Abstract
This study examines the use of castle and cathedral imagery in spiritual practices in St. Teresa of Avila’s The Interior Castle (1577), Jean Dubuis’ The Experience of Eternity (2007), and the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis’ (AMORC) Cathedral of the Soul/Celestial Sanctum (1932). The objective is to discover how this imagery is used and depicted, what results are attributed, how these change over time, and what ideas this reflects. While there is a tradition beginning in Antiquity of using architecture as a memory aid (Method Loci), and in the Middle Ages of using castles and cathedrals as metaphors in moral teachings, their use in spiritual practices that are said to grant spiritual experiences and attainment has not been fully explored. The interpretative work of this study contributes to the fields of iconography, comparative religion, and psychology. The methods include a comprehensive literature review and textual analysis, with additional research on Jewish and Christian Mysticism, Method Loci, and architectural elements in Western spiritual literature. Results reveal that castles and cathedrals serve as representations of the soul’s body or spaces of refuge and protection where the work of the soul takes place. The tradition of using castles and cathedrals in spiritual practices continues to flourish today, now reflecting a modern mindset of personal creative power through more active imaginative involvement, group practices, and expanded results, including a meeting place for members, connecting with past masters and the higher self, and creating continuity in spiritual realms during life and after death.
Presenters
Rebecca BarhamArt Research Librarian, Library Research Support Services, University of North Texas, Texas, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Castles, Cathedrals, Iconography, Spirituality, Soul, Practices, Mysticism, Esotericism
