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| {{Short description|none}} | |||
| {{Unreferenced|date=November 2007}} | |||
| {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} | |||
| Occultism is one form of ].{{efn|While all occultists are mystics, not all mystics are occultists.}} This list comprises and encompasses people, both contemporary and historical, who are or were professionally or otherwise notably involved in ] practices, including ]s, ]s, some ],{{efn|Specifically practitioners of ] and ]}} ], ]s, ], and practitioners some forms of ], especially ]. People who were or are merely believers of occult practices should not be included unless they played a leading or otherwise significant part in the practice of occultism. | |||
| {{Dynamic list}} | |||
| ==Antiquity== | |||
| '''List of notable ]s and ]s'''. | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism prior to the ]'' | |||
| ] | |||
| This is a list of notable people, whether contemporary, historical or legendary, who are or were involved in any of the following practices and traditions: | |||
| * {{anli|Agathodaemon (alchemist)|Agathodaemon}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Apsethus the Libyan}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Ante-Nicene Christian Library: Hippolytus, Bishop of Rome, v. 1 (1868)|first=Sir James|last= Donaldson|author-link=James Donaldson (classical scholar)|page=197|publisher=Princeton University}}</ref> | |||
| *], ']' or 'white' | |||
| * {{anli|Atomus}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Chu Fu}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Chymes}} | |||
| *]ry | |||
| * {{anli|Cleopatra the Alchemist}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] — 4th-century sorcerer from Antioch<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.dirgemag.com/saint-cyprian-patron-saint-dark-magic/|title=Meet Saint Cyprian, Patron Saint of Dark Magic {{!}} Dirge Magazine|last=Wilhelm|first=Cooper B.|date=17 December 2016|work=Dirge Magazine|access-date=13 January 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Elymas}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biblehub.com/acts/13-8.htm|title=Acts 13_8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith.|accessdate=28 May 2015}}</ref> | |||
| *practical ] | |||
| * {{anli|Epigenes of Byzantium}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Fang (alchemist)|Fang}} | |||
| *] and ] | |||
| * {{anli|Gan De}} | |||
| *] | |||
| * {{anli|Hermes Trismegistus}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zdSAAgAAQBAJ|page=19|publisher=Routledge|first=Frances|last=Yates|isbn = 9781134524419|date = 27 August 2003}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Iamblichus (philosopher)|Iamblichus}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Occult World|page=64|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RlC2BQAAQBAJ|publisher=Routledge|first=Christopher|last=Partridge|isbn=9781317596752|date=5 December 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Jannes and Jambres}} | |||
| * {{anli|Historical Jesus|Jesus}}{{efn|The idea that ] was a ] was first voiced by the philosopher and critic ] ('']'', c. 200 CE) as we know from the rebuttal written by the Christian scholar ]: "It was by magic that he was able to do the miracles" ('']'' 1.6). {{harvp|Betz|1994}} observes that "from early on even ] was implicated in that he was said to be mad or a magician possessed by Satan", and ] writes in his translation of {{harvp|Celsus|1987}} that it is well attested that "the early Christian mission was advanced by the use of magic."}} | |||
| * {{anli|Julian (emperor)|Julian}} | |||
| * {{anli|Mary the Jewess}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of the Occult|first=Harry E.|last= Wedeck|author-link=Harry E. Wedeck|year=2009|page=70}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Menander (Gnostic)|Menander}} | |||
| * {{anli|Moses}}<ref>{{cite book |first=Gary A. |last=Rendsburg |chapter=Moses the Magician |editor-first=T. E. |editor-last=Levy |display-editors=etal |title=Israel’s Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective |series=Quantitative Methods in the Humanities and Social Sciences |doi=10.1007/978-3-319-04768-3_18 |chapter-url=https://jewishstudies.rutgers.edu/docman/faculty-seminars/678-moses-the-magician/file |pages=243–258 |via=Rutgers.edu}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Moses of Alexandria}} | |||
| * {{anli|Nigidius Figulus}} | |||
| * {{anli|Ostanes}} | |||
| * {{anli|Paphnutia the Virgin}} | |||
| * {{anli|Pseudo-Aristotle}} | |||
| * {{anli|Pseudo-Democritus}} | |||
| * {{anli|Ptolemy}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookofthemoon.com/magic.htm|title=The Book of the Moon - Magic. The Occult, Astrology, Alchemy, Prophecy, Fortune Telling, Spells and Superstition|accessdate=28 May 2015}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Pythagoras}}<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| * {{anli|Shi Shen}} | |||
| * {{anli|Sima Qian}} | |||
| * {{anli|Sima Tan}} | |||
| * {{anli|Simon Magus}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gnosis.org/library/grs-mead/grsm_simon_magus.htm |title=Simon Magus |first=G. R. S. |last=Mead |website=gnosis.org |language=en |access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Library.sr/CT/BQA/k/153/Who-Was-Simon-Magus-Acts-89-24.htm|title=Who Was Simon Magus (Acts 8:9-24)?|website=www.cgg.org|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Synesius}} | |||
| * {{anli|Theoris of Lemnos}} | |||
| * {{anli|Wei Boyang}} | |||
| * {{anli|Witch of Endor}} | |||
| * {{anli|Xu Fu}} | |||
| * {{anli|Zhang Jue}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Historical Dictionary of Medieval China|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|first=Victor|last=Xiong|page=488}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Zhongli Chun}} | |||
| * ] – Founder of ], reputed inventor of ] and ] ({{circa|1000 BC}}) in legend | |||
| * {{anli|Zosimos of Panopolis}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Precipitations: Contemporary American Poetry as Occult Practice|page=13|first=Devin|last=Johnston|publisher=Wesleyan University Press|year=2002}}</ref> | |||
| ==Middle Ages== | |||
| Since this subject has attracted hoaxes, folklore, and tall tales, the inclusion of historical persons is limited based on considerations of accepted historical fact - a restriction which obviously does not apply to legendary or mythological figures. | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the ] (circa 500–1500)'' | |||
| ] (1352), Chapter hall of convent of St. Nicholas, ], Italy|thumb|right]] | |||
| For a list of sleight of hand artists and practitioners of ], see: ]. | |||
| * ] – Egyptian sage (c. 1362–1458)<ref>{{cite book|title=Vampire Nation|page=210|publisher=Llewellyn Worldwide|first=Arlene|last=Russo}}</ref> | |||
| ==Famous magicians== | |||
| * {{anli|Albertus Magnus}} | |||
| * {{anli|Roger Bacon}} | |||
| * {{anli|Roger Bolingbroke}}<ref>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of the Occult|page=89|publisher=Wildside Press LLC|first=Harry|last= Wedeck}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Gentile Budrioli}} | |||
| * {{anli|Johannes Lauratius de Fundis}} | |||
| * ] – Italian astrologer and translator of the '']'' (1433–1499)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Occult World|page=55|publisher=Routledge|year=2014}}</ref> | |||
| * {{anli|Nicolas Flamel}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The occult|page=132|publisher=Houghton Mifflin|year=1991}}</ref><ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| * {{anli|Jabir ibn Hayyan|Jābir ibn Hayyān}} | |||
| * {{anli|John of Nottingham}} | |||
| * {{anli|Judah Loew ben Bezalel}}, reputed to have practiced ] | |||
| * {{anli|Myrddin Wyllt}} | |||
| * {{anli|Giovanni Pico della Mirandola}} | |||
| * {{anli|Pietro d'Abano}} | |||
| * ] – Anonymous author(s) of works falsely attributed to Solomon | |||
| * {{anli|Michael Scot}}<ref>{{cite book|title=The Dante Encyclopedia|page=770|publisher=Routledge|first=Richard|last=Lansing}}</ref> | |||
| ==16th century== | |||
| Some historical or ]ary magicians, ]s, ]es, or people who have been claimed to be so, are: | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 16th century'' | |||
| ]'']] | |||
| ===Classical mythology=== | |||
| * ] (1486–1535), occult philosopher, astrologer | |||
| *], ] | |||
| * ] (1548–1600),<ref>{{cite book|title=Modern Occult Rhetoric: Mass Media and the Drama of Secrecy in the Twentieth Century|year=2005|url=https://archive.org/details/modernoccultrhet00gunn|url-access=limited|pages=, 267|publisher=University of Alabama Press|first=Joshua|last=Gunn}}</ref> occult philosopher | |||
| *], legendary sorceress | |||
| * ] ('']'' 1571–1615), Italian astrologer and occultist | |||
| *], goddess of witchcraft | |||
| * ] (1527–1608), occult philosopher, mathematician, alchemist, queen Elizabeth's advisor<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| *], legendary sorceress | |||
| * ] (1555–1597), spirit medium and alchemist who worked with John Dee, founder of ]<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| *], semi-legendary queen and sorceress | |||
| * ] (1545–1628), astrologer to ] | |||
| * ] (1503–1566),<ref>{{cite book|title=The Kingdom of the Occult|page=242|author1=Walter Martin|author2= Jill Martin Rische|author3= Van Gorden Kurt|year=2008}}</ref> one of the world's most famous prophets<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| * ] (1493–1541), medical pioneer and occult philosopher | |||
| * ] (1563-1632),<ref>{{cite book|title=Humanism, Machinery, and Renaissance Literature|page=18|publisher=Cambridge University Press|first=Jessica|last=Wolfe}}</ref> "Wizard Earl" | |||
| * ] (1545–1622), German cabalist magician, summoned angels | |||
| * ] (d. 1577), Swiss medium | |||
| * ] (1462–1516),<ref>{{cite book|title=John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature|page=111|first=Deborah|last= Harkness|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=1999}}</ref> cryptographer and magical writer | |||
| * ] (aka Johannes Wierus) (1515–1588), German physician, occultist and ] | |||
| == |
==17th century == | ||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 17th century'' | |||
| *], wizard | |||
| *], author of a magical novel | |||
| *] | |||
| *], ]ish ] who opposed ] on ] | |||
| *], king said to possess magical artifacts | |||
| *], philosopher important in occultism | |||
| *]/] | |||
| *], neo-platonist philosopher, espoused theurgy | |||
| *] and ], magicians at Pharaoh's court mentioned in the ] | |||
| *], practiced occult theurgy | |||
| *], philosopher important in occultism | |||
| *], neo-platonist philosopher important in occultism | |||
| *], philosopher important in occultism | |||
| *], astrologer | |||
| *], magician mentioned in New Testament | |||
| *], king said to be the builder of the first temple with help of demons | |||
| *], subjected to magical legends | |||
| *The ], Biblical witch and ] | |||
| *], leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion | |||
| *], advisor to Liu Bei during the ] period | |||
| ] | |||
| ===Mediæval Europe=== | |||
| *], kabalist "messiah" | |||
| *], had many magical texts attributed to him | |||
| *], ] accused of sorcery | |||
| *], Arthurian wizard | |||
| *], witch sister of King Arthur | |||
| *], alchemist | |||
| *], syncretic mystic | |||
| *], philosopher accused of magic | |||
| *], Magician | |||
| * ] (1617–1692), the first known speculative ] | |||
| ===Renaissance=== | |||
| * ] (1626–1690), Danish alchemist | |||
| *], alleged author of a grimoire | |||
| * ] (1669–1735), Russian general, statesman, diplomat, scientist and ] and ] of Scottish descent ], one of the chief associates of ] | |||
| *], occult philosopher, astrologer | |||
| * ] (1575–1661), Hermetic writer, son of John Dee | |||
| *], alchemist | |||
| * ] (1574–1637), occult philosopher and astrologer | |||
| *Sir ], hermetic author | |||
| * ] (d. 1662), self-confessed professional sorcerer | |||
| *], occult philosopher | |||
| * Sir ] (1642–1726), English physicist and alchemist<ref>"Newton's manuscripts provide evidence that he gave considerable thought to alchemy as emblematic of a purely scientific explanation of nature and was in fact deeply involved in conceiving alchemy as spiritual." F. Calian, "Some Modern Controversies on the Historiography of Alchemy" in ''Annual of Medieval Studies'' at CEU (2010), 186.</ref> | |||
| *], sculptor whose diary relates experience summoning spirits | |||
| * ] (17th century), anonymous author of seventeenth-century alchemical and Hermetic texts | |||
| *], abdicated Queen who dabbled in alchemy | |||
| * ] (1615–1659), Italian astrologer | |||
| *], hermetic author, and son of John Dee | |||
| * ] (1640–1680), French professional magician | |||
| *], Queen Elizabeth's court astrologist. | |||
| *], Belgian follower of Paracelsus | |||
| *], made a pact with the Devil, also see ] | |||
| *], occult philosopher and astrologer | |||
| *], medium who assisted John Dee | |||
| *], Jesuit priest, wrote on magical subjects | |||
| *], astrologer to ] | |||
| *], soothsayer, seer, astrologer | |||
| *], medical pioneer and occult philosopher | |||
| *], "Wizard Earl" | |||
| *Sir ], practiced alchemy | |||
| *], German cabalist magician, summoned angels | |||
| *], employed alchemists | |||
| *] | |||
| *], cryptographer and magical writer | |||
| *] (aka Johannes Wierus), German physician, occultist and demonologist | |||
| ==18th century == | |||
| ===Enlightenment and early modern period=== | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the ] (18th century)'' | |||
| *], politically influential Swedish fortune-teller. | |||
| *], "Count Alessandro di ]," occult charlatan | |||
| *], connected ] and esotericism | |||
| *], fortune-teller | |||
| *], self-confessed witch | |||
| *], commissioned English witch-finder | |||
| *], New Sweden (colony) witch | |||
| *], royal mistress | |||
| *Sir ], physicist and alchemist | |||
| *], alchemist | |||
| *], founder of ], writer known as the ] | |||
| *], alchemist, founder of ] | |||
| *], French sorceress | |||
| *], founder of the ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ===Nineteenth=== | |||
| *], astrologer to the famous | |||
| *], wrote a ] on magic | |||
| *], French demonologist | |||
| *], member of the ] | |||
| *], poet of the occult | |||
| *], The founder/prophet of modern ] | |||
| *], founder of ] | |||
| *], author of several occult novels | |||
| *], the head of ] | |||
| *], medical missionary and explorer, member of ] and ], author on Africa and medicine | |||
| *], authority on the ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], occult author | |||
| *], American wizard | |||
| *], founder of ] | |||
| *], Prime Minister of Canada | |||
| *] | |||
| *], American ] practitioner | |||
| *], ] favoured by ] | |||
| *], occult author | |||
| *], founder of ] | |||
| *], Imperator of ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], member of the ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], first initiate in ], wife of ], and Imperatrix of the ] | |||
| *], founder of the ] | |||
| *], poet and aristocrat Lord Tredegar | |||
| *], pseudonym for ], occult author | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], visionary poet, adventurer | |||
| *], Golden Dawn member, artist, designed the Waite-Smith ] deck | |||
| *] | |||
| *], dramatist, alchemist | |||
| *], occult author and member of ] | |||
| *], cofounder of the ] | |||
| *] | |||
| *], poet, Golden Dawn member, astrologer | |||
| * ] (1734–1801), politically influential Swedish fortune-teller | |||
| ===Twentieth Century=== | |||
| * ] (1746–1804), Swedish spiritual medium | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] (1743–1795),<ref>{{cite book|title=The Encyclopedia of Magic and Alchemy|page=52|first=Rosemary|last=Guiley|publisher=Infobase publishing}}</ref> Italian occultist | |||
| *] | |||
| * ] (1747–1821), French prophet medium | |||
| * ] (1725–1784), connected ] and esotericism | |||
| * ] (1738–1791), fortune-teller | |||
| * ] (''fl.'' 1785), African kaperlata occultist and faith healer | |||
| * ] (1680–1725), French occultist | |||
| * ] (dl. 1784), alchemist and occultist<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| * ] (''fl.'' 1722), German-Swedish fortune teller | |||
| * ] (1716–1782), French fortune teller | |||
| * ] (1734–1815), German ] | |||
| * ] (1754–1792), alchemist and ] | |||
| * ] (1771–1809), Swedish spiritual medium | |||
| * ] (1743–1803), founder of ], writer known as the ] | |||
| * ] (1688–1772),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swedenborgstudy.com/articles/history-religion/occult.htm|title=MAGUS INCOGNITO_ Was Swedenborg responsible for the 'Occult Revival'|work=swedenborgstudy.com}}</ref> alchemist, founder of ] | |||
| * ] (1756–1819), Swedish spiritual medium | |||
| * {{anli|Raimondo di Sangro}} | |||
| ==19th century == | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 19th century'' | |||
| ] | |||
| ]; from left to right: Margaret, Kate and Leah]] | |||
| ]]] | |||
| * ] (1868–1932), astrologer to the famous | |||
| * ] (c. 1770 – ''fl.'' 1802), wrote '']'', a book about magic | |||
| * ] (1765–1851), French demonologist | |||
| * ] (1875–1955), American occultist, businessman and yogi popularly known as "Oom The Omnipotent" | |||
| * ] (1847–1933), British writer, socialist and occultist<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theosophical.org/publications/quest-magazine/2566|title=Occultism and Occult Training - Theosophical Society in America|last=Binford|first=Harry|website=www.theosophical.org|language=en-gb|access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.anandgholap.net/AB_CWL_Occult_Chemistry.htm|title=Theosophy : Occult Chemistry by Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater |website=www.anandgholap.net|access-date=9 August 2017}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1869–1951), member of the ] | |||
| * ] (1831–1891), founder of ] | |||
| * ] (Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Бу́тлеров; 1828–1886), Russian occultist | |||
| * ] (1835–1906), secretary, Woman's National Liberal Union | |||
| * ] (1857–1902), occultist, writer, member of Theosophical Society | |||
| * ] (1826–1910), American occultist | |||
| * ] (1853–1926), medical missionary and explorer, member of ] and ], writer on Africa and medicine | |||
| * ] (1865–1941), German mystic | |||
| * ] (1861–1899), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1876–1949), Rosicrucian founder of FRA | |||
| * ] (''fl.'' 1802–1846), American wizard | |||
| * ] (1804–1869), founder of ] | |||
| * ] (1874–1950), served as the 10th prime minister of Canada and was secretly into the occult | |||
| * ] (1861–1930), alchemist and occult writer | |||
| * {{anli|Giustiniano Lebano}} | |||
| * ] (1801–1881), American ] practitioner | |||
| * ] (1854–1934), occult writer and influential member of the ]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blavatskytheosophy.com/the-unavoidable-facts-about-c-w-leadbeater/|title=The Unavoidable Facts about C.W. Leadbeater|date=7 September 2013|work=Blavatsky Theosophy Group UK|access-date=8 August 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1772–1843), French ] favoured by ] | |||
| * ] (1810–1875), French occult writer and ceremonial magician<ref name="AtoZ" /> | |||
| * ] (1848–1919), Austrian writer and mystic | |||
| * ] (1863–1947), member of the ] | |||
| * ] (1865–1928), first initiate in ], wife of ], and Imperatrix of the ] | |||
| * ] (1854–1918), founder of the ] | |||
| * ] (1857–1885), Indian theosophist | |||
| * ] (1899–1964), Polish Russian occultists, stage mentalist | |||
| * ], pseudonym for ] (1865–1916), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1793–1871), French occultist, demonologist and writer | |||
| * ] (1825–1875), African American physician and ]ian | |||
| * ] (1898–1983), Danish medium, psychic | |||
| * ] (1869–1916), Russian mystic and healer | |||
| * ] (1788–1869), German occultist | |||
| * ] (1855–1923), German mason | |||
| * ] (1849–1912), dramatist, alchemist | |||
| * ] (1848–1927), occultist, Kabbalist, founder of the Cosmic Movement | |||
| * ] (1875–1941), occultist, writer, particular Christian mysticism; member of GD | |||
| * ] (1857–1941), occult writer and member of ] | |||
| * ] (1848–1925), cofounder of the ] | |||
| * {{anli|Julius Evola}} | |||
| * ] (1866–1946), Austrian occultist | |||
| * ] (1886–1945), member of A.E. Waite's the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, 1929–1939 | |||
| * ] (1865–1934), poet, astrologer, member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn | |||
| ==20th century == | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 20th century'' | |||
| * ] (1878–1971), Indian poet and mystic | |||
| * ] (1927–2023), filmmaker, writer, and ] | |||
| * ] (born 1929), occultist, occult writer, teacher | |||
| * ] (1880–1949), English writer, mystic and ]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/alicebailey.htm|title=Alice Bailey—Contemplative, Mystic, and Occultist|website=www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com|access-date=8 August 2017}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1909–1958), occult writer, magician | |||
| * ] (1868–1930), Australian chemist who was disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley | |||
| * ] (1872 - 1936), Danish farmer and occultist | |||
| * ] (born 1935), author of the ''Voudon Gnostic Workbook'', occult artist | |||
| * ] (born 1956), New Zealand neo-Nazi activist and writer | |||
| * ] (born 1955), writer, musician, patriarch of ], and caliph of ]; also known as Hymenaeus Beta | |||
| * ] (1914–1997), Beat writer | |||
| * ] (1898–1978), esoteric writer | |||
| * ] (1922–1995), scarlet woman of Jack Parsons' rituals, artist, actress | |||
| * ] (born 1953), occultist, writer, founder of ] | |||
| * ] (1880–1944), head of ] | |||
| * ] (born 1936), esoteric writer, magician, Imperator of ] | |||
| * ] (born 1959), esoteric writer, magician, Cancellaria of ] | |||
| * ] (1878–1951), artist, painted the ] ] deck, member of the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn | |||
| * ] (1939–2019), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1875–1947), English occultist and ceremonial magician, founder of ] religion<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://oto-usa.org/thelema/|title=Thelema – US Grand Lodge|website=oto-usa.org|language=en-US|access-date=4 August 2017|date=16 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="AtoZ">{{cite book |title=An A to Z of the Occult |last1=Cox |first1=Simon |author-link= |last2=Foster |first2=Mark |publisher=] |year=2007 |isbn=9781845961572 }}</ref> | |||
| * ] (born 1950), ceremonial magician, artist, founder of rock band ], recording artist | |||
| * ] (1905–1982), Greek writer on Hinduism, Nazi spy and leading figure of ] | |||
| * ] (1886–1961), American ], known under the pseudonym H.D.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Robinson |first1=Matte |title=The Astral H.D.:Occult and Religious Sources and Contexts for H.D.’s Poetry and Prose |date=2015 |publisher=Bloomsbury |location=London |isbn=9781501335839}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (born 1959), witch and occult writer | |||
| * ] (born 1948), musician, lecturer, and occultist | |||
| * ] (1898–1974), Italian philosopher | |||
| * ] (1890–1946), considered one of Great Britain's most famous occultists,<ref name="AtoZ" /> founder of the ] | |||
| * ] (1879–1970), American occultist, Theosophist, and poet | |||
| * ] (1884–1954), founder of ], adept of the Western mystery tradition, teacher, occult writer | |||
| * ], French alchemist and esoteric writer<ref name="AtoZ"/> | |||
| * ] (1878–1966), British senior Army officer, military historian, and strategist{{sfnp|Kaczynski|2024}} | |||
| * ] (''fl.'' 1940s), authority on the ] | |||
| * ] (1884–1964), British witch, writer, father of modern Witcharft A.K.A. Wicca, latter denominated Gardnerian Wicca. | |||
| * ] (1885–1962), German and American businessman and occultist, US representative of ] | |||
| * ] (born 1954), practitioner of ] | |||
| * ] (1883–1930)<ref>{{cite book|title=The Occult Roots of Nazism: Secret Aryan Cults and Their Influence on Nazi Ideology|page=155|publisher=NYU Press|year=1993}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1924–2011), occultist, writer, pupil of ] | |||
| * ] (born 1962), occult writer, fantasist, blogger | |||
| * ] (1888–1964), known as Gregor A. Gregorius, German occultist, writer, founder of the lodge ] | |||
| * ] (1901–1990), occult writer, teacher | |||
| * ], born Hermann Steinschneider (1889–1933) | |||
| * ] (1865–1919), writer | |||
| * ] (1894–1987), ] interested in magic and the occult<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Manvell | first1 = Roger | author-link1 = Roger Manvell | last2 = Fraenkel | first2 = Heinrich | author-link2 = Heinrich Fraenkel | title = Hess: A Biography | year = 1971 | publisher = Granada | location = London | isbn = 0-261-63246-9 |page=94}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1900–1945), Nazi ] ], also interested in magic | |||
| * ] (''fl.'' 1980s), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1883–1975), American schoolteacher and occultist | |||
| * ] (1929–2012), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1911–1986), American writer and Scientology founder | |||
| * ] (1943–2008), writer, teacher, publisher | |||
| * ] (born 1929), filmmaker, comic book writer, writer and teacher on "Psychemagia" | |||
| * ] (1886–1950), Canadian occultist and ceremonial magician | |||
| * ] (1873–1960), English chemist, occultist, member of the ] and co-founder of the magical order ] | |||
| * ] (born 1972), American occultist and writer<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2007/07/23|title=The Occult - Shows|work=Coast to Coast AM|access-date=25 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1900–1945), occultist | |||
| * ] (1951-2014), occult writer, magician | |||
| * ] (1899–1977), German occultist | |||
| * ] (1904–1999), occult writer | |||
| * ] (1874–1954), Austrian occultist and pioneer of ] | |||
| * ] (1917–1982), witch and occult writer | |||
| * ] (1939–2015), English magician known for ]<ref>{{cite book |last=Thompson |first=Cath |title=All This and a Book |year=2018 |publisher=Hadean Press Limited |isbn=978-1-907881-78-7}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1927–1979), American neo-Nazi, founder of the ] and personal friend of ] | |||
| * ] (1882–1966), German rune occultist | |||
| * ] (1918–1985), American ]ian and "Caliph" of ]<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hanegraaff |first1=Wouter J. |url=http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/dictionary-of-gnosis-and-western-esotiricism/ordo-templi-orientis-DGWE_269?s.num=0 |title=Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism |last2=Faivre |first2=Antoine |last3=Broek |first3=Roelof van den |last4=Brach |first4=Jean-Pierre |date=2005 |publisher=Brill |isbn=9789004141872 |edition=Online |location=Leiden |access-date=11 August 2018}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (born 1953), British writer and occultist<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.believermag.com/issues/201306/?read=interview_moore|title=The Believer - Interview with Alan Moore|date=1 June 2013|work=The Believer|access-date=19 July 2017|language=en}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1931–1987), Brazilian occult writer and member of ]{{sfnp|Readdy|2018|pp=ii–iii, 156–304}} | |||
| * ] (born 1950), allegedly the leader of the ]<ref>{{cite book |last=Introvigne |first=Massimo |author-link=Massimo Introvigne |year=2016 |title=Satanism: A Social History |chapter=The Origins of Contemporary Satanism, 1952–1980 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nt8zDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA358 |location=] |publisher=] |series=Aries Book Series: Texts and Studies in Western Esotericism |volume=21 |pages=358–364 |doi=10.1163/9789004244962_012 |isbn=978-90-04-28828-7 |oclc=1030572947}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1957–2000), Nigerian sorcerer and self-proclaimed prophet of the Biblical God<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Johannes|first=Harnischfeger|title=State Decline and the Return of Occult Powers: The Case of Prophet Eddy in Nigeria|url=https://www.academia.edu/11897261|journal=Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft|language=en|volume=1|issn=1940-5111}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200012110215.html|title=Nigeria: Death of a "Miracle" Man|last=Ekenna|first=Geoffrey|date=11 December 2000|work=Newswatch (Lagos)|access-date=25 March 2017}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1939–2018), American occultist, ceremonial magician, and writer about the Ma'atian current.{{sfnp|Grant|1980}} | |||
| * ] (1883–1940), poet and member of the ]{{sfnp|Kaczynski|2024}} | |||
| * ] (born 1949), occultist, science fiction writer | |||
| * ] (born Harry Helmuth Pastor; 1919–1989), American ] coffeehouse and nightclub owner, poet, actor, and ], the "King of the Beatniks".{{sfnp|Starr|2003|p=250}} | |||
| * ] (1924–1997), American occultist and second wife of ] founder ].<ref>{{cite book|last=Pendle|first=George|author-link=George Pendle|title=Strange Angel: The Otherworldly Life of Rocket Scientist John Whiteside Parsons|publisher=]|year=2006|isbn=978-0-15-603179-0|location=Orlando, FL|page=203–4}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1917–1979), self-proclaimed Australian witch | |||
| * ] (1950–2020), of ] video group and ], ]ian | |||
| * ] (born 1944), musician, occultist, member of rock band ] | |||
| * ] (1915–1983), Christian occultist, founder of the Archeosophical Society | |||
| * ] (1914–1952), occultist, writer, and rocket scientist | |||
| * ] (1910-2003), American occultist and book editor, wife of John "Jack" Whiteside Parsons who married ] after Parson's death.{{sfnp|Starr|2003|p=276}} | |||
| * ] (1907–1985), occult writer, magician, pupil of Aleister Crowley<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldendawnpedia.com/HistoryPages/Bios/IsraelRegardie.htm |title=Dr. Francis Israel Regardie |publisher=Goldendawnpedia.com |date= |accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1897–1987), American occultist and founder of the magical order G.B.G.{{sfnp|Starr|2003|p=77}} | |||
| * ] (1926–1988), founder of ] | |||
| * ] (1917–2004), American occultist and writer, and a lineage holder in the ] tradition.{{sfnp|Readdy|2018|pp=157–300}} | |||
| * ] (1944-2003), Finnish neo-Nazi, occultist and a Satanist. | |||
| * ] (1917–2009), Chilean diplomat, writer of books on ] | |||
| * ] (born 1948), Australian writer | |||
| * ] (1923–1991), visual artist, experimental filmmaker, record collector, bohemian, mystic, largely self-taught student of anthropology, and Neo-Gnostic bishop | |||
| * ] (1885–1957), English occultist and ceremonial magician.{{sfnp|Starr|2003|pp=12–17}} | |||
| * ], occult writer, known as Ramsey Dukes | |||
| * ] (1886–1956), writer, painter, magician | |||
| * ] (1904–1992), German occultist | |||
| * ] (1861–1925), founder of ]<ref>{{cite web|last=Staudenmaier |first=Peter |url=http://www.social-ecology.org/2009/01/anthroposophy-and-ecofascism-2/ |title=Institute for Social Ecology Anthroposophy and Ecofascism - Institute for Social Ecology |publisher=Social-ecology.org |date= 10 January 2009|accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1879–1951) | |||
| * ] (1951–2001), occult writer<ref>''Gerald Suster: Hitler & the Age of Horus'' </ref> | |||
| * ] (born 1952), known as Frater U∴D∴, occultist, writer, founder of Pragmatic Magic, Cyber Magic and Ice Magic | |||
| * ] (1908–2009), occult writer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astrologie.ws/uyldert2.htm |title=Interview with Mellie Uyldert |publisher=Astrologie.ws |date=27 November 1999 |accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1922–1999), priestess and writer<ref>{{cite web|author=Doreen Valiente Foundation |url=http://www.doreenvaliente.com/Doreen-Valiente-Biography-19.php |title=The Official Doreen Valiente Website - Doreen Valiente - Biography |publisher=Doreen Valiente |date=4 January 1922 |accessdate=29 June 2014}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1880–1932), mystic and muse | |||
| * ] (1948–2020), American writer and occultist.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tahutilodge.org/history.php |title=Tahuti Lodge O.T.O., serving the New York City Metropolitan Area |year=2009 |work=Tahutilodge.org |publisher=Tahuti Lodge, ] |access-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123143703/http://tahutilodge.org/history.php |archive-date=November 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Wasserman |first=James |title=In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult 1966-1989 |page=187 |publisher=Ibis Press |location=Lake Worth, FL |year=2012 |isbn=978-0-89254-201-7}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (born 1960), writer of occult books and former high priest of ]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://disinfo.com/2013/11/left-hand-path-interview-occultist-don-webb/|title=On the Left Hand Path: An Interview with Occultist Don Webb - disinformation|date=1 November 2013|work=disinformation|access-date=9 May 2017|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808234459/http://disinfo.com/2013/11/left-hand-path-interview-occultist-don-webb/|archive-date=8 August 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Don-Webb/412397419|title=Don Webb|website=Simon & Schuster|language=en|access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref> | |||
| * ], American writer, publisher, co-founder of the Chthonic Auranian Templars of Thelema<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.patheos.com/blogs/paganrestoration/author/paganrestoration/|title=About Sam Webster|website=Patheos|access-date=2023-08-28}}</ref> and ]<ref>Wicker, Christine. ''Not In Kansas Anymore: A Curious Tale of How Magic Is Transforming America '', pp. 207-236. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005. {{ISBN|0-06-072678-4}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1917–1977), theurgist and founder of a "Gnostic movement"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://gnosticteachings.org/books-by-samael-aun-weor/esoteric-medicine-and-practical-magic.html|title=Esoteric Medicine and Practical Magic, a book by Samael Aun Weor|website=gnosticteachings.org|language=en-GB|access-date=2 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://london-gnostic-institute.org/the-founder|title=The Founder {{!}} London Gnostic Institute - G.I.A.|website=london-gnostic-institute.org}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1931-2013), English philosopher-novelist and author of '']''{{cn|date=October 2024}} | |||
| * ] (1875–1958), American silent film character actress.<ref>{{cite book |year=2008 |first=Jane |last=Wolfe |title=Jane Wolfe: The Cefalu Diaries 1920 - 1923 |publisher=Temple of the Silver Star |isbn=978-0997668636}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1865–1939), occultist and member of the ] | |||
| * ] (born 1947), occult author<ref>{{cite book|title=Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes|publisher=Weiser|first=Chris|last=Knowles|authorlink=Christopher Knowles (comics)|page=97|year=2007|title-link=Our Gods Wear Spandex: The Secret History of Comic Book Heroes}}</ref> | |||
| ==21st century == | |||
| ''People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 21st century;'' | |||
| * ] (born 1972), Swedish occultist and esoteric author | |||
| * ] (born 1948), Australian author, editor, publisher and lecturer | |||
| * ] (born 1947), American writer, graphic designer, and practitioner of folk magic | |||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
| * ] | |||
| * '']'' | |||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| == References == | |||
| ===Notes=== | |||
| {{notelist}} | |||
| ===Citations=== | |||
| {{Reflist|2}} | |||
| ===Works cited=== | |||
| * {{cite journal |first=Hans Dieter |last=Betz |author-link=Hans Dieter Betz |title=The Birth of Christianity as a Hellenistic Religion: Three Theories of Origin |journal=The Journal of Religion |volume=74 |year=1994 |pages=1–25}} | |||
| * {{cite book |last=Celsus |author-link=Celsus |title=On the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians |translator=] |year=1987 |page=53 n3}} | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Grant |first=Kenneth |author-link=Kenneth Grant |title=Outside the Circles of Time |publisher=Muller |year=1980 |isbn=978-0584104684}} | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Kaczynski |first=Richard |author-link=Richard Kaczynski |year=2024 |title=Friendship in Doubt: Aleister Crowley, J. F. C. Fuller, Victor B. Neuburg, and British Agnosticism |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-769400-8}} | |||
| *{{cite book |last=Readdy |first=K. |year=2018 |title=One Truth and One Spirit: Aleister Crowley's Spiritual Legacy |publisher=Ibis Press |isbn=978-0892541843}} | |||
| *{{cite book |title=The Unknown God: W. T. Smith and the Thelemites |last=Starr |first=Martin P. |year=2003 |publisher=Teitan Press |location=Bollingbrook, Illinois |isbn=978-0-933429-07-9}} | |||
| {{Authority control}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Occultists}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | |||
Latest revision as of 00:15, 4 January 2025
Occultism is one form of mysticism. This list comprises and encompasses people, both contemporary and historical, who are or were professionally or otherwise notably involved in occult practices, including alchemists, astrologers, some Kabbalists, magicians, psychics, sorcerers, and practitioners some forms of divination, especially Tarot. People who were or are merely believers of occult practices should not be included unless they played a leading or otherwise significant part in the practice of occultism.
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.Antiquity
People professionally or notably involved in occultism prior to the Middle Ages
- Agathodaemon – Egyptian alchemist
- Apsethus the Libyan – Ancient Libyan occultist
- Atomus – Cypriot magician (1st century)
- Chu Fu – Chinese Han dynasty occultist (d. 130 BC)
- Chymes – Greco-Roman alchemist
- Cleopatra the Alchemist – Egyptian alchemist and writer
- Saint Cyprian the Magician — 4th-century sorcerer from Antioch
- Elymas – Jewish magus depicted in the Acts of the Apostles
- Epigenes of Byzantium – 3rd-century BC Greek astrologer
- Fang – Earliest recorded woman alchemist in China
- Gan De – 4th-century BC Chinese astronomer and astrologer
- Hermes Trismegistus – Legendary author of the Hermetica
- Iamblichus – Syrian Neoplatonist philosopher (c. 245 – c. 325)Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
- Jannes and Jambres – Magicians mentioned in the Book of Exodus
- Jesus – Jesus as a historical person
- Julian – Roman emperor from 361 to 363
- Mary the Jewess – First Western alchemist (1st century)
- Menander – First century Samaritan Gnostic
- Moses – Prophet in Abrahamic religions
- Moses of Alexandria – Early alchemist
- Nigidius Figulus – Roman philosopher and writer
- Ostanes – Pen-name used by several pseudo-anonymous authors of Greek and Latin works of alchemy
- Paphnutia the Virgin – Egyptian alchemist
- Pseudo-Aristotle – Cognomen for authors of works falsely attributed to Aristotle
- Pseudo-Democritus – Anonymous author(s) of works falsely attributed to Democritus
- Ptolemy – Roman astronomer and geographer (c. 100–170)
- Pythagoras – Greek philosopher (c. 570 – c. 495 BC)
- Shi Shen – Chinese astronomer and astrologer
- Sima Qian – Chinese historian and writer (c. 145 – c. 86 BC)
- Sima Tan – Chinese astrologer and historian (c. 165–110 BCE)
- Simon Magus – Religious figure who confronted Peter
- Synesius – Ancient Greek bishop and alchemist
- Theoris of Lemnos – 4th-century BC Greek woman
- Wei Boyang – Chinese alchemist and writer
- Witch of Endor – Biblical sorceress
- Xu Fu – Chinese alchemist and explorer
- Zhang Jue – Chinese Yellow Turban Rebellion leader (died 184)
- Zhongli Chun – Chinese occultist and consort of the King Xuan of Qi (r. 342–324 BC)
- Zoroaster – Founder of Zoroastrianism, reputed inventor of magic and astrology (c. 1000 BC) in legend
- Zosimos of Panopolis – Alchemist of the 3rd century CE
Middle Ages
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the Middle Ages (circa 500–1500)
- Abramelin the Mage – Egyptian sage (c. 1362–1458)
- Albertus Magnus – German-Dominican friar and saint (c. 1200–1280)
- Roger Bacon – English polymath, philosopher and friar (c.1219/20–c.1292)
- Roger Bolingbroke – Astrologer and alleged necromancer, executed as witch
- Gentile Budrioli – 15th-century Italian astrologist and healer
- Johannes Lauratius de Fundis – medieval Italian astrologer and astronomerPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback
- Marsilio Ficino – Italian astrologer and translator of the Corpus Hermeticum (1433–1499)
- Nicolas Flamel – French public scribe (1330–1418)
- Jābir ibn Hayyān – Islamic alchemist and polymath
- John of Nottingham – 14th-century English magician
- Judah Loew ben Bezalel – Czech rabbi and Kabbalist (d. 1609), reputed to have practiced Practical Kabbalah
- Myrddin Wyllt – Welsh poet and astrologer (b. 540 CE)
- Giovanni Pico della Mirandola – Italian Renaissance philosopher (1463–1494)
- Pietro d'Abano – Italian philosopher and astrologer
- Pseudo-Solomon – Anonymous author(s) of works falsely attributed to Solomon
- Michael Scot – Scottish mathematician and scholar (1175–c.1232)
16th century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 16th century
- Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486–1535), occult philosopher, astrologer
- Giordano Bruno (1548–1600), occult philosopher
- Cosimo Ruggeri (fl. 1571–1615), Italian astrologer and occultist
- John Dee (1527–1608), occult philosopher, mathematician, alchemist, queen Elizabeth's advisor
- Edward Kelley (1555–1597), spirit medium and alchemist who worked with John Dee, founder of Enochian magic
- John Lambe (1545–1628), astrologer to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham
- Nostradamus (1503–1566), one of the world's most famous prophets
- Paracelsus (1493–1541), medical pioneer and occult philosopher
- Henry Percy (1563-1632), "Wizard Earl"
- Johannes Reuchlin (1545–1622), German cabalist magician, summoned angels
- Soulmother of Küssnacht (d. 1577), Swiss medium
- Johannes Trithemius (1462–1516), cryptographer and magical writer
- Johann Weyer (aka Johannes Wierus) (1515–1588), German physician, occultist and demonologist
17th century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 17th century
- Elias Ashmole (1617–1692), the first known speculative Freemason
- Olaus Borrichius (1626–1690), Danish alchemist
- Jacob Bruce (1669–1735), Russian general, statesman, diplomat, scientist and alchemist and magician of Scottish descent Clan Bruce, one of the chief associates of Peter the Great
- Arthur Dee (1575–1661), Hermetic writer, son of John Dee
- Robert Fludd (1574–1637), occult philosopher and astrologer
- Isobel Gowdie (d. 1662), self-confessed professional sorcerer
- Sir Isaac Newton (1642–1726), English physicist and alchemist
- Ali Puli (17th century), anonymous author of seventeenth-century alchemical and Hermetic texts
- Gironima Spana (1615–1659), Italian astrologer
- La Voisin (1640–1680), French professional magician
18th century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the Age of Enlightenment (18th century)
- Ulrica Arfvidsson (1734–1801), politically influential Swedish fortune-teller
- Gustaf Björnram (1746–1804), Swedish spiritual medium
- Alessandro Cagliostro (1743–1795), Italian occultist
- Clotilde-Suzanne Courcelles de Labrousse (1747–1821), French prophet medium
- Antoine Court de Gebelin (1725–1784), connected tarot and esotericism
- Etteilla (1738–1791), fortune-teller
- Marie Kingué (fl. 1785), African kaperlata occultist and faith healer
- Marie-Anne de La Ville (1680–1725), French occultist
- Count of St. Germain (dl. 1784), alchemist and occultist
- Höffern (fl. 1722), German-Swedish fortune teller
- Henrietta Lullier (1716–1782), French fortune teller
- Franz Mesmer (1734–1815), German magnetist
- August Nordenskiold (1754–1792), alchemist and Swedenborgian
- Charlotta Roos (1771–1809), Swedish spiritual medium
- Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin (1743–1803), founder of Martinism, writer known as the Unknown Philosopher
- Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772), alchemist, founder of Swedenborgianism
- Henrik Gustaf Ulfvenklou (1756–1819), Swedish spiritual medium
- Raimondo di Sangro – Italian nobleman, inventor, soldier, writer, scientist, alchemist and freemason
19th century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 19th century
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- Evangeline Adams (1868–1932), astrologer to the famous
- Francis Barrett (c. 1770 – fl. 1802), wrote The Magus, a book about magic
- Alexis-Vincent-Charles Berbiguier de Terre-Neuve du Thym (1765–1851), French demonologist
- Pierre Bernard (1875–1955), American occultist, businessman and yogi popularly known as "Oom The Omnipotent"
- Annie Besant (1847–1933), British writer, socialist and occultist
- Algernon Blackwood (1869–1951), member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (1831–1891), founder of Theosophy
- Alexander Mikhaylovich Butlerov (Алекса́ндр Миха́йлович Бу́тлеров; 1828–1886), Russian occultist
- Mary Emily Bates Coues (1835–1906), secretary, Woman's National Liberal Union
- Ida C. Craddock (1857–1902), occultist, writer, member of Theosophical Society
- Andrew Jackson Davis (1826–1910), American occultist
- Robert Felkin (1853–1926), medical missionary and explorer, member of Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and Stella Matutina, writer on Africa and medicine
- A. Frank Glahn (1865–1941), German mystic
- Stanislas de Guaita (1861–1899), occult writer
- Arnold Krumm-Heller (1876–1949), Rosicrucian founder of FRA
- John George Hohman (fl. 1802–1846), American wizard
- Allan Kardec (1804–1869), founder of Spiritism
- William Lyon Mackenzie King (1874–1950), served as the 10th prime minister of Canada and was secretly into the occult
- Giuliano Kremmerz (1861–1930), alchemist and occult writer
- Giustiniano Lebano – Italian lawyer and patriot (1832–1910)
- Marie Laveau (1801–1881), American New Orleans Voodoo practitioner
- Charles Webster Leadbeater (1854–1934), occult writer and influential member of the Theosophical Society Adyar
- Marie Anne Lenormand (1772–1843), French fortune-teller favoured by Joséphine de Beauharnais
- Eliphas Lévi (1810–1875), French occult writer and ceremonial magician
- Guido von List (1848–1919), Austrian writer and mystic
- Arthur Machen (1863–1947), member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Moina Mathers (1865–1928), first initiate in Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, wife of S.L. MacGregor Mathers, and Imperatrix of the Alpha et Omega
- Samuel L. MacGregor Mathers (1854–1918), founder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Damodar K. Mavalankar (1857–1885), Indian theosophist
- Wolf Messing (1899–1964), Polish Russian occultists, stage mentalist
- Papus, pseudonym for Gérard Encausse (1865–1916), occult writer
- Jacques Collin de Plancy (1793–1871), French occultist, demonologist and writer
- Paschal Beverly Randolph (1825–1875), African American physician and sex magician
- Anna Rasmussen (1898–1983), Danish medium, psychic
- Grigori Rasputin (1869–1916), Russian mystic and healer
- Carl Reichenbach (1788–1869), German occultist
- Theodor Reuss (1855–1923), German mason
- August Strindberg (1849–1912), dramatist, alchemist
- Max Théon (1848–1927), occultist, Kabbalist, founder of the Cosmic Movement
- Evelyn Underhill (1875–1941), occultist, writer, particular Christian mysticism; member of GD
- Arthur Edward Waite (1857–1941), occult writer and member of Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- William Wynn Westcott (1848–1925), cofounder of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Julius Evola – Italian radical-right philosopher and esotericist (1898–1974)
- Karl Maria Wiligut (1866–1946), Austrian occultist
- Charles Walter Stansby Williams (1886–1945), member of A.E. Waite's the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, 1929–1939
- William Butler Yeats (1865–1934), poet, astrologer, member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
20th century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 20th century
- Mirra Alfassa (1878–1971), Indian poet and mystic
- Kenneth Anger (1927–2023), filmmaker, writer, and Thelemite
- Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki (born 1929), occultist, occult writer, teacher
- Alice Bailey (1880–1949), English writer, mystic and Theosophist
- Franz Bardon (1909–1958), occult writer, magician
- Frank Bennett (1868–1930), Australian chemist who was disciple of occultist Aleister Crowley
- Carl William Hansen (1872 - 1936), Danish farmer and occultist
- Michael Bertiaux (born 1935), author of the Voudon Gnostic Workbook, occult artist
- Kerry Bolton (born 1956), New Zealand neo-Nazi activist and writer
- William Breeze (born 1955), writer, musician, patriarch of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, and caliph of Ordo Templi Orientis; also known as Hymenaeus Beta
- William S. Burroughs (1914–1997), Beat writer
- W. E. Butler (1898–1978), esoteric writer
- Marjorie Cameron (1922–1995), scarlet woman of Jack Parsons' rituals, artist, actress
- Peter J. Carroll (born 1953), occultist, writer, founder of chaos magic
- Constant Chevillon (1880–1944), head of FUDOFSI
- Chic Cicero (born 1936), esoteric writer, magician, Imperator of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.
- Sandra Tabatha Cicero (born 1959), esoteric writer, magician, Cancellaria of The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.
- Pamela Colman Smith (1878–1951), artist, painted the Rider–Waite tarot deck, member of the Hermetic order of the Golden Dawn
- D. J. Conway (1939–2019), occult writer
- Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), English occultist and ceremonial magician, founder of Thelema religion
- Jinx Dawson (born 1950), ceremonial magician, artist, founder of rock band Coven, recording artist
- Savitri Devi (1905–1982), Greek writer on Hinduism, Nazi spy and leading figure of Esoteric Nazism
- Hilda Doolittle (1886–1961), American modernist poet, known under the pseudonym H.D.
- Gerina Dunwich (born 1959), witch and occult writer
- Lon Milo DuQuette (born 1948), musician, lecturer, and occultist
- Julius Evola (1898–1974), Italian philosopher
- Dion Fortune (1890–1946), considered one of Great Britain's most famous occultists, founder of the Fraternity of the Inner Light
- Jeanne Robert Foster (1879–1970), American occultist, Theosophist, and poet
- Paul Foster Case (1884–1954), founder of BOTA, adept of the Western mystery tradition, teacher, occult writer
- Fulcanelli, French alchemist and esoteric writer
- J. F. C. Fuller (1878–1966), British senior Army officer, military historian, and strategist
- Henri Gamache (fl. 1940s), authority on the Evil Eye
- Gerald Brosseau Gardner (1884–1964), British witch, writer, father of modern Witcharft A.K.A. Wicca, latter denominated Gardnerian Wicca.
- Karl Germer (1885–1962), German and American businessman and occultist, US representative of Ordo Templi Orientis
- Sallie Ann Glassman (born 1954), practitioner of Haitian Vodou
- Rudolf John Gorsleben (1883–1930)
- Kenneth Grant (1924–2011), occultist, writer, pupil of Aleister Crowley
- John Michael Greer (born 1962), occult writer, fantasist, blogger
- Eugen Grosche (1888–1964), known as Gregor A. Gregorius, German occultist, writer, founder of the lodge Fraternitas Saturni
- Manly Palmer Hall (1901–1990), occult writer, teacher
- Erik Jan Hanussen, born Hermann Steinschneider (1889–1933)
- Max Heindel (1865–1919), writer
- Rudolf Hess (1894–1987), nazi interested in magic and the occult
- Heinrich Himmler (1900–1945), Nazi Reichsführer SS, also interested in magic
- Phil Hine (fl. 1980s), occult writer
- Leah Hirsig (1883–1975), American schoolteacher and occultist
- Murry Hope (1929–2012), occult writer
- L. Ron Hubbard (1911–1986), American writer and Scientology founder
- Christopher Hyatt (1943–2008), writer, teacher, publisher
- Alejandro Jodorowsky (born 1929), filmmaker, comic book writer, writer and teacher on "Psychemagia"
- Charles Stansfeld Jones (1886–1950), Canadian occultist and ceremonial magician
- George Cecil Jones (1873–1960), English chemist, occultist, member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and co-founder of the magical order A∴A∴
- Konstantinos (born 1972), American occultist and writer
- Karl Ernst Krafft (1900–1945), occultist
- Donald Michael Kraig (1951-2014), occult writer, magician
- Siegfried Adolf Kummer (1899–1977), German occultist
- Dora van Gelder Kunz (1904–1999), occult writer
- Jörg Lanz von Liebenfels (1874–1954), Austrian occultist and pioneer of Ariosophy
- Sybil Leek (1917–1982), witch and occult writer
- James Lees (1939–2015), English magician known for English Qaballa
- James H. Madole (1927–1979), American neo-Nazi, founder of the National Renaissance Party and personal friend of Anton LaVey
- Friedrich Bernhard Marby (1882–1966), German rune occultist
- Grady Louis McMurtry (1918–1985), American ceremonial magician and "Caliph" of O.T.O.
- Alan Moore (born 1953), British writer and occultist
- Marcelo Ramos Motta (1931–1987), Brazilian occult writer and member of A∴A∴
- David Myatt (born 1950), allegedly the leader of the Order of Nine Angles
- Eddy Nawgu (1957–2000), Nigerian sorcerer and self-proclaimed prophet of the Biblical God
- Nema Andahadna (1939–2018), American occultist, ceremonial magician, and writer about the Ma'atian current.
- Victor Benjamin Neuburg (1883–1940), poet and member of the A∴A∴
- Erwin Neutzsky-Wulff (born 1949), occultist, science fiction writer
- Eric Nord (born Harry Helmuth Pastor; 1919–1989), American Beat Generation coffeehouse and nightclub owner, poet, actor, and hipster, the "King of the Beatniks".
- Sara Northrup Hollister (1924–1997), American occultist and second wife of Scientologist founder L. Ron Hubbard.
- Rosaleen Norton (1917–1979), self-proclaimed Australian witch
- Genesis P-Orridge (1950–2020), of Psychic TV video group and TOPY, chaos magician
- Jimmy Page (born 1944), musician, occultist, member of rock band Led Zeppelin
- Tommaso Palamidessi (1915–1983), Christian occultist, founder of the Archeosophical Society
- Jack Parsons (1914–1952), occultist, writer, and rocket scientist
- Helen Parsons Smith (1910-2003), American occultist and book editor, wife of John "Jack" Whiteside Parsons who married Wilfred Talbot Smith after Parson's death.
- Israel Regardie (1907–1985), occult writer, magician, pupil of Aleister Crowley
- C. F. Russell (1897–1987), American occultist and founder of the magical order G.B.G.
- Alex Sanders (1926–1988), founder of Alexandrian Wicca
- Phyllis Seckler (1917–2004), American occultist and writer, and a lineage holder in the A∴A∴ tradition.
- Pekka Siitoin (1944-2003), Finnish neo-Nazi, occultist and a Satanist.
- Miguel Serrano (1917–2009), Chilean diplomat, writer of books on Esoteric Nazism
- Stephen Skinner (born 1948), Australian writer
- Harry Everett Smith (1923–1991), visual artist, experimental filmmaker, record collector, bohemian, mystic, largely self-taught student of anthropology, and Neo-Gnostic bishop
- Wilfred Talbot Smith (1885–1957), English occultist and ceremonial magician.
- Lionel Snell, occult writer, known as Ramsey Dukes
- Austin Osman Spare (1886–1956), writer, painter, magician
- Karl Spiesberger (1904–1992), German occultist
- Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925), founder of anthroposophy
- Ludwig Straniak (1879–1951)
- Gerald Suster (1951–2001), occult writer
- Ralph Tegtmeier (born 1952), known as Frater U∴D∴, occultist, writer, founder of Pragmatic Magic, Cyber Magic and Ice Magic
- Mellie Uyldert (1908–2009), occult writer
- Doreen Valiente (1922–1999), priestess and writer
- Leila Waddell (1880–1932), mystic and muse
- James Wasserman (1948–2020), American writer and occultist.
- Don Webb (born 1960), writer of occult books and former high priest of Temple of Set
- Sam Webster, American writer, publisher, co-founder of the Chthonic Auranian Templars of Thelema and Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
- Samael Aun Weor (1917–1977), theurgist and founder of a "Gnostic movement"
- Colin Wilson (1931-2013), English philosopher-novelist and author of The Occult: A History
- Jane Wolfe (1875–1958), American silent film character actress.
- William Butler Yeats (1865–1939), occultist and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
- Catherine Yronwode (born 1947), occult author
21st century
People professionally or notably involved in occultism during the 21st century;
- Thomas Karlsson (born 1972), Swedish occultist and esoteric author
- Stephen Skinner (born 1948), Australian author, editor, publisher and lecturer
- Catherine Yronwode (born 1947), American writer, graphic designer, and practitioner of folk magic
See also
- Aleister Crowley bibliography
- Jesus the Magician
- List of alchemists
- List of astrologers
- List of occult writers
- List of occult terms
- List of spirituality-related topics
- List of general fraternities
- Magical organization
References
Notes
- While all occultists are mystics, not all mystics are occultists.
- Specifically practitioners of Hermetic and Practical Kabbalah
- The idea that Jesus was a magician was first voiced by the philosopher and critic Celsus (The True Word, c. 200 CE) as we know from the rebuttal written by the Christian scholar Origen: "It was by magic that he was able to do the miracles" (Contra Celsum 1.6). Betz (1994) observes that "from early on even Jesus of Nazareth was implicated in that he was said to be mad or a magician possessed by Satan", and R. Joseph Hoffmann writes in his translation of Celsus (1987) that it is well attested that "the early Christian mission was advanced by the use of magic."
Citations
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- Partridge, Christopher (5 December 2014). The Occult World. Routledge. p. 64. ISBN 9781317596752.
- Wedeck, Harry E. (2009). Dictionary of the Occult. p. 70.
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- Russo, Arlene. Vampire Nation. Llewellyn Worldwide. p. 210.
- Wedeck, Harry. Dictionary of the Occult. Wildside Press LLC. p. 89.
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- Lansing, Richard. The Dante Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 770.
- Gunn, Joshua (2005). Modern Occult Rhetoric: Mass Media and the Drama of Secrecy in the Twentieth Century. University of Alabama Press. pp. 12, 267.
- Walter Martin; Jill Martin Rische; Van Gorden Kurt (2008). The Kingdom of the Occult. p. 242.
- Wolfe, Jessica. Humanism, Machinery, and Renaissance Literature. Cambridge University Press. p. 18.
- Harkness, Deborah (1999). John Dee's Conversations with Angels: Cabala, Alchemy, and the End of Nature. Cambridge University Press. p. 111.
- "Newton's manuscripts provide evidence that he gave considerable thought to alchemy as emblematic of a purely scientific explanation of nature and was in fact deeply involved in conceiving alchemy as spiritual." F. Calian, "Some Modern Controversies on the Historiography of Alchemy" in Annual of Medieval Studies at CEU (2010), 186.
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- Thompson, Cath (2018). All This and a Book. Hadean Press Limited. ISBN 978-1-907881-78-7.
- Hanegraaff, Wouter J.; Faivre, Antoine; Broek, Roelof van den; Brach, Jean-Pierre (2005). Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism (Online ed.). Leiden: Brill. ISBN 9789004141872. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
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- Readdy (2018), pp. ii–iii, 156–304.
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Works cited
- Betz, Hans Dieter (1994). "The Birth of Christianity as a Hellenistic Religion: Three Theories of Origin". The Journal of Religion. 74: 1–25.
- Celsus (1987). On the True Doctrine: A Discourse Against the Christians. Translated by R. Joseph Hoffmann. p. 53 n3.
- Grant, Kenneth (1980). Outside the Circles of Time. Muller. ISBN 978-0584104684.
- Kaczynski, Richard (2024). Friendship in Doubt: Aleister Crowley, J. F. C. Fuller, Victor B. Neuburg, and British Agnosticism. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-769400-8.
- Readdy, K. (2018). One Truth and One Spirit: Aleister Crowley's Spiritual Legacy. Ibis Press. ISBN 978-0892541843.
- Starr, Martin P. (2003). The Unknown God: W. T. Smith and the Thelemites. Bollingbrook, Illinois: Teitan Press. ISBN 978-0-933429-07-9.