Customer Reviews

The Art of Rosaleen Norton: With Poems by Gavin Greenlees

5 star:		(3)
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This book, once banned, was reprinted and published in limited numbers. Roe was a very kind bohemian who took many under her wing(s). Her Art reflects a strong magical/ feminist view. The poetry is somewhat dated now but is an excellent example of its time. If you can get a copy it is well worth treasuring.

While to all surface appearances this is simply a book of Art & Poetry (rather excellent Art & Poetry at that) it is nonetheless much more. This book is an actual grimoire of Rosaleen Norton's own eclectic brand of magic. Contained herein are the images of the various beings (Gods, demons, elementals) with which Ms. Norton had actual contact as well as many invocations (poems) which may be used in the summoning of these beings. Certain pictures are no less than mandalas while others are astral visions and telesmatic images. Also included are an outline of R.N.'s occult beliefs and excerpts from her magical journals as well as pieces of occult lore from her magical realm. Not a step-by-step Summon-by-numbers text by any means, but rather an advanced tome for the advanced occultist. And if you're not an occultist, then as I mentioned it really is an excellent book of art & poetry.

I agree with the previous five star reviews for this item. This is a treasure for those interested in the Occult, Art, and the pioneering contributions to the modern Wicca/occult scene by a very talented, natural trance artist. While most of the well printed images (31) are in black & white, there are 4 color plates, and many are rare images of her work. There are pictures in this book I had never seen reproduced elsewhere before. It has taken a long time for 'Roie' to get the credit and attention she deserves but her significance as one of the best artists to come out of Australia, and as one of the best occult artists in the 20th century, is memorialized in this historical reprint that caused so much controversy when it first appeared in 1952. The poetry by Greenlees fails to really capture me but is of high interest due to his long-standing, close relationship with Roie. There is a poem by R.N. herself that really reveals much about her personal spiritual path.
My one lament is that there is but one small reproduction of 'Lucifer' (a personal favorite) in the book as a frontispiece, but is so reduced in size as to lose the detail.
I highly recomend Nevil Drury's 'Homage to Pan' (an updated and re-working of his earlier 'Pan's Daughter') as a great supplemental & biographical resource on Rosaleen Norton's life and art and spiritual path. It also contains many illustrations if the 'Art' book is too expensive for you.