Occult Philosophy

All the World an Icon: Henry Corbin and the Angelic Function of Beings

Name: All the World an Icon: Henry Corbin and the Angelic Function of Beings
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Author: Cheetham, Tom
ISBN: 9781583944554

Cheetham, Tom

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Uncover Henry Corbin's radical vision: the world as a divine icon, revealing the angelic within.

Tom Cheetham’s "All the World an Icon" delves into the profound spiritual philosophy of Henry Corbin, a pivotal 20th-century scholar. As the latest in Cheetham's series, this work illuminates Corbin’s unique understanding of the universe as a sacred symbol, where the divine manifests through angelic functions. It explores his groundbreaking contributions, such as the "imaginal realm" and "theophany," and his adaptation of "ta'wil," or spiritual hermeneutics. Cheetham adeptly showcases how Corbin’s insights, bridging Islamic mysticism with Western esotericism, continue to inspire contemporary religious thought, psychology, and even poetry, revealing a spiritual landscape rich with hidden meaning.

Key themes

The Imaginal Realm Angelic Function of Beings Spiritual Interpretation (Ta'wil)

Historical context

This work sits at the intersection of contemporary Western esotericism and Islamic mysticism, highlighting the bridge between these traditions through Henry Corbin’s scholarship. It serves as a vital resource for understanding how 20th-century intellectual history reinterpreted sacred symbols within a philosophical framework.

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Mircea Eliade · Frithjof Schuon · Reza Shah-Kazemi

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 North Atlantic Books 📅 2012 📖 304 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781583944554

Fun fact

Cheetham’s latest installment expertly unpacks Henry Corbin’s profound, often challenging, mystical philosophy, making his concepts of the imaginal and the angelic function remarkably lucid. While it won't serve as a primer for Sufism, it's an indispensable guide for anyone seeking to grasp Corbin's unique bridge between Eastern and Western esoteric thought. This book solidifies Cheetham’s reputation as the foremost interpreter of Corbin’s enduring legacy for contemporary spiritual seekers and scholars alike, a truly illuminating read.

📝 Description: All the World an Icon: Henry Corbin and the Angelic Function of Beings

All the World an Icon is the fourth book in an informal "quartet" of works by Tom Cheetham on the spirituality of Henry Corbin, a major twentieth-century scholar of Sufism and colleague of C. G. Jung, whose influence on contemporary religion and the humanities is beginning to become clear. Cheetham's books have helped spark a renewed interest in the work of this important, creative religious thinker. Henry Corbin (1903-1978) was professor of Islamic religion at the Sorbonne in Paris and director of the department of Iranic studies at the Institut Franco-Iranien in Teheran. His wide-ranging work includes the first translations of Heidegger into French, studies in Swedenborg and Boehme, writings on the Grail and angelology, and definitive translations of Persian Islamic and Sufi texts. He introduced such seminal terms as "the imaginal realm" and "theophany" into Western thought, and his use of the Shi'ite idea of ta'wil or "spiritual interpretation" influenced psychologist James Hillman and the literary critic Harold Bloom. His books were read by a broad range of poets including Charles Olson and Robert Duncan, and his impact on American poetry, says Cheetham, has yet to be fully appreciated. His published titles in English include Creative Imagination in the Sufism of Ibn Arabi, Avicenna and the Visionary Recital, and The Man of Light in Iranian Sufism. As the religions of the Book place the divine Word at the center of creation, the importance of hermaneutics, the theory and practice of interpretation, cannot be overstated. In the theology and spirituality of Henry Corbin, the mystical heart of this tradition is to be found in the creative, active imagination; the alchemy of spiritual development is best understood as a story of the soul's search for the Lost Speech. Cheetham eloquently demonstrates Corbin's view that the living interpretation of texts, whether divine or human--or, indeed, of the world itself seen as the Text of Creation--is the primary task of spiritual life. In his first three books on Corbin, Cheetham explores different aspects of Corbin's work, but has saved for this book his final analysis of what Corbin meant by the Arabic term ta'wil--perhaps the most important concept in his entire oeuvre. "Any consideration of how Corbin's ideas were adapted by others has to begin with a clear idea of what Corbin himself intended," writes Cheetham; "his own intellectual and spiritual cosmos is already highly complex and eclectic and a knowledge of his particular philosophical project is crucial for understanding the range and implications of his work." Cheetham lays out the implications of ta'wil as well as the use of language as integral part of any artistic or spiritual practice, with the view that the creative imagination is a fundamentally linguistic phenomenon for the Abrahamic religions, and, as Corbin tells us, prayer is the supreme form of creative imagination.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Tom Cheetham provides a lucid introduction to Henry Corbin’s complex philosophy, effectively mapping the landscape of theophany and angelic function. However, this book is not for casual readers seeking light entertainment or simple self-help advice. Those uncomfortable with dense metaphysical terminology or abstract theological concepts may find the material impenetrable. It requires patience and an appreciation for scholarly synthesis. The work is best suited for serious students of comparative religion who are willing to engage with challenging ideas about the nature of being and perception without expecting immediate, practical application.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers deeply interested in the convergence of Islamic mysticism and Western esoteric thought will find this text indispensable. It is particularly suited for those seeking to understand the concept of the imaginal realm and how divine presence manifests through symbolic forms. If you are a scholar or practitioner looking to grasp the nuances of ta'wil, or spiritual hermeneutics, this book offers a clear pathway into Corbin’s radical vision. It appeals to anyone fascinated by how the universe functions as a sacred icon, revealing hidden meanings that enrich contemporary religious thought, psychology, and poetic expression.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you're drawn to the convergence of Islamic mysticism, Western esotericism, and depth psychology, or seek to understand the symbolic language of the cosmos, this book offers a profound journey. Delve into Corbin's revolutionary thought and discover how the world speaks of the sacred to the…

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Tom Cheetham provides a lucid introduction to Henry Corbin’s complex philosophy, effectively mapping the landscape of theophany and angelic function. However, this book is not for casual readers seeking light entertainment or simple self-help advice. Those uncomfortable with dense metaphysical terminology or abstract theological concepts may find the material impenetrable. It requires patience and an appreciation for scholarly synthesis. The work is best suited for serious students of comparative religion who are willing to engage with challenging ideas about the nature of being and perception without expecting immediate, practical application.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It encapsulates Corbin's central thesis: that the entire cosmos, every being and phenomenon, serves as a symbolic manifestation or "icon" of the divine. It's a call to perceive the sacred meaning embedded in the fabric of existence, a world brimming with spiritual messages.

Cheetham acts as an insightful guide, interpreting and expanding upon Corbin's complex ideas for a contemporary audience. This book is part of a series dedicated to making Corbin's profound, often challenging, philosophical and mystical contributions more accessible and relevant today, sparking renewed interest in his legacy.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

The Imaginal Realm

This central concept, pioneered by Corbin, posits a realm of archetypal images and visionary experiences, existing between the sensible and the intelligible. Cheetham elucidates how this imaginal domain is not mere fantasy but a crucial locus for spiritual perception and the manifestation of divine forms, challenging conventional Western thought and inviting deeper engagement with inner realities.

Angelic Function of Beings

The book explores Corbin’s radical idea that all existence can function as a divine sign, a manifestation of angelic presence. Cheetham reveals how Corbin saw the cosmos not as inert matter, but as imbued with sacred purpose, where phenomena act as mediators, guiding the soul towards profound spiritual understanding and awakening, making every aspect of reality potentially revelatory.

Spiritual Interpretation (Ta'wil)

Cheetham examines Corbin's appropriation of *ta'wil*, an esoteric interpretive method originating in Shi'ite Islam. This process involves a profound "return" to the inner, hidden meaning of sacred texts and phenomena, transforming outward appearances into spiritual truths. It's presented as a path to unveil the divine symbolism inherent in reality, a hermeneutic journey of the soul.

💬 Quotes from the book

“Corbin invites us not merely to observe the world, but to *read* it—to perceive each phenomenon as a vibrant icon, a divine signature awaiting our spiritual decipherment.”

“To engage with Corbin is to embrace a hermeneutics of ascent, where *ta'wil* becomes the soul’s active journey into the hidden dimensions of reality, transforming perception itself.”

📜 Historical context

Henry Corbin emerged in the mid-20th century as a bridge between profound Islamic mystical traditions and Western esoteric thought. His academic roles in Paris and Tehran provided a unique vantage point, allowing him to introduce crucial Persian Sufi concepts, often unseen in the West, and integrate them with figures like Swedenborg and Boehme, establishing a rich intellectual lineage for contemporary spirituality.

📚 Glossary

Imaginal Realm
Theophany
Ta'wil

📔 Questions to reflect on

How might perceiving everyday objects or natural phenomena as "icons" change your relationship with the material world and your sense of the sacred?
Consider a significant dream or visionary experience you've had. How might Corbin's concept of the "imaginal realm" offer a new framework for understanding its reality and meaning, beyond simple fantasy?
Reflect on a sacred text, myth, or symbol important to you. What "hidden" meanings might *ta'wil* reveal beyond its conventional or literal interpretation, if you were to apply a spiritual hermeneutic?