Goat Foot God (Revised) by Fortune, Dion

Spiritualism

Goat Foot God (Revised)

Name: Goat Foot God (Revised)
Price: 22.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.5 (3 reviews)
Author: Fortune, Dion
ISBN: 9780877285007

Fortune, Dion

Reader rating

4.5

(2 reviews) 80 sold

$22.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

Stock reported in the catalog; fulfillment is confirmed with your request.

📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Skeptic Hugh Paston seeks Pan after his wife's death, awakening ancient powers in a crumbling monastery.

Dion Fortune crafts a masterful tale where grief drives Hugh Paston into the arms of the occult. After a devastating accident claims his wife, the wealthy skeptic turns to antiquarian lore and the Eleusinian Mysteries to find meaning. He restores a decaying monastery, Monks Farm, with artist Mona Wilton, only to invite the spirit of a wall-up prior. This is not mere horror but a profound psychological journey through the growth of consciousness and the perilous path to self-knowledge via direct contact with the divine.

Key themes

Grief and Transmutation Historical Reincarnation Psychic Risk

Historical context

This work sits firmly within the early 20th-century occult revival, blending psychological depth with esoteric tradition to explore the intersection of grief and spiritual awakening. It reflects Dion Fortune's unique approach to weaving ancient mysteries into modern narrative forms.

Fortune, Dion

📚 all books by this author (20) →

Difficulty

●●● Demanding

Fans will love it

Aleister Crowley · H.P. Lovecraft · Sri Aurobindo

🕊️ Spiritualism

🏛 Weiser Books 📖 392 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9780877285007

Fun fact

Fortune excels at weaving psychological realism with high magic, creating a narrative that feels dangerously plausible. The atmosphere of Monks Farm is palpable, and Paston’s descent is both tragic and instructive. However, modern readers seeking fast-paced action may find the introspective pacing slow. It sits firmly as a cornerstone of serious occult fiction, superior to mere pulp horror, offering a nuanced look at the cost of spiritual ambition.

📝 Description: Goat Foot God (Revised)

Following his wife's tragic death, a rich man attempts to contact the god Pan, and his efforts yield spirited results in this classic occult novel. In her compelling way, Dion Fortune combines romance, suspense, and the search for truth and meaning in this psychological thriller that deals ultimately with the growth of consciousness and the path to self-knowledge. Wealthy, skeptical Hugh Paston, shocked by the death of his wife with her lover in a car crash, finds himself at a crossroads in his life. In search of a distraction, he wanders into the shop of an antiquarian bookseller who befriends him and sparks his interest in occult literature. Hugh is drawn to study the Eleusinian Mysteries and, determined to evoke Pan, the goat-foot god, he buys Monks Farm, a former monastery, long unused and sinking into ruin. With the aid of Mona Wilton, a young artist, Hugh refurbishes and revitalizes the property in preparation for the rites. In the ancient monastery, he is possessed by the spirit of a fifteenth-century prior, Ambrosius, who had been walled up in the cellar for practicing certain pagan rituals he had discovered in old Greek manuscripts in the monastery library--rituals dedicated to Pan.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Fortune delivers a sophisticated exploration of consciousness that demands patience and open-mindedness. While it serves as a powerful allegory for self-knowledge, it may alienate readers seeking straightforward horror or simple entertainment. The dense psychological undercurrents and esoteric references require active engagement, making it unsuitable for those preferring light reading or skeptical dismissal of spiritual themes without nuance.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers drawn to the profound intersection of psychology and occultism will find this text deeply rewarding. Those who have experienced loss or sought meaning beyond conventional frameworks will appreciate Hugh Paston’s journey from skepticism to divine contact. It offers a rare glimpse into the Eleusinian Mysteries through a literary lens, providing both intellectual stimulation and emotional resonance for those willing to engage with complex spiritual concepts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Readers who appreciate dense, atmospheric occult fiction that prioritizes psychological depth and spiritual mechanics over simple jump scares. Ideal for those interested in the intersection of classical mythology and modern psychic development.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 2 reviews

David D. ✓ Verified purchase

July 12, 2025

Almost perfect

Needed this for my research. There's real depth here that reveals itself on a second reading. The material is presented clearly and the structure makes it easy to revisit key passages. Some archaic spellings slow things down. Good, with the caveats above.

Esoterica Books editorial team

Fortune delivers a sophisticated exploration of consciousness that demands patience and open-mindedness. While it serves as a powerful allegory for self-knowledge, it may alienate readers seeking straightforward horror or simple entertainment. The dense psychological undercurrents and esoteric references require active engagement, making it unsuitable for those preferring light reading or skeptical dismissal of spiritual themes without nuance.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It is a psychological thriller with deep occult roots. While it contains terrifying elements, the primary focus is on the protagonist's spiritual evolution and the consequences of magical experimentation.

No. Fortune writes accessibly for newcomers, though the text rewards those familiar with her other works like 'The Sea Priestess' with deeper contextual layers.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Grief and Transmutation

Historical Reincarnation

Psychic Risk

💬 Quotes from the book

“The past is never dead; it is merely waiting for a door to open.”

“We do not create the power; we only build the channel.”

📜 Historical context

Published during the golden age of British esotericism, this work reflects the early 20th-century surge in Western occult revivalism. Fortune, a central figure in the Golden Dawn tradition, blends Victorian Gothic sensibilities with rigorous magical theory. The novel serves as both entertainment and a subtle instructional text on the dangers of unprepared psychic contact, mirroring the era's fascination with resurrecting ancient pagan rites through Christian frameworks.