REPTILES AND INQUISITORS

This Lent I journeyed (and am still journeying) with more than 80 people through St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle (CAC course, Feb. 2024).  There have been unexpected graces received, also "reptiles and inquisitors" encountered along the way.

I can't help wondering if St. Teresa's 16th century "reptiles and inquisitors" have morphed into modern-day narcissists?  For those of us with a history of trauma, narcissists can be triggering, whether encountered in our interior castle, or exteriorly as we try to navigate our everyday lives.

That said, at the end of this post I will share a helpful video from a podcast called, Surviving Narcissism.  The video is by Dr. Les Carter and reminds me of the "reptiles and inquisitors" connected with St. Teresa's 7 mansions, especially the early ones.

On a last pilgrim note, the video supports the spiritual notion that as we progress through St. Teresa's mansions (on the way to the Beloved) the "reptiles" are not such a bother; neither are the "inquisitors."  They can even serve to wake us up, and invigorate us in our journey when we are stuck or weakened.

Fear not and peace to your heart!

Here is the video below:

Tales from Therapy: Where Is Your Spite Toward The Narcissist Leading You? (youtube.com)
 
PS.  Happy Belated Birthday, Teresa!
(March 28, 1515)



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