French author Éliphas Lévi (born Alphonse Louis Constant, 1810-1875), who is often referred to as "the last magi," defined magic as "the traditional science of the secrets of Nature which has been transmitted to us from the Magi." And to those who studied this arcane art came a power: "By means of this science the adept is invested with a species of relative omnipotence and can operate superhumanly-that is, after a manner which transcends the normal possibility of men."

Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual is Arthur Waite's esteemed English translation of Éliphas Lévi's original, groundbreaking exploration of ancient occult philosophy. Lévi was one of the first occultists to integrate the tarot into the discipline of magi-a development that significantly influenced the field in the years that followed. Bringing to light wisdom and information that were previously restricted to secret society initiates and practitioners of the ancient esoteric arts, Levi's work summarizes the common themes of multiple traditions into a single, understandable whole.

Lévi initially focuses on doctrine and theory, illuminating the foundations of magic and examining the relationships between science, formal religion, and occultism from Kabalistic, Hermetic, and Christian viewpoints. He also explains the meaning of symbols such as the tetragram and the pentagram (including the difference between them pointing up or down), as well as letters, numbers, necromancy, and witchcraft. In subsequent chapters, originally published several years later, Lévi describes specific rituals, ceremonies, and divinations, listing the actual materials, tools, and processes involved in practicing magic, identifying the proper vestments and settings for performing rituals, as well as the ideal mindset to adopt and how to avoid falling prey to dark magic.

As translator, Waite adds notes to the text, further elucidating Levi's writings with explanations and commentary.

Replete with occult wisdom and teachings designed to enable disciplined initiates to shape their environment, this seminal book is a critical resource for any student of magic or Western occultism, and a must-have reference item for any occult science library.

This book is also available from Echo Point Books as a hardcover (ISBN 1648372341).