Creativity, William Blake and Satan

This is the fourth in my "Satan" series. In the third session we ended with John Milton. We will continue the theme with William Blake, who was visited spiritually by Milton just as Milton was visited by his own muse.

Blake was an engraver, poet, writer and painter. Many today believe he was a creative genius. He has inspired creatives including Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison, Van Morrison, Billy Bragg, the beat poets including Allen Ginsberg, Brave New World author Aldous Huxley, Hannibal author Thomas Harris, His Dark Materials author Philip Pullman, V for Vendetta author Alan Moore and many others. And he has inspired me, and helped me understand what creativity really means, and how to live life authentically.

During his life-time he was virtually unknown, and he died a pauper. A small exhibition of his work when he was 50 resulted in a solitary review, which said that Blake was an unfortunate lunatic who ought by rights to be in an asylum were it not for his mild manners. The poet William Wordsworth wrote, “There was no doubt that this poor man was mad” and the art critic John Ruskin called him “diseased and wild.” Even his wife said she didn't understand his work. He only sold 30 copies of his most popular book in his life-time, and didn't sell a single copy of others. But Blake's insights into creativity and existence don't require years of study — they require a willingness to see differently and have a very individual approach life. Everyone has their own Blake, and this session is going to be about mine.

Bring wine/beer/drinks/food/snacks/whatever if you want to.

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Press the buzzer marked Semi sotano 2 (bottom left on the panel) to be let in. It's down the stairs, first door on the right.

Image: detail from The Great Red Dragon and the Woman Clothed with the Sun (Rev. 12: 1–4), ca. 1804, William Blake