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I like your point that visionary fiction looks to attune to the spiritual or use that energy to affect the "real" world while magical realism just accepts our world has both elements in it. I'm sometimes surprised when writers who use elements of the fantastic or spiritual or magic in their work turn out to be hard-nosed, materialist cynics.
Or why a really talented anybody not grounded in humility can be insufferable.
I really appreciated your definition of Magical Realism in your first paragraph. It is one of the most practical and clear definitions I have come across.
Marian, you say : "Magical realists take for granted that we live within both worlds as an integrated reality but the focus for magical realists is to challenge existing consensual physical reality, not transcend it per se." Another useful definition!
I see VF as not so much about transcending consensual reality, as about using both consensual reality and the unseen magic of this world as catalysts for growth in consciousness. We have talked in previous posts about that 'between place', where these two meet to form new awareness or transformed consciousness.
Jodine, I was going to quote the very same passage you have picked. 🙂 I also concur with what you say about "using both consensual reality and the unseen magic of this world as catalysts for growth in consciousness". A great way of looking at the "spirit-matter" question in contemporary language. As an aside (and not to veer off topic), I'm presently trying to figure out what the "in-between" means as it is being discussed here.
Marian, you possess amazing clarity of thought. Thank you very much for sharing your insights with us. Your book is going on my to-read list.
I love the following statement, and am thinking of including it as part of my "What is Visionary Fiction?" elevator pitch. "Revealing the magical in this world." I'm halfway through your book, Marian, and am anxious to see where it leads.
Another thought-provoking post, Marian. Got me rethinking what "magical" means enough that I looked it up again: "the art of producing a desired effect or result through the use of incantation or various other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature." It's an oversimplification, but magic indicates a neutral technique or cause that creates an effect inexplicable to the non-initiate. The magician has to have an extraordinary skill, which does not necessarily require greater inner awareness. The same could apply to vision or any ability, paranormal or otherwise.
Why your statement, "the main philosophical theme of the book is that neither vision or magical powers make a person more humane," hits home. I, for one, have too often confused the two and believe our society promotes that mindset, Why we are so shocked when a great ball player or famous politician commits some heinous crime. Why the Buddhists consider Siddhis a possible distraction; easy enough for someone with paranormal ability to let it swell his ego.
Once again, you reinforce the key element–growth in consciousness–that makes VF unique. External elements can contribute to the process, but ultimately it comes down to growth taking place within. It alone can make us more humane–even though it makes it more challenging to write terrific VF.