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Synopsis
Sea Priestess is the highly acclaimed novel in which Dion Fortune introduces her most powerful fictional character, Vivien Le Fay Morgan - a practising initiate of the Hermetic Path. Vivien has the ability to transform herself into magical images, and here she becomes Morgan Le Fay, sea priestess of Atlantis and foster daughter to Merlin! Inextricably drawn to an ancient cult, she learns the esoteric significance of the magnetic ebb and flow of the moon-tides.
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The keeping of a diary is usually reckoned a vice in one's contemporaries, though a virtue in one's ancestors. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The keeping of a diary is usually reckoned a vice in one's contemporaries, though a virtue in one's ancestors. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When estate agent Wilfred Maxwell is recovering from severe asthma his mind opens up to new psychic currents .Then he meets the ageless Vivien Le Fay Morgan and helps her turn an old fort by the sea into a temple.Vivien is a Priestess of Isis from an ancient Moon cult.She initiates Wilfred on the inner planes in her magical rituals.She teaches him the esoteric significance of the magnetic ebb and flow of the moontides.After Vivien mysteriously disappears Wilfred marries the homely Molly.Because "All women are Isis", Molly is able to learn the rituals and perform them with Wilfred.The mystic power of the sea is evoked in this novel and pervades the whole story. Some regard this as not only Dion Fortune's best novel, but the best occult novel ever written.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I had expected this book to be a bit on the `stuffy' side as it was written quite some time ago, but I was quite wrong. The book was recommended to me by a friend who is also interested in pagan/esoteric thinking. The story is told from the point of view of a chap called Wilfred Maxwell and how he meets with a mysterious woman, whose name changes throughout the book from Vivienne Le Fay Morgan to Morgan Le Fay - a reference to King Arthur's witchy sister - and then to just Morgan.
I found the book to be an easy read apart from when it launches into the`mystical' rituals. Then the going becomes a bit harder, but mainly, I think, because the ritualistic descriptions seem to be just random esoteric words thrown together until you're not sure what's happening. I really do think that when people try to describe ritual workings they over complicate it. The reader is left thinking either `wow, pagan beliefs really are mysterious!' or `that made no sense whatsoever,' which doesn't do much for paganism. Who wants to study something they can't make head nor tail of?
Parts of the book did make me laugh - Dion Fortune had a great sense of humour - and other parts, where she describes how marriage should not be a sticky plaster to cover up the `sins' of sex are a breath of fresh air. She really was a radical thinker of her time who was unwilling to be constrained by common social beliefs. The over-complicating of ritual is the only thing that spoilt this book for me.
I found the book to be an easy read apart from when it launches into the`mystical' rituals. Then the going becomes a bit harder, but mainly, I think, because the ritualistic descriptions seem to be just random esoteric words thrown together until you're not sure what's happening. I really do think that when people try to describe ritual workings they over complicate it. The reader is left thinking either `wow, pagan beliefs really are mysterious!' or `that made no sense whatsoever,' which doesn't do much for paganism. Who wants to study something they can't make head nor tail of?
Parts of the book did make me laugh - Dion Fortune had a great sense of humour - and other parts, where she describes how marriage should not be a sticky plaster to cover up the `sins' of sex are a breath of fresh air. She really was a radical thinker of her time who was unwilling to be constrained by common social beliefs. The over-complicating of ritual is the only thing that spoilt this book for me.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Dion Fortune wrote what is often considered to be one of the best introductions to Hermetic Qabalah, 'The Mystical Qabalah'. Excellent though it is, it presents only half the picture - something Fortune herself was keen to point out. The key to understanding that book is found instead in her fiction writing. 'The Sea Priestess' is one such novel. It presents the keys to understanding the 9th Sephirah of the Qabalah, Yesod.
The book is often sited as an influence on modern paganism and especially, modern Witchcraft - and you can see why. The lead character of Morgan Le Faye makes for an alluring role model. However, hermetic and alchemical teachings are very often presented as stories or symbols because they are meant to set your mind in motion - they aren't meant to be taken literally, as concrete reality. The real lessons in this book are alluded to through the relationship between Wilfred and Morgan, but it's the later relationship between Wilfred and Molly that really delivers the goods.
So we have two levels to this book. 1. It's a good, easy to read piece of new age fiction. Yes, the language is a bit dated now (it was written in the 1930's after all) but none the less entertaining for it, and the story jogs along at a good pace. All told, not a bad read. 2. It's a cleverly presented initiation into the mysteries of one of the spheres of the Qabalah, and in a world of 'pop' magic and spirituality type books, fake guru's and 'positive thinking', that makes it invaluable to me. Just don't forget to get hold of 'The Mystical Qabalah' as well. And remember, you're not so much reading a book as receiving a lesson from the Inner Planes - if you can read between the lines.....
The book is often sited as an influence on modern paganism and especially, modern Witchcraft - and you can see why. The lead character of Morgan Le Faye makes for an alluring role model. However, hermetic and alchemical teachings are very often presented as stories or symbols because they are meant to set your mind in motion - they aren't meant to be taken literally, as concrete reality. The real lessons in this book are alluded to through the relationship between Wilfred and Morgan, but it's the later relationship between Wilfred and Molly that really delivers the goods.
So we have two levels to this book. 1. It's a good, easy to read piece of new age fiction. Yes, the language is a bit dated now (it was written in the 1930's after all) but none the less entertaining for it, and the story jogs along at a good pace. All told, not a bad read. 2. It's a cleverly presented initiation into the mysteries of one of the spheres of the Qabalah, and in a world of 'pop' magic and spirituality type books, fake guru's and 'positive thinking', that makes it invaluable to me. Just don't forget to get hold of 'The Mystical Qabalah' as well. And remember, you're not so much reading a book as receiving a lesson from the Inner Planes - if you can read between the lines.....
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Full of wonder and wisdom
Originally written (and self-published) in 1938, this novel is filled with wonder and wisdom. Wilfred Maxwell as a character is a superb representation of human nature at its most... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Judy Croome
Awesome
This book is awesome and a must for anyone who loves Marion Zimmer Bradley's mist of avalon!
Published 20 months ago by S. Mason
Occult World Revealed!
This book took me back into the ancient occult world awakening things inside me that I did not know was there. I really really loved it.
Published on 3 Aug 2009 by Diane James
Fantastic...
The Sea priestess is one of my most favourite of Dion Fortunes 'novels'. For those able to read between the lines and familiar with Dion Fortunes work, these are more than... Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2008 by Gabriel
Rather dated
The Sea Priestess is the best known of Dion Fortune's novels, said to combine a good story with magickal teachings. Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2006 by Alice Springs
Not a true reflection of real life or occult thought
Dion fortune has an undeservedly high reputation amongst occultists, however after reading a number of her books including The Sea Priestess it is impossible to see why. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2005 by M. P. Sammut
Persevere
The style of language Dion Fortune uses is cumbersome because she writes the novel in the 1st person, herself as Wilfred Maxwell. Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2005
Dion's Novel ...
Yes, I enjoyed this one a lot. Easier to read than a thought it would be although a slow starter. The style of prose shows its age although still readable. Read more
Published on 17 July 2001 by dave@elemental6.demon.co.uk
Very interesting as a novel or magical guide
Not only a fantastic novel but also a usful source book for designing my own rituals.
Published on 13 Jun 2001
another mystical winner from dion fortune
a man in a blighted life is transformed by a mysterious sea priestess. as he helps her build her temple he is taken on a spiritual quest. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2000 by t127@btinternet.com
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