Lévi Éliphas - Transcendental magic, its doctrine and ritual

ELIPHAS LVIAbb Louis Constantwas a master of the traditional Rosicrucian interpretation of the Kabalah. He was born in 1801, became a Roman Catholic priest, was expelled from the priesthood and in 1825 began studying occult matters which he wrote about for the next three decades. He died in 1875.

By the same author

The History of Magic

(Translated by Arthur Edward Waite)

The Key of the Mysteries

(Translated by Aleister Crowley)

First American edition published in 1972 by

Samuel Weiser, Inc.

Box 612

York Beach, ME 03910-0612

This printing, 1999

Originally published in 1896

by Rider & Co., England

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 72-16629

ISBN 0-87728-079-7

Printed in the United States of America

BJ

The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1984.

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Unity of the DoctrineQulification necessary for the Adept

Foundations of the DoctrineThe Two PrinciplesAgent and Patient

Universal Theology of the TriadThe Macrocosm

Magical Virtue of the TetradAnalogies and AdaptationsElementary Spirits of the Kabalah

The Microcosm and the Sign thereofPower over Elements and Spirits

Action of the WillImpulse and ResistanceSexual loveThe Plenum and the Void

The Sanctum RegnumThe seven Angels and seven Genii of the PlanetsUniversal Virtue of the Septenary

Analogical reproduction of ForcesIncarnation of IdeasParallelismNecessary Antagonism

The Magical Lamp, Mantle and StaffProphecy and IntuitionSecurity and stability of the Initiate in the midst of dangersExercise of Magical Power

The SephirothThe ShemhamphorasThe Paths and GatesBereshith and MercavahGematria and Temurah

Magnetic CurrentsSecrets of great successesTalking TablesFluidic Manifestations

Hermetic MagicDoctrines of HermesThe Minerva of the WorldThe grand and unique AthanorThe Hanged Man

Revelations from the other WorldSecrets of Death and of LifeEvocations

LycanthrophyMutual possessions, or embryonic state of soulsThe Wand of CirceThe Elixir of Cagliostro

DemonomaniaObsessionsUrban GrandierGirardThe work of M. Eudes de Mirville

Dangerous forcesPower of life and deathFacts and PrinciplesRemediesPractice of Paracelsus

Knowledge of Men by the Signs of their NativityPhrenologyChiromancyMetoposcopyPlanets and StarsClimacteric yearsPrediction by means of Astral Revolutions

Venomous MagicPowders and Pacts of SorcerersThe Jettatura at NaplesThe Evil EyeSuperstitionsTalismans

What this Stone isWhy it is a StoneSingular Analogies

Extension of Life by means of Potable GoldResurrectionAbolition of Pain

DreamsSomnambulismPresentimentsSecond SightDivinatory InstrumentsAlliette and his discoveries concerning the Tarot

The KabalahMagicAlchemyMagnetism or Occult Medicine

Dispositions and Principles of Magical OperationPersonal Preparations of the Operator

Alternative use of ForcesOppositions necessary in the PracticeSimultaneous attack and resistanceThe Sword and Trowel of the Builders of the Temple

Use of the Triad in Conjurations and Magical SacrificesTriangle of Evocations and PantaclesTriangular CombinationsThe Magical Trident of Paracelsus

Occult Elements and their UseManner of overcoming and subjecting Elementary Spirits and Maleficent Genii

Use and Consecration of the Pentagram

Application of Will to the Great AgentThe Natural Medium and the Extra- natural Mediator

Ceremonies, Vestments and Perfumes proper to the seven days of the weekComposition of the Seven Talismans and Consecration of Magical Instruments

Precautions necessary for the accomplishment of the Great Works of Science

Its end and intention

Use of PantaclesTheir ancient and modern mysteriesKey of Biblical obscuritiesEzekiel and St John

Methods of its formation

Its Processes and SecretsRaymond Lully and Nicholas Flamel

Ceremonial for the Resurrection of the Dead and for Necromancy

Methods for changing the nature of thingsThe Ring of GygesWords which accomplish Transmutations

Rites and special Evocations of the SabbathThe Goat of Mendes and its worshipAberrations of Catherine de Medicis and Gilles de Laval, Lord of Retz

Ceremonial for the sameMode of defence against them

Divination by StarsPlanisphere of GaffarelHow the Destinies of Men and Empires may be read in Heaven

Composition of PhiltresHow to influence DestiniesRemedies and Preventives

Use of the Philosophical StoneHow it must be preserved, disintegrated and recomposed

TherapeuticsWarm and cold InsufflationsPasses with and without contactImposition of handsDiverse virtues of salivaOil and WineIncubation and Massage

Ceremonial for Divinatory OperationsThe Clavicle of TrithemiusProbable future of Europe and of the world

After what manner all science is contained in the occult work of HermesAntiquity of this bookLabours of Court de Gebelin and of EtteillaThe Teraphim of the Hebrews according to GaffarelThe Key of William PostelA book of Saint- MartinThe true shape of the Ark of the CovenantItalian and German TarotsChinese TarotsA German Medal of the sixteenth centuryUniversal Key of the TarotIts application to the Symbols of the ApocalypseThe seven seals of the Christian KabalahConclusion of the entire work

Portrait of liphas Lvi in the Robe of a Magus

Fig.

The great Symbol of Solomon. The Double Triangle of Solomon, represented by the two Ancients of the Kabalah; the Macroprosopus and the Microprosopus; the God of Light and the God of Reflections; of mercy and vengeance; the white Jehovah and the black Jehovah

Sacerdotal Esotericism making the sign of Excommunication. A sacerdotal hand making the sign of esotericism and projecting the figure of the demon in its shadow. Above are the Ace of Deniers, as found in the Chinese Tarot, and two superposed triangles, one white and one black. It is a new allegory explaining the same mysteries; it is the origin of good and evil; it is the creation of the demon by mystery

The Double Triangle of Solomon

The Four Great Kabalistic Names

The Pentagram of Faust

The Tetragram of the Zohar

The Pantacles of Ezekiel and Pythagoras. The four-headed Cherubin of Ezekiel's prophecy, explained by the double triangle of Solomon. Below is the wheel of Ezekiel, key of all pantacles, and the pantacle of Pythagoras. The cherub of Ezekiel is here represented as it is described by the prophet. Its four heads are the tetrad of MERCAVAH; its six wings are the senary of BERESHITH. The human figure in the middle represents reason; the eagle's head is faith; the bull is resignation and toil; the lion is warfare and conquest. This symbol is analogous to that of the Egyptian sphinx, but is more appropriate to the Kabalah of the Hebrews

Adda-Nari, grand Indian Pantacle. This pantheistic image represents Religion or Truth, terrible for the profane and gentle for initiates. It has more than one analogy with the Cherub of Ezekiel. The human figure is placed between a bridled bull and a tiger, thus forming the triangle of KETHER, GEBURAH and GEDULAH, or CHESED. In the Indian symbol, the four magical signs of the Tarot are found in the four hands of Adda-Narion the side of the initiate and of mercy are the Wand and the Cup; on the side of the profane, represented by the tiger, are the Sword and the Circle, which latter may become either the ring of a chain or an iron collar. On the side of the initiate, the goddess is clothed only with the skin of the tiger; on that of the tiger itself she wears a long star-spangled robe, and even her hair is veiled. A fountain of milk springs from her forehead, falls on the side of the initiate, and about Adda-Nari and the two animals it forms a magic circle, enclosing them in an island which represents the world. The goddess wears round her neck a magic chain, formed of iron links on the side of the profane and of intelligent heads on that of the initiate; she bears on her forehead the figure of the lingam, and on either side of her are three superposed lines which represent the equilibrium of the triad and recall the trigrams of Fohi