Reflections of the Inner Self
Considering the material world as a reflection of our inner world seems possible based on the concepts presented in these sources. Essentially, external reality is a kind of symbolism for inner being: just as a person is composed of layers (body, soul, and spirit), the world is divided into material, soulful, and spiritual realms. This allows us to see that the visible, “physical” side of the world is only one of the levels through which the deeper aspects of our being manifest.For example, one excerpt states: "Just as a person consists of body, soul, and spirit, so does the surrounding world consist of material, soulful, and spiritual realms. The material world includes various countries, objects, plants, seas, mountains, all forms of material beauty; everything that can be touched. The soulful world is the realm of culture, art…" (source: link txt)This approach helps us understand that the material environment is only one form of expressing deeper, internally significant processes, including those related to creative and aesthetic perception. The possibility for the external world to “enter” a subjective state, as noted in another source, emphasizes that material phenomena can serve as a symbolic reflection of inner spiritual content: "The physical world can leave objectivity and enter subjectivity, i.e. enter the spirit, into a spiritual state... all the material, all the natural world is symbolic of the spiritual world…" (source: link txt)The idea of reflection is vividly described through the metaphor of mirror imaging, where the external characteristics of the world resemble an exact reproduction of the inner content, although they lack the vitality and density inherent to the immediate experience of being: "Mirror reflection gives us an exact reproduction of the material content of the world, yet it remains still ephemeral..." (source: link txt)At the same time, it is asserted that it is the inner world, the foundation of our existence, that determines external phenomena: "Moreover, your external paths will acquire meaning as a reflection of the inner world, because the basis of the external world is the inner, Christ's world..." (source: link txt)Thus, this perspective helps us understand our essence by drawing our attention to the deeper levels of being, not limiting us to mere superficial manifestations of the external world. External reality becomes an indicator and symbol of internal processes, revealing that our true essence is not confined to material forms but is deeply rooted and multifaceted. This understanding contributes to a more holistic view of life, where external manifestations help us recognize our internal aspirations and potential.Such an analogy reminds us that behind the visible surface always lies something far more complex and multidimensional, which forms the foundation of our true “self.”