Eliphas Levi, born as Alphonse Louis Constant, was a French occultist and author who lived during the 19th century. He is best known for his work on magic, particularly his book "Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie" (Dogma and Ritual of High Magic) published in 1855. Levi's writings and teachings have had a significant influence on the occult and magical traditions that followed. He believed that magic should be studied as a form of science and that it could be used to uncover the secrets of the universe. Levi was a key figure in the development of Western occultism, and his work laid the foundation for many magical and esoteric practices today. One of the main ideas that Levi emphasized in his work was the concept of "as above, so below.
One of the main ideas that Levi emphasized in his work was the concept of "as above, so below." He believed that there was a correspondence between the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual) and that by understanding this relationship, one could unlock the mysteries of the universe. This belief has been influential in many magical traditions, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Thelema.
Transcendental Magic - by Eliphas Levi
Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual by Éliphas Lévi explores magic, the "esoteric science," and its place between science and religion.
Book Synopsis
Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual by Éliphas Lévi 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 Éliphas Lévi, he began to share his ideas on magic with the public in the 1850s.
Lévi'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. Lévi 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. Lévi also added the Tarot to the tools of the magician, which was a new development in the occultism of the time.
Although Lévi 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 Lévi himself in one of his past lives. Additionally, Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith created the Waite-Smith deck based on Éliphas Lévi's writings, which is the basis for most modern Tarot decks.
As mentioned already, the text is in two parts, itself symbolic of divine duality: masculine/feminine, body/spirit, positive/negative, theory/application, as above-so below, and the list goes on. But now it gets deeper. Each of the two sections contains 22 chapters. These correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and to the 22 cards that comprise the Major Arcana in the tarot. This makes sense, since Levi stresses the importance and power of kabbalah and tarot as complete magical systems. So with this foreknowledge, each chapter should be read and interpreted through the lens of the corresponding tarot card, and the kabbalistic meaning of the corresponding Hebrew letter. Now, this level of interpretation is way beyond the scope of this blog post, so suffice to say that if you are not familiar with these magical systems, then this is not a text you should be attempting to read.
Levi also emphasized the importance of symbolism in magic. He believed that symbols had a powerful effect on the subconscious mind and that they could be used to harness and direct psychic energies. He argued that by understanding and working with symbols, one could tap into the hidden powers of the mind. Another key aspect of Levi's work was his exploration of the occult Tarot. He saw the Tarot as a powerful tool for divination and self-discovery and believed that each card represented a different aspect of the human experience. Levi's interpretations of the Tarot have had a lasting impact on the practice of Tarot reading. Overall, Eliphas Levi's work on magic and the occult has had a profound influence on Western esoteric traditions. His emphasis on science, symbolism, and the power of the mind continues to resonate with practitioners today. Levi's ideas and teachings have shaped the way we understand and practice magic, making him a key figure in the history of the occult..
Reviews for "Eliphas Levi and Alchemy: Understanding the Transmutation of the Soul"
1. Sarah - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Eliphas Levi and the Secrets of Magic" as I am a fan of occult and supernatural themes. However, I was sorely disappointed by this book. The writing was convoluted and confusing, making it hard to follow the plot. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it impossible for me to connect with any of them. Overall, I found the book to be a tedious read that did not live up to its promising premise.
2. John - 1 star
"Eliphas Levi and the Secrets of Magic" was a complete waste of time for me. The story was unoriginal and predictable, with no fresh ideas or twists to offer. The pacing was incredibly slow, with unnecessary descriptions and irrelevant subplots that added nothing to the overall narrative. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to engage with the characters. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting and gripping magical adventure.
3. Emily - 2 stars
I couldn't wait to dive into "Eliphas Levi and the Secrets of Magic," but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The writing style was lackluster, lacking the descriptive prose that is typically associated with magic-themed novels. The plot was meandering and lacked a clear direction, leading to a lack of engagement from me as a reader. Additionally, the characters were forgettable and lacked depth, making it hard for me to care about their fates. Overall, this book left me unimpressed and looking for a more captivating magical read.
4. Michael - 1 star
Reading "Eliphas Levi and the Secrets of Magic" was a tedious and unenjoyable experience. The pacing was extremely slow, with long and unnecessary descriptions that added little to the story. The world-building felt superficial and underdeveloped, leaving me with more questions than answers. The characters were uninteresting and their motives were unclear, making it hard to invest in their journey. Overall, I found this book to be a dull and forgettable addition to the genre, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a satisfying magical adventure.