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Document Details : Title: Rainer Maria Rilke Subtitle: An Esoteric poeta vates Interpreting Christian Mysticism? Author(s): MAGNÚSSON, Gísli Journal: Studies in Spirituality Volume: 34 Date: 2025 Pages: 309-323 DOI: 10.2143/SIS.34.0.3294901 Abstract : This article examines Rainer Maria Rilke’s complex engagement with Christian mysticism through the lens of esotericism and the poeta vates tradition. While Rilke’s early reception cast him as either a mystic or an atheist, recent scholarship increasingly acknowledges his role in re-enchanting reality through spiritual poetry. The article explores Rilke’s use of mystical figures – Meister Eckhart, St. Francis, and John of Patmos – to articulate a vision that transcends traditional religious frameworks. Rilke’s creative process, influenced by spiritism and visionary poetics, aligns with a broader European esoteric tradition, positioning him within a lineage of poet-seers including Novalis, Baudelaire, and Yeats. Through a discussion of automatic writing, spiritual eroticism, and the synthesis of aesthetic and mystical thought, this article contributes to the growing recognition of Rilke’s spirituality as an essential component of his poetic project. |
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