"Heavy, biological, metaphorical"

"During one of his early visits to [Cecil] McCartney's home, [Van] Morrison was intrigued by a book on display titled Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill, a study of the importance of contemplative prayer, first published in 1911. But what really stuck in his memory was a sketch or poster on the wall which alluded to 'Astral' travel and would later inspire the title of his most famous album. 'It was a painting,' McCartney corrects. 'There were several paintings in the studio at that time. Van looked at the painting and it suggested astral traveling to him. I don't think I went into very deep explanation as to what the paintings were about. Most of my painting at that time, the misty stuff, was based on atmospheric effects like Turner would have painted, but it was also very heavy, biological, metaphorical shapes.'"