But all has not been sweetness and light since we last heard from Caroline. In fact, the death of a family member, a serious seizure, and the realization that she will never have a child all conspired to create her own “perfect storm.”

Caroline shares how this perfect storm turned into a profound opportunity for transformation, particularly with the re-discovery of St. Teresa of Avila, and her time-honored mystical text, The Interior Castle. Unable to drive due to the threat of another seizure, Caroline’s entire outer life stopped. There was nothing left to do but to “enter the castle”—and so she did, following Teresa through the stages or “mansions” of increasing intimacy, and finally union, with Spirit.

As Ken comments, these seven mansions break down into practices for gross, subtle, and causal realities. Teresa takes one from preliminary gross-realm practices oriented to the waking state, to subtle-realm practices oriented to the visions, images, and archetypes that can be found in the dream state, and finally to the vast causal emptiness and openness that can be found in the formless state. Although we are all dunked into all three realms every day (because we all wake, dream, and sleep), the point is that each of these realms can be entered with full awareness, and that is why state training such as Teresa’s is such an important part of the spiritual journey. Ken goes on to speak about the three different “Dark Nights” associated with each of these three realms, which is one of the truly unique and exciting contributions of a more integral spirituality.*

Caroline relates that her experience of Teresa’s interior mansions was so rich, and so deeply meaningful, that her most recent book, Entering the Castle (forthcoming), shares her personal reflections on what it means to engage these practices in the spirit of true surrender.

As with any genuine spiritual path, the gifts of the Interior Castle are available to anyone who takes the time to look. Caroline is a dear and wonderful guide, and we invite you join us on this intimate exploration of that which is most Sacred....