An Encounter With The Mystics with Mirabai Starr

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Mirabai Starr was raised in a secular Jewish household, has maintained a Buddhist meditation practice since the age of sixteen, has engaged the ecstatic mystical traditions of Sufism, and now lives within the indigenous spiritual traditions of Taos, New Mexico. And, she has spent the past several years sitting in the presence of the great Christian mystics - or so it seems. As a translator of the works of St. John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the archangel Michael, St. Francis of Assisi, and Hildegard of Bingen, Starr immersed herself in their essence, and found herself forever altered. She brings a rare breadth of understanding to their teachings, and now brings their message of wisdom, comfort, empowerment, and grace to people of all spiritual traditions. She echoes their familiar words, "Not my will but thine," "Be present," and "Open your heart," and infuses them with the sensitivity and perspective of a gifted modern-day teacher. This interview is an opportunity to be inspired along with her, to hear stories of the ancient visionaries, and be "plunged into this delicious body of water, and surrounded and immersed in the teachings and the flavor and the quality of each of these beings." (hosted by Michael Toms)

Bio

Mirabai Starr has taught philosophy and world religions at the University of New Mexico, Taos, for 20 years and now teaches and speaks internationally on contemplative practice and the interspiritual dialogue. She’s a certified bereavement counselor and travels the world speaking and giving workshops on contemplative practice and the teachings of the mystics.

Mirabai Starr is the author and editor of many books including:

• Dark Night of the Soul (Riverhead 2003)
• The Interior Castle: St. Teresa of Avila (Riverhead 2004)
• Devotion, Prayers & Living Wisdom (Sounds True 2008), six-volume series of translations of the writings and poetry of six Christian mystics:
  • Saint John of the Cross (Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom)
  • Saint Michael the Archangel (Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom)
  • Saint Francis of Assisi (Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom)
  • Hildegard of Bingen (Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom)
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe (Devotions, Prayers, and Living Wisdom)
  • Saint Teresa of Avila (Devotions, Prayers & Living Wisdom)
• God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam (Monkfish 2012)
• Wild Mercy: Living the Fierce and Tender Wisdom of the Women Mystics (Sounds True 2018)

Topics Explored in This Dialogue

• Why St. John of the Cross is the Rumi of Spain
• Which Christian mystic coined the term "dark night of the soul"
• What kind of practice comes after enlightenment
• How Our Lady of Guadalupe merges the spiritual traditions of several cultures
• Why St. Francis suffered so deeply
• Why the sword of a spiritual warrior is a sword of peace and truth