Read the body poetically as it expresses itself

“A poetic response to disease may seem inadequate in the context of medical science, because science and art differ radically from the point of interpretation. Therefore, a poetic reading of the body as it expresses itself in illness calls for a new appreciation for the laws of imagination, in particular a willingness to let imagination keep moving into ever new and deeper insights.” — Thomas Moore, Care of the Soul

Michelle Francl-Donnay, a professor of chemistry at Bryn Mawr College, blogs "Praying in/with pain" in which she mentions the new translation of the Mass and "The Body's Poetic of Illness" in Thomas Moore’s book Care of the Soul. She writes, “Moore notes that science demands a single reading of a phenomenon — we're pretty sure we know what's causing my myalgia, and it's self-limiting, so all will eventually be well — but that poetry acknowledges multiple layers of meaning. Why not seek multiple readings of the body's poetics when we are ill? Such an approach doesn't deny the physical causes and effects of a particular malady, but does give reality to its effects on the other aspects of our being.”

Care of the Soul message found to be expansive

A rector with the Episcopal Church in Shenandoah County, Virginia writes "Care for Your Soul"  in the  The Beckford Parish Beacon newsletter about the book Care of the Soul by Thomas Moore.

Alexander MacPhail commends the book to parishioners although he writes, "The book does not stand squarely in the Christian/catholic tradition, probably because Moore himself doesn’t stand squarely inside the boundaries of the Faith; but there is a breadth and wisdom to his writing that some might negatively call syncretistic, but I would call — more positively — expansive."

The review concludes, "Care for your soul. Nurture it with prayer. Let it read new books and see new pieces of art. Take it for a walk in the leaves. Let it smell the crisp fall air and the scent of a new wood fire. And perhaps think to yourself that these, too, are gifts of God for the people of God."

Bloggers take the temperature of the season

In the post, "Hot and Cold ruminations", blogger Ruth quotes Thomas Moore’s description of fundamentalism in his book Care of the Soul as it relates to the season of winter. The excerpt includes Moore’s definition, "I would define fundamentalism as a defense against the overtones of life, the richness and polytheism of imagination." Ruth responds, "Maybe winter is not simply: cold. It is cold with overtones of cool, warm, and much that is not about temperature. I am a polytheistic lover of winter!"

Catherine O'Meara blogs about childhood Christmases and her desire to maintain enchantment as an adult, in "Living an Enchanted Life". While reading Thomas Moore’s book, The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life, she writes, "... Moore reminds us that every aspect of our daily lives deserves to be grounded in the enchantment granted by a spirit-infused perspective."

Enjoy reading the comments triggered by these entries.

Hekate helps reader through her dark night

Today Debby at Musing from the Moment blogs about Thomas Moore’s book, Dark Nights of the Soul: A Guide to Finding your Way through Life’s Ordeals in her post "Hekate". She shares how it feels to be “touched by the sacred” and how she gains sustenance from Moore’s story about this goddess whom James Hillman describes as a dark angel.