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Tag Archives: Mirabai Starr

Good Grief

Everybody Grieves Good Grief Wednesday, August 4, 2021 When someone you love very much dies, the sky falls. And so you walk around under a fallen sky. —Mirabai Starr, Caravan of No Despair My dear friend Mirabai Starr has suffered many losses in her life, including that of her fourteen-year-old daughter Jenny, which Mirabai writes… Continue Reading Good Grief

The Gift of Wise Friends

Friendship and Grace The Gift of Wise Friends Tuesday, April 13, 2021 As a Franciscan, I have always been curious about the fruitful friendship between Francis of Assisi and his female companion Clare. They were not lovers, yet they were deeply devoted to one another, built their orders together, and turned to one another for… Continue Reading The Gift of Wise Friends

Love Revealed

All Will Be Well Love Revealed Tuesday, April 6, 2021 My dear friend Mirabai Starr, herself a mystic and author, has translated Julian’s Long Text (her second exploration of her visions) in a way that is both faithful to the original and understandable to today’s spiritual seekers. She introduces Julian’s work in this way: What… Continue Reading Love Revealed

The Way of Unknowing

Unknowing The Way of Unknowing Friday, February 5, 2021 Descriptions of the “dark night of the soul” from the Spanish mystic John of the Cross (1542–1591) have become the marker by which many Christians measure their own experience of unknowing. He fits an entire life spent exploring God’s mystery into memorable poetry, and even dares… Continue Reading The Way of Unknowing

Our Cosmic Mother

The Cosmic Egg Our Cosmic Mother Thursday, January 28, 2021 The image of the “Cosmic Egg of Meaning” is in some sense maternal, with each dome nestled and held by something larger and more powerful than itself. This is an ancient idea that may be helpful to our postmodern psyches, allowing us to embrace the… Continue Reading Our Cosmic Mother

Engaged Love

Interspiritual Mysticism Engaged Love Tuesday, September 22, 2020 While interspirituality is not for the faint of heart, or for dabblers who merely want to appropriate the clothing, language, or customs of other faiths, sharing in the spiritual heart of a different religious tradition can be a genuine vocation, bringing much needed peace and healing to… Continue Reading Engaged Love

Speak Out

The Rhineland Mystics Speak Out Tuesday, August 4, 2020 Author, spiritual teacher, friend, and fellow New Mexican Mirabai Starr offers us a bit of the story of Hildegard’s life with implications for our own lives today. “Speak and write!” the voice from Heaven commanded. But Hildegard of Bingen, medieval visionary nun, remained silent. Hildegard was… Continue Reading Speak Out

A Radically Optimistic Theology

Julian of Norwich A Radically Optimistic Theology Friday, May 15, 2020 My friend Mirabai Starr is gifted with the ability to deliver the teachings of the mystics straight to our hearts. Here is what she says about Julian of Norwich: The medieval English anchoress Julian of Norwich bequeathed us a radically optimistic theology. She had… Continue Reading A Radically Optimistic Theology

Prayer in Captivity

Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Prayer in Captivity Wednesday, April 22, 2020 In 1567, when Teresa of Ávila was 52 and deeply involved in her attempts to reform the Carmelite Order and create the Discalced (or “barefoot”) Carmelites, she met the newly ordained John of the Cross. Though he was only 25… Continue Reading Prayer in Captivity

Praying in Our Time

Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross Praying in Our Time Sunday, April 19, 2020 As of today, like many of you, I have been in self-isolation for several weeks. Honestly, it is a bit like when I sometimes go on a hermitage during Lent; except now, of course, my prayers are with the… Continue Reading Praying in Our Time

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