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Towards Mystical Union
A manual for spiritual direction, this guide is also intended to be a contribution to the interface between modern depth psychology, contemplative prayer and the Christian mystical tradition. It has been written in response to an increasing hunger for spiritual direction and discernment from a holy Mother, which St Teresa can provide.
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First published March 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 24, 2022
If you are Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or a contemplative Christian of any kind, I think you will really enjoy this commentary on The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. There is also a brief biography of Teresa at the beginning of the book.
The author is both a Jungian analyst and an Anglican spiritual director in England, which is a great combination. She compares Jungian depth work to The Interior Castle, which I found interesting. I was disappointed that the Jungian insights were mostly in the first 1/3 of the book. But the upside is that if you aren't familiar with Jungian psychology this book will be easy for you to understand, as the focus is largely on Teresa's work.
Here are a few quotes:
"We must understand that what is exemplified in the life of Christ, as recorded in the New Testament, provides the standard according to which each individual can assess the radical and transformative spiritual possibilities that are continually open to them."
"There is no substitute for the patient, slow psychological and psychotherapeutic work of exploring, understanding and learning to accept ourselves the way we are. In this regard, knowledge of God presupposes, and is intimately connected to, knowledge of self."
"Our aim is not, of course, to become anti-worldly, reclusive, or to retire into seclusion away from life or society. Quite the reverse – the challenge is to become contemplatives in the world, truly in the world but 'not of it’ in our heart and soul, as non-attached and non-identified as is psychologically and spiritually possible."
The author is both a Jungian analyst and an Anglican spiritual director in England, which is a great combination. She compares Jungian depth work to The Interior Castle, which I found interesting. I was disappointed that the Jungian insights were mostly in the first 1/3 of the book. But the upside is that if you aren't familiar with Jungian psychology this book will be easy for you to understand, as the focus is largely on Teresa's work.
Here are a few quotes:
"We must understand that what is exemplified in the life of Christ, as recorded in the New Testament, provides the standard according to which each individual can assess the radical and transformative spiritual possibilities that are continually open to them."
"There is no substitute for the patient, slow psychological and psychotherapeutic work of exploring, understanding and learning to accept ourselves the way we are. In this regard, knowledge of God presupposes, and is intimately connected to, knowledge of self."
"Our aim is not, of course, to become anti-worldly, reclusive, or to retire into seclusion away from life or society. Quite the reverse – the challenge is to become contemplatives in the world, truly in the world but 'not of it’ in our heart and soul, as non-attached and non-identified as is psychologically and spiritually possible."
August 3, 2020
A deep guide into the foundational teaching of Teresa of Avila and the experience(s) of being a pilgrim into the interior castle, which is Teresa's image for the soul more and more deeply absorbed into God.
A challenging read in many ways, chiefly because the path described bears little to no resemblance to much of the tame or cloying or capitalistic "you can do it because you're amazing" spiritual scams on sale these days.
I feel like I'm still at the very, very beginning of the contemplative journey - in some ways still outside the walls of the castle, to use Teresa's language. Since the beginning of the year, I've been working with a new spiritual director who is herself a Carmelite (the religious order that Teresa is known for reforming, alongside John of the Cross). And I said to her recently, of my experience of what was being dredged up in prayer: "It really doesn't feel good"; and she responded immediately: "Who told you it was supposed to feel good?!"
A through-line of this book, which marries Teresa with Jung and modern depth psychology (the author is a Jungian analyst and Carmelite spiritual director), might be, as the author writes over and over again in different ways: "It is difficult to overestimate how painful this process can be."
A challenging read in many ways, chiefly because the path described bears little to no resemblance to much of the tame or cloying or capitalistic "you can do it because you're amazing" spiritual scams on sale these days.
I feel like I'm still at the very, very beginning of the contemplative journey - in some ways still outside the walls of the castle, to use Teresa's language. Since the beginning of the year, I've been working with a new spiritual director who is herself a Carmelite (the religious order that Teresa is known for reforming, alongside John of the Cross). And I said to her recently, of my experience of what was being dredged up in prayer: "It really doesn't feel good"; and she responded immediately: "Who told you it was supposed to feel good?!"
A through-line of this book, which marries Teresa with Jung and modern depth psychology (the author is a Jungian analyst and Carmelite spiritual director), might be, as the author writes over and over again in different ways: "It is difficult to overestimate how painful this process can be."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews