Katharsis, Fotosis, and Theosis

In  ancient christian  spirituality, taught by monks and mystics, they spoke of a threefold way; the Via Purgativa or Katharsis, the Via Illuminativa or Fotosis and the Via Unitiva or Theosis.

Via Purgativa/Katharsis:
To open the curtains of our soul and discover the power of pride/power, greed/money and lust sex. When we see these festering in our lives it's best to 'fast', to deprive ourselves of these things that reinforce the darkness of the soul.
Positively we can serve rather than seek power and pride, we can be generous and live simply rather than caving in to greed, and we can practice self-control and even a willingness to suffer pain for a good cause rather than lust for pleasure and comfort.
Via Illuminativa/fotosis:
The path of light. The spiritual life is about seeing. Turning to God's light.
We can do this by practicing the study of the Bible, Contemplation, meditation, practicing God's presence in the ordinariness of life, an enlightenment from the Holy Spirit.
Via Unitiva/Theosis:
The way of union with God.
Like a log that catches fire when placed with burning logs - if we are plunged into God's light and heat long enough, if we stay close enough to God for long enough, close enough to breathe God's breath; we'll catch on fire...we'll become one with Him, we'll begin to see as Hs sees, feel as He feels, we'll be infected or consumed by Him.
Another image is the end of the fire place poker that has entered the flame. We glow hot in the light of God, we send heat farther and farther up the length of the iron rod. We don't seek Theosis to the exclusion of other people, but to their benefit...freely we have received freely we give.

The end of Katharsis, fotosis and theosis, is that we join God in seeing, standing with Him, seeing in his light, and on fire with God as we see.

A celtic morning prayer:
As I stir the embers of my daily fire, I ask you, living God, to stir the embers of my heart into flame of love for you, for my family, for my neighbour, for my enemy.

(The above post was inspired from Finding Our Way Again; The Return of the Ancient Practice by Brian McLaren)