Translator of 16th Century Spanish Mystics

Mirabai Starr Translates the Works of Saint Teresa and Saint John

Dec 16, 2008 John Lamkin

In this interview Mirabai Starr, translator of the 16th Century Spanish mystics, St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, shares her insights and motivations.

Author of critically acclaimed new translations of Spanish mystics, Mirabai Starr uses fresh, lyrical language to help make timeless wisdom accessible to the contemporary reader.

Mirabai was born in New York in 1961 to secular Jewish parents who rejected the patriarchy of institutionalized religion. Intellectual artists and social justice activists, they were active in the anti-war protest movement of the Vietnam era.

In 1972, Mirabai’s mother, father, and her younger brother and sister uprooted from their suburban life and embarked on an extended road trip that led them through the jungles of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, where they lived for many months on an isolated Caribbean beach, and ended in the mountains of Taos, New Mexico. There, the family embraced an alternative, “back-to-the-land” lifestyle, in a communal effort to live simply and sustainably, values that remain important to Mirabai to this day.

As a teenager, Mirabai lived at the Lama Foundation, an intentional spiritual community that has honored all the world’s faith traditions since its inception in 1967. This ecumenical experience became formative in the universal quality that has infused Mirabai’s work ever since.

Mirabai is an adjunct professor of Philosophy and World Religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos. She is also a certified bereavement counselor.

Some of her books include: Dark Night of the Soul, Riverhead Books (Penguin Putnam); The Interior Castle, Riverhead Books (Penguin Putnam); Teresa of Avila: The Book of My Life, (book and audiobook) Shambhala Publications

Suite 101: What inspired you to start translating, and why archaic, 16th century Spanish?

There were three factors that motivated me to start translating these books: one, my absolute favorite book in the world – the one that had the deepest spiritual impact on me – was Dark Night of the Soul, by the 16th century Spanish mystic, John of the Cross; two, I am fluent in Spanish; and three, I love the beauty of language, and wanted to bring my aesthetic sensibilities to the translation of these teachings.

Suite 101: Why St. John of the Cross & St. Teresa of Avila?

Neither John of the Cross nor Teresa of Avila, John’s spiritual mentor, had been translated into English in many decades, and the existing translations were literal, rather than literary, resulting in stiff, formal language that made these beautiful teachings arduous to read. Plus, they were translated by Catholic priests, who naturally had an orthodox religious bias that I do not have.

Suite 101: Since you aren’t Catholic, do you see any conflict in translating Catholic books?

On the contrary! Because I bring an eclectic spiritual background to this work, including Judaism, Sufism, and Eastern philosophies, I feel I am helping make these timeless wisdom teachings available to people from every faith tradition, and no tradition.

Suite 101: Who do you see as your audience?

People who are on a spiritual quest but are not necessarily affiliated with any one religion seem to find my books helpful, as well as enjoyable to read.

Suite 101: Did you have any difficulty in getting these books published?

My translations of the Spanish mystics seemed to be a case of “the right thing at the right time.” There was a growing trend toward fresh, contemporary translations of spiritual classics, and no one had done the Spanish mystics. My proposal sold to a major publisher very quickly after sending it out.

Suite 101: What advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this field?

It’s always helpful to find a niche in the publishing world, one that you will be energized by and enthusiastic about sustaining over time. Translate with your heart and not just your mind. Don’t be afraid to weave your own voice with the voice of the writer you’re translating. Your connectedness to the work will sanction you.

Suite 101: What’s next?

I am working on a book that explores the teachings of the Dark Night of the Soul across multiple spiritual traditions, and includes my personal experience and reflections.

Suite 101: Thank you.

More about Mirabai Starr

The copyright of the article Translator of 16th Century Spanish Mystics in World Literatures is owned by John Lamkin. Permission to republish Translator of 16th Century Spanish Mystics in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Mirabai Starr, writer-translator-speaker-teacher	Saint John of the Cross - Dark Night of the Soul	St. Teresa of Avila - The Interior Castle
Teresa of Avila -The Book of my Life	Hildegard of Bingen