The Great Secret Or Occultism Unveiled
📘 About This Book
The Great Secret completes a trilogy of books by Eliphas Levi published in his "Studies in Hermetic Tradition" series, the two previous volumes being The Book of Splendours and The Mysteries of the Qabalah. Taken together these writings represent a fitting memorial to one who "has been both the keeper of the hermetic tradition and the absolute renovator of esoteric thinking in Europe in the 19th century". "You will be as gods, knowing good and evil". So concludes what Eliphas Levi considered to be his last testament, his most important and final treatise, and a summation of his esoteric philosophy. This volume is the conclusion of the work he started with Book One, The Hieratic Mystery or the Traditional Documents of High Initiation, published as The Book of Splendours (Weiser, 1984). The Great Secret contains his final two works: Book Two, The Royal Mystery or Art of Subduing the Powers, in which Levi discusses such topics as Evil, the Outer Darkness, the Great Secret, Magical Sacrifice, Evocations, the Arcana of Solomon's Ring, and the Terrible Secret. Book Three, The Sacerdotal Mystery or the Art of Being Served by Spirits, covers Aberrant Forces, the Chaining of the Devil, Sacred and Accursed Rites, Divination, Dark Intelligence, and the Great Arcanum.
📖 Summary
The Great Secret Or Occultism Unveiled serves as the culmination and final testament of Eliphas Levi, a towering figure known as the keeper of the hermetic tradition and the absolute renovator of esoteric thinking in 19th-century Europe. Published in the year 2000 across 204 pages, this work brings to a close a profound trilogy within the Studies in Hermetic Tradition series, following its predecessor volumes, The Book of Splendours and The Mysteries of the Qabalah. As the final treatise of Levi's life, the book acts as a comprehensive summation of his intricate esoteric philosophy, pulling together threads of high initiation, ancient wisdom, and mystical exploration. The core of the volume represents the ultimate conclusion to the expansive work Levi began with Book One, known as The Hieratic Mystery or the Traditional Documents of High Initiation. Throughout the text, readers are drawn into the deeper realms of occultism, where the boundaries between the known and the unknown, the sacred and the profane, begin to dissolve under the weight of centuries-old hermetic traditions. Levi approaches his subject matter with the authority of a master initiator, guiding the reader through the labyrinth of esoteric knowledge that has fascinated seekers for generations. The book famously concludes with the evocative declaration, You will be as gods, knowing good and evil, encapsulating the ultimate ambition and potential realization of the esoteric path as envisioned by the author. By uniting the various branches of his magical and philosophical teachings, Levi creates a fitting memorial to a lifetime of mystical inquiry. The text challenges conventional modes of thought, urging those who study its pages to look beyond surface appearances and engage with the underlying spiritual architecture of the universe. It is a work designed not merely to be read, but to be deeply contemplated, offering a window into the mind of a visionary who reshaped modern occultism and left behind a lasting blueprint for spiritual awakening and high initiation.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Serves as the definitive final testament and summation of Eliphas Levi's esoteric philosophy.
Completes an important trilogy within the Studies in Hermetic Tradition series.
Offers deep insights into high initiation and traditional occult documents.
Written by a recognized renovator of 19th-century European esoteric thinking.
⚠️ Cons
May be difficult to fully comprehend without reading the earlier volumes in the trilogy first.
Contains dense esoteric concepts that require significant prior knowledge of hermeticism.
❓ FAQ
What is the publication year of this edition? +
This edition of the book was published in the year 2000.
How many pages are in the book? +
The book contains 204 pages.
Who is the author of the book? +
The author is Eliphas Levi.
What series does this book belong to? +
It belongs to the Studies in Hermetic Tradition series and completes a trilogy.
What are the previous volumes in the trilogy? +
The two previous volumes are The Book of Splendours and The Mysteries of the Qabalah.
