leonardcohenforum.com

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fusea ... 4bd24e6040

Check it out. The guy is definately onto something.

Some people love to hear about the journey
some love to take the journey themselves
this guy is about to stop listening to everyone else and go for a walk
"into the mystic" as Van Morrison has put it.

Mt. Carmel (Symbolic) represents the journey of the soul towards its divine destination.
It is also a mountain in Israel mentioned occasionally in the Old Testament of the Bible.
( San Juan de la Cruz...Ascent of Mt. Carmel)
It could be said that San Juan is "Mad", but mad about god!
He (his Soul) fell madly in love with God and the gist of his writings is this:
....when we direct our mind to god, we set our soul free to wing "with god"
and the whole aim of the mystic is to "become god by participation" in this co-union of spirits. " I and the father are one" as some smart guy said.
We get to the summit by moving first from the "Dark Night of the Soul" at the base of the mountain and the desperation of our longings; then stammering and staggering onwards to the top (mystical union/gnostic/knowing)

The implication for J.J. in his poem is that it is time for him to stop listening to Leonard and move into his own soul and onto his own journey/destination.

It is an interesting poem about becoming an apostate of a sort from overriding influences and once "disconnected" from cultural or powerful influences : Set out!

"I set out one Night
When the tide was low"

(into the undertow...) Lorca/Leonard

It's about " I is driving this vehicle and we (god/I/unified spirit)("trinity", I suppose) is navigating! "

Thank you for your explanations Mat. I love the way J.J. writes. but sometimes he loses me as I don't know enough about the religious meanings.

... and if this is his message, it's one Leonard would understand and respect. I haven't been able to get to the poem, yet.

Thoroughly enjoyable. I'm glad to see those second thoughts lingering about his monetary reasons for purchase of such a beautiful book. Lessons come in all forms. I hope J.J. breaks camp and begins his own journey soon.


~ Lizzy

I have a feeling his journey has already begun. I wish him well and I hope he finds everything he seeks, but I'm sure going to miss him.