William Blake vs the World

1. Blake's Vision: Beyond the Material World

‘There is certainly another world, but it is in this one’

Spiritual Reality. Blake perceived a spiritual dimension interwoven with the physical world, not separate from it. This vision, central to his art and poetry, involved angels, spirits, and a profound sense of the divine permeating everyday life.

Visions as Reality:

• Blake's visions were not hallucinations but a heightened state of awareness.
• He saw angels in trees and God's face at the window, integrating the supernatural into his daily experiences.
• This perspective challenged the conventional view of a purely material existence.

Impact on Art: Blake's visionary experiences fueled his creative output, allowing him to express spiritual truths through painting and poetry. His work serves as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, inviting viewers to glimpse a world beyond the material.

2. The Duality of Existence: Contraries and Progress

Without Contraries is no progression.

Dynamic Tension. Blake believed that progress and understanding arise from the tension between opposing forces. Contraries like love and hate, reason and energy, are not to be eliminated but embraced as essential components of existence.

Examples of Contraries:

• Innocence and Experience: Two sides of the human soul, each necessary for a complete understanding.
• Heaven and Hell: Not separate realms, but intertwined aspects of the human condition.
• Reason and Energy: Reason provides structure, while energy fuels creativity and change.

Embracing Opposition: Blake saw opposition as a form of friendship, arguing that conflict is necessary for growth. By acknowledging and integrating contrary perspectives, we can achieve a more profound understanding of ourselves and the world.

3. Self-Annihilation: Dissolving the Ego

O Saviour pour upon me thy spirit of meekness & love: Annihilate the Selfhood in me, be thou all my life!

Transcending the Self. Blake advocated for the annihilation of the ego, or "Selfhood," as a means of achieving spiritual unity. By dissolving the sense of individual separation, one can experience a profound connection with the divine and the universe.

The Default Mode Network:

• Modern neuroscience identifies the default mode network as the brain's "self-organizing" system.
• Quieting this network can lead to a sense of unity and interconnectedness.
• Practices like meditation and psychedelic experiences can temporarily quiet the default mode network.

Spiritual Goal: Blake viewed the loss of self as a spiritual goal, distinct from psychological dissociation. This state of "flow" allows for a deeper immersion in experience and a sense of oneness with the universe.

4. Urizen: The Limits of Reason

Urizen is Satan.

Reason's Tyranny. Blake personified reason as Urizen, a figure who creates order and law but also imposes limitations on human experience. Urizen represents the dangers of unchecked rationality and the suppression of imagination.

Urizen's Creations:

• The material world: A finite, measurable realm constructed by Urizen's compass.
• Science: A "woof" or woven cover that hides the primordial void from the objective world.
• Law: Restrictive rules that stifle creativity and limit human potential.

Beyond Reason: Blake saw Urizen as a necessary but ultimately limited force. True understanding requires transcending the confines of reason and embracing the power of imagination.

5. Orc: The Spirit of Revolution

The tygers of wrath are wiser than the horses of instruction.

Fiery Revolt. Blake personified the spirit of revolution as Orc, a figure of fire, violence, and destruction. Orc represents the energy needed to overthrow oppressive systems and challenge established authority.

Orc's Origins:

• Born from the imagination (Los) and spiritual beauty (Enitharmon).
• Represents the repressed desires and frustrations of humanity.
• Embodies the destructive force necessary for change.

The Dark Side of Revolution: Blake recognized that revolution can lead to bloodshed and tyranny. Orc's story serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked revolutionary fervor.

6. Swedenborg: A Mirror and a Foil

Swedenborg has not written one new truth: Now hear another: he has written all the old falsehoods.

Spiritual Influence. Emanuel Swedenborg, a Swedish scientist and mystic, influenced Blake's early thinking. Swedenborg's visions of heaven and hell resonated with Blake's own spiritual experiences.

Swedenborg's Teachings:

• The spiritual world is a physical reality inhabited by spirits.
• After death, souls are judged and assigned to heaven or hell based on their earthly actions.
• Correspondences: Everything in the physical world has a spiritual counterpart.

Blake's Critique: Blake ultimately rejected Swedenborg's rigid system, arguing that it lacked the dynamic tension of contraries. He criticized Swedenborg for conversing only with angels and ignoring the wisdom of devils.

7. Imagination: The Divine Faculty

Men forgot that All deities reside in the Human breast.

Source of Divinity. Blake saw imagination as the divine faculty that connects humans to the spiritual realm. It is through imagination that we create gods, perceive truth, and transform the world around us.

Imagination vs. Fantasy:

• Imagination: A creative force that brings forth something new and transformative.
• Fantasy: A mere rearrangement of existing ideas, lacking the power to change reality.

Fourfold Vision: Blake described four states of awareness, with imagination as the key to unlocking higher levels of perception. By exercising our imaginative faculties, we can glimpse eternity and experience the divine.

8. The Body and Soul: An Inseparable Union

Man has no Body distinct from his Soul for that called Body is a portion of Soul.

Holistic Existence. Blake rejected the traditional dualism that separates body and soul. He believed that the body is an integral part of the soul, and that physical experience is essential for spiritual growth.

Challenging Dualism:

• Blake saw the body as a source of joy, desire, and connection to the divine.
• He criticized the Church for its attempts to suppress sexuality and deny the importance of physical experience.
• For Blake, the body was not a prison but a vehicle for spiritual expression.

Implications for Art: Blake's emphasis on the body influenced his artistic style, which often featured nude figures and celebrated the beauty of the human form. He saw the body as a reflection of the soul, and his art sought to capture the spiritual essence of physical existence.

9. Albion: The Universal Human

In your Bosom you bear your Heaven and Earth & all you behold; tho’ it appears Without, it is Within, in your imagination.

Cosmic Identity. Albion, a giant from British mythology, represents the universal human, encompassing all of humanity and the cosmos. Albion's fall and eventual awakening symbolize the journey of the human soul towards enlightenment.

Albion's Many Facets:

• The first being: The patriarch of humanity, whose sleep marks the beginning of creation.
• The land: A personification of Britain, embodying its history and spiritual potential.
• The individual: A representation of Blake himself, and of every human being.

The Call to Awaken: Blake's myth of Albion is a call to awaken the divine imagination within each of us. By recognizing our connection to the universal human, we can transcend the limitations of our individual egos and experience the fullness of existence.

10. The Power of Forgiveness: Redemption Through Compassion

Mutual forgiveness of each Vice, Such are the Gates of Paradise.

Breaking the Cycle. Blake emphasized the importance of forgiveness as a means of breaking the cycle of vengeance and hatred. By forgiving others, we liberate ourselves from the chains of resentment and open the path to redemption.

Forgiveness as Transformation:

• Forgiveness is not condoning wrongdoing but releasing the emotional burden of anger and resentment.
• It requires empathy and compassion for the offender.
• It is a transformative act that heals both the forgiver and the forgiven.

The Gates of Paradise: Blake saw forgiveness as the key to unlocking paradise. By embracing compassion and letting go of judgment, we can create a world of love, understanding, and reconciliation.

Last updated: April 22, 2025