THE HISTORY OF MAGIC IBD

Sinopsis

As a comprehensive work on magic through the ages,áThe History of Magic, is hard to beat.ááááEliphas Léviáwas born in poverty in 1810, the son of a Parisian shoemaker. His early associations with the Christian Catholic Church were ambivalent because of his interest in 'the Secret Doctrine' - Magic. His voice as a magus emerged ináTranscendental Magic, its Doctrine and Ritual, published in 1855-56, followed byáThe History of Magicá(1860), where he combines his belief in both magic and religion. Recognised asátheáoccult scientist of the 19thácentury,áLéviáhas left a valuable legacy in his writings.ááááThe present work is divided intoáa septad of books - based on the sacred number, seven - with seven chapters in each.áLévi begins with a clear definition of magic -á'the exact and absolute science of Nature and her laws' and these laws, conforming always to an ideal state of equilibrium, are governed by a supreme intelligent principle, God.ááThroughout the book the author emphasizes the inseparability of science and religion and that magic is part of both, but he is at pains to denigrate Black magic and counterfeit magicians. He charts magic through the ages, from its early origins to the 19thácentury occult revival, in which he played a major part.ááWe read about Zoroaster, Abraham, the magic of the Magi, Hermetic magic, Kabalism, Gnosticism, Freemasonry - and much else besides. According toáLévi, the Secret Doctrine was eventually passed down to the Roman Catholic Church of which he became a faithful member. However, he admitted this revered institution had lost the Kabalistic Keys and his lifeâÇÖs work was to direct their rediscovery that these powerful tools may be applied to our lives, albeitáonlyáwithin the confines of the hierarchical Church.áááOccult historian and author in his own right, A. E. Waite provides aávaluable adjunct to LeviâÇÖs book with his preface and detailed notes. The original index has been revised and extended by Aziloth Books.