Novalis

 

'Novalis' was the pseudonym of the young Baron Friedrich von Hardenberg.  He was a pioneer of the early German Romantics, and lived from 1772 to 1801. His writings influenced George MacDonald, whose writings in turn influenced C S Lewis. Novalis' 'Blue Flower' has been a powerful inspiration for not only MacDonald and Lewis, but for many others who have sensed the reality and depth of Virtues, knowing them as far more than mere emotion.  People whose yearning for God has also encompassed a yearning for Him as the Source of all Virtue, and the source of the feminine. The Blue flower was the theme of Novalis' unfinished novel, Heinrich von Ofterdingen.  An English version of Heinrich's dream, in which he finds the blue flower is here. I am unable to find a complete English version of 'Heinrich' on the internet, so I am slowly transcribing it myself here. You can check on progress on my what's new page.