Holythorn Press
Esoteric Publishers
FLOWERING DUSK
by Ella Young
I know that I am one with beauty
And that my comrades are one
Let our souls be mountains
Let our spirits be stars
Let our hearts be worlds.
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Ella Young (1857-1956)
Born in Ireland, where she lived for almost half her life, Ella was a visionary writer, revolutionary, folklorist, and poet. A close friend of Maud Gonne, Yeats, and AE she was a well-known member of the vibrant Dublin literary and occult scene of the early 20th century.
From childhood she had very close contact with spiritual beings who guided and shaped her life and work. Going to America in 1925 where she spent the rest of her life, the nature beings in the redwood groves near her home in Halcyon, California and in the mountains, especially Mount Shasta became her new guides. Her adoptive community centred on The Temple of the People, was a hub of creativity which included John Varian, Henry Cowell, Ansel Adams, and many other prominent American early modern artists and writers. She taught a course in Irish mythology at the University of California for many years, and also published very popular versions of Irish legends for children.
Previously published only once in 1944, Flowering Dusk is not a linear autobiography, but a series of memories, vignettes and reminiscences which have a vividness and immediacy which is both charming and compelling.
This is a limited edition of 300 copies only.
Available now, priced £45.00
Events
A Season of Irish Magic
Treadwell's, 33 Store Street, London WC1E 7BS
​Irish Magic - Lecture and Soirée May 15th 2025 7-9 p.m.
The Magic of W. B. Yeats – Lecture & Soirée June 2nd 2025 7-9 p.m.
​Ella Young, Nature Mystic – Lecture & Soirée June 12th 2025 7-9 p.m.
Tickets and more information on the Treadwell's website ​
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Yeats International Summer School 2025 July 29th 2025
Yeats, the Tarot, and the Golden Dawn - Lecture 11:30 a.m.
A Labyrinth of Images - Experiencing the Tarot - Workshop 1:15 p.m.
Tickets and Information can be found at the Yeats Society​​
PUBLICATIONS 2024 - 2025
A Path to the Grail – Dion Fortune and Christian Gilson
The Guild of the Master Jesus originated out of Dion Fortune’s wish to form a new kind of Christian worship for adepts which would become The Church of the Graal. She wrote liturgy, rituals and other papers for the Guild, some which will be published here for the first time, along with informative and thought-provoking complementary essays by Christian Gilson who had unrestricted access to all the unpublished Guild materials from the Society of the Inner Light
A History of Irish Magic – Sally North and James North
This is our labour of love: a series of linked studies exploring druids, witchcraft, fairies, sacred kingship, Irish Hermeticists, W. B. Yeats and his Celtic Order, and the “Hibernian Adept” Art O’Murnaghan. This study is the first of its kind.
Flowering Dusk – Ella Young
This is her fascinating autobiography only published once before (in 1944). From her respectable but stifling Irish Presbyterian family, to theosophy and mysticism, the sacred land, nature beings, fairies. Then America in all its splendours, her life with the mystics of Halcyon and the “Dunites” a free-wheeling community of painters, writers, poets and visionaries in San Luis Opisbo. Ella transplanted her magical Irish ritual order to America, which continued her work until the 1980s.
Mysterious Rose: Althea Gyles and W. B. Yeats – Sally North
The enigmatic Althea Gyles is best known for the remarkable cover illustrations she created for W. B. Yeats, that and her rather scandalous love life. We usually see glimpses of her through the eyes of others, mainly Yeats, who frequently helped her financially and professionally. This book explores the relationship of Gyles with Yeats and others, including Aleister Crowley, her rejected lover. Sally discovered a previously unknown artwork by Althea Gyles, a print of this work will be included in the book.
Glastonbury Abbey (title tbc) – Paul Weston
We discussed doing this book with Paul some time ago and are delighted that it’s now underway. Paul’s deep researches into the Abbey – its saints, kings, nobles, and sinners is sure to be a fascinating read. Anyone familiar with Paul’s previous works in history, myth, psycho-geography and synchronicity can look forward to another thrilling and strange journey, this time into the Abbey and its secrets.
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The Sphere Group – Sally North and Tony Fuller
A comprehensive collection of the Sphere Group documents, with biographical notes on each of the members. The book will include unpublished material and full colour illustrations of the ritual diagrams with expanded material. Also included will be a discussion of the “controversy” about the legitimacy of the group, actioned by Annie Horniman.
As usual, our hardback editions are very limited in number. We are taking pre-orders and expressions of interest informally at the moment on a first come, first served basis. Please get in touch at holythornpress@gmail.com if you’d like to reserve a copy or copies – there is no obligation on your part.
If time allows we will also be bringing out a series of booklets on topics of esoteric interest – more to follow on this in the next newsletter.