The Visionary Perspective
I suspect many of you, like me, struggle to define visionary fiction, not to mention how it differs from magical realism.
In today’s post, The Visionary Perspective, and next week’s post, Revealing the Magical, I will make an attempt to distinguish between the two genres—how they differ and where they may overlap.
I knew exactly what I wanted to write about for my book, The Lioness of Brumley Hall, but struggled with how to explain it and where to place it on Amazon, Goodreads and even in bricks and mortar bookstores.
I knew the book was not pure children’s literature or fantasy. My story takes place in a real world setting but with some unusual occurrences.
My main character, Gran, possesses a spiritual consciousness and attitude towards the daily world and tries her best to maintain this perspective in response to the unseen within the visible.
However, I thought it would be more interesting for children, particularly if they lived in the everyday world where magic was a part of their existence and used to achieve a deeper understanding of the transcendent.
Both visionary fiction and magical realism speak to the notion that reality is more than what is seen by what I call consensus consciousness.
Marian Lee is a long time student of the Western Mystery Tradition and the Kabbalah and finally decided to take a break from the dullness of academic writing to pursue her more creative and energizing writing on esoteric spiritual/magickal matters.
An Accurate Place to Land
For me, an integration of visionary metaphysical and magical realism seems to be the most accurate place to land—a combination of the embrace of esoteric wisdom emphasizing the human transformative capacity and the hidden mystery of the magical elements breaking through into ordinary “real” life. This type of fiction, according to Italian writer, Massimo Bontempelli, attempts to change the collective consciousness by “opening new mythical and magical perspectives on reality”.The Unseen Within the Visible
I knew exactly what I wanted to write about for my book, The Lioness of Brumley Hall, but struggled with how to explain it and where to place it on Amazon, Goodreads and even in bricks and mortar bookstores.
I knew the book was not pure children’s literature or fantasy. My story takes place in a real world setting but with some unusual occurrences.
My main character, Gran, possesses a spiritual consciousness and attitude towards the daily world and tries her best to maintain this perspective in response to the unseen within the visible.
However, I thought it would be more interesting for children, particularly if they lived in the everyday world where magic was a part of their existence and used to achieve a deeper understanding of the transcendent.
Both visionary fiction and magical realism speak to the notion that reality is more than what is seen by what I call consensus consciousness.
Visionary Fiction
My way in to understanding visionary fiction was working as a hospital chaplain for several years. I worked with Jungian spiritual archetypes which helped patients access their soul essence during times of crisis. Jung viewed the access to the unseen as the work of spiritual archetypes easily grasped by our unconscious mind which in turn connects with the Universal mind through the collective unconscious. Since the human intellect finds it difficult to contain visionary experiences and interpret them for transformative purposes on the conscious level, we find it easier to inhabit these archetypes, using them, usually without conscious awareness, to move through our lives in a transformative progression, although I don’t necessarily subscribe to a linear path. The visionary perspective helps us tap into the underlying reality of our lives and points us toward an evolving awareness and understanding of our holistic interconnected existence. Visionary fiction focuses more on spiritual and esoteric wisdom relevant to modern realities and transcendent experiences that push our consciousness past consensual borders of what is “real” and therefore of value in our lives. If we are not our physical properties—our possessions, bodies, intellect, daily interactions of the five senses—then who are we? Visionary fiction leads us into our subconscious minds to understand how thoughts create reality and our connection to what has been called Universal mind. This is accomplished by weaving a story in which the readers experienced the wisdom from within themselves vis-aʹ-vis the characters and settings, keeping any proselytizing or preaching to the barest minimum as possible. The growth of consciousness is the central theme of visionary fiction envisioning the transformation of humanity. To Be Continued Next Week: Revealing the Magical
Marian Lee is a long time student of the Western Mystery Tradition and the Kabbalah and finally decided to take a break from the dullness of academic writing to pursue her more creative and energizing writing on esoteric spiritual/magickal matters. 
I like that last line: "The growth of consciousness is the central theme of visionary fiction envisioning the transformation of humanity." That is how I see it and see my own fiction. It brings in hidden themes from hidden realms and brings them out into the open, if even only for the characters involved. I think there is a fine line between Visionary Fiction, magic and monsters and real life experiences. If some people read a VF book and don't get the visionary aspect but enjoy the story while others will get the visionary aspect totally, then I believe the VF author has done a great job.
Great article. It helps get the visionary fiction into perspective and most important to get it more known. Thank you.
Reblogged this on Jim Murdoch Author and commented:
This is a great article by a visionary author about Visionary Fiction. What do you think? Have you read any other visionary / metaphysical books lately?
Marian, I could highlight at least five statements in your post that perfectly describe how I interpret visionary fiction, but I'll control myself and only select two: 1. "For me, an integration of visionary metaphysical and magical realism seems to be the most accurate place to land." 2. "Visionary fiction focuses more on spiritual and esoteric wisdom relevant to modern realities and transcendent experiences that push our consciousness past consensual borders of what is “real” and therefore of value in our lives." For a while, I thought my work was magical realism, but ultimately, this was not a perfect fit. I thought about metaphysical, and again, not a perfect fit. Then I came across visionary fiction, which seemed to encompass all. Yes, a MOST ACURATE PLACE TO LAND. Thank you for your contribution to the discussion.
Thank you, Marian. A rich post with many lines, like Margaret notes, worth chewing on further. I'll just pick another not mentioned so far: "Both visionary fiction and magical realism speak to the notion that reality is more than what is seen by what I call consensus consciousness." Consensus consciousness–so apt it hurts especially when viewing life through that lens.
And I've taken quite a few concepts from magical realism for my visionary-historical works because I've experienced that the truly magical is more reality (and fun) than illusion. This is not just a literary conceit; I see it as salvation for so many minds and souls mired down almost to despair in consensus consciousness. Once you've been in the magical place it is automatic to want to share the "good news." And I believe, without trying to be evangelical, that this is what VF is all about.
I am so pleased all of you have enjoyed my take on VF. And I'm glad to have finally found a literary genre home. It doesn't take much time observing the world to feel depressed by consensus consciousness which is why we all need to keep writing and get other alternative perspectives on reality out there for consideration.
I particularly liked the line 'the unseen within the visible'. So very apt for VF. thank you for your perspective. Differentiating VF from Magical Realism is important to me personally, and collectively here at the VFA , and I am glad it is part of our ongoing discussion with your added input.
Curious, what Western Mystery Tradition are you part of? You can email me privately jodine at jodineturner.com
Marian, What a great description of VF. And this line in particular is excellent:
"If we are not our physical properties—our possessions, bodies, intellect, daily interactions of the five senses—then who are we?"
Exactly! Looking forward to your next installment.