Final answer:
Emerson's aphorism 'Nature always wears the colors of the spirit' means that nature reflects human emotions, which aligns with his transcendentalist view that deeply connects humans and nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Ralph Waldo Emerson states that “Nature always wears the colors of the spirit,” in his essay Nature, he is suggesting that nature reflects human emotions. Emerson's transcendentalist view posits a deep connection between humans and nature, emphasizing that our perception of the natural world is colored by our inner feelings and moods. The correct choice from the provided options is (a) Nature reflects human emotions. This concept echoes throughout his body of work where he often explores the relationship between the individual soul and the broader natural world, highlighting themes such as individuality, freedom, and the inherent potential within humanity to actualize grand possibilities. His essays, including “Self-Reliance” and “Nature,” encourage readers to seek spiritual truth through nature and to resist societal conformity. The sentiment that nature is an external mirror to the internal human spirit permeates Emerson's transcendental philosophy.