Yeats and the Occult

Yeats and the Occult by George Mills Harper is a scholarly exploration of W. B. Yeats’s lifelong engagement with mysticism, the occult, and esoteric traditions. Drawing from extensive archival research, Harper examines how the poet’s involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, spiritualism, astrology, and mystical philosophy profoundly shaped his poetry, drama, and critical thought.

The book traces Yeats’s intellectual journey from his early fascination with Irish folklore to his deep immersion in Theosophy, ceremonial magic, and Rosicrucian traditions, showing how these influences informed the imagery, symbolism, and structure of his literary works. Harper presents Yeats not merely as a poet but as a visionary thinker who sought to reconcile the spiritual with the artistic.

This volume is both a critical study and a historical investigation, offering insight into the cultural currents of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the unique role of esoteric philosophy in shaping modern literature.

✅ What You’ll Learn:

• Yeats’s involvement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and other occult societies
• How mystical and esoteric traditions influenced his poetry and plays
• The relationship between astrology, alchemy, and symbolism in Yeats’s work
• Yeats’s belief in the supernatural and visionary experiences
• The cultural and historical context of occultism in late Victorian and Edwardian society
• How esoteric ideas shaped modernist literature and Yeats’s role within it

💡 Key Benefits:

• Gain a deeper understanding of Yeats’s mystical worldview
• Discover the occult roots of some of his most celebrated works
• Learn how esoteric traditions influenced broader literary and artistic movements
• Explore the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and the occult
• A valuable resource for students of literature, spirituality, and esotericism

👤 Who This Book Is For:

• Scholars and students of literature, poetry, and modernism
• Readers fascinated by occult traditions and their cultural impact
• Fans of W. B. Yeats seeking a deeper understanding of his inspirations
• Anyone curious about the intersection of art, mysticism, and esoteric thought

📚 Table of Contents:

• 1. The Occultation of the Intellect
• 2. Yeats’s Occultism
• 3. Words and Beyond
• 4. The Poetry of Occult Vision
• 5. Unity of Being
• 6. Early Correspondences
• 7. Mind and Body: A Dialogue
• 8. The Speculum Angelorum et Astrologia
• 9. Golden Dawn and After
• 10. Yeats and the “Spirits”
• 11. Yeats, Magic, and Mysticism
• 12. The Tarot and the Great Memory
• 13. Yeats and Astrology
• 14. A New Theological Poetry

Yeats and the Occult by George Mills Harper