What if one of the most influential voices in Christian mysticism has been nearly forgotten? Pseudo-Dionysius, whose writings shaped centuries of contemplative thought (including Meister Eckhart and Thomas Aquinas!)-- remains largely unknown today. Yet his explorations of longing, divine union, and what he called "the radiance of divine darkness” reveal the vulnerable heart of God even to this day. 

Join award-winning translator Carmen Acevedo Butcher to explore Dionysius’ life, his lasting impact on Christian thought, and how his teachings invite us to embrace the unknown. What can we learn from his vision of divine darkness? And how does it speak to our deepest longings for connection with the Divine?

Join us as we uncover the enduring wisdom of this forgotten mystic.

Speaker bio: Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD, is an award-winning translator, poet, and workshop leader. She has been interviewed on the BBC’s Compass, NPR’s Morning Edition, Dante’s Old South, and many others given on her linktr.ee/carmenacevedobutcher. Her Cloud of Unknowing translation received a 46th Georgia Author of the Year Award, and her translation of Brother Lawrence’s Practice of the Presence was named on the Spirituality & Practice Best Books of 2022 List. Cynthia Bourgeault praises Carmen’s Cloud translation, saying, “Brilliant, bold, and breathtaking. . . . I recommend this book hands down for its sheer immediacy.” Martin Laird calls Carmen’s Practice of the Presence translation “the new standard” of this spiritual classic. With degrees in Medieval Studies from the University of Georgia, Phi Beta Kappa, Carmen was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of London, and she teaches in the College Writing Programs at the University of California, Berkeley. An Affiliate Faculty member at the Center for Action and Contemplation, she has contributed to the CAC Essentials of Engaged Contemplation course. Carmen lives in the Bay Area, and is working on a chapbook of poetry and a translation.