Eliphas Lévi was a French occultist, ceremonial magician and author who also had a significant influence on the development of the symbolism and interpretation of tarot cards in the 19th century. He wrote several books on the subject, including "Dogme et Rituel de la Haute Magie" (Dogmas and Rituals of High Magic), where he outlined his ideas about the tarot's symbolic and spiritual meanings.
Lévi believed that the tarot was a symbolic representation of the secrets of the universe, and that it could be used as a tool for spiritual development and self-discovery. He developed a system for interpreting the tarot in which each card was associated with specific meanings and correspondences, such as astrological signs and numerology. He also believed that the tarot had a connection to the Kabbalah, a Jewish mystical tradition.
Lévi's ideas about the tarot helped to establish the cards as a powerful tool for personal and spiritual growth, and his theories about the cards' symbolic and spiritual meanings influenced the way many occultists and mystics of the time used and interpreted the tarot.
Lévi's work on the tarot also had a significant impact on the way the cards were designed. His ideas about the symbolism and correspondences associated with each card led to the creation of tarot decks that feature rich and evocative imagery, which helped to further establish the tarot as a powerful tool for divination and personal development.
It's worth noting that Lévi's ideas about the tarot, like Gébelin's, were not based on historical research and it's uncertain if the tarot deck was used as tool for divination before the 18th century. Despite this, Lévi's ideas about the tarot's symbolic meanings and correspondences have been influential in shaping the way tarot is understood and used today.
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