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Dan Tallarico's avatar

I too bailed out on that same exhibit in my youth. But after reading this I feel like I have a mission to go back and engulf myself in the darkness.

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Maria Mangano's avatar

I have a personal stake in this one. :] Really enjoyed it!

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Dave Forman's avatar

a stunning memoir of art and poetry. Thank you for sharing such a personal piece.

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James Foreman's avatar

Thank you for sharing this wonderful piece. I had a similar experience with Pleiades in my youth. I was very dismissive (shocking I know). As she has so often done, my pal Lindsay set me straight and I learned a whole lot.

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Rita Yeasted's avatar

Andrea, this piece i amazing, but I wonder if any of us can put mystical experience into words. Do you remember the stories of the Transfiguration in the Scriptures? Peter, James, and John go upon a mountain with Jesus, and suddenly, he is "transformed" before their eyes. He appears "in glory" with Moses and Elias on either side. They get a glimpse of the other side of that thin veil of life we all live. They were blinded, dazzled, but then they did not want to leave the mountain. "Let us build three tents," they cry. And then things return to normal. When the times were terrifying after the death of Jesus, those "mystical" visions kept them in the fold. They were afire with wanting to tell the story, and all but John died a martyr's death. Maybe it's because I am so familiar with the stories of mystics in the history of the Church that I am a believer in visions... They are given the momentary gift of being in the "next world." You have had a taste of that mystical experience, and few saints could have told the story better. No wonder I love your writing and always have. But not as much as I love the woman who wrote it. Peace. Sr. Ria

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