will become ennobled and prepared for every good. so we will grow in virtue and love for others, the signs of a healthy spiritual life!
Union with God is the goal and end-point of our journey; this is the best preparation for future graces and the many blessings He wishes to bestow.
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