St. Teresa of Avila
A New Translation and Introduction
by Mirabai Starr

At the end of her long and colorful life, the sixteenth century Spanish mystic Teresa of Avila had integrated her many dramatic visions and raptures with her dedication to social activism. This is when she was blessed with a vision that was to frame the legacy she left to the world.

Troubled by her confessor's order that she write a book describing what her spiritual experiences had taught her, she knelt in her cell to pray for divine assistance. As a nun, Teresa had taken a vow of obedience. As a woman, she was tired and ill and could not imagine how she would accomplish such an enterprise.

Suddenly she saw a dazzling crystal, like a diamond, whose multiple facets she recognized as chambers leading inward to a secret place where God was waiting. This crystal castle, Teresa realized, is the soul. And the soul is so beautiful and so pure that it is the single place in all of creation that the Beloved Himself chooses as His dwelling place. The soul's purpose is to journey within herself to the very core of her being where she will meet God in the ecstatic union of love.

In her new translation and introduction of Teresa of Avila's mystical masterpiece, The Interior Castle (Riverhead Books, Penguin Putnam, 2003), Mirabai Starr sculpts the sixteenth century prose with penetrating lyricism, minimizing religious dogma and enhancing the universal wisdom teachings. The result is a fluid and delightful taste of the lively mystic's compelling language. Filled with humor, passion, and a touch of madness, Teresa's description of the soul's journey home to God is both practical and challenging.

It is also deeply affirming. Written during a time when women were not invited to stand up in their power, but rather forced to conform to a strict patriarchal social and religious code, Teresa's permission to dispense with authority and slip into direct connection with divine love was revolutionary. It nearly cost her everything. But her uncommon intellect and charm earned her the trust and admiration of the Spanish Inquisition, government officials and a team of devoted contributors to her radical reform movement.

In The Interior Castle, Teresa guides the reader through the seven "dwellings" of the soul as it walks the spiritual path. Each stage of the journey is described in rich detail, illustrated by realistic examples and poetic metaphors. Teresa's intimate voice draws the reader into a deeply personal relationship with one of the most brilliant and beloved spiritual masters of all times.

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