Neither essay on magic would be complete without mentioning the famous popularizer Magic Eliphas Levi (real name - Alphonse Louis Constant), who was born in Paris on February 8, 1810 in the family of a shoemaker.
Already in his early youth Alphonse Louis was interested in magic and the occult.Parallel Louis Constant decided to become a priest.
However, Constant spiritual career was short-lived because of his left-wing political views and failure to comply with celibacy mandatory for Catholic clergy.In 1836, Louis Constant in love with a young girl Adele Allenby, was forced to admit it to his spiritual superiors, because of what has not been initiated into the higher priesthood.This drama resulted in a tragedy - the suicide of his mother, deeply disappointed act son, from whom she was expecting so much.
Once in Paris, Louis Constant became interested in the theories of an eccentric old man named Hanno (also called Mapa), who called himself a prophet, and the reincarnation of King Louis XVII.Hanno wife claimed that she is the reincarnation of Queen Marie-Antoinette.
Introduction to Mapa greatly influenced the future outlook of the magician and the impetus for the writing of his first book, "The Bible of Freedom."The content of this work was so revolutionary that for the publication of his in 1841, he received eight months in prison and a fine of 300 francs.Even in prison, Louis Constant became interested in the writings of mystics and occultists.At the end of 1844, he announced his final break with Catholicism.During his lifetime, Louis Constant had to serve a prison term of three small - just in time for the publication of articles on political and religious subjects.
In 1846, Constant was married with a young Noemi Kado (she was no more than 18 years).Noemi was not only a true friend of Alphonse-Louis in the next seven years, but also a brilliant journalist and a sculptor.Unfortunately, all the children of this couple died in infancy.In 1853, he fascinated by Noemi others and left her husband.
real passion for magic was awakened in him a meeting with Polish occultist John. Hoen, M. Vronsky (1776-1853), who believed that ritual magic can bring a person to a semi-divine status.In addition, in the words of Levy, a considerable influence on him had the book "Magician" Englishman Francis Barrett, who lived at the turn of the XVIII and XIX centuries.
In 1854 Louis Constant went to England, where he became acquainted with the writer Bulwer-Lytton, was also interested in esoteric matters.They both became members of an occult group, which is likely to organized Bulwer-Lytton, where he studied and astral vision, magic, astrology, and hypnosis.
In London, at the request of a friend Bulwer Lytton, Louis Constant spent evoking the spirit of the magician Apollonius of Tyana, who lived in the I century.Then Louis Constant took a magical name Eliphas Levi Zahedi.At that time he was living at the expense of the lessons of magic and publication of his works.
remains unclear, did Eliphas Levi in any esoteric societies.According to some reports, in 1861, he joined the French Masonic lodge, but soon became disillusioned, left her.However, modern Freemasons deny this information.It is alleged that Levi was devoted to some esoteric society from which he was expelled for divulging secrets.Perhaps it is about the magical society in which Levi entered with Bulwer-Lytton.
In the last years of his life Levy was living at the expense of its publication occult works and material assistance because many students.
Eliphas Levi died of dropsy usual May 31, 1875.
Articles Source: oto.ru
