The Dark Night of the Soul

Lyrics are a poem by the Spanish mystic Saint John of the Cross (1542-1591)

"Dark Night of the Soul," like much of John's poetry, is based on "Song of Songs" from the Biblical Old Testament, and also on much of the romantic poetry and lyrics of Spanish popular balladry of that time, i.e., 16th century. The "secret stair" has less to do with a staircase in a monastery, and more to do with the popular theme of lovers meeting for a late night romantic tryst. In order for this to be possible, the young maiden of the song or poem would have to sneak out of the house, by the "secret stair." John uses this as a metaphor for the soul in prayer who, by means of contemplation, steals away from the world unnoticed, to meet in loving relationship with God. The dark night refers to the soul's search for God, beyond the confines of the human definitions we have put upon God."

lyrics and more on this here

http://www.xs4all.nl/~josvg/cits/lm/lorecd53.html


*All Music by Loreena McKennitt*

Fan video by me, various arts from wikimedia commons.

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[thecrew2008]

You're videos are the most beautiful my family & I have ever encountered on youtube! Thank you for these treasures. Both my Mom & I have posted both this & your Klimt video to our facebook pages for our friends to enjoy.

I would be very grateful to know the name of the painting that appears from 5:42-5:52. The profile is identical to my Mom's & we would love to buy a print for our home.

[megansspark]

ATTN visitors-- if anyone visiting knows the creator of the art in question please leave a reply. I have since purchased a new computer and have no background files on this video. Your help would be appreciated :)

[citaswan]

what is the name of the painting of the

minute 0:30?

[megansspark]

Orphée ramenant Eurydice des enfers, par Jean-Baptiste Corot 1861

[StThereseMartin]

Your insight, spiritual maturity and ability to convey it to us is truly edifying. God bless you.

[megansspark]

your compliment is a great one, I thank you so much :)

[girasolnena]

indeed the true wisdom is hidden from the world unless one seeks for it and it shall be given on the RIGHT TIME.

[druidia9]

The Christian maps, the Sufi maps, the Buddhist maps of the Tibetans and the Theravada, and the maps of the Khabbalists and Hindus are all remarkably consistent in their fundamentals. (…) These maps, Buddhist or otherwise, are talking about something inherent in how our minds progress in fundamental wisdom that has little to do with any tradition and lots to do with the mysteries of the human mind and body. -- Daniel Ingram

[Somespatanwarrior]

@ownedyouraz yeah I came here for that too sadly

[ownedyouraz]

3:25



[OldKingSol]

Beautiful song, and well-chosen pictuers for the accompanying slideshow. Thanks for putting this together! :-)

[colihen]

@thecrew2008 I found it using the method I outlined in one of my comments below. It should be "Le sphinx et la chimere" by L. W. Hawkins. Greetings :)

[colihen]

@colihen Of course - when I ask a question I usually find the answer myself :) L. W. Hawkins, The Haloes (1894). IMPORTANT: if you're looking for the name of any painting in the video, this might help: 1) take a screenshot of the picture (crop it, create a small JPG/PNG...) 2) Go to the webpage tineye "dot" com and upload your image 3) It's highly probable that in the found matches you'll find either author or the painting or both :) Hope this helps.

[colihen]

One more "name of the painting" question: what's the name of that at 3:17 please? Megan, you did a great job - I have never seen so many artistic, really telling and deep pictures in a YT video. Respect! No need to say that I enjoyed all the rest. Beautiful combination...

[pattylibraia]

@catholicisgood Exactly.

[CoronaBorealis153]

Excellent!! Thank you!

[reliablebow]

to the sparkgirl...exquisite

[Catholicisgood]

Love is the very process of passing over, of transformation, of stepping outside the limitations of fallen humanity-in which we are all separated from one another and ultimately impenetrable to one another-into an infinite otherness. "Love to the end" is what brings about the seemingly impossible metabasis: stepping outside the limits of one's closed individuality, which is what agape is-breaking through to the divine. Jesus of Nazareth ~ Pope Benedict XVI