John of the Cross
1542–1591
“The dark night of the soul. Nada y todo — nothing and all. Strip away to find God.”
The four dimensions in the 16-axis model where this thinker scores highest. People in this archetype tend to lean the same way.
- MRMystical Receptivity10 / 10
- ATAscetic Tendency9 / 10
- RTReverence for Tradition8 / 10
- UIUniversalist Impulse8 / 10
The six thinkers whose 16-dimensional positions sit closest to this one. Useful as next-reading suggestions.
- Meister EckhartTHRESHOLD
Become as nothing. The eye through which I see God is the same eye through which God sees me.
- Teresa of ÁvilaTHRESHOLD
Interior castle with seven mansions. Mystical prayer leads to union with God.
- LongchenpaTHRESHOLD
A Dzogchen master who pointed to a primordial purity beyond all training.
- Catherine of SienaKEEL
Mystical union with Christ. The cell of self-knowledge. Bridge between God and humanity.
- FazangTHRESHOLD
Huayan — Indra's net; each part contains the whole.
- ZhiyiTHRESHOLD
The founder of Tiantai, who held three truths in mutual containment.
Short exercises in the same tradition as John of the Cross's thought. Each takes 5–25 minutes.
Three doors lead onward.
- 01 · QUIZThe InheritorFind your archetype — discover whether you'd argue with John of the Cross or alongside them.CONTINUE ▶
- 02 · COMPAREJohn of the Cross vs Meister EckhartOn Mull's map Meister Eckhart sits closest. See where they agree and where they part.CONTINUE ▶
- 03 · DAILYToday's SparOne philosopher, one topic, five minutes. A new one drops every day.CONTINUE ▶