Gareth Knight
Encyclopedia
Dr. Basil Wilby, aka Gareth Knight (born 1930) is a British esotericist and occult author who began his esoteric training in 1953 as a member of the Fraternity of the Inner Light
, founded by Dion Fortune
.
In the 1960s and 70s he undertook several ventures in publishing esoteric material, including editing the magazine New Dimensions, and co-founding Helios Books. He also collaborated with W. E. Butler
to create a correspondence course in Qabalah
; this course later formed the basis of the Servants of the Light
school of occult training. During this time, Knight founded a new esoteric school which continues work today (2004).
In the course of a career spanning over fifty years, Knight has written extensively on esoteric topics, mostly centered around the Qabalah. The most widely-read of these works is probably A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism, but other notable works include The Experience of the Inner Worlds, which grew out of an association with Christian priest Anthony Duncan, and a new edition of Dion Fortune
's An Introduction to Ritual Magic, to which Knight contributed a companion chapter for each of Fortune's original chapters.
Knight continues to be active in the occult community both through his writing and his involvement in the Society of the Inner Light.
Keene, Tim (1994). A Remembrance of W. E. Butler. Retrieved September 30, 2004.
Fraternity of the Inner Light
The Fraternity of the Inner Light is a magical society and Western Mystery School.-History:In 1922, after a falling out with Moina Mathers and with Moina's consent, Dion Fortune left the Alpha and Omega and formed the Fraternity of the Inner Light as an offshoot of the Alpha et Omega. This brought...
, founded by Dion Fortune
Dion Fortune
Violet Mary Firth Evans , better known as Dion Fortune, was a British occultist and author. Her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non fortuna" , originally the ancient motto of the Barons & Earls Digby.-Early life:She was born in Bryn-y-Bia in Llandudno, Wales, and grew up in a...
.
In the 1960s and 70s he undertook several ventures in publishing esoteric material, including editing the magazine New Dimensions, and co-founding Helios Books. He also collaborated with W. E. Butler
W. E. Butler
Walter Ernest Butler , was a working occultist and esoteric author in Britain. His first training in the mysteries was with Robert King, a bishop in the Liberal Catholic Church, who trained him as a medium. Butler later became a priest in the Liberal Catholic Church, himself...
to create a correspondence course in Qabalah
Kabbalah
Kabbalah/Kabala is a discipline and school of thought concerned with the esoteric aspect of Rabbinic Judaism. It was systematized in 11th-13th century Hachmei Provence and Spain, and again after the Expulsion from Spain, in 16th century Ottoman Palestine...
; this course later formed the basis of the Servants of the Light
Servants of the Light
Servants of the Light is a modern-day Western Mystery School which teaches the esoteric sciences through correspondence. These sciences, which in their true form constitute the Yoga of the West, have previously been secret, but nowadays they can be taught in a more open fashion.SOL was founded in...
school of occult training. During this time, Knight founded a new esoteric school which continues work today (2004).
In the course of a career spanning over fifty years, Knight has written extensively on esoteric topics, mostly centered around the Qabalah. The most widely-read of these works is probably A Practical Guide to Qabalistic Symbolism, but other notable works include The Experience of the Inner Worlds, which grew out of an association with Christian priest Anthony Duncan, and a new edition of Dion Fortune
Dion Fortune
Violet Mary Firth Evans , better known as Dion Fortune, was a British occultist and author. Her pseudonym was inspired by her family motto "Deo, non fortuna" , originally the ancient motto of the Barons & Earls Digby.-Early life:She was born in Bryn-y-Bia in Llandudno, Wales, and grew up in a...
's An Introduction to Ritual Magic, to which Knight contributed a companion chapter for each of Fortune's original chapters.
Knight continues to be active in the occult community both through his writing and his involvement in the Society of the Inner Light.
Sources
Fairholm, Rebecca (2004). The Official Gareth Knight Homepage. Retrieved September 30, 2004.Keene, Tim (1994). A Remembrance of W. E. Butler. Retrieved September 30, 2004.