TOTUS TUUS, MARIA !

MEDITATION – THE TROPICAL ISLAND

Myriam van Nazareth

Inspiration received during morning prayer, April 11, 2008

To the soul, God’s Eternal Truth is like an unknown tropical island: It is extraordinarily fertile, covered with the loveliest and rarest flowers and fruits, sun-drenched, and it is so distant and hidden that it is discovered only by souls that do not dread to undertake a long and difficult journey to reach it. The soul that truly longs to reach this paradisical island is guided during this effort by God Himself, who allows the sweet breeze of His Holy Spirit to blow gently towards the island.

The island is lined with a beach covered with palm trees, and is surrounded by crystal clear waters. Tropical fish of the rarest species abound in this water, and the sight of the fish sends the soul into raptures. The mere thought of this island evokes feelings of the deepest peace and security in the heart: God’s Truth creates more inner Peace in proportion as it is incorporated into life.

Behold the coconut palms on the beach. The coconut can be regarded as the soul that has chosen the island of Eternal Truth as a place to grow. The coconut grows in the top of the palm tree of detachment and self-conquest. As soon as the coconut (i.e.: the soul) has reached a sufficient maturity under the beams of the tropical sun it falls down, and if it has got the right constitution it breaks open as food: The hard shell of all worldly things bursts open and sets the soul’s core free. This core is stainlessly white and contains the coconut milk.

Mary explains the images She has shown to me as follows:

What is the meaning behind the various elements of this marvellous image on the SPIRITUAL level?

The tropical island is God’s Eternal Truth.

The journey to the island is basically the soul’s search for herself, a very tiring journey through the storms of an ocean of worldly influences and obstacles on the path to self-unfolding.

The palm tree is the symbol of the soul’s victory over herself and the world, and therefore of the complete detachment from all and any worldly ties, deep-seated habits and patterns of behaviour and of thinking.

The crystal clear water in the immediate vicinity of the island symbolizes the fact the searching soul in the process of self-unfolding is purifying herself thoroughly by intentionally getting closer and closer to God’s Eternal Truth. The water becomes more transparent in proportion as the soul gets nearer to the island of Truth.

The fish symbolize the soul’s total freedom, her 'not being bound by the things of the world', the deliverance from sin, total Redemption. The soul’s being delighted at the beauty of the fish symbolizes the fact the soul is touched deeply by the encounter with things which emanate from God and lead the soul to true freedom. The tropical fish possess the most various colours, owing to the fact the soul only becomes truly free to the extent to which she sanctifies herself. True sanctity is true freedom of the soul. The many colours symbolize the great variety of gifts, abilities, talents and elements of Divine nature, which the soul will only be able to develop while she is growing in sanctity.

The tropical sun is the fullness of Divine Light and of the pervasive Divine Wisdom and Love, yielding a deep inner rest and helping the soul to repel all and any influences which are of no use to her but rather poison her (an image which, for instance, refers to transpiring).

The core of the soul is stainlessly white as a symbol of God’s built-in purity.

The coconut milk is the sweet water of true Divine Life, perfect Redemption and sanctity.

When the thick, tough coconut shell breaks, the soul has completely unfolded herself and she has uncovered the Divine, the germ of true sanctity, in the very depth of her being. This event can take place only if the soul has greatly detached herself from the worldly influences. Henceforth the soul will be able to nourish other souls by her purity (symbolized by the white flesh inside the coconut) and by the life-giving water of Divine Life (symbolized by the coconut milk).

Myriam, January 2011