Tag: Beulah

William Blake and learning from Covid. On dying before you die

This essay is published by Beshara Magazine. The pandemic is said to have exposed modern society to its vulnerabilities. Nowhere is this exposure clearer than in relation to death. Covid has revealed that, nowadays, most people have inadequate ways of relating to this fact of life. The weakness is doubly striking as wisdom and religious… Continue reading William Blake and learning from Covid. On dying before you die

From Ulro to Eternity – the place William Blake died. Walk and reflection

A MP3 version of this talk can be found on you podcast feed as my Talks and Thoughts. William Blake died in the apartment he shared with Catherine Blake on Sunday 12 August 1827. A contemporary letter reports: “He died … in a most glorious manner. He said He was going to that Country he… Continue reading From Ulro to Eternity – the place William Blake died. Walk and reflection

William Blake, London & fourfold vision – reflections from Waterloo Bridge

William Blake famously remarked in a letter to Thomas Butts: “Now I a fourfold vision see, And a fourfold vision is given to me; ‘Tis fourfold in my supreme delight And threefold in soft Beulah’s night And twofold Always. May God us keep From Single vision & Newton’s sleep!” But what does it mean to… Continue reading William Blake, London & fourfold vision – reflections from Waterloo Bridge

William Blake: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 1

William Blake argued that the imagination is the key human faculty for knowing fourfold vision, life to the full, and our divine destiny. But he also knew it needed cultivating, training, discerning. In this talk, I look at Blake’s images that can become part of such a training. I also describe the schema of Ulro,… Continue reading William Blake: Imagination and Spiritual Sight, Pt 1