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For centuries, humanity has been fascinated by the supernatural, driven by the desire to gain extraordinary abilities and profound knowledge. Numerous ancient writings have focused on this pursuit, detailing intricate and enigmatic rituals believed to unlock connections with spiritual realms.
10. Greek Magical Papyri
Dating back to the second century B.C., the Greek magical papyri contain a collection of spells, rituals, and divination techniques. These texts provide guidance on summoning headless demons, unlocking gateways to the underworld, and safeguarding oneself from dangerous animals. Among the most intriguing aspects are the methods to acquire a supernatural helper, a spirit that obeys your commands.
Divination spells are the most frequently encountered in the Papyri, offering rituals to glimpse into the future. A notable section details a procedure involving an “iron lampstand,” “frankincense offerings,” and a child described as “pure and untainted.” Once the child enters a trance, visions of future events appear in the flame.
One of the Papyri’s standout sections is the Mithras Liturgy, which outlines a ritual to traverse seven celestial realms and establish communication with the god Mithras.
9. The Black Pullet
The Black Pullet, a French text from the 18th century, delves into the creation of magical talismans—objects inscribed with arcane symbols believed to grant protection and power to their bearers. Allegedly penned by an unnamed officer in Napoleon’s Army, the book claims its knowledge was passed down by a mysterious sorcerer during an Egyptian campaign.
The Pullet offers step-by-step guidance for crafting talismans using materials like bronzed steel, silk, and enchanted ink. Among its spells is one to summon a djinn, a fiery, smoke-formed being capable of bringing true love. For those with more pragmatic goals, the text also includes talismans to extract secrets from discreet individuals, peer behind closed doors, and thwart enemies conspiring against you.
The pinnacle of the book’s mystical knowledge is the acquisition of the Black Pullet—a legendary hen with the ability to locate hidden treasures.
8. Clavicula Salomonis
The Key of Solomon the King, or Clavicula Salomonis, is a medieval grimoire attributed to King Solomon, though it likely originated in the 14th or 15th century. Numerous manuscripts of this text have survived. Tales of a magical book by Solomon date back to the first century, with historian Flavius Josephus recounting how Eleazar the Jew used Solomon’s book to exorcise demons. The Arabian Nights also features stories of Solomon’s legendary ring.
The Key is not an original Jewish text, as it incorporates ancient ideas potentially rooted in early Semitic or Babylonian traditions. It likely reached Europe through Gnostic influences and later merged with kabbalistic concepts. Popularly, it is used for locating treasures and performing rituals to manipulate the will of others. The text provides methods to prevent a hunter from succeeding, achieve invisibility, or identify thieves. It also includes detailed incantations for summoning and releasing various energies.
The Divine Name’s power is prominently featured, though the work blends elements of both white and black magic. The Lemegeton (Lesser Key of Solomon) is particularly significant, with its earliest versions appearing in the 17th century. It calls upon vast legions of spirits and is divided into four sections, each designed to command different classes of supernatural entities.
7. Picatrix
The Picatrix is an ancient manuscript dedicated to astrological magic. Originally composed in Arabic under the title Ghayat Al-Hakim, it originates from the 11th century and spans an extensive 400 pages of astrological knowledge. It also contains spells and rituals aimed at harnessing the mystical energies of celestial bodies to attain power and enlightenment.
The Picatrix is particularly infamous for its disturbing magical formulas. These macabre and potentially lethal mixtures are intended to induce trance-like states and out-of-body experiences. Not suited for the timid, the recipes include ingredients like blood, bodily fluids, brain matter, and large quantities of hashish, opium, and mind-altering plants. For instance, creating a mirror to control the dead requires the foul fumes of “blood, sperm, saliva, ear wax, tears, feces, and urine.”
6. Galdrabok
The Galdrabok, a 16th-century Icelandic grimoire, is a compilation of 47 spells written by various magicians. Reflecting the magic of its time, it emphasizes the use of staves—magical runes that hold power when worn, carved, or inscribed. The Galdrabok features staves designed to win the favor of influential individuals, instill fear in adversaries, and induce sleep.
Most of the spells in the Galdrabok are “apotropaic spells,” gentle remedies aimed at safeguarding the user and curing ailments such as fatigue, childbirth complications, headaches, and sleeplessness.
Some spells are notably unusual. Spell 46, humorously named “Fart Runes,” is a stave intended to afflict an enemy with “severe flatulence... causing endless discomfort.” Others are more malicious. For instance, Spell 27, when inscribed on someone’s food, induces illness and loss of appetite, while Stave 30 is crafted to kill another person’s livestock. Additional staves serve to ward off intruders, catch thieves, and ensure success in legal disputes.
5. Arbatel De Magia Veterum
Written in the late 16th century by an anonymous author, the Arbatel de Magia Veterum serves as a detailed guide to spiritual wisdom and aphorisms. Resembling a mystical self-help manual, it emphasizes Christian virtues, productivity, optimism, and the ethical use of magic. Its teachings include advice like “live for yourself and the Muses; avoid the crowd” and “shun earthly distractions; pursue divine matters.”
The Arbatel outlines rituals to summon the seven celestial governors and their armies, who oversee the realms of the cosmos. These governors include Bethel, known for miraculous cures, Phalec, who grants victory in battle, and Aratron, who “causes men to grow hair.” However, only those “born with a natural affinity for magic” can perform these rituals, as the Arbatel cautions that others are mere pretenders without true power.
Beyond angels and archangels, the Arbatel introduces a variety of elemental spirits dwelling beyond the physical world. These include pygmies, nymphs, dryads, sylphs (tiny woodland beings), and sagani (elemental spirits tied to natural forces).
4. Ars Notoria
Dating back to the 13th century, the Ars Notoria is a Solomonic grimoire that diverges from traditional spellbooks. Instead of spells or potions, it focuses on enhancing knowledge, mastering memory, and gaining deep understanding of complex texts.
The Ars Notoria offers a path to mastering the liberal arts—such as geometry, arithmetic, and philosophy—through a rigorous daily practice of visualization, meditation, and prayers. These prayers are designed to petition God for intellectual blessings, including eloquence, heightened perception, profound wisdom, and a flawless memory.
Focused on enlightenment, the Ars Notoria avoids the darker elements of magic. However, its intentions were questioned by some, including the 14th-century monk John of Morigny. After devoutly following its teachings, he experienced disturbing visions, which he later attributed to demonic influence. He documented these warnings in his own mystical work, the Liber Visonum, cautioning others about the potential dangers of the Ars Notoria.
3. The Book of Abramelin the Mage
Authored in the 15th century, the Book of Abramelin the Mage stands as one of the most significant mystical texts in history. It was penned by Abraham von Worms, a Jewish traveler who allegedly met the mysterious magician Abramelin during a journey to Egypt. In exchange for 10 florins and a vow of piety, Abramelin bestowed this magical manuscript upon Abraham, who later passed it down to his son Lamech.
Abramelin’s ritual, known as “the operation,” is a demanding process. It requires 18 months of prayer and purification, suitable only for healthy men aged 25 to 50. Women are generally advised against attempting it due to their “curiosity and talkativeness,” though virgins may be an exception. If followed with strict discipline and devotion, the ritual connects you with your Holy Guardian Angel, granting abilities such as necromancy, divination, foresight, weather control, uncovering secrets, foreseeing the future, and unlocking doors.
The book emphasizes the use of magic squares—puzzle-like arrangements of words imbued with mystical properties. Similar to the Icelandic staves in the Galdrabok, these squares hold occult power when inscribed. For instance, writing “MILON” on parchment and placing it above the head reveals past and future secrets, while “SINAH” incites conflict. The author cautions that some squares, like “CASED,” are too dangerous to use.
This text deeply influenced the renowned occultist Aleister Crowley, who reported supernatural experiences after performing the ritual. It also impacted the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a 19th-century British magical group. Crowley later integrated its teachings into his own magical system.
2. Sworn Book of Honorius
Also referred to as the Liber Juratus Honorii, the Sworn Book of Honorius is a medieval grimoire and a defense of ritual magic, allegedly authored by Honorius of Thebes, a shadowy and possibly mythical figure whose identity remains unknown. The book opens with a fierce critique of the Catholic Church, accusing it of corruption by the devil, who aims to deprive humanity of magic’s benefits.
The Sworn Book imposes strict requirements on its followers. Only three copies may exist, owners must ensure the book is passed to a worthy successor or buried with them, and practitioners must “completely avoid the company of women.”
Similar to other grimoires, its rituals center on summoning angels, demons, and spirits to acquire knowledge and power. Through lengthy incantations, the practitioner is promised extraordinary abilities, ranging from the spectacular (causing floods and toppling kingdoms) to the unsettling (viewing purgatory and knowing one’s death hour). It also includes darker spells to “inflict illness on anyone,” “create discord and conflict,” and “cause death at will.”
1. Pseudomonarchia Daedonum
Authored by the renowned 16th-century physician and demonologist Johann Weyer, the Pseudomonarchia Daedonum was heavily influenced by his mentor, the celebrated German occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa. It serves as an appendix to Weyer’s groundbreaking work, Praestigiis Daemonum, which opposes the persecution of witchcraft and was praised by Sigmund Freud as one of history’s most significant books.
The Pseudomonarchia Daedonum is a detailed list of 69 high-ranking demons, their unique abilities, and the methods to summon them. For instance, Naberius, a marquess appearing as a crow, grants charm and artistic skill. Foras, a president, helps recover lost items and uncover hidden treasures. Other notable demons include Haagenti, who transforms water into wine, Shax, who steals horses and deprives people of sight and hearing, and Eligos, who can predict the outcomes of wars and the destinies of soldiers.
Despite his fascination with demons, Weyer was a committed Christian who approached summoning these spirits with extreme caution. He deliberately left out critical ritual details and cautioned readers of the Pseudomonarchia against engaging in what he called a “foolish endeavor.”
