Books on demons

Suggested Books for Working with Demons & Spirits

These are some of the more widely used and respected books among people who actually practice this work:

Our Top Choice

If your question is, “What book do we recommend for you to easily understand how you can get into the path of summoning a demon through a modern method?” then Connolly is the number one choice. She has dedicated a lot of time and effort into creating a whole range of books for the modern left-hand path practitioner to jump straight in without a lot of prior reading and without a lot of expensive collecting the typical old-school ceremonial magic tools that you would once have needed to be successful. 

Corwin’s book on Goetia path working is also excellent. We love path working anyways, so it totally makes sense to use this method. The number one reason why we’re recommending it is because the author knows what they are talking about. 

 

1. The Complete Book of Demonolatry Paperback – April 15, 2008
   by S. Connolly— one of the most practical modern introductions to working with demons respectfully rather than through the old “command and constrain” model
2. Goetia Pathworking: Magickal Results from The 72 Demons 
   by Corwin Hargrove
3. Demons of Magick: Three Practical Rituals for Working with The 72 Demons Kindle Edition by Gordon Winterfield
4. Daemonolatry Goetia by S. Connolly — specifically adapts the Goetia to a more relational, less antagonistic approach
5. The Daemonolater’s Guide to Daemonic Magick
   by Connolly again
6. Rites of Astaroth
   by Independently published

Practical Modern Approaches

• Consorting with Spirits by Jason Miller — excellent broader guide to building relationships with spirits in general (not limited to the Goetia). we added this to the list because other people recommended this book, and if you love it too, let us know.

Useful Supporting Texts

• The Dictionary of Demons by Michelle Belanger — good reference for names, attributes, and history
• Stellas Daemonum by David Crowhurst — deeper look at the astrological and historical side of the spirits

Foundational / Traditional

if you’re into the heavier, more academic writings within this field, then grab everything Skinner has written.

• The Lesser Key of Solomon (especially the Joseph H. Peterson edition) — the classic source for the 72 spirits of the Goetia
• The Goetia of Dr. Rudd (Stephen Skinner & David Rankine) — a more complete and carefully annotated version that includes important material missing from many popular editions

Suggested Reference Books on Demons 

You should have at least one of these reference books on hand. Not only will you learn more about the demon you are interested in working with, but you will expand your knowledge and learn about other entities. Plus, imagine if the internet vanished one night! You may need to hit the books again! 

The Encyclopedia Of Witchcraft & Demonology
by Rossell Hope Robbins

The Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology

The Dictionary of Demons: Names of the Damned

 

Traditional Books in Demonology

I add these books here, more for the occultist who desires to collect such manuals. The language and rituals are heavy, and we have many other modern manuals to assist us.  I believe that if you start your studies reading such heavy books, you will feel overwhelmed and/or disinterested. 

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The Book of Abramelin, possibly written in the 14th or 15th century, lists four princes of the demons: Lucifer, Leviathan, Satan and Belial. There are also eight sub-princes: Astaroth, Maggot, Asmodee, Beelzebub, Oriens, Paimon, Ariton (gin) and Amaymon. Under the rule of these there are many lesser demons.

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 Le Dragon Rouge (or Grand Grimoire)

Like many works of mystical nature, Le Dragon Rouge (or the Red Dragon) claims to come from Solomon and his priests and is said to be published in 1517 by Alibeck the Egyptian. However, it was most likely written in France in the 18th century.

The grimoire details the different hosts of hell and their powers, describing how to enter a pact with them to attain the magicians’ goals. The demons of hell are classified by three different tiers from Generals to Officers

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Pseudomonarchia Daemonum, by Johann Weyer, is a grimoire that contains a list of demons and the appropriate hours and rituals to conjure them in the name of God, Jesus and the Holy Ghost (simpler than those cited by The Lesser Key of Solomon below). This book was written around 1583, and lists sixty-eight demons. The demons Vassago, Seir, Dantalion and Andromalius are not listed in this book. Pseudomonarchia Daemonum does not attribute seals to the demons

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 The Lesser Key of Solomon –

The Lesser Key of Solomon or Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis is an anonymous 17th century grimoire, and one of the most popular books of demonology. The Lesser Key of Solomon contains detailed descriptions of spirits and the conjurations needed to invoke and oblige them to do the will of the conjurer (referred to as the “exorcist”). It details the protective signs and rituals to be performed, the actions necessary to prevent the spirits from gaining control, the preparations prior to the invocations, and instructions on how to make the necessary instruments for the execution of these rituals.

NOTE – The author of The Lesser Key of Solomon copied Pseudomonarchia Daemonum almost completely, but added demons’ descriptions, their seals and details.

 The Ars Goetia

Ars Goetia is the first section of The Lesser Key of Solomon (the above book), containing descriptions of the seventy-two demons that King Solomon is said to have evoked and confined in a bronze vessel sealed by magic symbols, and that he obliged to work for him.
The Ars Goetia assigns a rank and a title of nobility to each member of the infernal hierarchy, and gives the demons “signs they have to pay allegiance to”, or seals.

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Goetia 

The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King: Lemegeton – Clavicula Salomonis Regis, Book 1

Provides a clear and detailed account of the preparations and precautions necessary for the successful evocation of its 72 spirits, which are described in detail.

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The magus

Francis Barrett, in his book The magus (1801), offered this classification of demons, making them princes of some evil attitude, person or thing:
•    Beelzebub: False Gods – idolaters
•    Pythius: Spirits of Lying – liars
•    Belial: Vessels of Iniquity – inventors of evil things
•    Asmodeus: Revengers of Wickedness
•    Satan: Imitators of Miracles – evil witches and warlocks
•    Merihem: Aerial Powers – purveyors of pestilence
•    Abaddon: Furies – sowers of discord
•    Astaroth: Calumniators – inquisitors and fraudulent accusers
•    Mammon: Maligenii – tempters and ensnarers

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 Dictionnaire Infernal

The Dictionnaire Infernal (English: Infernal Dictionary) is a book on demonology, organised in hellish hierarchies. It was written by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy and first published in 1818. There were several editions of the book, but perhaps the most famous is the edition of 1863, in which sixty-nine illustrations were added to the book. These illustrations are drawings which depict the descriptions of the appearance of a number of demons.