Violet Mary Firth Evans, more famously known by her pseudonym Dion Fortune, was a British occultist and author. Her novels and short stories, which she began writing from 1919, explored various aspects of magic and mysticism. Her works, including influential novels and short story collections, became significant within the religion of Wicca. Among her best-remembered non-fiction works are "The Cosmic Doctrine," "The Mystical Qabalah," and "Psychic Self Defence," all noted for their lucidity and avoidance of deliberate obscurity.
Dion Fortune, a prominent British occultist and co-founder of the Fraternity of the Inner Light, explored spiritual philosophies imparted by the Ascended Masters. Known for her prolific writing, she authored numerous articles and books on occult practices, alongside seven novels that delve into these themes. Her works reflect a unique blend of fiction and spiritual exploration, making significant contributions to the understanding of ceremonial magic and mystical traditions.
The author crafted seven novels, with four steeped in occult and fantasy themes, reflecting a style reminiscent of literary figures like H. Rider Haggard and Algernon Blackwood. The remaining three, written under the pseudonym "V. M. Steele," are romantic thrillers, showcasing her passion for writing independent of her magical pursuits. Knight suggests that these thrillers reveal her genuine love for the craft. An unfinished eighth novel, "Moon Magic," was later completed by her protégé and published after her death.
Focusing on the practical application of psychology, the author addresses the importance of understanding mental processes to prevent and alleviate psychological issues. Through her experience, she discovered that many individuals suffering from mental and nervous troubles could benefit from a basic comprehension of how the mind functions. This knowledge not only aids in recovery but also enhances patient cooperation during treatment, streamlining the healing process.
Exploring spiritual and metaphysical themes, the author delves into psychological concepts such as consciousness, dreams, hypnosis, and symbolization. Written during her early career as Violet Firth, this work reflects her foundational ideas and insights into the interplay between the mind and the mystical.
Exploring the occult significance of love and marriage, this work delves into the principles of Sex or Polarity as universal forces. Dion Fortune discusses concepts such as Ideal Marriage, karmic connections, and the search for twin souls. While her views on contraception, masturbation, and abortion may seem conservative today, she provides esoteric justifications that challenge contemporary moral perspectives. This book serves as an essential resource for occultists seeking to understand these fundamental aspects of existence across various planes.
Grounded in reason, the book explores the intersection of magic and occult studies, emphasizing the importance of verification for claims related to psychic abilities and past lives. It delves into a broad range of topics including meditation, psychism, numerology, astrology, and even darker practices like psychic vampirism. Additionally, it discusses ethical considerations such as vegetarianism and the role of secrecy in esoteric traditions. This work serves as both an insightful introduction for novices and a thought-provoking read for seasoned practitioners.
The book reveals the complete and original texts of Dion Fortune's significant rituals, the Rite of Isis and the Rite of Pan, previously kept in her society's archive. Edited by Gareth Knight, it connects these rituals to Fortune's novels and offers insights into her magical teachings. The inclusion of additional archive materials and articles from the 1930s, including an essay on ceremonial magic and critiques of contemporaries, provides a deeper understanding of the practical magical principles she wove into her fiction, expanding the accessibility of occult practices.
Death hounds, shape shifters, and vampires are among the patients treated by the Holmes-like Dr. Taverner and his assistant Dr. Rhodes in this work of supernatural fiction by acclaimed spiritualist and occult writer Dion Fortune. First published in 1926, the adventures of Dr.Taverner and Dr. Rhodes take readers across the marshy moonlit fields of nightfall, hunting spirits and keeping watch over souls. Suffering from vampirism? Being stalked by a death hound? Haunted by past life debts? Family under a suicidal curse? From across the countryside patients and their desperate families come to seek treatment for unconventional diseases from an unconventional doctor. His secret? Treating the diseases of the occult. Though Fortune wrote The Secrets of Doctor Taverner as her first novel, she maintained that all the events were based on true occurrences. Many believe Taverner to be Fortune's own spiritual teacher, Dr. Moriarty, and Rhodes to be based on Fortune herself. An essential and fun read for anyone interested in the Western Mystery Tradition, Dion Fortune, the melding of medicine and magic, or just good old-fashioned paranormal fiction.
The Demon Lover was first published in 1927, the same year as H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu. Dion Fortune was among a generation of occult horror writers that formed popular culture's obsession with secret societies, vampires, demons, ritual magick, and dark powers lurking in the shadows. What sets Fortune apart from so many of her contemporaries is her deep knowledge of the inner workings of magickal orders, rites, and practices, and her own freethinking on occult subjects, demonstrated in the classic Psychic Self-Defense and The Mystical Qabalah.
