good read - Doctrine of Transcendental Magic

[Guest]

i decided to take a break from my studies for a bit and just read something....

 

So I grabbed The Doctrine of Transcendental Magic by Eliphas Levi off the shelf for a second read. This was my first Tarot book and I have to wonder, has anyone else here read this one?

 

It is really an amazing book to me. At times I want to fall out laughing at the preposterous things, at others, I am enamored with the possibility of gleaning something unknown. Somehow in between all the errors and claims truth and nonsense, this work really does embody all that is tarot to us in the west.

 

Each chapter describes the essence of each card. It is as simple as that. He did it first. People wrote essays, and instruction booklets prior to this work, but this is THE book. After this work was written a Mr.  McKenzie would visit Levi and afterwards write a few works that would be the foundation of the Golden Dawn.

 

I would have to say Levi put the "crazy" in tarot cards.  ;)

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

Thanks for suggesting this, whatsawhosit. I'm putting this on my reading list.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Btw it seems that this book's copyright has lapsed. It's available as a free pdf in the Holy Books website. Happy reading, guys. :)

[Guest]

if you do get around to reading this, bring this thread back to life and lets discuss it. This book can be an enlightening book if taken in properly.

 

I think most people will find that many things they thought about tarot are revealed as untrue or ridiculous assumptions and at the same time vast concepts are touched upon that can leave one feeling like they are just beginning to study.

 

 

[Scandinavianhermit]

A new translation of Eliphas Levi's two books in one volume is available since 2017 under the title The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic (a translation closer to the original French book title). The publisher is Tarcher Perigree. The translators are John Michael Greer and Mark Anthony Mikituk. Since much of what Levi alludes to is very much dependent on a French 19th century setting, this new translation includes many footnotes, which will help those of us readers who are not 19th century French.