Teresa de Jesús: Spanish mystic and literary figure

Teresa de Jesús, born Teresa de Cepeda y Ahumada, was a Spanish self-taught writer, nun, and founder of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Recognized as a Doctor of the Catholic Church, she is considered a peak of Christian mysticism alongside San Juan de la Cruz.

Following a religious vocation in 1535, she initiated a major reform project after her mystical experiences in 1560. She founded 17 female convents across Spain, including locations in Ávila, Toledo, and Seville, and established the first male Carmelite convent in Duruelo alongside San Juan de la Cruz.

Her literary contributions include 'Libro de la vida' (1562), 'Camino de perfección' (1566), and her seminal work 'Las moradas' (also known as 'El castillo interior') in 1577. She often wrote under the mandate of her confessor, sometimes multitasking with domestic duties such as spinning.