Transcendental Magic [Paperback]

Eliphas Levi (Author), A. E. Waite (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 1968

This is Eliphas Levi's (1810-1875) best-known book. This work arguably made Levi THE most influential writer on magic since the Renaissance. Originally issued in French, the English translator is A.E. Waite and it is doubtful that anyone else could have better captured the essence of Levi's work. The book is divided in two parts; the first is theoretical, the second practical. This is a fascinating and often debated work involving a discussion that covers almost the entire realm of Ritual and High Magic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alphonse Louis Constant, better know by his pen name Eliphas Levi, was a master of the traditional Rosicrucian interpretation of the Kabbalah. He was born in France in 1810, and through the offices of the parish priest, was educated for the church at Saint-Sulpice. He was later expelled from seminary for teaching doctrines contrary to those of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1824 Levi began studying the occult sciences, and wrote about magic and the Kabbalah for the next three decades. His other books include Transcendental Magic, Mysteries of the Qabalah, and The Book of Splendours.

A.E. Waite (1857-1942) is one of the best-known authors and translators of magic and the occult. He is the creator of the Rider-Waite tarot and is the author of several books including Book of Black Magic and Pictorial Keys to the Tarot.

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books; 2nd edition (January 15, 1968)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877280797
• ISBN-13: 978-0877280798
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #526,353 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transcendental Magic Gets You High, December 2, 2002

By 

rareoopdvds (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Transcendental Magic (Paperback)

Perhaps one of the most elusive books on the occult market is Eliphas Levi's "Transcendental Magic: It's Doctrine and Ritual". Originally written in French with the title "Dogme et Ritual de la Haute Magie" (1855-1856, published in two volumes), translated literally as "The Dogma and Ritual of High Magic", revised to the current title by translator and commentator, the questionable Arthur Edward Waite.

"Transcendental Magic" is broken into two books, appropriately "Doctrine" and "Ritual". Both books are divided up into 22 chapters. While it seems evident to any occult student that they equate to the tarot deck and Hebrew letter/number system, A. E. Waite immediately rejects this as only coincidence by stating "that which emerges, however, is its utter confusion." Waite apparently had difficulty relating the first chapter, "The Candidate" to the Juggler (Waite was part of the Golden Dawn which alters various symbols from the O.T.O, A.'.A.'., and other occult schools). Furthermore, the second book begins with "Preparations", which Waite believes makes no correspondence to "The Candidate" or The Juggler. Waite who translated the book to a very readable and exciting version is too hung up on historical accuracy, which accounts for most of his confusion. Waite is trying to fit square pegs into round holes.

Eliphas Levi, a priest of the Catholic Church, although wrote about occultism, still maintained faith in the Church. As one reads his other works, such as "The Great Secret" or "The Mysteries of the Qabalah", you will see his faith in Christianity is still evident from his exposition on the Christian and Jewish myths. "Transcendental Magic", however, still stands as his most impressive and complete work, which, as well has touches of Christianity within its pages. Any honest occultist will recognize the value of Christian and Jewish mythology as the foundation of modern occult practice. As expounded by Levi a number of times, any good Church-going Christian will know what "The Seven Seals of St. John" is referring.

It may be evident immediately that a once read will not suffice in capturing the meaning of Levi's words. I found immensely valuable a dictionary of etymology and a Greek, Hebrew and Latin dictionary (Oxford I prefer for all). Levi employs many strange words that one will need to know on a continual basis to grasp entirely. These words are paradoxical in practical work: they serve to further understanding by decoding various names and they serve as symbols unto themselves that one uses to activate various states. The beginning of each of the chapters in the book of the Doctrine lists the title, a Roman numeral, a Hebrew character, and a few words in other languages outside of English. It is prudent for the student to study those words in relation to all that precedes and follows it. They don't make sentences, but they will make sense.

While at first I read it from front to back, but as I was studying it, I found it more effective to read the first chapter from the Doctrine and then the first chapter from the Ritual. Essentially what you are reading is the "philosophical attitude" one must take, and then a means in which to maintain or carry that attitude through. The most confusing aspect for modern occultists is the Tarot attributions. There are many people who buy this in hopes for a book on Tarot, but they will certainly be disappointed. In most decks, it is common to give The Fool the numerical attribution of "0", the world egg, the inner and outer, evolution and involution. What Levi does is attribute 21 to the Fool, "Dentes Furca Amens" - the serpent tongue, the forked tooth (ala Shin), or liar in our modern nomenclature. Levi, however, is not alluding only to lying, but also "slips of the tongue" as in a Freudian nature and also speaking without restraint of thought. This chapter is headed with "Divination", where a diviner does not listen to their thoughts or prejudge a situation. They let the words roll off the tongue. This perhaps confuses anyone studying Crowley or Waite's deck or any popular run-of-the-mill tarot (save the Hall/Knapp and Taviglione decks).

To think of this book purely as a guide to the Tarot is to misunderstand the work entirely. As Levi says in the first chapter, "The man who loves his own opinions and fears to part with them, who suspects new truths, who is unprepared to doubt everything rather than admit anything on chance, should close this book: for him it is useless and dangerous."

To the student who is persistent in challenge, willing to discredit his own knowledge will find this book to his advantage. It may also be useful to check up on some of Aleister Crowley's works as he was highly influenced by Levi, and his perspective may lighten things up. Specifically Magic Book 4 and Book of Thoth which discuss some of Levi's works.

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Misread!, August 29, 2003

By 

A. Farbouti - See all my reviews

This review is from: Transcendental Magic (Paperback)

This enigmatic book presents the Great Arcanum of all mystical traditions in such a beautiful, rich way, but yet it will remain inaccessible to those who are as yet uneducated in the true Secret Path. This knowledge was NEVER given publicly until 1950 when "The Perfect Matrimony" was written by Samael Aun Weor. Regardless, once you know the keys, Mr. Levi's book becomes a priceless gem, filling the heart of the reader with endless wonder at the incredible truths of the Secret Doctrine. Unfortunately, very few have such keys, so most read this book and forget it, or they form an opinion based on their own point of view and hawk that as the truth. Few realize that the Secret Doctrine is a firm and unwavering Law, into which opinion cannot enter. "The Law is the Law and the Law will be fulfilled." As Mr. Levi states in the first chapter:

"The man who is enslaved by his passions or worldly prejudices can be initiated in no wise (meaning he can never be initiated); he must reform or he will never attain; meanwhile he cannot be an adept, for this word signifies a person who has acheived by will and by work. The man who loves his own opinions and fears to part with them, who suspects new truths, who is unprepared to doubt everything rather than admit anything on chance, should close this book; for him it is useless and dangerous. He will fail to understand it, and it will trouble him, while if he should divine the meaning, there will be a still greater source of disquietude. If you hold by anything in the world more than reason (as opposed to superstition), truth and justice; if your will be uncertain and vacillating, either in good or evil; if logic alarm you, or the naked truth make you blush; if you are hurt when accepted errors are assailed; condemn this work straight away. Do not read it; let it cease to exist for you; but at the same time do not cry it down as dangerous. The secrets which it records will be understood by an elect few and will be reserved by those who understand them."

For those who understand the true nature of this work, it is highly recommended that you study "The Initiatic Path in the Arcana of Tarot and Kabbalah" by Samael Aun Weor. Herein you will find explicit what Levi only sketches.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you can't think symbolically, avoid this book!, November 14, 1999

By 

Eric C. Friedman "abudoub" (Quad Cities, Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transcendental Magic (Paperback)

But, then again, if you can't think symbolically, you should avoid the subject of Magick, entirely.

In this book, Alphonse Constant reveals - by "re-veiling" - all the keys to Practical Qabalah & Gnosticism (which are NOT the same thing). If you want a purely rational, academic discourse, this book is NOT for you. But if you can, in the words of Robert Graves, think "poetically" rather than "prosaically," this book is the ultimate Key in the English language to practical Qabalah.

In this book, "Levi" pulls a Universal Doctrine of the inherent Divinity of every human out of a number of sources, and shows how the Jewish tradition of Qabalah has said nothing less than this in it's entire history. In his own special way, he "re-veils" this Doctrine while simultaneously giving the creative thinker the keys to deciphering these veils.

It is true that Constant seems a bit confused concerning certain details of Jewish writings & general philosophy, but he succeeds in identifying the essential points, especially as they are mirrored in other traditions & writings. In this respect, some of A.E.Waite's footnotes appear to be "red herrings" for the prosaically minded (even to the point of contradicting statements of his own in Waite's own writings).