The cosmic doctrine (Paperback)

by Dion Fortune (Author) "Knowledge falls into two divisions - the record of facts and the explanation thereof..." (more)
Key Phrases: travelling atom, primary swarms, central stillness, Divine Sparks, Law of Limitation, Lords of Flame (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Over seventy-two years ago, beginning at the Vernal Equinox in Glastonbury, Fortune started receiving communications from the Inner Planes concerning the creation of the universe, the evolution of humanity, natural law, the evolution of consciousness, and the nature of mind. This is her record, in a revised edition, and includes previously unpublished material that is still relevant today! --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author
Fortune moved to Glastonbury in 1923 and formed a pilgrim centre known as the 'Chalice Orchard Club' along with a temple dedicated to the 'Mysteries of Isis' in West London known as the 'Belfry'. During her life, and since, she has received a large following. Many of her books are still read by occultists/neo-Pagans. Just after the World War II she was struck down with leukaemia and died at the age of 54. She is buried in Glastonbury, Somerset. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 157 pages
• Publisher: Aquarian Press (1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877283184
• ISBN-13: 978-0877283188
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,091,624 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the most important book of occultism ever written., November 18, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Santa Monica, CA) - See all my reviews

Fortune's _Cosmic Doctrine_ is among the most important works of modern spiritual literature. Yes, it's difficult - like a koan. Yes, it's dense - like the Vedas. But it yields more useful information than any other book of its size. Fortune "received" the communication of the doctrine from an ascended master, and set it down pretty much as received. It helps if you have some understanding of Magick, Qaballah and the essential esoteric traditions. But even if you don't, study of it will still yield enormous results.

18 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Extremely peculiar, to say the least, September 13, 2001

By	happydogpotatohead "happydogpotatohead" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Cosmic Doctrine (Paperback)

Many claim that this book was channeled from a spiritual entity, or entities. It may well have been, or not; in her introduction to the book, Fortune states with admirable honesty that she doesn't know if it was channeled or if it came from her subconscious on overdrive. She does lean toward the "channeled" theory.

I am sorry to say that, although I am a student of the occult, I find much of this book incomprehensible. This does not invalidate the worth of the book; perhaps I'm not "ready" for what it offers, or perhaps it would only make sense to someone who was involved in the same magickal tradition that Dion Fortune was involved in.

In any case I can say for sure that this book is not for the casual student of the occult, nor is it even for the average person who reads Dion Fortune's works and learns from them. To be honest, this book mystifies me completely, although I have to admire the thoroughness with which Fortune and/or the Entities create their cosmology and the apparent "rightness" of some of the more comprehensible statements in the book. That is what the three stars are for.

However, I have to be honest and say that I don't understand what she's getting at (or what the Entities are getting at) here, and I seriously doubt the general reader will either. Nonetheless its cryptic nature makes it an interesting curiosity, and perhaps much more than that to those more adept than I in Dion Fortune's tradition.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Cosmic Dion Fortune +++, July 12, 2009

By	Kevin Kiersky "oceaneagle" (Olympia, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Cosmic Doctrine (Paperback)

I have read and studied a number of works by Dion Fortune of the Western Esoteric Tradition -- such as her excellent classic "The Mystical Qabalah" -- which could serve as a good check and anchor for "The Cosmic Doctrine". Of all the ones she authored this one certainly is in a singular class all-by-itself. Of course, she states that "The Cosmic Doctrine" is a recieved doctrine -- not just authored by her. So, it does makes some sense that it is quite difficult to make more than just some sense of it.

It seems amazing that one can even make some sense of "The Cosmic Doctrine" from the start. Indeed, one can -- via some sustained study and reflection. Like the finest of mystical prose, poetry, music and art -- "The Cosmic Doctrine" seems to evoke never-ending on-going Inspiration -- in a Forceful Symbolist way. Old and new ideas and ideals seem to radiate deeply from it -- but, only after one has concentrated substantial contemplation over some time upon "The Cosmic Doctrine" +++