Transcendental Magic
Its Doctrine and Ritual

Published in French in 1854, Lévi's popular work was translated into English by occult historian Arthur Edward Waite in 1896.

Éliphas Lévi (Author), Arthur Edward Waite (Translated by)

9781108062169, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 June 2013

434 pages, 26 b/w illus.
21.6 x 14 x 2.5 cm, 0.55 kg

Born Alphonse Louis Constant, French magician Éliphas Lévi (1810–75) wrote prolifically on the occult sciences. His hugely popular Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, published in French in 1854, was translated into English by Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1942) in 1896. In the present work, Waite condenses Lévi's two volumes into one. The first part outlines Lévi's theory of the doctrine of transcendent magic and discusses a wide range of magical phenomena, including bewitchment, Kabbalah and alchemy. The second part focuses on the practical aspects of ritual and ceremony in Western occult philosophy. Waite, a mystic and occult historian, edited several alchemical and magical texts for publication in the wake of the mid-nineteenth century occult revival. His translation is accompanied by a preface outlining Lévi's colourful career. The original two-volume French edition is also reissued in the Cambridge Library Collection.

Biographical preface
Explanation of figures
Part I. The Doctrine of Transcendent Magic: Introduction
1. The candidate
2. The pillars of the temple
3. The triangles of Solomon
4. The tetragram
5. The pentagram
6. Magical equilibrium
7. The fiery sword
8. Realisation
9. Initiation
10. The Kabbalah
11. The magic chain
12. The great work
13. Necromancy
14. Transmutations
15. Black magic
16. Bewitchments
17. Astrology
18. Charms and philtres
19. The stone of the philosophers
20. The universal medicine
21. Divination
22. Summary and general key of the four secret sciences
Part II. The Ritual of Transcendent Magic: Introduction
1. Preparations
2. Magical equilibrium
3. The triangle of pentacles
4. The conjuration of the four
5. The blazing pentagram
6. The medium and the mediator
7. The septenary of talismans
8. A warning to the imprudent
9. The ceremonial of initiates
10. The key of occultism
11. The triple chain
12. The great work
13. Necromancy
14. Transmutations
15. The sabbath of the sorcerers
16. Witchcraft and spells
17. The writing of the stars
18. Philtres and magnetism
19. The mastery of the sun
20. The thaumaturge
21. The science of the prophets
22. The book of Hermes
Supplement to the ritual
Index.

Subject Areas: History of ideas [JFCX]