A composer, musician, Freemason, and notable esotericist, he studied in

Paris with the Jesuits, never losing his Christian roots, and specialized in

Oriental languages.

His mastery of Latin and Greek allowed him to translate difficult Hermetic

treatises, such as the works of Paracelsus, Postel, John Dee, and Thomas

Aquinas, among others.

A personal friend of René Guénon, Huysmans, and René Philipon, he

possessed a considerable personal fortune, which enabled him to publish

the works and translations of Grillot de Givry, including a treatise on

Christian Kabbalah.

His alchemical book, "The Great Work," published in 1906 and divided

into twelve meditations, is a valuable treatise on High Magic, containing

in a condensed form everything necessary for achieving the Great Work.

As it demonstrates, this achievement cannot be attained solely through

intellect and reasoning. It quickly becomes absurd and incomprehensible

if interpreted solely from a purely epistemological, and even more so,

sterile perspective.

Nor can it be understood through blind faith in the mechanical practice of

the alchemical process. This is the High Art, a mental alchemy, and can

only be achieved through profound meditation and reason, through

regular, constant, and humble work, reading, going back, and rereading

each phrase, for the keys are revealed subtly and clearly at the same

time.

Subtle because some are veiled by ancient, traditional alchemical

phraseology, but others, perhaps to avoid discouraging the disciple, are

completely unveiled, and as sometimes happens, the more visible it is,

the less seen it becomes.

Grillot published The Great Work on Epiphany, and it is on Easter Sunday

that the Work is most visible.

EMILE JULES GRILLOT DE GIVRY (1874-1929)