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Have to know... right?

Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 3:41 am
by butchie10
Does anyone know anything about the picture on the back of Songs Of Leonard Cohen? I belive it is a saint, or at least a religious picture, and I was told this is where to ask. Anything verifiable would be greatly apreciated.

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:51 am
by jarkko
It's said to be a painting of Joan of Arc. However, the info is
a bit contradictory because I have a postcard with the same
picture, and the text on the back says it's St Bernadette.
The same picture has been used on the US cover of the
tribute album "Tower of Song" (see below). I will ask
Leonard for more information.

Image

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 9:08 pm
by jarkko
The following message from Leonard gives us the definite answer
to this very interesting question:

"I found Her in a botanica, a mexican herbal magic store near the Chelsea
Hotel in 1965, the Lonely Soul or the Solitary Soul. I had never seen Her
image before. This one was printed in Mexico, and I used it on the back
of my first album. The owner of the store told me that it depicted the
Spirit breaking the chains Material World. My room at the Chelsea was
filled with items from his store, purifying oils, voodoo candles, love
potions, holy pictures of the saints by great unknown Artists, such as the
Anima Sola."

Warm-hearted thanks to Leonard for explaining the mystery to us! This
also means that the lady in the flames is neither Joan nor Bernadette,
but a nameless symbol painted by an unknown artist.

Leonard also quoted the following text from
http://www.luckymojo.com/animasola.html

Image
"The Anima Sola or Lonely Soul is a Catholic depiction of a suffering
person -- almost always a woman -- in chains amidst the barred prison
doors and flames of Purgatory, the place where sinners go while awaiting
final judgement. Because the woman looks penitential and reverent, and
her chains are broken, the image sends an ambiguous message of
suffering and release from suffering. Due to this ambiguity, the Anima
Sola may be prayed to for blessings and intercession in hastening the
conclusion of a purgatorial sentence meted out to a relative or loved one
who died while in sin -- or she can be implored for aid in prayers or
spells designed to send an enemy or ex-lover to either a literal or a
figurative Purgatory of suffering."

Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2003 11:52 pm
by Paula
Well Butchie10 you can't get it more verified than from the horses mouth.

I looked on the site it has Irish influence with the shamrock but can I point out a glaring error the horse shoe is UPSIDE DOWN the luck will run out.

Nice to get Leonard's input on something that only he can answer.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:17 am
by Coco
Hi Leonard,

How thrilling to know that you read the message board. :) I am beginning to regret having chosen a duck as my avatar. :) Who are your favorite posters? :)

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 7:12 am
by Iubita
thank you, Jarkko, for giving us this opportunity to get the answer coming from Leonard...and when I've read His words, the whole his explanation I've felt so close to His Soul again...as it's happened so many times listening His songs...thank you, Leonard...you know, how much we love you...

Iubita

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 8:02 am
by lizzytysh
Don't worry, Coco :wink: ........I'm sure Leonard likes ducklings [having considered himself a bit of an ugly one himself a time or two, he may even have an affinity for them].

However, even though I didn't notice it the first time of reading Jarkko's response here [and thank you for deleting mine, Jarkko :D ], it represents what I feel anyway, and since I saw his post was Edited 1 time, I reread and think it may have been added....Jarkko said, "I will ask Leonard......." I see that as a case of cut-and-paste Butchie10's question, email Leonard, and then post Leonard's response.

Meanwhile [for me], what a great, Sixties-style room he had in the Chelsea :D ......and a very interesting insight into one of the dynamics operative in Catholicism ~ "...or she can be implored for aid in prayers or spells designed to send an enemy or ex-lover to either a literal or a figurative Purgatory of suffering." That's not meaning for this thread to turn in the direction of a [religious] war, but what an interesting thing to "pray" for ~ something more commonly associated with black magic.

I'm very pleased [and thank you, Jarkko, and at minimum, thank you, Leonard, by proxy] that Leonard was willing to give such substantive [including personal details] clarification to Butchie's question :D .

~ Elizabeth

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 3:58 pm
by Linda
Nice to know the facts, I would have bet on Joan of Arc. Interesting to know from whence it came and how LC acquire it. Thanks

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 5:32 pm
by Pp.
Linguistically "Anima Sola" is pure, plain Latin with the meaning yet said of "Lonely Soul" but this is logical since Latin was the oficial language of Catholicism till XXth Century (The prohibition of the Mass in local languages was revoked when I was a child). There is an island too in The Philippines named "Anima Sola" so we can affirm that the Spanish conquerors were the people that spread the image (never a "real" saint) of the Anima Sola around the world.

Demons and Saints

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 6:20 pm
by Tchocolatl
When I read the question of Butchie Ten, I was sure he was talking about the photo of Leonard on the album Songs of Leonard Cohen 1967/1968. I found it amusing and I laughted.

It turned out to be a much more interesting and fascinating subject. However, the answer could be (almost) true for both images to me.

Lizzy, no war, but in many cultures where religion and magic (black or white) are the same and one thing when Catholicism arrived they were just too happy to have new demons and angels to add to or mix with their old chart of gods and godesses.

Coco you are so cute in many ways, don't worry, you look like a real Gabrielle Chanel Chick.

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:23 pm
by Dem
Well, for me the most intersting part in Leonard's answer is this"
"My room at the Chelsea was filled with items from his store, purifying oils, voodoo candles, love potions, holy pictures of the saints by great unknown Artists, such as the Anima Sola."

Ok the rest.
But "love potions"???? He he

Demetris

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 10:30 pm
by Dem
And dear Elizabeth you wrote something about "...Sixties-style room he had ...etc".

Can you please tell me more about that "Sixties-style" and what it had to do with love potions?


Demetris

Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2003 11:21 pm
by butchie10
Actually, the reason I (as a girl) asked is because I am in the middle of getting the Anima Sola tattooed on the whole of my back, along with a banner held by two sparrows that reads: 'I have tried in my way to be free.' Just wanted the backstory included. Maybe when it's done I'll post a photo...

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 12:30 am
by margaret
rather you than me butchie, I had a small henna tattoo once in India but I don't think I could contemplate a real one, and certainly not such a big one! look forward to seeing the photo.

Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2003 2:36 am
by Moonlight
Hello, Coco

I can't help but think LC must read this message board. I know that if there was a site devoted to me and my life .... I would not be able to resist reading what people were thinking and saying about me...no matter how busy or saintly I was... :)