The History of Magic (ePub)

Éliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant (1810-1875), was a French occult author and ceremonial magician whose works profoundly influenced the revival of western esotericism in the 19th century. Adopting the Hebrew version of his name, Lévi authored several seminal texts that synthesized elements of magical wisdom from a variety of traditions, including Kabbalah, alchemy, and Christian mysticism. His most notable work, 'Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie' (1855), translated into English as 'Transcendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual,' served to crystallize the beliefs and practices of modern occultism. Another significant contribution is 'The History of Magic,' in which Lévi traces the arcane practices and philosophies through the ages. Lévi's literary style is characterized by dense, evocative prose that seeks to unveil the hidden symbology behind religious and magical systems. His writings often employed a scholarly approach to the study of symbols, which he viewed as keys to unlocking the mysteries of the divine and the human psyche. Throughout his literary career, Lévi emphasized the transformative potential of the magical arts and the paramount role of the will in achieving spiritual mastery. His work not only laid the foundation for later esoteric movements, including the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Thelema, but also continues to be a cornerstone in the study of Western occultism.