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Violet Mary Firth, also known as Dion Fortune, explores how our minds operate and interact with visual and other stimuli. To detail her subject, Firth draws upon both her immense understanding of the brain's workings in the scientific schema, as well as through her affiliation with occult spiritualism and realms beyond our own. This multi-faceted approach, together with the author's lively and engaging style, makes for an excellent primer upon human perceptions, and the upper and lower functions of mind. Other subjects of interest include the response of the mind to scenarios demanding instinctive reaction, its sexual and reproductive impulses, its ability to dissociate itself from reality, and the various characteristics of dreams. Treatments of the early 20th century - Firth originally published this work in 1922 - range from hypnosis, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, and the use of suggestion and autosuggestion upon patients.
102 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2009
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About the author
Dion Fortune
142 books474 followersViolet 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 7, 2017
Psychology comprises enormous books even with same kind of topic,but differ somehow.
As, This one which has deprived the whole conceptualize the mind in different stages as well as its functionality linkage through emotions and various stimulus.
Also, its diseases and their cure and their workability of methodology of cure.
Good Lines-
* "Thus it will be seen that the functional unit of the nervous system is not the nerve
cell, but what is called the SENSORY-MOTOR ARC, consisting of a nerve carrying
the incoming sensation from a sense organ and making contact with another nerve
which carries the outgoing impulse to a muscle or organ"
*"Wow, I've in my full temperament -
our powers of concentration depend upon the satisfactory
functioning of this psychic sieve. The more we can bring the adjustment of its meshes
under voluntary control, the better will be our powers of concentration; whereas, if
its mesh be loose or faulty and we have acquired little or no control over it, we shall
find that we are unable to hold our mind to pay attention."
*"These two levels, the Focus and Fringe of Consciousness, together comprise what is
known as the CONSCIOUS MIND"
* "These three levels together, the Focus, the Fringe and the Foreconscious, form the
level of the mind to which we have access and of which we can make sense but we
must note this point in connection with these levels, that any idea which we may wish
to consider must be stated in the strong light of the Focus of Consciousness before we
can see it clearly"
* "These three levels together, the Focus, the Fringe and the Foreconscious, form the
level of the mind to which we have access and of which we can make sense but we
must note this point in connection with these levels, that any idea which we may wish
to consider must be stated in the strong light of the Focus of Consciousness before we
can see it clearly"
*"Sex, however, must not be considered under its physical manifestations only, it has
an emotional and mental aspect as well. It is more than the mere overflow of energy
in the act of procreation, it is also the desire for the rejuvenation and vital stimulus
that is produced by the act of union."
* "The interests of a very young child only gradually extend beyond his own bodily
sensations, and therefore leads an existence that is self-centred beyond any adult
conception of the term. The organs of reproduction, being very highly nerved in
preparation for their future functions, are found to be capable of keener sensation
than the rest of the body, and therefore attract his attention. This is the AUTOEROTIC STAGE"
* "Repression means that certain ideas
are put into the subconscious mind and not permitted to return to consciousness.
Dissociation means that some of these ideas, instead of lying quiet in the
subconscious, split off from the integration of the personality and function
independently."
As, This one which has deprived the whole conceptualize the mind in different stages as well as its functionality linkage through emotions and various stimulus.
Also, its diseases and their cure and their workability of methodology of cure.
Good Lines-
* "Thus it will be seen that the functional unit of the nervous system is not the nerve
cell, but what is called the SENSORY-MOTOR ARC, consisting of a nerve carrying
the incoming sensation from a sense organ and making contact with another nerve
which carries the outgoing impulse to a muscle or organ"
*"Wow, I've in my full temperament -
our powers of concentration depend upon the satisfactory
functioning of this psychic sieve. The more we can bring the adjustment of its meshes
under voluntary control, the better will be our powers of concentration; whereas, if
its mesh be loose or faulty and we have acquired little or no control over it, we shall
find that we are unable to hold our mind to pay attention."
*"These two levels, the Focus and Fringe of Consciousness, together comprise what is
known as the CONSCIOUS MIND"
* "These three levels together, the Focus, the Fringe and the Foreconscious, form the
level of the mind to which we have access and of which we can make sense but we
must note this point in connection with these levels, that any idea which we may wish
to consider must be stated in the strong light of the Focus of Consciousness before we
can see it clearly"
* "These three levels together, the Focus, the Fringe and the Foreconscious, form the
level of the mind to which we have access and of which we can make sense but we
must note this point in connection with these levels, that any idea which we may wish
to consider must be stated in the strong light of the Focus of Consciousness before we
can see it clearly"
*"Sex, however, must not be considered under its physical manifestations only, it has
an emotional and mental aspect as well. It is more than the mere overflow of energy
in the act of procreation, it is also the desire for the rejuvenation and vital stimulus
that is produced by the act of union."
* "The interests of a very young child only gradually extend beyond his own bodily
sensations, and therefore leads an existence that is self-centred beyond any adult
conception of the term. The organs of reproduction, being very highly nerved in
preparation for their future functions, are found to be capable of keener sensation
than the rest of the body, and therefore attract his attention. This is the AUTOEROTIC STAGE"
* "Repression means that certain ideas
are put into the subconscious mind and not permitted to return to consciousness.
Dissociation means that some of these ideas, instead of lying quiet in the
subconscious, split off from the integration of the personality and function
independently."
March 4, 2017
Useful for the basic ideas and an introduction to the topic.. also a good point of historical reference as to the way of thinking and the knowledge of the 20's on the subject
January 1, 2021
Mysticism, esotericism, bit of freudian and jungian psychology, bit of early developmental psych.
It's Mostly decent information but the packaging (esoteric nonsense) but there's also like a considerable amount of racism involved there. Describing a campaign to support children in other countries is described as providing aid and succor to a rival tribe. Like... what? Lol.
It's Mostly decent information but the packaging (esoteric nonsense) but there's also like a considerable amount of racism involved there. Describing a campaign to support children in other countries is described as providing aid and succor to a rival tribe. Like... what? Lol.
December 4, 2023
Good starting point
A very basic overview of psychoanalysis from the early days of psychology. I bought a paper copy and the kindle edition. The kindle version was badly formatted but the hardback version is flawless.
I enjoyed the book. Its quite short, easy to follow, and provides enough information for someone to decide if they want to hear more.
A very basic overview of psychoanalysis from the early days of psychology. I bought a paper copy and the kindle edition. The kindle version was badly formatted but the hardback version is flawless.
I enjoyed the book. Its quite short, easy to follow, and provides enough information for someone to decide if they want to hear more.
January 31, 2021
Dion Fortune ( Violet Firth) THe first person to lecture at a university that did not have a degree
May 30, 2020
This is what I call, short and concise writing. Good book, overall.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews