Magic A History of Its Rites, Rituals, and Mysteries

Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.

ISBN: 9780486447667 | 0486447669
Cover: Paperback
Copyright: 6/16/2006

Rent

(Recommended)

$12.48

Term

Due

Price

Semester

Dec 12

$13.14

Quarter

Aug 13

$12.48

Short Term

Jul 7

$11.82

*This item is part of an exclusive publisher rental program and requires an additional convenience fee. This fee will be reflected in the shopping cart.
Buy New

In Stock Usually Ships in 24-48 Hours

$16.82
eBook

Available Instantly

Online: 1825 Days

Downloadable: Lifetime Access

$17.94

Lévi, a widely followed mystic of the nineteenth century and a master of the Kabala, offers a far-ranging survey of magic through the ages. Clear and precise in his exposition of esoteric rites, Lévi covers topics that continue to intrigue modern readers, including hypnotism, astrology, and the Illuminati.

PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION

(24)

INTRODUCTION

(26)

False definition of Magic

It is not to be defined at hazard

Explanation of the Blazing Star

Existence of the absolute

Absolute nature of magical science

Errors of Dupuis

Profanation of the science

Prediction of Count Joseph de Maistre

Extent and import of the science

The Divine Justice

Power of the adept

The devil and science

Existence of demons

False idea of the devil

Conception of the Manicheans

Crimes of sorcerers

The Astral Light

The so-called Imagination of Nature

Of what is to be understood hereby

The effects hereof

Definition of magnetism

Agreement between reason and faith

Jachin and Boaz

Principle of the hierarchy

Religion of Kabalists

Images of God

Theory of the light

Mysteries of sexual love

Antagonism of forces

The mythical Pope Joan

The Kabalah as an explanation and reconciliation of all

Why the Church condemns Magic

Dogmatic Magic an explanation of the philosophy of history

Culpable curiosity regarding Magic

Plan of the present work

The author's submission to the established order

BOOK I THE DERIVATIONS OF MAGIC

CHAPTER I FABULOUS SOURCES

(10)

The Book of Enoch concerning the Fall of the Angels

Meaning of the Legend

The Book of the Penitence of Adam

The Personality of Enoch

The Apocalypse of St. Methodius

Children of Seth and of Cain

Rationale of occultism

Error of Rousseau

Traditions of Jewry

The glory of Christianity

The Sepher Yetzirah, Zohar and Apocalypse

Opening of the Zohar

CHAPTER II MAGIC OF THE MAGI

(7)

The true and false Zoroaster

Doctrines of the true Zoroaster

Transcendental fire-philosophy

Electrical secrets of Numa

A transcript from Zoroaster on demons and sacrifices

Important revelations on magnetism

Initiation in Assyria

Wonders performed by the Assyrians

Du Potet in accord with Zoroaster

Danger incurred by the unwary

Power of man over animals

Downfall of the priesthood in Assyria

Magical death of Sardanapalus

CHAPTER III MAGIC IN INDIA

(7)

The Indians as descendants of Cain

India the mother of idolatry

Doctrine of the Gymnosophists

Indian origin of Gnosticism

Some wise fables of India

Black Magic of the Oupnek'hat

Citation from J.M. Ragon

Indian Grand Secrets

The English and Indian insurrections

CHAPTER IV HERMETIC MAGIC

(7)

The Emereld Table

Other writings of Hermes

Magical interpretation of the geography of Ancient Egypt

Ministry of Joseph

Sacred alphabet

The Isiac Tablet of Cardinal Bembo

The Tarot explained by the Sepher Yetzirah

The Tarot of Charles VII

Magical science of Moses

CHAPTER V MAGIC IN GREECE

(6)

Fable of the Golden Fleece

Medea and Jason

The five magical epics

Aeschylus a profaner of the Mysteries

The Orpheus of legend

Orphic Mysteries

Göetia

The sorcerers of Thessaly

Medea and Circe

CHAPTER VI MATHEMATICAL MAGIC OF PYTHAGORAS

(6)

Pythagoras an heir of the traditions of Numa

Identity of Pythagoras

His doctrine concerning God

A fine utterance against anarchy

Golden Verses

Symbols of Pythagoras

His chastity

His divination

His explanation of miracles

Secret of the interpretation of dreams

The belief of Pythagoras

CHAPTER VII THE HOLY KABALAH

(9)

Origin of the Kabalah

The horror of idolatry in Kabalism

Kabalistic definition of God

Principles of the Kabalah

The Divine Names

Four forms of Tetragrammaton

The word which accomplishes all transmutations

The Keys of Solomon

The chain of spirits

Whether human spirits return

The world of spirits according to the Zohar

Of spirits which manifest

Fluidic larvae

The Great Magical Agent

Obscure origin of larvae

BOOK II FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DOGMAS

CHAPTER I PRIMITIVE SYMBOLISM OF HISTORY

107

(8)

Allegory of the Earthly Paradise

The Edenic Pantacle

The Cherub

Folly of a great mind

Mysteries of Genesis

Children of Cain

Magical secrets of the Tower of Babel

Belphegor

The medieval Sabbath

Decadence of the hierarchy

Philosophy of chance

Doctrine of Plato

An oracle of Apollo

Rationalism of Aristotle

The Cubic Stone

Summary of Neoplatonism

CHAPTER II MYSTICISM

115

(6)

Inviolability of magical science

Profane and mystic schools

The Bacchantes

Materialistic reformers and anarchic mystics

Imbecile visionaries

Their horror of sages

Tolerance of the true Church

False miracles

Rites of Black Magic

Barbarous words and unknown signs

Cause of visions

A theory of hallucinations

CHAPTER III INITIATIONS AND ORDEALS

121

(8)

The Great Work

The four aspects of the Sphinx and the Shield of Achilles

Allegories of Hercules and Œdipus

The Secret Doctrine of Plato

Of Plato as Kabalist

Difference between Plato and St. John

Vatonic theosophy

Fatal experiences

Homœpathy practised by the Greeks

The cavern of Trophonius

Science of Egyptian priests

Lactantius and the antipodes

The Greek hell

Ministry of suffering

The Table of Cebes and the poem of Dante

Doctrines of the Phdron

The burial of the dead—Necromancy

CHAPTER IV THE MAGIC OF PUBLIC WORSHIP

129

(5)

Magnificence of the true Coitus

Orthodox traditions

Dissent of the profane

Their calumnies against initiates

An allegory concerning Bacchus

Tyresias and Calchas

The priesthood according to Homer

Oracles of sibyls

Origin of geomancy and cartomancy

CHAPTER V MYSTERIES OF VIRGINITY

134

(4)

Of Hellenism at Rome

Institution of Vestals

Traditional virtue of virgin blood

Symbolism of Sacred Fire

Religious aspect of the history of Lucretia

Honour among Roman women

Mysteries of the Bona Dea

Numa as a hierophant

Ingenious notions of Voltaire on divination

Prophetic instinct of the masses

Erroneous opinions of Fontenelle and Kircher on oracles

Religious Calendar of Numa

CHAPTER, VI SUPERSTITIONS

138

(6)

Their origin and persistence

Beautiful thought of the Roman pontiff, St. Gregory-observation of numbers and of days

Abstinence of the magi

Opinions of Porphyry

Greek and Roman superstitions

Mythological data on the secret properties of animals

A passage from Euripides

Reasons of Pythagorean abstinence

Singular excerpt from Homer

Presages, dreams, enchantments and fascinations

Magical whirlpools

Modern phenomena

Olympius and Plotinus

CHAPTER VII MAGICAL MONUMENTS

144

(3)

The Seven Wonders of the world and the seven magical planets

The Pyramids

Thebes and its seven gates

The pantacle of the sun

The pantacle of the moon

The pantacle of the conjugal Venus

The pantacles of Mercury, Jupiter and Mars

The Temple of Solomon

Philosophical summary of ancient wisdom.

BOOK III DIVINE SYNTHESIS AND REALISATION OF MAGIA BY THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION

CHAPTER I CHRIST ACCUSED OF MAGIC BY THE JEWS

147

(3)

The beginning of the Gospel according to St. John and its profound meaning

Ezekiel a Kabalist

Special character of Christianity

Accusations of the Jews against the Saviour

The Sepher Toldos Jeshu

A beautiful legend from the apocryphal gospels

The Johannites

Burning of magical books at Ephesus

Cessation of oracles

The great Pan is dead

Transfiguration of natural prodigy into miracle and of divination into prophecy

CHAPTER II THE WITNESS OF MAGIC TO CHRISTIANITY

150

(8)

Absolute existence of religion

Essential distinction between science and faith

Puerile objections

Christianity proved by charity

Condemnation of Magic by the Christian priesthood

Simon the Magician

His history

His doctrine

His conference with SS. Peter and Paul

His downfall

His sect continued by Menander

CHAPTER III THE DEVIL

158

(4)

The question considered in the light of faith and science

Satan and Lucifer

Wisdom of the Church

The devil according to the initiates of occult science

Of possessions in the gospel

Opinions of Torreblanca

Astral perversities

The Sabbatic goat

The false Lucifer

CHAPTER IV THE LAST PAGANS

162

(4)

The eternal miracle of God

Civilising influence of Christianity

Apollonius of Tyana

His allegorical legend

Julian the apostate

His evocations

Jamblichus and Maximus of Tyre

Birth of Secret Societies for the forbidden practices of Magic

CHAPTER V LEGENDS

166

(5)

The legend of St. Cyprian and St. Justin

Magical prayer of St. Cyprian

The Golden Legend

Apuleius and the Golden Ass

The fable of Psyche

Curious subtlety of St. Augustine

Philosophy of the Fathers of the Church

CHAPTER VI SOME KABALISTIC PAINTINGS AND SACRED EMBLEMS

171

(5)

Gnosticism and the primitive Church

Emblems of the catacombs

True and false Gnostics

Profanation of the Gnosis

Impure and sacrilegious Rites

Eucharistic sacrilege

The Arch-heretic Marcos

Women and the priesthood

Montanus and his female prophets

Tertullian

The dualism of Manes

Danger of evocations

Divagations of Kabalism

Loss of the Kabalistic Keys

CHAPTER VII PHILOSOPHERS OF THE ALEXANDRIAN SCHOOL

176

(4)

Ammonius Saccas

Plotinus

Porphyry

Hypatia

Incautious admissions of Synesius

Writings of this initiate

More especially his tract on Dreams

The commentary of Jerome Cardan thereon

Attribution of the works of St. Dionysius to Synesius

Their orthodoxy and their value

BOOK IV MAGIC AND CIVILISATION

CHAPTER I MAGIC AMONG BARBARIANS

180

(6)

Rome conquered by the Cross

History of Philinnium and Machates

The Bride of Corinth

Philosophical considerations thereon

Germanic and Druidic theology

College of the Druids at Autun

Druidic transmigration of souls

Some Druidic practices

CHAPTER II INFLUENCE OF WOMEN

186

(4)

Female influence in, early France

Velleda slandered by Chateaubriand

Berthe au grand pied

The fairy Mélusine

Saint Clotilda

The sorceress Frédégonde

The story of Klodswinthe

Frédégonde and Clovis

Further concerning her history

CHAPTER III THE SALIC LAWS AGAINST SORCERERS

190

(5)

Laws attributed to Pharamond

Explanation of a Talmudic passage by Rabbi Jechiel

Belief in the immortality of the soul among the Jews

An ecclesiastical council on sorcery

The rise of Mohammed

The religious history of Charles Martel

The Reign of Pépin the Short

The Kabalist Zedekias

His fables concerning elementary spirits

An epidemic of visions

CHAPTER IV LEGENDS OF THE REIGN OF CHARLEMAGNE

195

(7)

Charlemagne a prince of faerie

Charlemagne and Roland

The enchanted sword and magic horn

The Enchiridion of Leo III

The tradition therein

The pantacles

The Sabbath

The Free Judges

Their foundation and purpose

Power of this Tribunal

The fate of Frederick of Brunswick

Code of the Free Judges

Laws of Charlemagne

Knighterrantry

The cultus of the Blessed Virgin

CHAPTER V MAGICIANS

202

(5)

The pope and empire

The penalty of excommunication

Further concerning Rabbi Jechiel

The automaton of Albertus Magnus

Albertus and St. Thomas Aquinas

The legend of the automaton interpreted

Scholasticism and Aristotelian philosophy

The philosophical stone and the quintessence

CHAPTER VI SOME FAMOUS PROSECUTIONS

207

(12)

The great religious orders and their power

The Knights Templar

Their origin

Their secret design

The Christian sect of Johannites

Their profanation of the history of Christ

Pontiffs of the Johannite sect

The Johannites and the Templars

Further concerning Templar secret doctrine

Development of the chivalry

Their projects discovered

Their suppression

The case of Joan of Arc

The history of Gilles de Laval

CHAPTER VII SUPERSTITIONS RELATING TO THE DEVIL

219

(4)

Apparitions of Satan

Possessions

A philosophy of superstitions

The crime of Black Magic

Pathological states

The soul of the world

Modern phenomena

Fourier and M. de Mirville

Baron de Guldenstubbé

BOOK V THE ADEPTS AND THE PRIESTHOOD

CHAPTER I PRIESTS AND POPES ACCUSED OF MAGIC

223

(11)

Inviolable sanctity of the priesthood

Accusations of false adepts

Groundless charges against Pope Sylvester II

Scandalous story of Polonus reproduced by Platina

The legend of Pope Joan

Its derivation from ancient Tarot cards representing Isis crowned with a tiara

Further concerning Sylvester II

Opinion of Gabriel Naucle

The Grimoire attributed to Pope Honorius III

The antipope Honorius II as its possible author

An excursus on the content and character of the work

CHAPTER II APPEARANCE OF THE BOHEMIAN NOMADS

234

(8)

Their entrance into Europe early in the fifteenth century

Their name of Bohemians or Egyptians

An account of their encampment near Paris, drawn from an ancient chronicle

A citation from George Borrow

Researches of M. Vaillant

The Gipsies and the Tarot

A conclusion on this subject

Communistic Experiment in

1840

CHAPTER III LEGEND AND HISTORY OF RAYMUND LULLY

242

(8)

Story of the Doctor Illuminatus on its mythical side

Raymund Lully and the Lady Ambrosia

His immortality and liberation therefrom

The historical personage

Lully as an alchemist

The Rose Nobles

His philosophical testament

Colleges for the study of languages founded by his efforts

The Great Art

He appears at the Council of Vienna

Lully a disciple of the Kabalists

But the tradition in his hands had become Christian

CHAPTER IV ON CERTAIN ALCHEMISTS

250

(10)

Nicholas Flamel and the book of Abraham the Jew

Mysterious figures of the work

A tradition concerning Flamel

Bernard Trevisan

Basil Valentine

John Trithemius

Cornelius Agrippa

The pantacle of Trithemius

William Postel

Illustrations of his teaching

The story of Mother Jeanne

The renewal of Postel

An opinion of Father Desbillons

Paracelsus

His doctrines of occult medicine

Mysteries of blood

Narrative of Tavernier

The Philosophie sagax of Paracelsus

CHAPTER V SOME FAMOUS SORCERERS AND MAGICIANS

260

(9)

The Divine Comedy of Dante and its Kabalistic analysis

The Romance of the Rose

Luther and anarchical theology

His disputes with the devil

His sacrilegious marriage

Sorcerers during the reign of Henry III

Visions of Jacques Clement

Mystic symbolism of the rose

Union of the rose and the cross

The Rosicrucians

Henry Khunrath

His Amphitheatrum Sapientice Æternœ

Its pantacles

Oswaldus Crollius

Alchemists of the early seventeenth century

A Rosicrucian manifesto

CHAPTER VI SOME MAGICAL PROSECUTIONS

269

(14)

Introductory remarks

Real crime of sorcerers

Some deplorable condemnations

The case of Louis Gaufridi

The case of Urbain Grandier

The nuns of Louvier and some other processes

Interpretation of certain phenomena

Story of an apparition

CHAPTER VII THE MAGICAL ORIGIN OF FREEMASONRY

283

(5)

Its appearance in Europe

Its allegorical and real end

The Legend of Hiram

Its meaning

Mission of the Rites of Masonry

Its profanations

BOOK VI MAGIC AND THE REVOLUTION

CHAPTER I REMARKABLE AUTHORS OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

288

(7)

Important discoveries in China

The Y -Kim of Fo-hi

Legend of its origin

Connection with the Zohar

An example of absolute philosophy

Opinion of Leibnitz

Emmanuel Swedenborg

His system and its Kabalistic derivation

The discovery of Mesmer

Its theory and its great importance

A comparison between Voltaire and Mesmer

CHAPTER II THAUMATURGIC PERSONALITIES OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY

295

(10)

The Comte de Saint-Germain

Unpublished particulars of his life

The report of Madame de Genlis

The Order of Saint Jakin

A pretended initiation

Further concerning the Rosicrucians

An appreciation of Saint-Germain

His alleged identity with the mysterious Althotas

The alchemist Lascaris

Count Cagliostro

An agent of the Templars

A successor of Mesmer

Explanation of his seal and Kabalistic name

His secret of physical regeneration

His trial by the Inquisition

He is said to be still alive

CHAPTER III PROPHECIES OF CAZOTTE

305

(4)

The school of Martinists

The supper of Cazotte

The romance of Le Diable A moureux

Its interpretation according to the Kabalah

Lilith and Nehamah

Initiation of Cazotte

The Mystic Mountain

Cazotte and the Revolutionary Tribunal

CHAPTER IV THE FRENCH REVOLUTION

309

(3)

The reveries of Rousseau and their fatal consequences

The tomb of Jacques de Molay

The Lodge in Rue Platriere

The doom of Louis XVI

A genius of massacre

Mademoiselle de Sombreuil

Madame Elizabeth

The Church of the Jacobins

Vengeance of the Templars

Further concerning the Apocalypse of St. Methodius

The prophecies of Abbé Joachim

CHAPTER V PHENOMENA OF MEDIOMANIA

312

(5)

An obscure sect of Johannite mystics

Visions of Loiseaut

Dom Gerle and Catherine Théot

A visit from Robespierre

The prophecy of Catherine

Her fate and that of Dom Gerle

The Saviours of Louis XVII

Martin de Gallardon

Eugène Vintras

Naündorff

CHAPTER VI THE GERMAN ILLUMINATI

317

(5)

The adept Steinert

An account of Eckartshausen

Schroepter and Lavater

The spirit Gablidone

His prophecies

Stabs and Napoleon

Carl Sand and Kotzebue

The Mopses and their mysteries

The magical drama of Faust

CHAPTER VII EMPIRE AND RESTORATION

322

(5)

Predictions relative to Napoleon

Mademoiselle Lenorrnand

Etteilla and cartomancy

Madame Bouche and the Czar Alexander

Madame de Krudener

Further concerning the Saviours of Louis XVII

Visions of Martin de Gallardon

BOOK VII MAGIC IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY

CHAPTER I MAGNETIC MYSTICS AND MATERIALISTS

327

(5)

Infectious follies of Fourier

The dogma of hell

An evocation in the Church of Notre Dame

Lesser prophets and divinities

Ganneau, Auguste Comte and Wronski

Sale of the Absolute

CHAPTER II HALLUCINATIONS

332

(7)

Yet again concerning the Saviours of Louis XVII

Singular hallucination of Eugene Vintras

His prophecies and pretended miracles

The sect of Vintras

Its condemnation by Gregory XVI

Pontificate of Vintras

His dreams and visions

CHAPTER III MESMERISTS AND SOMNAMBULISTS

339

(4)

The Church and the abuse of somnambulism

Baron Du Potet

His secret work on Magic

Table-turning

A table burnt for heresy

Experiences of Victor Hennequin

A magical melodrama

CHAPTER IV THE FANTASTIC SIDE OF MAGICAL LITERATURE

343

(12)

Alphonse Esquiros invents a romanesque Magic

Henri Delaage continues the work

His gifts of enchantment

His orthodoxy

Le Comte d'Ourches

Baron de Guldenstubbé

His miraculous writings

Their explanation

Exhumation of a fakir

History of a vampire

The cartomancist Edmond

CHAPTER V SOME PRIVATE RECOLLECTIONS OF THE WRITER

355

(3)

The author is presented by the magician Alphonse Esquiros to the divinity Ganneau

Eccentric doctrines of the Mapah

Another Louis XVII

A fatal result of this visit

Secret cause of the Revolution of 1848

The wife of Ganneau

CHAPTER VI THE OCCULT SCIENCES

358

(3)

A synthesis in summary

Recapitulation of principles

The search after the absolute

CHAPTER VII SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

361

(14)

The enigma of the sphinx and its solution

Paradoxical questions and their answers

Knowledge and faith

The communion of faith

The temporal power of the pope

The science of moral equilibrium

Consequences of its recognition

A citation from the Blessed Vincent de Lerins

Another from Comte Joseph de Maistre

An axiom of St. Thomas Aquinas

The liberation of Magic

Purpose of this work

APPENDIX

375

(2)

INDEX

377

Please wait while the item is added to your bag...

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Magic A History of Its Rites, Rituals, and Mysteries

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

Magic A History of Its Rites, Rituals, and Mysteries

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License