Eliphas Levi is a prominent figure in the history and study of magic. He is often considered to be one of the founders of modern occultism and his works have had a significant impact on the field. Levi, whose real name was Alphonse Louis Constant, was born in France in 1810. He grew up during a time of religious and political turmoil, and this context greatly influenced his studies and writings on magic. Levi was interested in various esoteric and mystical traditions, including the Kabbalah, tarot, and Hermeticism. He believed that these ancient teachings held the key to understanding the universe and achieving spiritual enlightenment.
Slow down your engine. Take time to consider your options. And be willing to open the Bible and ask your Creator to speak to you through His inspired Word. Everyone wants power, but not everyone is wise enough to consider the source of their power and then make the right call for the sake of their soul.
Those who pursue it get duped by highly intelligent fallen angels who hate you and desire to see you reject Jesus and His free gift of eternal life in Paradise. I always took it this way A work of fiction where Harry Potter-like or LOTR-like magic exists is a world different from our world in that that sort of magic doesn t exist here.
He believed that these ancient teachings held the key to understanding the universe and achieving spiritual enlightenment. Levi's theories and ideas on magic were groundbreaking for his time. He rejected the commonly held notion that magic was simply a form of trickery or deception, instead arguing that it was a powerful force rooted in the natural world.
Martial Arts and Magic, Part 4: Qigong and Inner Power
Part 4, all right! If you haven’t read the previous installments, here are the links: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
I’m going to start Part 4 here by saying that I hate magic systems that involve concepts like “magical energy,” “inner power”, or “focus.” Unfortunately for curmudgeonly, unpleasable fantasy writers like me, real-life martial arts are all about that shit—in fact, qi (also known as chi and ki) is almost inseparable from Chinese (and some Japanese) martial arts, especially soft and internal styles. But before I get into that, let me lay out why I hate these concepts in fiction.
First, stories that rely on a mage using a limited pool of magical “energy” always pull out the same trick: “Oh no, I’m out of magic! I’ve used up all my body’s reserves, and now I’m useless!” I appreciate the attempt at limiting a mage’s power and trying to create tension by making every spell count, but it ends up feeling like magic points in a video game. Reducing magic to a discrete, measurable energy gives it a very tool-like role, which usually sucks the wonder out of it and makes a mage into something like an Energizer battery.
Meanwhile, the vague concept of “inner power” usually ends up doing the opposite: mage characters that draw on a nebulous well of inner magical strength always seem to have just enough energy to wipe out whatever obstacle is in their way, or (conversely), never enough to keep up with whatever threat they’re currently facing…until the plot needs them to. Because there’s usually no concrete limits given to “inner power,” the author has a blank check to create or dissolve tension whenever it’s convenient for them by cranking or lowering a character’s power.
Lastly, “focus” magic, where a mage has to focus on performing a specific spell by visualizing the effect, is usually the default magic system an author uses when they can’t come up with anything better. It’s the all-purpose duct tape for hacks and novice writers who just want to make magic happen. What’s obnoxious is that the confusing, chaotic din of images and thoughts that pass through one person’s head in a stressful moment is almost impossible to translate into writing, so it inevitably ends up looking like this:
Namira closed her eyes and focused on creating the fireball. A thousand thoughts swarmed through her head, but she calmed them one by one, until the sensation of heat and light was all that was left. Slowly, she felt her palm grow warmer, until an orb of fire was floating around her fingertips.
Watching someone going into meditation before casting every spell is cumbersome to write and boring to read, so the author usually skips it, until characters are effortlessly casting spells just by thinking about them.
There are always exceptions, but all in all, magic systems that rely on inner magical power in one form or another usually perform the same basic function as caulking or Styrofoam peanuts: fill in the gaps in a quick, functional way and don’t draw too much attention. And that’s fucking lame.
Here’s the thing, though: qigong is based around all three of the concepts I just described, but it does them better. It turns out that qi and its associated practice, qigong, is actually a really great source of inspiration for movement-based magic, because it’s essentially a magic system that focuses on the body. I’ve already written a piece about how qi is more myth than fact, so let’s go ahead and treat it like its own magic system.
He believed that magic could be studied and practiced in order to tap into this force and gain control over it. This, in turn, would allow individuals to achieve personal growth and transcend their limitations. One of Levi's most famous works is "The Dogma and Ritual of High Magic," which was published in 1855. In this book, he delved into the theory and practice of magic, outlining his beliefs and techniques. Levi emphasized the importance of moral and spiritual discipline in the pursuit of magic, stating that a practitioner must be pure in heart and mind in order to effectively work with the forces of the universe. Another key aspect of Levi's teachings was his emphasis on symbolism. He believed that symbols were a universal language through which the secrets of the cosmos could be understood. He drew heavily upon the tarot, asserting that the cards contained deep esoteric knowledge that could unlock the mysteries of existence. Levi's use of symbols and correspondences greatly influenced later occultists and continues to be a defining feature of magical practice today. Overall, Eliphas Levi's contributions to the study of magic are significant and enduring. His belief in the power of magic as a transformative force, his emphasis on moral and spiritual development, and his use of symbolism have all had a lasting impact on the field. While some of his ideas and practices may seem dated to modern occultists, his work laid the foundation for much of the magical thought and practice that followed..
Reviews for "The Occult Symbolism of Eliphas Levi's Works: Decoding the Hidden Messages"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Eliphas Levi and the Origins of Magic" as I'm a big fan of the occult, but I was sorely disappointed. The book lacked depth and failed to offer any real insights into Levi's life and work. I found the writing to be dry and repetitive, and it didn't do justice to the fascinating subject matter. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to explore the origins of magic in a meaningful way.
2. Mark - 1 star - I couldn't even finish "Eliphas Levi and the Origins of Magic" because it was so poorly written. The author seemed more interested in name-dropping famous occult figures than actually providing any substantial information or analysis. The book was fragmented and lacked a coherent structure, making it impossible to follow. I was hoping to learn more about Levi's contributions to magic, but instead, I was left frustrated and underwhelmed by this shallow and amateurish attempt at a biography.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - Though I appreciate the effort to shed light on Eliphas Levi and his influence on the world of magic, this book fell short of my expectations. The author relied heavily on speculation and conjecture rather than solid research, leaving me feeling uncertain about the accuracy of the information presented. Additionally, the writing style was convoluted and difficult to follow, making it hard to engage with the content. Overall, "Eliphas Levi and the Origins of Magic" left me wanting a more comprehensive and well-written exploration of this intriguing subject.