Teresa of Avila : doctor of the soul

In this strikingly original book, published to mark the fifth centenary of Teresa of Avila's birth, Dr Peter Tyler takes the writings of the sixteenth-century Spanish reformer and brings them into dialogue with some of the foremost thinkers who have shaped our contemporary notion of self. Starting with Freud and Kant, Tyler shows how the post-modern deconstruction of the self has allowed new possibilities for the spiritual to emerge once again as a vital force in our self-understanding. Key psychological and philosophical notions such as the unconscious, ego and desire are presented in ways that open up the door to the soul. Inspired by Teresa of Avila, Tyler offers possibilities of spiritual freedom to the troubled, contemporary self. Following the success of John of the Cross (Continuum 2010) and Return to the Mystical (Continuum 2011), Dr Peter Tyler completes his 'mystical trilogy' with a penetrating analysis of the life, work and context of St Teresa of Avila – this most popular and influential of all saints. To coincide with her anniversary year in 2015 he presents an accessible volume on the saint including the background to her life and times, her mystical theology, instructions on prayer and relevance for today. The book consists of three parts – the context of Teresa's life; an examination of the texts themselves and finally an exploration of Teresa's relevance to our 'postmodern world' including chapters on Teresa and psychology, mindfulness, meditation and personal development. This book is a major contribution to Teresian scholarship and a welcome addition to her anniversary celebrations.