An Introduction to the First Four Dwelling Places

As a result of a vision, St. Teresa of Avila began to think of the soul as a castle made of a single diamond in which there were seven dwelling places with many rooms. The figure is used to describe the course of the spiritual life. The door by which one enters the castle is prayer. Hopefully, this glimpse of the first four dwelling places will give you self-knowledge and encourage you to make further progress in the spiritual life.