EPPH - Every Painter Paints Himself

Inner Tradition Reading List

Here, as promised, is a highly subjective Introductory Reading List for those who would like to learn more about The Inner Tradition, that strain of thought common to mystics in all religions that believes divinity is inside us, not out. It is important because most of the Western world's most significant artists followed one form of it or another.

Richard Smoley and Jay Kinney, Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions (New York: Penguin) 1999

Written by the editors of Gnosis magazine, this is an articulate, easy-to-understand introduction to Christian and Jewish mysticism, along with explanations of shamanism, alchemy, witchcraft and neopaganism.

Elaine Pagels, The Gnostic Gospels (New York: Vintage Books) 1989

First published in 1979, this book became a New York Times bestseller. It did more than any other to popularize knowledge of the Gnostic Gospels, a group of sacred books unearthed by an Egyptian peasant in 1945. These gospels, read and admired by early Christians, were denounced by the later Church because they did not fit their literal interpretation of Biblical events. Nevertheless (though not discussed), these basic ideas are frequently depicted in art, to be “seen” and transformed into new art by each successive generation of poetic painters.

Joscelyn Godwin, The Golden Thread: The Ageless Wisdom of the Western Mystery Traditions (Theosophical Publishing House) 2007

A brilliant summary of the different mystery traditions by a leading scholar of esotericism.

Cynthia Bourgeault, The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind – a New Perspective on Christ and His Message (Shambhala) 2008

This book by a practising Christian shows how Christian mysticism still makes sense today.

Thomas Moore, The Planets Within: The Astrological Psychology of Marsilio Ficino (Great Barrington, MA: Lindisfarne Books) 1989

An excellent summary of how Marsilio Ficino, the most important philosopher of the early Renaissance, saw the cosmos reflected in our minds.

Arthur Versulius, The Secret History of Western Sexual Mysticism: Sacred Practices and Spiritual Marriage (Rochester, VT: Destiny Books) 2000

Using early Christian practices as one of his examples, Versluis explains how Western mysticism, like Eastern Tantra, seeks union with God through sexually charged themes. Although Versluis does not discuss art, he nevertheless provides the background to understanding how a sexual reference in art is more likely to be a visual display of spiritual transcendence than soft porn.

Kathleen Raine, The Inner Journey of the Poet (New York: George Braziller) 1982

Kathleen Raine brilliantly explains what is common to the poetic mind in art, music and literature. She believes that, as human beings, we all embark on an “inner journey” and it is this journey that is the fundamental subject of all art. Poets who have deep insight into the human mind describe the journey in allegorical terms in order to help lead their readers, listeners and viewers towards spiritual transcendence and a happier psychic life. The essential subject, then, of all art is: Who am I? 

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