Quotes:Levi, Eliphas

H. P. Blavatsky

Éliphas Lévi. The real name of this learned Kabalist was Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant. Eliphas Lévi Zahed was the author of several works on philosophical magic. Member of the Fratres Lucis (Brothers of Light), he was also once upon a time a priest, an abbé of the Roman Catholic Church, which promptly proceeded to unfrock him, when he acquired fame as a Kabalist. He died some twenty years ago, leaving five famous works — Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie (1856); Histoire de la Magie (1860); La Clef des grands Mystères (1861); Legendes et Symboles (1862); and La Science des Esprits (1865) ; besides some other works of minor importance. His style is extremely light and fascinating; but with a rather too strong characteristic of mockery and paradox in it to be the ideal of a serious Kabalist.

Source: H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary, art. Levi, Eliphas

Zirkoff, Boris

Levi Zahed, Eliphas. Pseudonym of Alphonse-Louis Constant, renowned French occultist and writer. He was born February 8, 1810, in a poor family; his father was Jean-Joseph Constant, a shoemaker, and his mother, a very pious woman of considerable intelligence, was Jeanne-Agnes Beaucourt. The life of Eliphas Levi-who is much better known by this literary pseudonym-can very definitely be divided into three distinct epochs. During the first of these, his associations were religious and clerical He received his early education in a school for boys established by the Abbe J.-B. Hubault Malmaison in Paris, and partook of his first communion at the age of twelve. Partly because of his own inclination, and partly as a result of the influences he was subjected to at the time, he was given a “push” in the direction of a clerical profession. In October, 1825, he entered the Seminary of Saint-Nicolas du Chardonnet, to complete his classical studies and familiarize himself with Hebrew. He graduated in 1830 and went to the College of Issy, to study literature; from there he moved to the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice where he showed considerable talent for poetry, a talent which he used throughout his life. In December, 1835, he became an assistant deacon, received his tonsure, and took very strict vows which included celibacy. This must have been the result of youthful enthusiasm at an age when, as he himself has said, he was unaware of life's experiences. While giving lessons to young girls, he became enamored of one Adele Allenbach. Eventually he had to confess this to his superior, and the result was that he never was ordained and left the Seminary in June, 1836. His father had already died, and his poor mother, deeply shocked by what her son had done, committed suicide.

There followed years during which Alphonse-Louis eked out a livelihood by drawing, painting, and literary work, for all of which he had real talent. His closest friends were Flora Tristan and Alphonse Esquiros, well-known writers of the day. Within himself there was a constant struggle between early tendencies to a life of retirement and meditation, and more worldy inclinations which assailed his peace of mind and thwarted his plans. In July, 1839, yielding to his early tendencies, he went to the Benedictine monastery of Solemnes, planning to remain there permanently. He was totally disappointed in the way of life he encountered there, although his stay was productive of some good results, as he wrote there his Le Rosier de Mai (Paris: Gaume, 1839) a book of canticles and legends. He had occasion to dip into the writings of the Gnostics, the early Fathers of the Church, Cassien, and even Madame Guyon, all of whom influenced his mind very considerably. He left Solemnes with little but recommendations, and returned to Paris with no definite plan in view.

It is approximately at this time that begins the second epoch of his life, partially overlapping the first. After brief periods during which he got some work supervising studies in religious schools, he met Le Gallois, an Editor, who enthusiastically decided to publish his manuscript entitled La Bible de la Liberte, a work which he had written in a spirit of great rebelliousness and in his search for freedom from oppression. As this work was dangerous to the Church, the clerics sought to bribe him with money, to consent to stop the book's publication. They did not succeed, however, and the work was placed on sale at Versailles, on Feb. 13, 1841. An hour later, most of the copies were confiscated by the authorities and Alphone-Louis himself was arrested in early April, 1841, hailed into Court for attacking public and religious morals, and sentenced to eight months in prison and a three hundred franc fine. While in prison, he discovered the writings of Swedenborg, another mystic who exercised a very marked influence upon his mind. He was helped in prison by his friend Flora Tristan who brought him additional food.

Leaving the prison of Sainte-Pelagie in April, 1842, Alphonse-Louis began another two years of wandering and mental uncertainty. He engaged in some painting of murals, and tried for a while to reinstate himself with the clergy. Under the name of Beaucourt, he stayed at Choisy and Evreux, living there in the Seminary and distinguishing himself by his eloquence. Unfavorable publicity in the newspapers, probably due to his enemies among the clergy, ruined his stay there and he left. At this time, he was studying the writings of Lully, Agrippa and Postel, and wrote another work entitled La Mere de Dieu (Paris: Gosselin, 1844). It was in the Fall of 1844 that Alphonse-Louis forsook his clerical garb, and apparently renounced the vows he had taken.

The emotional side of his life, denied all expression through the years of strenuous religious discipline, was in a turmoil. He had an affair with a Mlle. Eugenie C. which resulted in a son born three months after he was married in a civil ceremony to Mlle. Naomi Cadiot, July 13, 1846, a girl who was considerably younger than he. This marriage lasted some seven years during which his wife was very helpful to him in various difficult circumstances. He seems to have paid no attention whatsoever to the fate of his natural son until many years later.

In 1846, he published La Voix de la famine (Paris: Ballay aine, 1846. 8vo), a work which was interpreted as instigating class warfare, and which landed him in prison again; while sentenced for one year and a fine of one thousand francs, he managed to leave after six months, mainly due to his wife's exertions.

In 1848, he founded a paper entitled la Tribune du peuple, and wrote a number of pamphlets, most of which contained very radical ideas, which of course did not help him in his rather strained circumstances. While political in nature, these pamphlets reflected a very high idealism and an inner revolt against the injustices of the times. On the side, he was doing some interior decorating of an artistic nature, was rebuilding furniture and renovating old vases. In 1850, he met the renowned Abbe Migne, and was commissioned by him to prepare for his enormous Patrological Series the Dictionnaire de litterature chretienne (Migne, 1851, 4to), which forms Vol. VII of his Nouvelle encyclopedie theologique.

In the course of his married life, he had four children, all of whom died in infancy. In 1853, his wife, infatuated by another man, ran away-a circumstance which left a deep wound in Alphonse-Louis' heart which was never entirely healed.

In the Spring of 1854 he went to London, met Bulwer-Lytton and engaged with him in some magical evocations, such as one of Apollonius of Tyana, concerning which H.P.B. writes in the present Volume. In 1855 he founded with Charles Fauvety la Revue philosophique et religieuse, a monthly which lasted some three years or so. It is at about this time of his life that Eliphas Levi-as he now signed himself-began publishing in serial installments his Dogme et Rituel de la haute magie which appeared in book form in 1856 (Paris, Germer-Bailliere). Another “subversive” piece of literature, a poem this time, landed him in prison once more, but he was pardoned by Napoleon III. In 1859 and 1861 respectively, appeared from the same publisher two other works by Eliphas Levi, namely, l'Histoire de la magie and La Clef des grands mysteres-works which brought him considerable prestige, reputation and esteem; this was a rather peaceful period in his life during which a growing number of disciples and followers, among people of power and wealth in Paris, helped him financially as well.

For a short time in 1861, he became a Freemason in the Lodge called Rose du parfait silence, but he quit on becoming disgusted with what he found therein.

He made another trip to London and most likely had a considerable influence on the studies of Bulwer-Lytton, as the latter's work, A Strange Story, definitely reflects.

In 1865, Eliphas Levi published La Science des esprits.

His wife, after some years of absence, suddenly sued him, and in January, 1865, a Civil Court annuled his marriage, as having been contracted by a cleric, this being against the laws of the land. This fact, if nothing else, goes to show that Eliphas Levi was never “defrocked,” as has been wrongly stated by a number of writers.

The period oi 1869-70 was one of creative eftort but also of failing health. Eliphas Levi had a bad heart which troubled him more and more.

In 1870, his fortunes sustained another blow on account of the Franco-Prussian War. Most of his income stopped and he was very hard up. After the Commune, in July, 1871, he went by invitation to visit his great friend, Madame Mary Gebhard, at Elbedeld, Germany, and stayed there about two months. This, of course, was before Mary Gebhard had met H.P.B., and at a time when she had found in Eliphas Levi’s works what she had been looking for. She remained his staunch disciple until his death, and used to travel to Paris once a year to see him. She received from him the original manuscript of Les Paradoxes de la Haute Science (Paradoxes of the Highest Science). By consulting Vol. VI, pp. 257-63, of the present Series, the reader will find a comprehensive exposition of the background connected with this manuscript, and how it was finally published with comments by Master K. H. Madame Gebhard contributed to the pages of The Theosophist (Vol. VIII, Jan., 1886, pp. 241-42) some brief “Personal Recollections of Eliphas Levi,” which, unfortunately give a somewhat inaccurate picture of this remarkable man.

As the years went by, Eliphas Levi continued to write and some of his unpublished MSS were copied by different people from among his immediate pupils. A number of these fragments found their way into the hands of Theosophists, probably through Baron Spedalieri, one of his pupils, and were published in English translation at various times in the early volumes of The Theosophist.

Eventually Eliphas Levi’s heart condition brought about dropsy, and he died quietly on May 31, 1875. The Catholic clergy promoted a story that he had recanted and received communion before his death-a story which has been denied by his closest friends who knew the circumstances. He was interred at the Cemetery of Ivry, but in 1881 was placed in a common grave the location of which is not known.

Three other works from the pen of Eliphas Levi were published posthumously. These are: Le Livre des Splendeurs; Le Grand Arcane (Paris: Chamuel, 1896; 2nd ed., 1921); and Le Livre des Sages (Paris: Chacornac, 1913).

Most of the chief works mentioned above have been translated at various times into foreign languages, and received world-wide distribution, so that the writings of Eliphas Levi have become very well known throughout the world.

H.P.B. had a very considerable regard for Eliphas Levi and his learning, but warned her students against accepting literally some of his teachings. According to her, he expounded “the true Hermetic Philosophy in the rather coarse language of the Jewish Seers and for the benefit of a Christian-born public”; to her he was “undoubtedly a great occultist,” but “being a charming and witty writer,” has “more mystified than taught in his many volumes on magic.” Under no circumstances did she look upon him as an initiate or a practical occultist.

For a comprehensive and rather detailed account of Eliphas Levi’s life and work, consult Paul Chacornac, Eliphas Levi: 1810-1875. Renovateur de I”occultisme en France. Paris: Chacornac Freres, 1926. xviii, 300 pp., ill.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 1, pp. 491-495

Lévi Zahed, Éliphas (pseud. of Alphonse-Louis Constant) (1810-1875). *Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie, Paris: Germer-Bail- lière, 1856, 2 vols.; 3rd ed., 1894.—*La Science des esprits, Paris, 1865. —*La Clef des grands mystères, Paris, 1861. Consult Vol. I, pp. 491-95, of the present Series for a comprehensive account of Lévi’s life and work.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 3, p. 514

Lévi Zahed, Êliphas (1810-75), pseud. of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant. *Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie. Paris: G. Baillière, 1856, 2 vols. Engl. tr. by Arthur E. Waite as Transcendental Magic, Its Doctrine and Ritual. Chicago, 1910. See Vol. I, pp. 491 et seq., for biographical sketch.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 4, p. 655

Lévi, Éliphas (1810 - 1875) — pseud, of Alphonse Louis Constant). *Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie. Paris: G. Baillière, 1856. 2 vols. English trans, by Arthur E. Waite as Transcendental Magic, Its Doctrine and Ritual. With a Biographical Preface. Chicago: Laurence, Scott and Co., 1910.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 5, p. 377

Levi, Éliphas (1810-1875)—pseud, of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant. *Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie. Paris: G. Baillière, 1856. 2 vols. English transi, by Arthur E. Waite as Transcendental Magic, Its Doctrine and Ritual. With a Biographical Preface. Chicago: 440 Laurence, Scott and Co., 1910.—*Paradoxes of the Highest Science. Transí, by A. 0. Hume, with Comments by Master K. H. (“E.O.”). Calcutta, 1883; 2nd ed. by C. Jinaräjadasa. Adyar: Theos. Publ. House, 1922.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 6, pp. 439-440

Lévi, Éliphas ( 1810?-l875); pseud. of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant. *Grimoire des sorciers. No information available.— *Le Livre des Splendeurs, Paris, 1894. Vide infra, s. v. Zohar.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 7, p. 380

Lévi, Éliphas (1810?–1875)—pseud. of the Abbé Alphonse Louis Constant. *La Science des Esprits. New ed., Paris: Félix Alcan, 1909.

Source: Boris de Zirkoff, «H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writings», vol. 8, p. 463