The History of Magic, written by Éliphas Lévi
🧠 Discussion
Libraries
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
Reviews
No review yet. Be the first to review this book!
Description
The History of Magic, written by Éliphas Lévi and translated into English by A.E. Waite, is a comprehensive exploration of the development, practices, and philosophy of magic throughout human history. Lévi, a prominent 19th-century French occultist, presents magic not as mere superstition or deception but as a profound spiritual science and an ancient tradition that embodies the hidden laws of nature and the universe. The book traces the origins of magical practices from ancient civilizations such as Egypt, Chaldea, and India, through the classical world of Greece and Rome, and into the esoteric currents of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Lévi delves deeply into the relationship between magic and religion, illustrating how the two have often been intertwined, with magic serving as a kind of sacred science that mediates between humanity and the divine. Lévi emphasizes the concept of "the absolute" and explores how knowledge of universal laws allows the magician to act as a mediator of divine power. He discusses key elements of the magical tradition, including the Kabbalah, the Tarot, and alchemy, presenting them as symbolic languages that encode ancient wisdom. Lévi also investigates the lives and practices of famous magicians, alchemists, and mystics, such as Hermes Trismegistus, Paracelsus, and Cornelius Agrippa, positioning them as heirs to a hidden, perennial philosophy. A.E. Waite’s translation retains Lévi’s poetic and often mystical tone, while also clarifying his philosophical and historical arguments. Waite, himself a notable figure in Western occultism, provides additional context in his introduction and notes, offering readers insight into Lévi’s influence on modern esotericism. The History of Magic serves both as a historical account and a metaphysical treatise, arguing that true magic is rooted in spiritual enlightenment and moral responsibility, rather than in the pursuit of power for its own sake. It remains a foundational text for those interested in Western esoteric traditions, occult philosophy, and the history of magical practices.
Related Books in philosophy and psychology
Time, Life & Memory: Bergson and Contemporary Science
by Laurens Landeweerd
People Like (0)
Occupy Time: Technoculture, Immediacy, and Resistance after Occupy Wall Street
by Jason M. Adams
People Like (0)
Into the Universe of Technical Images by Vilém Flusser
by Vilém Flusser
People Like (0)
The Seminar of Jacques Lacan, Book XX
by Jacques Lacan
People Like (0)
Hauntology by Katy Shaw
by Katy Shaw
People Like (0).jpg)
Metaphysical Horror by Leszek Kołakowski
by Leszek Kołakowski
People Like (2)
Technologies of Speculation by Sun-ha Hong
by Sun-ha Hong
People Like (0)
The Politics of Friendship by Jacques Derrida
by Jacques Derrida
People Like (0)
Evil Media by Matthew Fuller and Andrew Goffey
by Matthew Fuller and Andrew Goffey
People Like (0)
Prometheus and Atlas by Jason Reza Jorjani
by Jason Reza Jorjani
People Like (4)
Egress: On Mourning, Melancholy and Mark Fisher
by Matt Colquhoun
People Like (0)
Digital Exposure: Postmodern Postcapitalism by Raphael Sassower
by Raphael Sassower
People Like (0)You May Also Like
Philosophy in the Middle Ages
by Arthur Hyman and James J. Walsh
People Like (0)
An Introduction to Classical Islamic Philosophy
by Oliver Leaman
People Like (0)
The African Philosophy Reader
by P. H. Coetzee and A. P. J. Roux
People Like (0)
Indian Philosophy, Volume 1
by Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan
People Like (0)You May Also Like
The Antichrist by Friedrich Nietzsche | PDF
by Friedrich Nietzsche
People Like (7)
The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors
by Jeffrey A. Kottler
People Like (30)
The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents - pdf
by Elizabeth McCallum
People Like (14)
The Anti-Anxiety Program, Second Edition - pdf
by David D. Burns
People Like (16)
Therapy Workbook on Anxiety Management - PDF
by Kate Collins-Donnelly
People Like (57)
Helping Children to Cope with Change, Stress and Anxiety - pdf
by Deborah Plummer
People Like (45)
Don't Believe Everything You Feel - PDF
by Thomas G. McGowan
People Like (140)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - PDF
by Michael McCaffrey
People Like (10)
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: 7 Ways to Freedom from Anxiety, Depression, and Intrusive Thoughts
by Seth J. Gillihan
People Like (12)
The CBT Anxiety Solution Workbook
by Matthew McKay, Patrick Fanning, and Michelle Skeen
People Like (20)
Rewire Your Anxious Brain - PDF
by Melissa McCreery
People Like (9)
Good Inside: A Practical Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be
by Dr. Becky Kennedy
People Like (24)
Workbook for Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents
by Lindsay C. Gibson
People Like (12)
Emotional Abuse Workbook - pdf
by Amy S. Johnson
People Like (18)
Mothers Who Can't Love: A Healing Guide for Daughters
by Susan
People Like (17)
Wired Child: Reclaiming Childhood in a Digital Age
by Victoria L. Dunckley
People Like (7)
Anything But My Phone, Mom: Raising Emotionally Resilient Daughters
by Jodi Mullen
People Like (9)
Screens and Teens - PDF
by Kathy Koch
People Like (20)
Parenting in the Age of Attention Snatchers -PDF
by Lucy Jo Palladino
People Like (4)
The Digital Diet: The 4-Step Plan to Break Your Tech Addiction
by Daniel Sieberg
People Like (11)
The Tech Diet for Your Child Teen - PDF
by Brad Marshall
People Like (5)
A Language for Psychosis - PDF
by PAUL WILLIAMS PhD
People Like (2)
Drama, Psychotherapy and Psychosis - PDF
by David Read Johnson and Margaret S. B. Treadwell
People Like (5)
The Psychoanalysis of Symptoms - PDF
by Henry Kellerman
People Like (7)
Suffering Insanity: Psychoanalytic Essays on Psychosis
by Thomas S. Szasz
People Like (2)
Psychoanalysis Meets Psychosis - PDF
by not know
People Like (3)
Freud, Psychoanalysis, and Symbolism - PDF
by William E. H. Stilling
People Like (7)
4.48 Psychosis - book PDF
by Sarah Kane
People Like (2)
Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature
by Richard P. Bentall
People Like (10)
The Child in You: The Breakthrough Method for Bringing Out Your Authentic Self
by Stefanie Stahl
People Like (25)
Reconciliation: Healing the Inner Child
by John Lee
People Like (8)
Gifts Differing: Understanding Personality Type - PDF
by Isabel Briggs
People Like (5)