Lucifer
Speaking about who, what, or how Lucifer is, as well as his many facets, roles, masks, and manifestations. It’s so complex that magicians rarely agree on all these aspects. And, ultimately, that’s okay. Lucifer is one and many things simultaneously. He is an entity and yet manifold; an archetype that manifests in countless ways; a title and the embodiment of various deities—or rather, many deities and spirits embody the Luciferian spirit.
In this essay, I do not intend to provide a historical definition, reveal a single truth, or offer a definitive conclusion about who or what Lucifer is. As always, I will speak from my personal experience and what he represents to me while leaving the door open to other possibilities.
I’ll start by saying that my relationship with Lucifer spans many years. He was the first entity I called upon during a ritual of Sinister Magic. At the time, I was looking for something very specific: an alliance, a pact in which I pledged to follow this path in exchange for wisdom. This happened when I was 16 and had little idea of what I was doing. I was guided through the process by my mentor and teacher in Satanism. Looking back now, after many years, I must admit it hasn’t turned out badly. The alliance proved fruitful, and the knowledge of the occult has flowed steadily throughout these years. My commitment to this path remains strong to this day.
Lucifer is the archetypal representation of the Adversary and has gained enormous popularity among practitioners and magicians of the Left-Hand Path. This is largely because, in certain Judeo-Christian legends and folklore, he was the first rebel—the one who opposed God and his divine laws. Once favored by God, he “sinned” by believing he could be equal to Him, which ultimately led to his exile from paradise. He ceased to be an archangel and became the Prince of Darkness. According to this folklore, he didn’t leave alone; many other archangels followed him, making him their leader in the battle against God’s tyranny. Similar legends appear in many mythologies worldwide. Perhaps the most well-known is the story of Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods to give it to humanity. A common theme runs through all these tales: rebellion against the tyranny of the higher god(s). However, this is just one aspect of Lucifer, and we cannot focus solely on this. If we look closely, this view is overly dualistic and limits him to a single role, rather than acknowledging his multiplicity of manifestations.
Exploring other aspects, we find that Lucifer was a minor Roman god, a solar deity about whom little is known and who did not have a significant cult. Later, within traditional Italian witchcraft, we encounter Lucifer as the consort of Diana, the goddess of witches. Lucifer was her brother and lover, occupying a central role in this tradition.
Then there is Lucifer listed in medieval grimoires, where he appears as the Prince of Hell, commanding all other demons and holding the highest rank, making him the most difficult to access. In these texts, a magician seeking to summon him often required an intermediary; direct encounters were rare. Here, Lucifer takes on the classic infernal demon persona—with a tail, wings, and trident. This is a powerful aspect that cannot be dismissed, as it holds significant esoteric value, especially when considering his many masks and manifestations.
In modernity—or rather, postmodernity—we practitioners of the Left-Hand Path have reclaimed Lucifer’s image. This is not because he lacks a dark, chaotic, or destructive side. On the contrary, if there is one thing Lucifer represents, it is the totality of forces—the transcendence of duality and opposition—not as disconnected elements but as two sides of the same coin.
In recent years, Lucifer has gained incredible prominence, alongside other figures like Lilith or Hecate. This is because many authors and magicians have actively worked with these deities, sharing their experiences, personal gnosis, symbols, and ritual methods. Although Luciferianism has been discussed in the past—appearing in orders such as the “Fraternity of Saturn” or in Blavatsky’s magazine Lucifer—we cannot deny the pivotal role Michael W. Ford has played in modern Luciferianism. He has been a precursor and almost a founder of an entire movement that exists today. His work seeks to uncover this archetype in gods and demons from various cultures worldwide. He refers to this as “Deific Masks.” Furthermore, he has proposed an entire system of ceremonial magic adapted to sinister symbolism. While his work has critics and detractors who question its quality, this often comes down to personal preference. His contributions to the Left-Hand Path and Luciferianism as a whole are undeniable.
In this postmodern magical landscape, some authors and magicians also suggest that Lucifer is an ancient force or god, predating humanity, with origins that are distant and stellar. Some place him within Thaumiel, the final Qliphoth on the Tree of Shadows, though they acknowledge this is merely one aspect of him. They propose that his true essence is trans-Plutonian, with his throne existing beyond the stars. Others, with similar views, believe he is an Atlantean god, whose gnosis is arcane and mostly lost to us. These practitioners, through ritual means, aim to recover this ancient knowledge. Of course, all of this must be understood within a context of personal gnosis and not as dogmatic truth.
Beyond these interpretations and masks, Lucifer within the Left-Hand Path is an initiatory model. The magician aspires to become like him—or at least embody some of his qualities. The magician seeks Lucifer’s guidance to isolate their consciousness and discover their divine spark, their inner black flame, which will allow them to burn away all obstacles to achieving their ultimate goal: self-deification.
How does all this translate into practical terms? Firstly, we must understand that Lucifer is not a figure to be worshipped. While there may be an element of dark devotion, this is not the most appropriate or intended way to work with him. Again, there are no dogmas, and if worship works for someone, that’s fine too. However, I find it contradictory to bow before a deity that represents the ultimate expression of freedom while seeking to liberate the psyche and rebel against divine laws. That said, in my experience, working with Lucifer is not an everyday endeavor. As magicians, we have cycles of work, and this is highly personal. Working permanently with a masculine force and all its associated traits has its pros and cons. On one hand, Lucifer is the light-bearer, and when we speak of light, we refer to gnosis or knowledge. This light can illuminate the darkest corners of the magician’s psyche—or turn them into a complete fool, a blind fanatic. Working with Lucifer in any of his aspects is always a double-edged sword, constantly testing us. Hence my preference for cyclical work.
Depending on your level of initiation, you will need to work with a specific aspect of Lucifer. Unless you are clear about this, it’s best to make a general call to Lucifer and see what he says—how he chooses to guide you and through which aspects and forms. Alternatively, you can select a specific mask to work with, though this requires a deeper understanding of his figure. In this essay, I’ll provide a ritual for taking this first step, after which the subsequent steps must be undertaken individually.
Before we get to the practical part, one thing I’ve learned in my years of working with Lucifer is that this is a solitary, individual, self-initiatory path. All titles, ranks, and degrees people claim within the Left-Hand Path are merely superficial trappings. The only one who can progress on an individual path is you. If you’re lucky enough to have a mentor, they can only teach you the basics; the rest must be discovered on your own. This mantra of mine was not easily learned—it cost me work with others, with groups, and even some valuable friendships. However, it was part of the ordeal and the learning process. So, if you’re not prepared for real change or to face the truth in its rawest form, don’t call upon Lucifer in your life.
With that said, let’s move on to a ritual for calling Lucifer.
This ritual focuses on a call/invocation to Lucifer, emphasizing his role as the Light-bearer. The ritual is open and flexible, serving as either a starting point or inspiration for creating your ritual. I suggest you make it your own—adapt it, modify it, etc. The sigil I’ll use as an example is one representing the Light-Bearer, a personal seal Lucifer showed me during a long period of work with his various manifestations and masks. Once again, feel free to use this symbol, a classic one from any medieval grimoire, a personal symbol, or one from a modern grimoire. Be free and creative.
Sigil of Lucifer
It’s ideal to divide the ritual into several days. This way, you can immerse yourself more deeply in Lucifer’s energies and observe what happens after each ritual. Remember that, regardless of whether you have a vision or an astral experience during the ritual, it’s always important to notice its impact on your daily life. Sometimes, this isn’t immediate—it might take time—while other times, it happens within hours. It’s also worth noting that some changes are internal, while others are external, depending on what we need to experience. These changes can be subtle or very obvious, so I suggest keeping an open mind about everything that happens. Don’t forget to take notes and record everything in your magical journal; this will be very helpful in the future.
How many days should the ritual last? There’s no definitive answer to this. I prefer to work with odd numbers, so I would dedicate at least 3 days and a maximum of 9. It’s also important not to overdo it. Ultimately, the exact duration is something you’ll determine for yourself.
Regarding the materials to be used, I’ll mention the basics; the rest you can add according to your tradition and the way you work. This ritual is based on the Draconian Tradition, which I follow, but it can easily be adapted to any other. You’ll need Lucifer’s sigil, which you can either draw by hand or print if you lack artistic skills—it doesn’t have to be perfect. Some incense to accompany the ceremony will also be necessary; dragon’s blood, myrrh, or any other incense you enjoy will work. A blue candle is ideal—in my experience, Lucifer’s energy is electric blue, but you can also use gold, red, or black candles. Your ritual dagger, and, if you choose to use blood in the ritual, some sharp object like a hypodermic needle—this is entirely optional and not obligatory.
Arrange these elements on your altar, positioning the sigil so that you can observe it comfortably. The ritual can be performed at any time of the day, though evening or night is preferable. If you work with the moon’s phases, the Full Moon is a powerful moment, but the Waxing Moon is also suitable. Another option is sunrise or sunset. The opening of your ritual space is left to personal preference, so I won’t include any instructions for that here, as I assume that if you’re performing this ritual, you already have basic knowledge of magic.
In a comfortable position, relax your mind and body. Light the blue candle and the incense, and focus all your attention on Lucifer’s sigil. Raise both your hands and begin to chant as many times as needed until you feel the ritual space is filled with energy:
“Lucifer, Bearer of Light, come to me.”
If you decide to use blood in your ritual, now is the time to drip a few drops onto the sigil. If not, proceed to the next step. Then, raise your dagger and begin to recite the invocation:
¡Lucifer Illuminatio Mea!
¡In Nomine Draconis!
¡In Nomine Nox!
Lucifer, Bearer of Light and Gnosis, of Forbidden Wisdom and Forgotten Knowledge, you, the First Rebel who stood against God’s tyranny and His laws, I call upon you tonight.
Come with your infernal hosts, Prince of Darkness, ruler of the brightest heavens and the deepest pits of Hell.
I call upon you, Lucifer, Horned Master, who presides with the Great Lady over the Witches’ Sabbat and the Nocturnal Path.
I call upon you, Lucifer, who has one and a thousand faces, who is one and many at the same time, older than humankind and its gods, who emerged from the Primordial Womb of the Great Dark Goddess and is part of her essence.
I call upon you, Lucifer, in all your forms, with all your masks, with your Light and your Shadow.
I call upon you, Lucifer, to illuminate me, to show me the path of Conscious Isolation, to ignite the divine spark within me, which will become the Black Fire of Illumination—my Self-Illumination—allowing me to become the God/Goddess of my universe and destiny.
Come, Lucifer, and guide me so I can break the chains that bind me to lies, so I can see clearly.
Come, Lucifer, I invite you into my consciousness; allow me to be a vessel for your wisdom, your power, your gnosis.
Come, Lucifer, and descend into me now.
So Mote It Be!
In the name of the Dragon, the primordial source of all Creation and Destruction!
After the invocation, ensure you’re in a comfortable position and refocus your attention on the sigil. It serves as a gateway to Lucifer’s Current, from which an electric blue energy flows, merging with your essence. Allow Lucifer to guide you, to show you what you need to see and learn. Open your mind to the experience and take your time. When you’re ready to end the ritual, bid Lucifer farewell with spontaneous words of gratitude. Repeat the ritual as many times as you find necessary, and remember to document your experiences in your magical journal.
Blessed Magic.
Daemon Barzai.