This approach is held to have continued in the Middle Ages, as metaphysical aspects, substances, physical states, and material processes are supposed to have been used as metaphors for spiritual entities, spiritual states, and, ultimately, transformation.
ðɪs ɐpɹˈoʊtʃ ɪz hˈɛld tə hæv kəntˈɪnjuːd ɪnðə mˈɪdəl ˈeɪdʒᵻz, æz mˌɛɾəfˈɪzɪkəl ˈæspɛkts, sˈʌbstənsᵻz, fˈɪzɪkəl stˈeɪts, ænd mətˈɪɹiəl pɹˈɑːsɛsᵻz ɑːɹ səpˈoʊzd tə hɐvbɪn jˈuːzd æz mˈɛɾəfˌɔːɹz fɔːɹ spˈɪɹɪtʃˌuːəl ˈɛntᵻɾiz, spˈɪɹɪtʃˌuːəl stˈeɪts, ænd, ˈʌltᵻmətli, tɹænsfoːɹmˈeɪʃən.