The transcendental magic of spirituals lies in their ability to connect people with the divine on a deeply spiritual level. These songs, rooted in African American culture and history, were born out of the struggles and pain of slavery. Spirituals were originally sung by enslaved African Americans as a means of expressing their faith, finding solace, and preserving their culture. The lyrics often contained coded messages and double entendres, serving as both a form of protest and a means of communication among slaves. Through the power of the human voice, spirituals carry an immense emotional and spiritual weight. They have the ability to transport listeners to a different time and place, allowing them to experience the hardships and triumphs of those who came before.
They have the ability to transport listeners to a different time and place, allowing them to experience the hardships and triumphs of those who came before. The melodies and rhythms of spirituals are deeply rooted in African musical traditions, creating a unique and powerful sound. The call-and-response structure of many spirituals encourages active participation and creates a sense of community and unity among those singing and listening.
The transcendental magic of spirituals
Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual by liphas L vi explores magic, the "esoteric science," and its place between science and religion.
Born Alphonse Louis Constant in 1810, this French occultist originally planned for a career in the Catholic Church. Constant was educated at Saint Sulpice's seminary, and planned to become a priest. Yet just before he was to receive his ordination at age 26, Constant renounced his ecclesiastical goals and returned to civilian life.
The following years tested Constant's conscience and resilience. He was disowned by his family, and worked as a tutor to earn an income. Without the structure from the seminary, he found himself adrift.
Constant dedicated much of his early life to promoting the ideals of a utopian socialist society that worked for the economic improvement of all people. He shared these ideas in an early work called The Bible of Liberty. Within an hour of its release, the copies were seized by French authorities, and Constant spent the next six months in prison.
After a failed marriage and the death of his young daughter, Constant discovered the world of the occult and mysticism. He became a ceremonial magician, and developed a social circle of many of the occultists and Kabbalists of the time. Writing on the subject under the Hebrew name liphas L vi, he began to share his ideas on magic with the public in the 1850s.
L vi's first published book on ritual magic is the two-part work, Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrines and Rituals. The two parts were first published as single work with a thorough biographical introduction in 1958.
This work explores the magician's foundations for his spiritual beliefs, as well as his idea that an elite class of priests would be necessary to lead the people into both social and magical order. He writes, "Occult philosophy seems to have been the nurse and godmother of all intellectual forces, the key of all divine obscurities, and the absolute mistress of society, in those ages when it was exclusively reserved for the education of priests and of kings. Magic is the traditional science of the secrets of Nature which comes to us from the Magi."
Part One, The Doctrine of Transcendental Magic, was first published in 1854. This work establishes the concepts behind symbols like the tetragram and pentagram, the significance of Hebrew letters and numbers, and the relationship between science, occultism, and formal religion. L vi was the first to document the meaning of the points of the pentagram. He stated that a pentagram with only one point up and two down is a symbol of the Savior, and a pentagram with two points up and one down is a "symbol of evil and attracts sinister forces."
Part Two, The Rituals of Transcendental Magic, was published in 1856. It discusses the actual materials, processes, and settings for conducting ritual magic. The practitioner must purify himself through a temperate diet, regular sleep, and thorough attention to cleaning and hygiene. A complete description of tools like a magical lamp, rod, sword, and dagger follows, leaving the magician well equipped to perform ceremonies and rituals. L vi also added the Tarot to the tools of the magician, which was a new development in the occultism of the time.
Although L vi didn't enjoy much notoriety during his life, his works eventually became highly influential among other occultists, and he is now considered one of the fathers of modern mysticism. Famous occultist Aleister Crowley even claimed to be L vi himself in one of his past lives. Additionally, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith created the Waite-Smith deck based on liphas L vi's writings, which is the basis for most modern Tarot decks.
- Occultism
- History
- General
- Kobo eBook (December 14th, 2009): $7.99
- Paperback (June 27th, 2013): $69.11
- Paperback (March 30th, 2014): $44.89
- Paperback (September 20th, 2020): $15.35
- Paperback (September 24th, 2018): $24.04
- Hardcover (November 22nd, 2022): $37.40
- Hardcover (August 2nd, 2018): $45.97
- Paperback (August 30th, 2014): $21.95
- Paperback (August 15th, 2018): $22.95
- Paperback (August 2nd, 2018): $19.53
- Hardcover (August 11th, 2021): $26.74
- Hardcover (March 29th, 2014): $57.73
Beyond their historical and cultural significance, spirituals continue to resonate with people of all backgrounds today. Their universal themes of struggle, hope, and faith speak to the human experience and touch the hearts of listeners. While spirituals were originally created within the context of slavery, their message of hope and resilience transcends time and place. They remind us of the strength of the human spirit and the power of faith to overcome even the most difficult circumstances. In conclusion, the transcendental magic of spirituals lies in their ability to connect people with the divine and evoke powerful emotions. These songs serve as a testament to the resilience and faith of those who created them and continue to inspire and uplift listeners today..
Reviews for "Unlocking the Depths: The Transcendental Magic of Spirituals"
1. Alice - 2/5 - I was really excited to read "The transcendental magic of spirituals" as I had heard great things about it. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. The writing style was convoluted and pretentious, making it hard to follow the author's arguments. Furthermore, while the book promised to explore the spiritual element of spirituals, it fell short in delivering any depth or insight. Overall, I found this book to be a disappointing and underwhelming read.
2. John - 1/5 - I found "The transcendental magic of spirituals" to be a complete waste of time. The author seemed more interested in showcasing their own intelligence and knowledge than providing meaningful content. The book was filled with convoluted theories and obscure references that made it difficult to understand or relate to. Additionally, the author's writing style was dry and lacked any passion or enthusiasm. I would not recommend this book to anyone who is genuinely interested in exploring the spiritual aspects of spirituals.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - "The transcendental magic of spirituals" had the potential to be a great book, but unfortunately, it failed to deliver. The author's analysis of spirituals felt shallow and superficial, lacking the depth and nuance that I was hoping for. Additionally, the writing style was pretentious and overly academic, making it hard to engage with the material. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and wanting more from this book.