The Mystical Heart Emblems

Paul Kaym was a mystic and a close friend of Jacob Boehme. The work is a devotional compilation, exploring Man’s relationship to God through the emblem of a heart. The text related to each emblem is divided into three sections. The first part summarises the ideas presented in the emblems. This is followed by Biblical quotations which serve to illuminate the emblematic imagery, and a third section in verse, probably written by Kaym. The author’s intention seems to be to lead us as readers on a journey towards a spiritual closeness to the Divine through internalising this image of the transformed heart. The spirituality here is not so elevated and abstract as that presented in the works of Boehme, but a simpler, and perhaps more immediate pietistic work. The imagery of the emblems is rather engaging and charming, and illustrates in a simple way the message of the work. The book presents the shining light that is mirrored in the heart as it journeys from its earthly bonds towards the freedom of the spirit. Sadly this book was never well circulated and is now almost competely unknown. It would be good to have translated the text, but this was not possible. Instead Adam McLean coloured the rather dark engravings so that their symbolic components can be the more easily seen and provided a descriptive commentary.