{Pilgrim's Progress}[29th March 1987]

[Redbook3:63-64][19870329:1210m]{Pilgrim's Progress}[29^th March 1987]

19870329.1210(BST)

[continued]

In Pilgrim's Progress, of course, this* occurs near the beginning. Christ is at the beginning and end of both Circles; but could this mean that Pilgrim's Progress is in fact** Inner Circle? ( – with, perhaps, elements of symmetrical Outer Circle progress, as might be expected). This is relevant to me because I feel that I have been through a period of intense inner darkness and dryness like the Valley of the Shadow of Death already; I accept that I have to pass through or near this region again in the opposite direction, as Diversity rather than Distraction (the Star instead of the Wheel of Fortune), but I had hoped to do so in a way that would, perhaps, help it and those within it rather than simply suffering from and reacting to it, as (I think) Christian does in the Valley.

One should not perhaps expect too much precision from Bunyan*** (why not?). St. John of the Cross****, however, invites us to expect precision, dealing as he does generally in direct description rather than symbolic 'fiction'. On the whole, the descriptions referred to seem to fit Outer Circle rather than Inner Circle; but in any case, I will go where I'm told.

*[i.e. the easing of the burden of guilt by the forgiveness of sins; see last previous entry.]

**[cf. [Redbook3:38-39][19870326:1543s]{Pilgrim's Progress: as Outer Circle? [continued]}[26^th March 1987]]

***{Contra-rotation helps here.}

****[cf. [Redbook3:37-38][19870326:1543r]{Corruption and Aridity: The Dark Night of the Soul}[26^th March 1987];

& ref. [Redbook3:53-55][19870329:1210](THE CIRCLES)[29^th March 1987]]

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