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Éliphas Lévi, born Alphonse Louis Constant (1810-1875), was a French occult author and a seminal figure in the revival of Western esotericism. He is widely recognized for his influential work in the field of magic and the occult, intertwining Catholicism with the ceremonial magic and Kabbalistic traditions. A former Roman Catholic priest who later delved into the study of hermeticism, alchemy, and the tarot, Lévi is perhaps best known for his book 'Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual' (1856), which became a cornerstone text for modern occult philosophy and practice. Lévi's writings and his reinterpretations of the tarot as a book of ancient esoteric wisdom contributed significantly to the esoteric tarot movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His literary style is characterized by a blend of scholarly research, accessible prose, and an attempt to reconcile religious thought with occultism. Lévi's work provided a structured synthesis of magical thought, heavily influencing the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and later figures in the esoteric tradition, including Aleister Crowley and Arthur Edward Waite. Through his comprehensive approach to esoteric knowledge, Lévi became a key figure in shaping the modern Western magical tradition.
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