A conversation about the main topics and purpose of the Third Sphere in Dante's Paradiso - the Sphere of Venus. We'll meet the souls of Carlo Martello, Cunizza, and Bishop Folchetto, and explore the themes of mercy, forgiveness, love, spiritual growth, and the transition out of the earthly shadow into the higher Divine realms from the Sun and beyond.

We'll also discuss different forms of love, and how self-management of your soul can shape reality, your relationsships, and transform your perception of the world.

Hosts are Richard Emerson, and English Professor Robert-Louis Abrahamson.

Professor Abrahamson also has podcast with three seasons on Dante here: https://eveningunderlamplight.substack.com

Music: "Gregorian Chants" by Kevin MacLeod, and "Miserere Mei" by Gregorio Allegri.

A Conversation about the Sphere of Mercury in Paradiso, and how the Transcendent and Divine Truth is shining through the bigger scales of Empires, Civilizations and Humanity at large.

One of the main arguments in the Second Sphere is that on a cosmic scale, Humanity is a young species with a very recently emerged self-awareness, moral capacity, and Free Will. And over the longer time spans, we need to align both spiritually and with our Institutions and Civilizations with the Transcendent Good and Truth, argues Beatrice.

Hosts are Richard Emerson and English Professor Robert-Louis Abrahamson.

Professor Abrahamson also has podcast with three seasons on Dante here:https://eveningunderlamplight.substack.com/

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantesparadiso.substack.com

A Conversation about the Sphere of the Moon in Paradiso, with some of the main themes and the idea of transformation of perspective and experience of Being. With English Professor and Podcaster about Dante, Robert-Louis Abrahamson.

Robert-Louis Abrahamson is Emeritus Professor in English for the European Division of the University of Maryland, and he studied at Amherst College, University of Edinburgh and Rutgers University. Born in Philadelphia, he later moved to England in the 1980s and currently lives in the market town of Oundle, not too far from Cambridge, where he is the chairman of the Cambridge Dickens Fellowship.

He also has a wonderful series on Dante's Inferno, Purgatory and Paradiso on his "Evening under Lamplight” Podcast, which is highly recommended, and a regular radio show currently on Cambridge 105 Radio.

His podcast with three seasons on Dante is here:https://eveningunderlamplight.substack.com

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dantesparadiso.substack.com

When the Pilgrim talks with Carlo Martello in the Sphere of Venus, they quickly move from purpose vs. randomness in the Universe, to the shaping forces that must originate in G-d. And Dante connects this to something as simple as why offspring are often different from their parents. The idea of Telos is working on all scales.

©2023 Richard Emerson

Music: "Miserere Mei" by Gregorio Allegri.

In the Sphere of Venus, Carlo Martello explains to the Pilgrim that all material things have both a nature and a purpose, which is reflected through the orderliness of the Cosmos. The alternative would be a collapsing reality, lying in ruins.

©2023 Richard Emerson

Music: "Miserere Mei" by Gregorio Allegri.

The third sphere in Paradiso, the Sphere of Venus, moves beyond the human scale and starts blending the Angelic with the Blessed Souls. And the Pilgrim expands his Spiritual experience from himself and G-d as in the Moon, to now also including other souls.

©2023 Richard Emerson

Music: "Miserere Mei" by Gregorio Allegri.

On a cosmic scale, Humanity is a young species with a very recently emerged self-awareness, moral capacity, and Free Will. And over the longer time spans, we need to align both spiritually and with our Institutions and Civilizations, with the Transcendent Good and Truth, argues Beatrice.

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.

The material world has two parts according to Dante; an immaterial “potential matter” and a shaping/organizing principle of the spiritual realms, which are then unified to create “physical matter”.

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.

To fully understand the idea of Redemption and the Crucifixion, Beatrice expands the context for Humanity and explains how it is a part of something much bigger, in the same way our individual soul is both autonomous, and part of something bigger at the same time.

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.

After increasing Virtue in the world from the time of Aeneas, the Roman Eagle further brought the Redemption through first establishing an Empire with Caesar, and then given the Glory of being the “hand” for the Crucifixion.

Music: "Gregorian Chants", by Kevin MacLeod.