Heathens, Pagans and Witches discussion

Suggested to me by my friend Sarah. We have one copy between us, so we'll be staggering our posts.

I'm hoping to read this one at least.

Yay! Yes I've got my hands on one and am looking forward to the read. Apparently Dion was quoted as saying, "the textbooks are theory, and the novels are the practical application of magic."

I think I'm going to skip Gareth Knight's forward because he seems to give away a lot of the story in it, and I hate spoilers.

Just got it on my kindle. Aiming to get to this one too when I have a chance to stop and breathe again.

Very witty turn of phrase so far.

Very witty turn of phrase so far.

Quote from the foreword:

The choice of a Path depends upon the soul's development in evolutionary time or upon the abnormal bias given it by the constricting influences of a false sense of civilisation. Some souls are made rebels by 'civilisation' & some are made cripples. The rebels are dealt with in green pastures, the cripples in quiet chapels.

Feel free to comment . . .

Great quote Sarah. Another one I liked.

"What he did not know about the machinery of the mind was not worth knowing, but what he knew about the mind itself was precious little."

I started on Friday evening, and am finding it incredibly compelling - the more so I believe because of Dion Fortune's quote above re. practical magic.

Also there's something about 'dated' novels that appeals to me in spite of the odd non-PC (to modern eyes) references - maybe because I seem to be at home in that era :)

(view spoiler)[I did find the first chapter that was written in the first person by Vivien/Lilith - a sort of lesson on how to be irresistible to men - slightly annoying with its description of the clothes she wears and her lipstick etc., but am past that now and enjoying the descriptions and the pace - neither too fast nor too slow. (hide spoiler)]

I know what you mean Nell. I was thinking exactly the same thing reading this one, that I had been missing this style of writing. It's nourishing something I'd been deficient in.

Hey guys! I just joined the group and I'm happy to see you're reading Moon Magic. I just got my copy and can't wait to read it, I plan on starting next week.

I've also begun reading the book mentioned in Moon Magic - Phantasms of the Living - very balanced and down-to-Earth, if that's at all possible given the subject matter.

Great sequel to The Sea Priestess. I have not read either in years; might be time to revisit.

"There is a kind of spiritual constipation which occurs in society sometimes due to too much preservation of the status-quo." Love that line.

I'm really enjoying her writing style, and she's really speaking my language. How she describes part of the personality shutting down in adolescence I found to be very astute.

By the way, does anyone recognize the painting on the cover? It's not credited. I know I've seen it before. "Night and her train of stars" or "Arianrhod"?

My copy is a very dated one with an illustration of a kneeling Egyptian priestess against a distant city background, but I prefer the lady on the crescent moon, although I don't know who created it. It reminds me very much of an engraving by one of two Victorian or Edwardian illustrators - either Speed or Justice.

I enjoyed this one very much, unusual and a very effective teaching method. After about three quarters through I found myself looking for the place where Dion Fortune left off and the lady who completed the book took over, although if we're to believe her there should be no difference as she supposedly channelled it from Dion after the author's death.

Anyway, I couldn't find the place, so however the book was finished she did a good job :)

So I broke down & read the foreword by Gareth Knight (otherwise I'm on Chapter 12) because something had been niggling at my brain since Chapter 4 which was the description of Lilith Le Fay as having died soon after birth. For this is somewhat my story as well. I contracted pneumonia soon after being born & spent the 1st 6 months of my life in the hospital. The pneumonia created havoc with my body & the doctors did not know what to do. I met the surgeon who saved my life when I was 16. It was a very strange meeting because he was so happy to see me alive & I, of course, had no memory of the mayhem that marked the beginning of my life. My mother would always describe me as a person who was 'not all there'. The far away look somewhat betrays the absurdity of facing death as soon as you are born. I wasn't sure if that particular description was true of Dion Fortune or just the character so I was happy to discover the answer in the foreword. I have always cited the meeting with the surgeon that saved my life (& made me relive the operation with him) as the start of my spiritual journey.

Nicely put Sarah. I also find the character quite sympathetic, especially the way she describes her approach to magic and spirituality.

I also had a particularly spiritual experience of wandering around the streets of London, and I thought she conveys that experience very well. I definitely spent some time lost in the same boroughs, and quite quite identify with the feeling that certain locales are sentient and seem to only reveal themselves when they chose.

And as a side bonus, Dion Fortune is somewhat of a godmother to the beloved book, the Mists of Avalon, as her book, Glastonbury: The Road to Avalon is cited as an inspiration to Marion Zimmer Bradley. She talks about Avebury as well.
;)

Sarah wrote: "The far away look somewhat betrays the absurdity of facing death as soon as you are born."

That's fascinating Sarah.

Re. the streets of London, I seem to remember reading somewhere that the old church that Lilith converted was inspired by the real one that Dion Fortune used for her rituals.

I'm finding this such an inspiring read. I love her sense of humour. The way she makes fun of women and men, and how woman don't walk the streets of London at night because they fear the would be satyr, but the typical English male doesn't become a satyr unless inebriated, in which case he is much too sodden to keep up with a woman at a brisk walk.

Of course this was written before the days of crystal meth.

I'm enjoying this book. It's fascinating that Malcolm is so willing to explore the unknown world of magic with Ms. Le Fay. He seems ready to assume all the risks of something he knows nothing about. I also admire his commitment to his wife. What an interesting character!

He is an interesting character, and a nice change from the wooden hero.

I loved this book but the ending seemed to creep up on me. In the 17th chapter, Lilith said that they had just completed Part 1 one of what needed to be done. A short chapter later, the book was over. I guess I'm being greedy. I wanted even more from Malcom and Lilith. I enjoyed every moment of anticipation.

I was also found wanting more. I kind of feel, in Dion Fortune, that I have found a long lost friend - which is a good feeling.

I'm a little more than halfway through the book now. One of the things that's striking to me is that, although both major characters draw on their past lives, they're not simply trying to recreate them. Malcolm is here to live the same role _differently_. So refreshing, when you think about all the Hollywood movies in which reincarnation is a substitute for motivation and the characters robot out the previous lives the screenwriters have given them.

Yes! Thank you fellow Sarah. I have also been reading The Secrets of Dr. Taverner in which Fortune chronicles certain case histories. She describes it as a study in ultraconsciousness. The first story, Blood Lust, is about trapping a vampire, but from a metaphysical standpoint which immediately made me feel - how refreshing!? Hollywood has just gone for the vampire as metaphor at this point, but hey, they're just following the money.

I'm not quite finished yet, but I'm going to put the The Song of King Gesar since we're a bit behind. I'll still be commenting on Moon Magic as I read on though.

I like how she describes the effects of getting in and out of an Asana (yogic posture), I do find it very true, that the discomfort keeps you focused, but getting out of it is hell.

There was some kind of misprint with my copy. Pages 212 and 213 were reversed. It took me ages to figure out how one page seemed to be ending in the middle of a sentence, and another was starting a new paragraph. Page 214 was not even numbered. Was this the case with anyone else's copies, and did they find it significant or symbolic?

Mine was a pretty early copy and was fine - probably symbolic of 'older is better' :D

:D Love you Nell. It's surprising how long it took me to figure out what was happening. It was classic lunar distortion.

I love Moon Magic. I think it is such a brilliant novel. The character rending of the hero is absolutely amazing. I read Moon Magic a number of years ago. I would have reread it for this group, but all my witchy books are packed for an impeding move. From the notes above it seems DF died before finishing the novel? Is that true? If so it would explain why it seems to shift to a lesser quality about 2/3rds into the book. I've read all her fiction. I just love, love, love them. Yes that turn of last century of the old milenium richness of language is something I find very enjoyable. I think I loved the Dr. T stories the best.

Keep your misprinted book Aaron. Misprints like that make the book valuable.

Can you elaborate Brian? I'm not sure I would have characterized her writing as Christian so I'm curious, but I have similar scruples.