W.B. Yeats -- Twentieth-Century Magus is a comprehensive study of
his magical practices and beliefs. Yeats moved through many
different phases of spiritual development, believing that his life
was an intellectual, spiritual, and artistic quest -- a quest
greatly influenced by Celtic lore, Theosophy, Golden Dawn
ceremonial magic, Swedenborg's metaphysics, the works of Jacob
Boehme, and Neo-Platonism. For Yeats, writing poetry was an act of
divine possession, and he believed that a perfected soul was the
source of his inspiration, visiting him during times of
superconscious awareness. Susan Johnston Graf meticulously
documents and provides evidence that Yeats's poetry is a brilliant,
lyric narrative of reality captured through the mind of a
practicing magician working in the Western Tradition.
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Review This Product
Sat, 8 Sep 2012 | Review
by: Judy Croome | @judy_croome
A knowledgeable exploration of an often ignored, but fundamental, part of Irish poet WB Yeats's work: his spiritual beliefs, his participation in occult practices and how these influenced his poetry.
Graf begins by examining Yeats' connection to the Golden Dawn society, then proceeds to how his work has been perceived in literary circles and then seamlessly marries Yeats' poetry to his spiritualism and mystical practices. For a reader with knowledge of the esoteric practices that Yeats took part in, there may appear to be some repetition of the explanations of the traditions and symbols of Yeats' occult society. But, for those readers who have no exposure to these practices, this may help them grasp the complexity of thought and spiritual beliefs that drove Yeats to create the visionary poetry that he did.
Graf's calm acceptance of Yeats' occult beliefs, coupled with an intelligent and well-informed breakdown of how these motivate his poetry, is what makes this text a vital contribution to understanding Yeats as both poet and man.
The detailed exploration of Per Amica Silentia Luna (1916), as well as Yeats other works, makes for an absorbing read. Graf does not gloss over areas of intellectual doubt; rather she challenges them and seeks answers to Yeats' more obscure texts in his spirituality. The result is an inspiring and fascinating look into the soul of a great literary figure and a deeper understanding of his poetry.
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