Magic by W.B. Yeats (1917)
The work is an extended meditation on magic as a practice and philosophy in which the boundaries of individual minds and memories are seen as fluid, merging into one vast, collective consciousness. It posits that magic operates through symbols that evoke a hidden, ancestral memory of nature—a memory that informs both individual experiences and historical events. The author outlines three fundamental doctrines: the mutable boundaries of minds, the shared repository of memory inherent in nature, and the power of symbols to access and activate this collective memory. A series of ritualistic and visionary episodes illustrate these ideas. One narrative recounts an evocation by a magician whose recitation before a tablet of numbered squares sparks vivid, shared visions among the participants. These visions present historical figures and events—such as a knight in chain armour, scenes of religious ceremonies, and enigmatic figures engaged in alchemical or naturalistic experiments—blurring the line between remembered past lives and imaginative projection. The experiences are presented as tangible manifestations of a “supernatural artist,” an amalgam created by the convergence of several minds, where symbols act as conduits for energies and historical imprints that resist simple logical explanation. The work further explores how magic interweaves with everyday life and history. The narratives include instances where spontaneous visions—triggered by thoughts or simple symbols—transport individuals into distant landscapes, historical moments, or altered states of consciousness. These incidents are interspersed with reflections on how every event, emotion, or object may carry layers of symbolic significance, encoded in the collective memory of nature. The text makes frequent references to how such magical impressions have shaped or might reshape history: from medieval traditions to mythical figures and even modern encounters in urban life, suggesting that the enchantment of symbols once pervaded every aspect of existence. In a broader philosophical context, the work argues that the power of symbols lies not merely in their arbitrary association but in their deep-rooted, almost inherent connection to life’s grand, timeless narratives. The imaginative capacities of individuals—whether through deliberate magical practices or spontaneous, unsought visions—are shown to alter perceptions of reality, reawakening memories of a more enchanted, interconnected past. This reawakening challenges the modern disconnection fostered by urban life and rational thought, positing instead that true enchantment arises from the same creative impulse that inspires poetry, art, and music. Ultimately, the text serves as both a personal record and a theoretical exploration, suggesting that magic is the dynamic interplay between the individual mind and a vast, ancestral reservoir of images and emotions. It underscores the idea that history, art, and the human experience are continuously renewed through the power of the imagination, which, when fully awakened, bridges the gap between the mundane and the eternal.
By W.B. Yeats · First published 1917 · Genre: Occult, Mysticism, Esoteric · 9,699 words
First lines
I.
I believe in the practice and philosophy of what we have agreed to call / magic, in what I must call the evocation of spirits, though I do not know / what they are, in the power of creating magical illusions, in the visions / of truth in the depths of the mind when the eyes are closed; and I believe / in three doctrines, which have, as I think, been handed down from early / times, and been the foundations of nearly all magical practices. These / doctrines are --
What this Textopian page supports
Magic is listed on Textopian as a short story by W.B. Yeats, dated 1917 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: W.B. Yeats
- Date: 1917 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Occult, Mysticism, Esoteric, Symbolism, Fantasy
- Length: 9,699 words
- Structure: 1 section, 43 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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- Work identity for Magic by W.B. Yeats
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Occult — The text centers on spiritual evocation, ritual practices, and hidden doctrines, making the occult its primary focus.
- Mysticism — It emphasizes transcendent visions and the merging of individual minds with a greater, universal consciousness.
- Esoteric — The work explores secret symbols, obscure traditions, and knowledge reserved for the initiated.
- Symbolism — Rich, layered symbols are used throughout to represent complex ideas and the undercurrents of nature and memory.
Tags
occult · esoteric · mysticism · symbolism · mythology · fantasy · supernatural · transcendental · visionary · metaphysical · ritual · poetic