That's absolutely perfect. I didn't even think of the temple metaphor but damn if it doesn't fit the bill. And yep, that's why I lined up the chronology the way I did too with the story order (not sure if you looked before posted this, but if you didn't double brownie points!)

And remember how we were talking about 'shadow and soul' being where we see him well and truly in love? well, in my mind, and the end of this section-- that's where you see it begin for her. i'd always imagined that 'some of your scars' was what she looked like well and truly in love (or as in love as she gets in this verse), and this is the lead-in to that.

And it has to work through ritual. The only knowledge can come through the experience, b/c words are off the table. These guys don't do words. And so there is the act. And repetitions of the act. And continual participation in the movement and the rhythm and the offering and the taking and cleansing and the sacrifice-- until it all begins to make sense. That is, when you get right down to it, the point of liturgy. It's telling a story through action, in the hopes the we will remember it better.

Gorgeous stuff, my friend. Truly.