A Walking Flame

A curated collection of nearly 40 previously scattered essays by surrealist artist and occult practitioner Ithell Colquhoun (1906–1988), edited by folklorist Amy Hale and published by Strange Attractor Press. Colquhoun, a wilfully dissident figure who integrated magical knowledge into her visual and written work, explored Kabbalah, esoteric colour theory, Celtic mysticism, and alchemy throughout her career. Despite publishing widely on esoteric topics during her lifetime, Colquhoun never produced a dedicated book of magical writings; many texts were lost or marginalized. This 336-page edition, available in paperback and limited hardback with colour illustrations, represents the first cohesive presentation of her magical thought and demonstrates how esoteric philosophy shaped her singular artistic practice. The collection reclaims Colquhoun’s integral but long-obscured contribution to twentieth-century counter-cultural esotericism and surrealist practice.

Published by Strange Attractor Press — AI-generated summary. Visit the publisher to learn more.