СОДРЖИНА
PREFACE TO THE ENGLISH
TRANSLATION
INTRODUCTION
False definition of Magic. – It
is not to be defined at hazard. – Explanation of a 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 cabalists. – Images of
god. – Theory of 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 DERIVATION OF MAGIC
CHAPTER I
FABULOUS SORCES
The book of Enoch concerning the
fall of angels. – Meaning of the legend. – The Book of 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
Yetsirah, Zohar and Apocalypse. –
Opening of the Zohar.
CHAPTER II
MAGIC OF THE MAGY
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
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
MAGIC IN GREECE
Fable of Golden Fleece. – Medea
and Jason. – The five magical epics. – Aeschylus a profaner of the Mysteries. –
The Orpheus of Legend. – Orphic Mysteries. – Goetia. – The sorcerers of Thessaly . – Medea and Circe.
CHAPTER V
MATHEMATICAL MAGIC OF PYTHAGORAS
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
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
larva. – The Great Magical Agent. – Obscure origin of larva.
BOOK II
FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF
DOGMAS
CHAPTER I
PRIMITIVE SYMBOLISM OF HISTORY
Allegory of 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
CHAPTER II
MYSTICISM
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
INTITIATIONS AND ORDEALS
The Great work. – The four
aspects of Sphinx and the Shield of Achilles. – Allegories of Hercules and
Edipus. – The Secret Doctrine of Plato. – Of Plato as Kabalist. – Difference of
Plato and St. John .
– Platonic Theosophy. - Fatal experiences. – Homeopathy practiced by Greeks. –
The Cavern of Trophonius. – Science of Egyptian priests. – Lactanius and the
antipodes. – The Greek hell. – Ministry of suffering. – The table of Cedes and
the poem of Dante. – Doctrines of Phedron. – The burial of the dead. –
Necromancy.
CHAPTER IV
THE MAGIC OF PUBLIC WORSHIP
Magnificence of the true Cultus.
– Orthodox traditions. – Dissent of the profane. – Their calumnies against
initiates. – An allegory concerning Bacchus. – Thyresias and Calchas. – The
priesthood according to Homer. – Oracles of sibyls. – Origin of geomancy and
cartomancy.
CHAPTER V
MYSTERIES OF VIRGINITY
Of Hellenism at Rome . – Institutions of Vestals. –
Traditional virtue of virgin blood. – Symbolism of Sacred Fire. – Religious
aspect of the history of Lucretia. – Honor among Roman women. – Numa as a
hierophant. – Ingenious notions of Voltaire on divination. – Prophetic instinct
of masses. – Erroneous opinions of Fontenelle and Kircher on oracle. –
Religious calendar of Numa.
CHAPTER VI
SUPERSTITIONS
Their origin and persistence. –
Beautiful thought of the Roman Pontiff, St.
Gregory. – Observations 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. – Olympus and Plotinus.
CHAPTER VII
MAGICAL MONUMENTS
The Seven
Wonders of the world and the seven magical planets. – The
Pyramids. – Thebes
and its seven gates. – The pantacle of the sun. – The pentacle of the moon. –
The pentacle of conjugal Venus. – The pantacles of Mercury, Jupiter and Mars. –
The Temple of Solomon
BOOK III
DIVINE SYNTHESIS AND REALISATION
OF MAGIA BY THE CHRISTIAN REVELATION
CHAPTER I
CHRIST ACCUSED OF MAGIC BY THE
JEWS
The beginning of the Gospel
according ton St. John
and its profound meaning. – Ezekiel a Kabalist. – Special character of
Christianity. – Accusations of the Jew against the Savior. – 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
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 S.S. Peter and Paul. – His downfall. – His sect continued by
Menander.
CHAPTER III
THE DEVIL
The question considered in the
light of faith and science. – Satan and Lucifer. – Wisdom of 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
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 the
Secret Societies for the forbidden practices of Magic.
CHAPTER V
LEGENDS
The legend of St. Cyprian and of
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
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 Kabalistic Keys.
CHAPTER VII
PHILOSPOPHERS OF THE ALEXANDRIAN
SCHOOL
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
CHAPTER II
INFLUENCE OF WOMEN
Female influence in early France . – Velleda
slandered by Chateaubriand. – Berthe au
grand pied. – The fairy Melusine. – Saint Clotilda. – The sorceress
Fredegonde. – The story of Klodswinthe. – Fredegonde and Clovis . – Further concerning her history.
CHAPTER III
THE SALIC LAWS AGAINST SORCERERS
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 Pepin
the Short. – The Kabalist Zedekias. – His fables concerning elementary spirits.
– An epidemic of visions.
CHAPTER VI
LEGENDS OF THE REIGN OF
CHARLEMAGNE
Charlemagne the prince of faerie.
– Charlemagne and Roland. – The enchanted sword and magic horn. – The Enchridion of Leo III. – The tradition
therein. – The pantacles. – The Sabbath. – The Free Judges. –
…
{The HISTORY OF MAGIC including a
clear and precise exposition of its procedure, its Rites and its Mysteries by
ELIPHAS LEVI (Alphonse Louis Constant); прво изд. William Rider & Son ltd. Cathedral House, Paternoster
Row, 1922}
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