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The Magical Battle of Britain: The War Letters of Dion Fortune
Immediately following Britain's declaration of war in 1939, Dion Fortune began a series of regular letters to members of her magical order, the Fraternity of the Inner Light, who were unable to hold meetings due to wartime travel restrictions. With enemy planes rumbling overhead, she organised a series of visualisations to formulate "seed ideas in the group mind of the race", archetypal visions to invoke angelic protection and uphold British morale under fire. "The war has to be fought and won on the physical plane," she wrote, "before physical manifestation can be given to the archetypal ideals. What was sown will grow and bear seed." As the war developed, this was consolidated with further work for the renewal of national and international accord. For the first time the Fraternity's doors were opened to anyone who wanted to join in and learn the previously secret methods of esoteric mind-working. With unswerving optimism she guided her fraternity through the dark days of the London Blitz, continuing her weekly letters even when the bombs came through her own roof.
Long out of print and much sought after, Skylight Press is very pleased to be re-issuing this fascinating and important book. Introduction and commentary by Gareth Knight.
"A compelling portrait of an adept practising the magic of the light for the sake of the nation." – Alan Richardson
Long out of print and much sought after, Skylight Press is very pleased to be re-issuing this fascinating and important book. Introduction and commentary by Gareth Knight.
"A compelling portrait of an adept practising the magic of the light for the sake of the nation." – Alan Richardson
180 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Dion Fortune
72 books398 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 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 12, 2011
This book explains about real magic. Dion Fortune and her group meditated at the same time every Sunday afternoon on a subject sent out during the week that basically envisioned an England at peace, an England without German bombers and German bombs. What happened? The Germans never invaded England, Goring and Goebbels never had a clear vision of what to do. This is one of the most powerful books you'll ever read!
November 26, 2015
Great reads! Dion Fortunes's letters are some of the factual basis for Katherine Kurtz's novel, "Lammas Night"
November 26, 2012
Please follow this link to see my video review of The Magical Battle of Britain. :-)
September 13, 2020
I really like Dion Fortune. I don't agree with all her ideas, but judging from her writing, she was a woman of integrity, discipline, and leadership. This compilation of the letters she wrote to her magickal order during the second World War was eye-opening and informative. I learned things about meditative practice that apply generally, which is the mark of solid writing.
In terms of the actual magickal battle, my expectations were--well, I didn't consciously know. Despite studying Western Esotericism myself, I imagined rituals done in darkened rooms and chants opposing the Nazis. I've been too influenced by the cartoonish portrayal in movies of the occult seeking Hitler did, and my subconscious expected the opposition to take the same for. The truth, however, isn't like that. Fortune AND Hitler studied the same forerunners as I did (to a point, of course, that being the 40s) -- Blavatsky and Mathers and Crowley -- which kind of blows my mind a little.
Definitely mind-expanding, if a tad dry. Like I said, I love Dion Fortune, but I find her writing a tad bit to get into.
In terms of the actual magickal battle, my expectations were--well, I didn't consciously know. Despite studying Western Esotericism myself, I imagined rituals done in darkened rooms and chants opposing the Nazis. I've been too influenced by the cartoonish portrayal in movies of the occult seeking Hitler did, and my subconscious expected the opposition to take the same for. The truth, however, isn't like that. Fortune AND Hitler studied the same forerunners as I did (to a point, of course, that being the 40s) -- Blavatsky and Mathers and Crowley -- which kind of blows my mind a little.
Definitely mind-expanding, if a tad dry. Like I said, I love Dion Fortune, but I find her writing a tad bit to get into.
July 29, 2018
A fascinating glimpse into Dion Fortune and her Fraternity of the Inner Light's esoteric participation in World War II. This is a collection of letters Fortune sent to order members detailing their various meditative initiatives and providing practical instruction and education. A nice aspect of this that stands out from much of her other work is the nitty-gritty aspects of practice that are shared. I love her more philosophical and abstract works, but it was enjoyable and enriching to read the more technical dimensions of this book, which I don't think was ever intended to be published, at least during her lifetime. Given how many feel about the current political climate in many parts of the world, now is a good time to revisit this classic. Even though some of Fortune's ideas haven't aged well, many of the overarching concepts and certainly the occult insights still apply and would be useful today in an occult resistance movement.
February 4, 2019
Gareth Knight's interjections set the scene for us in history between each of Dion Fortune's original letters to her occult order. Quite an amazing journey that shows the interested reader the foundation of work that previous schools of the occult have put in place.
March 17, 2021
An accounting of Fortune's groups energetic efforts toward the best outcome during WWII. Amazing how disciplined and focused they were as the bombs were falling.
High magic, dry and very arcane.
High magic, dry and very arcane.
March 31, 2017
pretty helpful nowadays
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews