Notes from McKennitt's journals in the CD booklet for The Mask and Mirror '
Context: May, 1993 - Stratford... have been reading through the poetry of 15th century Spain, and I find myself drawn to one by the mystic writer and visionary St. John of the Cross; the untitled work is an exquisite, richly metaphoric love poem between himself and his god. It could pass as a love poem between any two at any time... His approach seems more akin to early Islamic or Judaic works in its more direct route to communication to his god... I have gone over three different translations of the poem, and am struck by how much a translation can alter our interpretation. I am reminded that most holy scriptures come to us in translation, resulting in a diversity of views.
Famous Loreena McKennitt Quotes
Celtic Women in Music interview (1999)
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Dark Night of The Soul
Website notes to The Mask And Mirror http://www.quinlanroad.com/explorethemusic/maskandmirror.asp
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Dark Night of The Soul
Loreena McKennitt Quotes about love
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Dark Night of The Soul
Context: Upon a darkened night the flame of love was burning in my breast
And by a lantern bright I fled my house while all in quiet rest.
Shrouded by the night and by the secret stair I quickly fled.
The veil concealed my eyes while all within lay quiet as the dead.
“Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you.”
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Mystic's Dream
Context: And so it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
And now I feel you move
Every breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutched by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you.
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Mystic's Dream
Celtic Women in Music interview (1999)
Context: There is a wonderful old Chinese proverb that I love, "A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving". I think about my personal approach to musical projects much like a travel writer might approach the preparation for a book. You latch on to a certain theme or historical event and follow that into the unknown, while, at the same time, expanding on those themes.
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Dark Night of The Soul
Loreena McKennitt Quotes
“To be a catalyst is one of my life’s objectives.”
Interview (25 September 1991), published in "Times of discovery" by Anil Prasad at Innerviews http://www.innerviews.org/inner/mckennit.html
Context: To be a catalyst is one of my life’s objectives. I’ve been inspired by many people who in turn have been catalysts. It’s very interesting to see the waves of interest come and go in Celtic territory. If I can be a catalyst for other people, that’s wonderful.
Celtic Women in Music interview (1999)
Context: Until the early nineties, I was under the impression that the Celts were this mad collection of anarchists from Ireland, Scotland and Wales. When I saw an exhibition in Venice, I discovered they were a vast collection of tribes originating from Middle and Eastern Europe as far back as 500 BC, and that over the centuries they migrated and integrated with people all over the world. So I've used this cultural history as a creative muse. With The Book Of Secrets in particular, I was interested in beginning with their earlier and more Eastern history
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Mystic's Dream
“The thundering waves are calling me home to you
The pounding sea is calling me home to you”
The Visit (1991), The Old Ways
The Mask and Mirror (1994), The Dark Night of The Soul
The Visit (1991), All Souls Night
