The Esoteric Philosophy of Love and Marriage

by Dion Fortune

Dion Fortune's esoteric textbook on the psychology of love and relationships. Gives a simple explanation of the factors governing interaction between masculine and feminine. An important work for Dion Fortune collectors.

Genres: Occult, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Magic, Spirituality, Paganism, Sexuality

92 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Violet Mary Firth Evans (better known as Dion Fortune), was a British occultist and author. Her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non fortuna" (Latin for "by God, not fate").

From 1919 she began writing a number of novels and short stories that explored various aspects of magic and mysticism, including The Demon Lover, The Winged Bull, The Goat-Foot God, and The Secrets of Dr. Taverner. This latter is a collection of short stories based on her experiences with Theodore Moriarty. Two of her novels, The Sea Priestess and Moon Magic, became influential within the religion of Wicca, especially upon Doreen Valiente.

Of her non-fiction works on magical subjects, the best remembered of her books are; The Cosmic Doctrine, meant to be a summation of her basic teachings on mysticism; The Mystical Qabalah, an introduction to Hermetic Qabalah; and Psychic Self Defence, a manual on how to protect oneself from psychic attacks. Though some of her writings may seem dated to contemporary readers, they have the virtue of lucidity and avoid the deliberate obscurity that characterised many of her forerunners and contemporaries.

Reviews

[S'hi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally got through this in one sitting. Have read sections of it on a few occasions previously, between conversations with others on a psychic/self-development path. Seems so much subjective experience outside of traditions and distinct schools now that it becomes confusing at times placing the content of some of these expressions. However, on this reading of this particular work I found many confusions clearing.
I realise now that it has been difficult for me to read something like this previously because of the force of personality of some people around me. It wasn't that they knew more than me - just that they thought they did! This feeling of self-protection left me closing myself down to comments and experience of others as well as those particular persons. Now I feel more competent in myself. And I appreciate the views of others in a different way.
One of the distinctions which arise in reading of the layers of consciousness and planes of existence is the tendency to judge hierarchies as if one is above or greater than another. Here these things are merely designated as different types of experience and understanding in the same way one would distinguish between taste and sight and sound, for example.
To be able to understand one's own multiple needs, and find others with whom they may be spoken and shared through mutual respect, is indeed a great thing in a world which seems ever more drawn toward simplification and discounting of our greatest treasures - our own inner resources!

[Jessecooperlevy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good. Homophobic, but good.

[Robin Burton · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars and I’ll tell you why. First off, this isn’t written dully and inaccessibly such as other esoteric and/or occult books tend to be. Dion Fortune is quite knowledgeable when she wasn’t poorly reflecting her own views and claiming they’re standard occult practice. I couldn’t give this book a higher rating in good conscience because of how bigoted the views of Dion Fortune were. What I like about occultism is the total lack of bigotry, which is why this book was inharmonious with occult doctrine. Fortune preached her own (perhaps Christian) beliefs and called them esotericism, which is simply not true.

[☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Creo que algunas cosas tienen mucho sentido y son muy ciertas, pero otras debo analizarlas con más profundidad. Mi corazón y mente saben que hay algo más profundo de lo que se muestra en el exterior, aun más profundo que la explicación más lógica y sencilla de las cosas.

//

I think some things make a lot of sense and are very true, but others I need to analyze in more depth. My heart and mind know that there is something deeper than what appears on the outside, even deeper than the most logical and simple explanation of things.

[Gwyndyllyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on this topic that's out there. The sexual ethics are a bit Victorian at times (masturbation = self-mutilation?), but it is a truly fantastic treatment. A must read for all occultists.

[Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great and I do love Dion Fortune, but I have to give it 3 stars max because of the outdated sexist idealogy that exists underneath some of her arguments.

It's just bullshit, and being esoteric I feel it should have been apparent even then that the sex of someone is not necessarily their gender and /or their energy. I was annoyed and therefore I can't give this 5 stars even though there were so many parts of it that were excellent and well written.

[. · Rating 4 out of 5]

''Reason and spiritual intuition have to be employed for the direction of the greater self; we have to rise superior to the pain and pleasure of the moment, or even of the incarnation, and base our lives upon the universal and eternal if the greater life that looks beyond birth and death is to be fulfilled of its purpose.''

[Berfin Kanat]

Aşk, ruh bağı, ruh eşi, evlilik, hayat arkadaşı seçmek, çocuk sahibi olmak ve benzeri konularda ezoterik felsefenin görüşünü okumak isterseniz kaçırmayın. Çeviri kötü olsa da aktarılmak isteneni anlamaya engel değil. Dion Fortune okumalarım devam edecek. :3

[шш]

I forgot when I read this but it was definitely this year. I love this crazy book.

[Onur · Rating 2 out of 5]

Found confusing and weird. She explained well there were 7 levels of connection through sex and that is it. She keeps saying according to some occultist. It s fine but we need to know who they are as well..

[Jade · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Dion Fortune is a well-known source for a plethora of occult knowledge, she is a product of her time. This is clear from the racism, white supremacy, sexism, trans-erasure, homophobia, antisemitism, and pro-life ideology written in this book.

[Giorgos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Δύσκολο βιβλίο με αρκετές και ουσιαστικές πληροφορίες περί του θέματος, παρά το μέγεθός του. Θα έλεγα ότι απευθύνεται κυρίως σε σοβαρούς μελετητές (με όλη την έννοια της λέξης) της εσωτερικής φιλοσοφίας.

[Kristen Zuchowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very jumpy book. Very ego/self driven. There is hypocrisy and loads of contradictions. There are some really great points that resonated, that I agreed with. Mostly, though, I think Dion was on to a higher truth but ultimately shot herself in the foot with her own ego + personal beliefs.

[Mahir Şanlı · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daha önce okuma yapmadığım bir düşünce tarzıydı o yüzden ilginç buldum. Kimi tespitleri de gayet isabetliydi.

[Neringa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beveik nieko nesupratau, bet ką supratau, tai buvo stipru.. :))

[Greta Burnham]

Finally, answers

[Bookwyrm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely lovely. I had been wanting to read it for quite some time, and it lived up to my expectations. Miss Fortune is always so eloquent, packing a dense amount of information in poetical phrasing. Always such a pleasure reading her works.

[Clivemichael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a simple explanation. Somewhat confusing, but that'd be me.