Eliphas Levi and the Summoning of the Dead

The essence of this chapter in our website is to show how intense dedication needs to be to really bring an insight. For this tremendous willpower is needed. Levi stands out as a individual with such tremendous willpower. Understand the essence of this chapter and be inspired. Look for the same intensity in your spiritual work.

One of the most dramatic instances of mirror scrying during the occult revival of the nineteenth century was conducted by Eliphas Levi, a key figure in modern Western esotericism. (Eliphas Lévi (born Alphonse Louis Constant) was born on February 8, 1810, and passed away on May 31, 1875.)

Levi, often referred to as “the last of the magi,” is credited with popularizing the term “occult” and introducing the concept of “astral light.” His interest in the mystical arts led him to conduct an elaborate ritual to summon the spirit of Apollonius of Tyana, a renowned first-century magician and philosopher. This experience left a profound and lasting impact on him.

Born Alphonse Louis Constant in Paris, Levi was raised in a poor household but received a Catholic education at St. Sulpice. However, his questioning of Catholic doctrine led to his expulsion. After the dissolution of his seven-year marriage, Levi turned to the study of the occult, immersing himself in the teachings of Kabbalah, alchemy, and the Tarot. His work aligned the 22 Major Arcana cards with the 22 paths of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, a connection that has since become fundamental in Western esoteric traditions.

Levi’s most influential writings include Transcendental Magic (1860), The History of Magic, The Mysteries of the Qabalah, The Great Secret, and The Book of Splendours. His ideas heavily influenced the members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the most significant magical society of the late nineteenth century.

In the spring of 1854, Levi traveled to London and encountered a mysterious woman adept in the occult. She invited him to her apartment, where she showed him a fully equipped magical cabinet and asked him to perform an evocation of Apollonius of Tyana. Accepting the challenge, Levi underwent a rigorous 21-day preparation, abstaining from meat for two weeks and fasting for an additional seven days. During this period, he meditated intensely upon the spirit of Apollonius.

Levi meticulously prepared the chamber for the ritual, arranging four concave mirrors in a turret, with an altar of white marble encircled by a magnetized iron chain. A pentagram, a crucial symbol in ceremonial magic, was carved into the marble and drawn in various colors on a white lambskin placed beneath the altar. The ritual itself involved chafing dishes filled with alder and laurel wood charcoal, a white ceremonial robe, and a crown of vervain leaves intertwined with a golden chain.

As described in Transcendental Magic (1865), Levi’s ritual extended over twelve hours. He recited evocations in a voice that gradually rose in intensity. The atmosphere became charged with energy; he felt the earth tremble, his heart raced, and his senses heightened. He continued the ritual by adding more incense to the flames, at which point he saw the form of a man materializing before the altar. The vision dissolved before he could speak to it.

Attempting a second evocation, Levi stood within a magical circle and invoked Apollonius three times. This time, a form emerged in the mirror behind the altar, growing more distinct with each invocation. A spectral figure, wrapped in a greyish-white shroud, appeared before him. Overwhelmed by a chilling sensation, Levi attempted to question the entity but found himself unable to speak. When he placed his hand on the pentagram and pointed his sword at the apparition, it momentarily disappeared but soon returned. At that moment, he felt an intense weakness, his limbs lost strength, and he collapsed into a deep trance.

Upon awakening, Levi found that his arm remained numb for several days, a lingering effect of his interaction with the spirit. Though the entity did not verbally communicate, Levi experienced inner revelations that he attributed to the spirit’s influence. When the adept who had invited him to perform the ritual asked about the fate of a certain man, an internal voice within Levi simply replied, “Death.” He also sought answers regarding the reconciliation of two individuals in his life, and again, the same voice answered, “Dead.”

This experience transformed Levi. He later wrote that he no longer felt joy or sorrow as he once had—something from the “other world” had passed into him. Though he never conclusively determined whether he had truly summoned Apollonius, he could not deny the powerful phenomena that had taken place. He repeated the experiment twice more, spacing them out over several days. The results were similar each time, leading him to claim that he had discovered two profound Kabbalistic secrets—secrets he believed could change the laws of society if revealed to the world. However, he never disclosed their nature.

Levi’s writings emphasize that two principles are necessary for acquiring true magical power: the liberation of the will from all servitude and the disciplined exercise of that will. In other words, a magician must not be enslaved by societal, religious, or institutional constraints and must wield their power with responsibility and intent. This concept remains fundamental in modern esoteric and magical practices.

Eliphas Levi’s work continues to be influential, particularly among students of Western esotericism. His system of ceremonial magic, the synthesis of Kabbalah and Tarot, and his detailed accounts of mirror scrying have shaped the practices of generations of occultists. The ritual he performed in London stands as one of the most famous historical accounts of black mirror scrying, illustrating the power and risks associated with communicating with the unseen. Shunyam Adhibhu

Levi’s work and inspiration:

Levi, E. (1860). Transcendental Magic: Its Doctrine and Ritual. Translated by A. E. Waite.

Levi, E. (1865). The History of Magic.

Levi, E. (1896). The Mysteries of the Qabalah.

Swedenborg, E. (1758). Heaven and Hell.

Waite, A. E. (1896). The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic.

Westcott, W. W. (1893). The Kabbalah Unveiled.