Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic
Jesod
Lévi names Jesod the Foundation and identifies it with the absolute of philosophy. It provides a basis for the truth and belief organised in his scale. The four nines become foundations supporting a great white throne, turning the philosophical term into an architectural image.
Also known as Yesod
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In the sources
Principal account
InterpretationLévi names Jesod the Foundation and identifies it with the absolute of philosophy. It provides a basis for the truth and belief organised in his scale.
Further detail
InterpretationThe four nines become foundations supporting a great white throne, turning the philosophical term into an architectural image.
Context & interpretation
This entry follows Lévi’s argument in Waite’s English translation. The selected evidence concerns the definition and its Tarot correspondence in this particular text. The correspondences are attributed to this occult synthesis rather than presented as a universal account of every earlier tradition.
Original passages
Source 1
Transcendental Magic
Jesod. The FoundationOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic; active reader leaf 123
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0026-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0026-E001-P0123
- Original scan leaf
- 123
- Recorded leaf number
- 123
- Current Reader position
- 117
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Source 2
Transcendental Magic
The four NinesOpen this page in the book
Passage & edition details
Location recorded at citation review: Éliphas Lévi, Transcendental Magic; active reader leaf 127
Exact passage checked against active scan text and original-leaf mapping; scan line breaks normalised.
- Edition
- IMJ-0026-E001
- Reader page
- IMJ-0026-E001-P0127
- Original scan leaf
- 127
- Recorded leaf number
- 127
- Current Reader position
- 121
- Reader verification
- Source-preserving update confirmed
Continue exploring
Binah
Active Intelligence in Lévi’s symbolic scale, balanced by Wisdom and associated with the four Tarot threes.
Shared source pageChesed
Mercy in Lévi’s symbolic scale: benevolent strength expressed through the benefactions of the four Tarot fours.
Shared source pageChochmah
Wisdom in Lévi’s symbolic scale, represented by four rivers and associated with the Tarot’s numbered twos.
Shared source pageGeburah
Austerity in Lévi’s symbolic scale, joining severity with goodwill and the justice represented by the Tarot fives.