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Symbols
| symbol | meaning |
|---|---|
| candle | light of the world, Christ |
| climbing a mountain | spiritual journey of ascent |
| narrow path | difficult arduous way |
| circle or sphere | no beginning and no ending |
| burning incense | prayers rising to God |
| garden to cultivate | soul of a person |
| flowers | virtues |
| weeds | vices |
| water, also the door of the castle | prayer |
| spiritual marriage | unbreakable unity with God |
| beyond the veil | after death |
| dryness | lack of satisfaction |
| serene night | contemplation |
| spiced wine | favor of the Holy Spirit causing sweet inebriation |
| the herd | unreasonable appetites, satisfactions, and imperfections |
| cold North wind | desolation in the spiritual life |
| warm South wind | consolations and gifts in the spiritual life |
| spark | a delightful touch of God |
| flight of the spirit | rapture or ecstasy |
| wounds of love | touches of love like fiery arrows |
| fear wild beasts | frightened of sacrifices needed to follow the path to God |
| all who are free | rational creatures, angels and men who are free to engage with God |
| silvered over faces | faith is compared to silver and the substance is compared to gold |
| divine whistle | movement of the Holy Spirit drawing a person inward |
| silent music | creatures are a tranquil symphony of sublime music |
| living flame of love | Holy Spirit living within a person, a flame of Divine life |
| my house being now all stilled | unreasonable desires conquered and lulled to sleep |
| center of the castle | Divine King dwells in the center of the soul |
| poisonous creatures | temptations |
| discalced | without shoes as a sign of poverty |