Entering the Castle: Exploring Your Mystical Experience of God

Instead, it is a recording of Caroline talking about what I believe is the contents of her new book. She is often strident in tone. I believe the reason for this tone is she is trying to reach and ground many folks who are seeking knowledge, but are motivated for the wrong reasons. If you can listen through the repetition, the strident, lecturing tone, there are some real gems in this 'speech.' In particular, the last 35 minutes I will replay again and again for myself. I'll have to watch carefully in the future to distinguish between 'speech' and 'audiobook' when I select recordings from Audible.com.

I love her tone - it is full of conviction, power and awe. I do not find her strident or judgmental, but instead inspiring and urging people to come to a deeper understanding of life and God, and the mystics. Yes, she does speak with conviction (and is sometimes quite humorous!), and rightly so - this is an excellent examination of ourselves, with very practical and specific suggestions on how to navigate the internal spiritual pathways with grace and humility. She addresses the problems of narcissism in this culture, and shines a light of insight into parts of ourselves we might not be ready or willing to face. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and will listen to it multiple times.

This is the third audio course I have listened to by Myss. If you liked Energy Anatomy and the Language of Archetypes then this will be your next installment. I feel like I have been following along with Myss' as she developes her own deepening understanding and insights on the journey and challenges for those of us who feel like a monk without a monestary.

Be aware that this is a lecture based on the author's book. I found her analysis of Teresa's writings insightful and inspirational. However, I did find her tone a bit judgmental; as I work my way through The Interior Castle I am finding that Teresa was far more instructional and compassionate. I would definitely recommend this - however, it is not good auto listening since many of the author's instructions involve closed eyes!

This wonderful audio program (and the book of the same title that inspired it) should be called "Keys to the Kingdom", because that's really what it is. A profoundly moving and potentially life-changing spiritual teaching...how anyone can find it lacking in substance or get hung up on Caroline's passionate delivery is utterly beyond me. This is deep, challenging material, not the usual New Age fluff that has infected so much of our contemporary spiritual culture. Yes, Caroline's interpretation of St. Teresa's brilliant work is inclusive and not wedded to religious dogma, but that's a positive aspect of this program, not a negative one. The insights of the world's great mystics -- regardless of spiritual tradition -- belong to all of humanity, and Caroline has helped to share some of this holy wisdom with us in this amazing program.

First, as everyone else as stated this is an audio lecture and not a book. Myss uses St. Teresa of Avila's metaphor of an interior castle to create a series of meditation on personal growth. But besides the metaphor that is all this book has in common with St. Teresa. Myss rarely quotes Teresa, and does not talk about how to establish a practical devotional life style. Though she often rails against New Age Spiritualists, her lectures and meditations are not much different. She cuts out Jesus, prayer, and just about every other traditional aspect from Teresa's Christian mysticism, and offers instead a buch of self help lectures and meditations. The meditations are good, if a little fast. But this book has very little educational, and I would argue, practical merrit. I would suggest listening to Tessa Bieleki's series, "Wild at Heart," for something more substantial.

Occasionally we need to be reminded of realities of life. Although the truth sometimes hurts, it will set you free. Listing to Caroline Myss I can't help but feel a sense of renewal. this series has been life changing for me in a beautiful way. She doesn't pull any punches and truly "says it like it is" I highly recommend this series.

The intensity of her voice creates a sense of the importance of her message.

I wanted to listen to this in one sitting, however, small doses allowed me to reflect and journal my thoughts.

An amazing series which will lead you on an incredible journey to yourself.

The best thing about this book is that it brings to life the mystical teachings of St. Teresa of Avila. Myss penetrates Teresa's castle of the soul and interprets it for the 21st century. Teresa's teachings and metaphors are beautiful and inspirational.

Unfortunately, the experience is marred by Myss' scolding tone. She is speaking to a live audience (apparently), which is usually energizing. But in this case, she seems to assume her audience is composed of give-me-a-quick-fix sinners. So, unfortunately, she winds up sounding like a nagging Joan Rivers -- without the humor.

Old-school Catholicism does always seem to start every journey with sin and guilt and the need to embrace humility. As a rogue Catholic, I get it and can get passed it to the heart of Teresa's teaching. My Presbyterian friend, who was listening at the same time, could not.

This audio book is about shadow work written by a woman with intense amounts of un-dealt-with shadow herself. She is very blame-oriented; she points fingers and seems to loathe the people she claims to be helping. I fear she is growing *more* shadow in her listeners by creating fear and guilt with her scolding, angry tone, therefore doing more harm than good. These are not healthy, lasting, motivators for change.

If you think of the Law Of Attraction, when Myss is telling her listeners they are selfish, ungrateful, or lazy, she is creating her own world where people keeping showing up as selfish, ungrateful, and lazy. When you don't treat people well, when you disrespect them, or are spiteful towards them, you are not calling their best self forward. So I wouldn't be surprised if she attracts resentful, angry, people to her life. When you treat people as love and light, you are encouraging them to rise to their best. People are inherently good and they deserve to be treated that way. Furthermore real change will happen when people feel appreciated for where they are currently at, i.e.- from an integral understanding of our innate humanness- and when they are motivated by Love, not fear. Until she realizes people aren't "misbehaving" but are doing the best they can in their current way of living, her message will be lost on most people and shadows will keep growing, including Myss'.

If you are someone who wants to work on your shadow, I'd recommend Genpo Roshi/Big Mind, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, or Colin Tipping's "Radical Forgiveness." Great stuff. I am giving the rating 2 stars as I can see Myss put a lot of work into this, and despite the way she treats her audience, I think she means well.

I spent almost $30 to listen to this obviously mantally disturbed woman berate and shame me all the way through as much of it as I could stand. I am SURE that St. Theresa of Avila would never had said to people who were earnestly trying to learn from her "WHAT KIND OF SPIRITUAL PERSON ARE YOU?". For all of her obvious knowledge, Carolyn Myss comes across as the most arrogant, pompous, and ingratiating person I've ever encountered. PLEASE don't buy this. You'll regret it.