Dion Fortune

[David19]

I wasn't sure whether to put this in the Magic thread or what, so if you think it belongs somewhere else, can a mod move it please :).

Anyway, I was just wondering, does anyone have a history of Dion Fortune, and was she a good occultist (as some people do make claims about themselves that can't be backed up), i've read a few things that make me believe she was a great occultist (like, i can't remember the site, but i've read her magical powers including teleportation, making objects appear in her hand, astral projection and fighting Nazi's sorcerors on the astral plane (i think there was a thread here a few weeks ago about Nazi occultist's), telekinesis, etc), IMO, all that does make her sound like a good occultist (and a very powerful one too), but does anyone know anything else about her, or if is some truth to her powers (i'm not expecting scientific proof 'cause i don't think magical powers can be proved, only by experiencing them (and seeing them work)).

She also seemed different to the streotype's of women of her time, as she seemed independent (i think, anyone know any different), and strong, although that said, i've also heard she expressed many of the same opinions of her time (i think i've read she was kind of racist, and maybe homophobic).

Anyway, what are your thoughts on Dion Fortune?.

[Toby Stimpson]

Of what I know, and to be honest very little as I've not made my way to early 20th century Occultsists...she seemed rather, well as you say she didnt fit the stereotype. In some ways, of what I know...she seems to be very intelligent and definitly above her times. She strikes me as somewhat of a suffragest and feminist as she doesnt seem to have taken orders very welcomingly. I managed to find this for you...its a short bibliography of her work:

http://www.jwmt.org/v1n0/dfortune.html

I'd love to learn more about her, as she seemed to be in the middle of things. I like to think that soem of these more famous Occult personalities all talked ot one another hehe...but I know soem may not even have met. I did a quick google search and couldn t find anything but mere small bibliographies. A book of mine at home here says that her name Dion Fortune is a play on words for her favourite motto in Latin, by God not by luck. By pictures she looks like a very kind and warm hearted english lady :)

Namaste

Tobias

[Seren_]

Gareth Knight has written a biography about her Dion Fortune and the Inner Light (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1870450450/026-1898913-8960467?v=glance&n=266239&s=gateway&v=glance). It's not exactly the most objective read, but it's very interesting nonetheless.

She was a very reknowned occultist of her time - whether she was a good one only she can say, and the people who knew her, really. Most of her books are excellent if you're interested in that type of magic but they are quite dated now in places. And they aren't always the easiest reads. Psychic Self-Defence still stands up as a good book for that sort of thing, and her Mystical Qabalah is extremely good - although very dense. If you google it, I believe you can find copies free on the net.

Her fiction books are apparently based on actual magical experiences, with Moon Magic and the Sea Priestess being semi-autobiographical (in a very loose manner), as is the Secrets of Dr Taverner, who's based on a real person she knew.

Gareth Knight wrote a book about the magical battle of Britain, which I tried to buy through Amazon a few years ago but it's not available anymore. It wasn't just Dion Fortune who was involved in it, but - reputedly - most of the well-known occultists in Britain at the time.

I couldn't comment on whether she was racist or homophobic, I don't know, but do bear in mind that the time she was writing in such views about homosexuality or race were hardly very liberal or accepting.

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

Ronald Hutton has quite a bit on Dion Fortune's work in his 'Triumph of the Moon'.

[covenofkeys]

some facts....
dion fortune was born violet mary firth on 6th december 1890.
she was from a wealthy family involved in the steel business.she adapted her family motto''deo, non fortuna'' to give her her magical name. she was initiated into the hermetic order of the golden dawn in 1919.
she was according to her biographer, alan richardson, 'a staunch british nationalist' and disliked the idea of other cultures ideas, so went 'salem at the source.'
from 1926 she published several books on magical cosmology,the cabbala and magical practise, as well as other novels with an occult theme; the most famous;the sea priestess. {this was actually published in 1938}.
she was greatly influenced by the works of carl gustav jung,and also freud.
in 1923-24 dion fortune made contact outside of the order of the golden dawn to those she referred to as 'her secret chiefs', and in 1927 she left the hermatic order to found the fraternity of inner light-{still in existence today, as the society of the inner light.}

[Bethra]

I am rather proud to say I was born in the same town as Dion Fortune, previously known as Violet Mary Firth

A summery of the life and works of Dion Fortune
http://www.innerlight.org.uk/dion/DionFort.html

More indepth info on Dion Fortune
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/f/fortune_dion.html
http://www.angelfire.com/az/garethknight/aboutdf.html
http://www.mystical-www.co.uk/glastonbury/dionf.htm
http://www.servantsofthelight.org/aboutSOL/bio-dion-fortune.html

[mallorean]

I am a hermetic mage studying the teachings of the golden dawn. Dion Fortune was one of the best teachers and she had a more practical outlook on Hermetecism and the kabbalah than say her contemporary Alleister Crowley. I would suggest any meterial written by her but esepcially "the mytical qabalah" one of my favorite books.

Blessed be and merry part
Mallorean

[Bethra]

I am a hermetic mage studying the teachings of the golden dawn. Dion Fortune was one of the best teachers and she had a more practical outlook on Hermetecism and the kabbalah than say her contemporary Alleister Crowley. I would suggest any meterial written by her but esepcially "the mytical qabalah" one of my favorite books.

Blessed be and merry part
Mallorean

You can get a lot of her books in pdf format online :)
Thats the link for Mystical Qabalah.
http://churchofsatan.tv/pdf/mystical_qabala.pdf#search=%22Dion%20Fortune%20Mystical%20Qabalah%20pdf%22

and Psychic Self Defence
http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:O86jrDo1S_QJ:tarotinstitute.com/free/psychic.pdf+Psychic+self+defence+pdf&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1

[Shatril]

I am a hermetic mage studying the teachings of the golden dawn. Dion Fortune was one of the best teachers and she had a more practical outlook on Hermetecism and the kabbalah than say her contemporary Alleister Crowley. I would suggest any meterial written by her but esepcially "the mytical qabalah" one of my favorite books.

Blessed be and merry part
Mallorean

I read the Mystical Qabalah by Dio Fortune while taking Bethra's class. It was quite a difficult read for me. Her writing style is rather archaic. Having said that it was one of the best books on the subject that I did read, but patience is certainly needed to finish.

Shatril.