Transcendental Magic Its Doctrine and Ritual by Eliphas Levi

Transcendental Magic Its Doctrine and Ritual  (Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie) By Eliphas Levi (Alphonse Louis Constant) Translated to English by A. E. Waite. Originally published by Rider & Company, England, 1855. The books are transcribed and converted to Adobe Acrobat format by Benjamin Rowe, January 2002.  Eliphas Levi wrote the sequel to this work La Clef des Grands Mystères in 1869. His work on occultism and magic had a great influence on the occult scene and especially his incorporation of both the Kabala and the Tarot inspired people such as Arthur Edward Waite, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, and Aleister Crowley.

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Who was Eliphas Levi?

Éliphas Lévi, whose real name was Alphonse Louis Constant (1810-1875), was a French occultist, esoteric author, and ceremonial magician. He’s widely recognized for the influence he exerted on Western esotericism and modern ceremonial magic. Here are some key points about Lévi:

1. Early Life and Education: Born in Paris, Lévi initially pursued theological studies in seminary and was preparing for the priesthood. However, his controversial views led to his departure from the seminary.
2. Writings: Lévi’s writings merged various esoteric, kabbalistic, and magical traditions and were seminal in establishing the theoretical foundation for the Western magical tradition. His most renowned work is “Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie” (translated as “Transcendental Magic, Its Doctrine and Ritual”). In this and other texts, he proposed a universalized system of magic, emphasizing the connections between different traditions.
3. Baphomet: Lévi is notably associated with his depiction of the “Sabbatic Goat” or “Baphomet”, a figure he described as a representation of the absolute in symbolic form. This image has since been widely adopted and adapted by various esoteric and occult traditions.
4. Influence: Lévi’s ideas and writings greatly influenced later occultists and esoteric thinkers, such as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and Arthur Edward Waite. His synthesis of various magical traditions into a cohesive system laid the groundwork for much of modern Western ceremonial magic.
5. Visions and Prophetic Claims: Lévi claimed to have experienced several mystical visions throughout his life, and in his writings, he sometimes made prophetic claims, including the proclamation that a new religious leader or messianic figure would emerge in the 20th century.
6. Later Life: In his later years, Lévi’s work focused more on prophecy, mysticism, and the relationship between religion and magic. He continued to write and teach on esoteric subjects until his death in 1875.

Overall, Éliphas Lévi is remembered as a foundational figure in the history of Western esotericism, bridging traditional occult knowledge with a new systematization and interpretation that would resonate with future generations of esoteric thinkers.