Posts tagged natural love

Catching Feelings in the Sensual Sphere of the Moon: PARADISO, Canto III, Lines 1 - 33

Dante is about to meet the first souls in heaven, the redeemed in the lush, sensual sphere of the moon. He sees what he believes is a reflection, then finds that he’s looking into the void, the same place his own thoughts are taking him. It’s not as bright as we might expect in the first rung of the heavens.

Paradiso Cantos I - VIIMark ScarbroughSeptember 9, 2026Paradiso, Beatrice, The moon, natural loveComment

Of Natural Instincts and Their Natural Ends: PARADISO, Canto I, Lines 115 - 142

If Dante has a question about how his body can transit other bodies in the universe, Beatrice doesn’t answer it. Instead, she launches into a discussion of our natural instincts and how they lead us to our natural ends, unless we swerve from what’s intended for us or find our pleasure elsewhere.

Paradiso Cantos I - VIIMark ScarbroughAugust 12, 2026Beatrice, instinct, natural love, heaven, free willComment

Here are the episodes for the opening cantos of PARADISO. The podcast is currently into Canto III. Because of the way my website is coded, the episodes appear in reverse order. Sorry about that. Scroll through the list to find earlier (or the earliest) episode.