On Illumination

We cannot see light itself, but only those objects which it illuminates. So it is that we cannot see soul itself, but only those objects which it illuminates.

Consider also looking at the sky on a dark night. If one is not near a city, with its terrestrial lights, you see only the stars; though the Sun is shining brilliantly, we are blind to His effects because we are turned away from them. So it is with soul—if we look away from Divinity, we see only darkness, only matter, and none of the shining which Divinity emits.