I’m back with a new post and episode in my series where I break down The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila and explore the mansions of the soul as it seeks union with God through prayer and contemplation. In the previous post, I explored the introduction to the soul and the inner courtyard. Be sure to check out the series to stay up to date on the journey. Click Here for Previous Series Post

In this episode, we have finally left the inner courtyard of the soul and entered the First Mansion. At this stage of the spiritual journey, we begin asking the deeper questions of life and seeking some form of spiritual direction. This is the beginning and like anything new, it is considered one of the hardest battles the soul will face. It is not an easy place to be. The world, with all of its attractions and ways of living, has become so normalized through our environments, culture, and personal ignorance that fully committing to the path toward the center of the castle can feel incredibly difficult.

The spiritual life is not a linear path or a simple step-by-step formula that can be copied from someone else’s journey. It is more like a maze, moving from one room to the next, with the goal of reaching the center of the castle where God dwells. Each of us has our own map and our own journey because we all arrive carrying different wounds, habits, and experiences. Yet the destination remains the same. Leaving behind a life of distraction is not easy, especially because the world constantly tries to pull us back into old ways of thinking and living. This stage is also the beginning of grace, because even the desire to think differently, seek God, and change your life is already evidence of God’s grace at work within you.

In this episode, we explore self-knowledge and contemplation, two practices that must remain in balance throughout the spiritual journey. Self-knowledge is the art of honest self-examination. It is learning to look inward truthfully and take inventory of what is and is not working in our lives. However, too much self-focus can eventually lead to discouragement or paralysis if we are not also dedicating time to sit in God’s presence and allow Him to dwell within us. To move forward spiritually, we need both examination and contemplation: a healthy awareness of ourselves and a deeper intimacy with God. When we begin finding that balance, we slowly move toward genuine spiritual transformation.

St. Teresa describes two types of souls commonly found in the First Mansion. The first are souls who have been there for quite some time. Perhaps they had a spiritual upbringing that brought them to the beginning of grace, but they have chosen to live apart from God. These are spiritually eclipsed souls who have remained distracted by the world and its attractions. The second type are newly awakened souls who are just becoming aware of God’s presence. They have recently entered the spiritual life and sincerely desire something more, yet their old habits and ways of living continue pulling them back. It can feel overwhelming and difficult to imagine becoming any different than the person they have always been.

No matter which soul you identify with, the invitation remains the same: to keep moving toward the center of the castle, one step at a time. Because this is the beginning of the spiritual journey, it is often one of the hardest stages. If you are a Christian and believe in spiritual warfare, you understand that the forces we are battling can sometimes feel much greater than ourselves. We often think of spiritual warfare as the obvious sins or the major moral failures, but in these early stages, the battle is often much more subtle. If we are completely turned away from God and consumed by distractions, there is little need for the enemy to bother us because we are already far from the path. But when we begin turning toward the light, seeking God, and desiring a different way of living, that is often when the real battle begins.

The struggle is not always dramatic. More often, it appears through subtle thoughts, distractions, fears, and doubts that keep us small and prevent us from honestly examining ourselves. It can show up as discouragement, complacency, self-deception, or the belief that true transformation is impossible. These are the quiet obstacles that try to keep us from moving deeper into the castle. Yet this is also where grace is at work. Every sincere desire to know God, every honest moment of self-reflection, and every step toward the light is evidence that God is already drawing us closer to Himself.

I hope you enjoy this episode, and as always, I invite you to learn alongside me and leave feeling a little more inspired.

Episode 3: Mansion 1: Self-Knowledge & Contemplation

Catch the full episode on Spotify — linked here!

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