The Spell of the Hidden Name

The Spell of the Hidden Name is a high-level theurgical ritual used to acquire the secret, true name of a god or spirit, granting the magician direct control over the invoked entity. This spell reflects the ancient belief that knowing a being’s true name provided dominion over them, allowing the magician to command divine forces for protection, wisdom, or supernatural power.

The ritual required fasting, purification, and an all-night invocation, culminating in a dream vision or direct manifestation of the deity. The magician would compel the god or spirit to reveal their hidden name, ensuring permanent influence over them in future magical workings.

Cultural Context

The belief in the power of secret names was central to Egyptian temple magic and Hellenistic theurgy. In Egyptian tradition, gods like Ra, Thoth, and Isis were said to possess hidden names, which only the most skilled priests could uncover. Greek and Hermetic traditions later adapted this concept, merging it with Platonic and Gnostic ideas of divine hierarchy, where true names held the key to unlocking cosmic forces.

Key Components

• A secluded ritual chamber, ensuring no external interference.
• A magical papyrus or lead tablet, inscribed with divine names and sigils.
• Sacred fasting and abstinence, preparing the magician for revelation.
• A consecrated mirror or bowl of water, used as a medium for divine vision.
• An all-night invocation, calling upon the chosen deity or spirit.

Ritual Process

Purification & Invocation Preparation

• The magician underwent three days of fasting and ritual purity, ensuring spiritual readiness.
• A sacred circle was drawn, containing divine symbols and names of protective forces.
• A mirror or bowl of water was placed at the ritual’s center, acting as the conduit for divine manifestation.

The Great Invocation & Name Revelation

• The magician recited a long invocation, progressively building in intensity:
• “By the stars above, by the silence below, I call upon thee, O Hidden One! Reveal to me thy secret name, that I may speak it and know thy essence!”
• A final offering of wine, incense, or gold dust was placed before the mirror or water bowl.
• The magician then stared into the medium, awaiting a vision or direct spoken revelation.

Binding & Name Inscription

• If the god or spirit appeared, the magician repeated the revealed name aloud, sealing the knowledge.
• The name was inscribed on a papyrus scroll or lead tablet, ensuring permanent mastery over the entity.
• A final oath was spoken, securing the magician’s authority over the divine force.

Cultural Notes

This ritual aligns with both Egyptian temple magic and Greek theurgical traditions, where priests sought hidden knowledge through trance states and divine visitations. The concept of true names granting supernatural control persists in later Gnostic and Kabbalistic traditions, where knowing a being’s true essence allows the practitioner to wield divine power directly.