One should not desire to clutch sensory communications nor suffer encumbrance from them, since they are what most derogates from faith. Manifestly, these visions and sense apprehensions cannot serve as a means for union since they bear no proportion to God… As I have declared, a man desiring these apprehensions becomes coarse in his faith and even exposes himself to many temptations.
(Saint John of the Cross, Ascent, Bk II, Ch 11, #11–12)