Occult Biographies

"Apollonius, a contemporary of Jesus of Nazareth, was, like him, an enthusiastic founder of a new spiritual school. Perhaps less metaphysical and more practical than Jesus, less tender and perfect in his nature, he nevertheless inculcated the same quintessence of spirituality, and the same high moral truths." - Helena Blavatsky 1877. Read More »

Roger Bacon was a friar living in 13th century England who, hundreds of years after his death became popularly known as a powerful sorcerer. Read More »

"The most famous American Spiritualist inspirational speaker and healer" Encyclopaedia of Occultism and Parapsychology, Gordon Melton.  Born on 21 April 1840 in Cube, New York, Cora Lodencia (sometimes shown as Linn) Veronica Scott was one of the most influential 19th century Spiritualist mediums, renowned as a trance lecturer and author. Read More »

Probably the most notorious magician of his period, if not of all time, Aleister Crowley has had far more influence after his death than at any time during his over-indulged life. His reputation as a drug fiend and evil man aside, his early writings show a keen intellect, and a good sense of humour in the more staid climate of his era. What follows is a brief summary of his life. Read More »

John Dee was an eminent Elizabethan mathematician and astrologer. His studies into the Occult took him abroad on many occasions, and this has added weight to the suspicion that he was also a secret government agent (code name 007). Read More »

Immortalised by Shakespeare, Eleanor Cobham, Duchess of Gloucester was accused of trying to assassinate King Henry VI using witchcraft; a crime for which she received life imprisonment and perhaps left a ghostly legacy.

Eleanor Cobham was the ambitious second wife (married 1428) of Duke Humphrey Plantagenet of Gloucester (1390-1447). Read More »

Dr Simon Forman was an Elizabethan occultist, and alternative medical practitioner in London. He was a quack physician and surgeon, who spent time in jail for occult practices and prescribing dangerous potions, was banned from practicing medicine, and implicated in murder after his death. Read More »

Alphonse Louis Constant (more commonly known by his pseudonym: Eliphas Levi), was an occultist and author who is considered to have greatly influenced the 19th century's occult revival.

Levi was born on in Paris, France 8th February 1810 at a time when Napoleon was conquering continental Europe, and France was at war - following the bloodthirsty Revolution. Read More »

In St John’s graveyard, Burslem, can be found the last resting place of Molly Leigh, a local woman accused of being a witch but dying before she could be brought to trial. Her body is the only one positioned North to South, putting it at a right angle to every other grave in the cemetery. The story of Molly Leigh is a mixture of fact and folklore that has grown over the years. Read More »

Mother Shipton is the most famous prophetess of the British Isles. She is one of the many figures of romance who achieve widespread fame and notoriety many years after the real exploits of their lives have faded from the pages of history. With such a passage of time, and lack of historical evidence, there is even debate as to whether she existed at all. Read More »

Iona is a small island off the West coast of Scotland with a long religious and mystical history. In the late 1920s it was the scene of the mysterious death of Netta Fornario. Her motives and the manner of her passing have been the subject of much debate over the years. Read More »

Today St George’s Day is not celebrated in England with anywhere near the vigour it was in past centuries, and is actually celebrated more in other countries that share his patronage, with traditions that have not been broken for hundreds of years. Read More »

According to tradition, St Moling was descended from Catahair Már (a Prince of Leinster) and was born in Sliabh Luachra, County Kerry in 614AD. Read More »

Florence Cook was born in the East End in 1856, eight years after the Fox Sisters first introduced the world to the amazing world of Spiritualism. She was a normal child except for one account: she claimed that angels spoke to her. She led an otherwise unremarkable life until, aged 15, her parents held a séance with friends and family members. Read More »