Hey supernatural readers, writers, and lovers of all things occult!
As a dark fiction author, I love diving ears-deep into research (especially when it’s on something mystical) even though it has led to quite a few sleepless nights as I fell down the rabbit hole of the occult more than once. When I was building the lore for Into the Dark, We Go, I spent countless hours studying texts like The Key of Solomon the King (and even consulted a real witch!).
In my upcoming novel, Marianne and the Devil, you will find not only ancient grimoires and rituals, but also cursed objects, family heirlooms, and binding soul contracts.
I found quite a few free online archives with resources on occult philosophy, witchcraft, esoteric symbolism, and ancient demonology. And whether you are driven by academic research or curiosity, I want to share them with you.
⚠️ Important: keep in mind that this platform uses AI translations and descriptions. Please do not rely on the automated summaries or translations for accuracy.
Why it is still worth checking out: It’s an open-access repository with over 15,000 digitized works from the Embassy of the Free Mind in Amsterdam, focusing on early modern magic, alchemy, Renaissance esotericism, hermeticism, rosicrucianism, Kabbalah, and banned books
Why it is worth checking out: A long-running digital repository dedicated to Western esotericism, ceremonial magic, and the traditions surrounding Hermeticism, Qabalah, alchemy, and Thelema. It features a vast index of primary texts, historic essays, rare treatises, and modern commentary on occult history and practice.
Cornell University Witchcraft Collection
Why it is worth checking out: The digital collection features only a small portion of Cornell’s Witchcraft Collection, which contains over 3,000 items documenting the history of the Inquisition and the persecution of witchcraft, primarily in Europe, from the 15th through the 18th centuries.
Wellcome Collection Digital Library
Why it is worth checking out: A museum and library archive providing free global access to thousands of digitized historical and cultural items, focusing on the history of medicine, health, and human experience. Users can freely explore and download millions of manuscripts, rare books, archives, and artistic works directly.
Science History Institute Digital Collections
Why it is worth checking out: A rich collection of high-resolution digital artifacts, rare manuscripts, and historic texts on Roman engineering and medicine, as well as a massive trove of rare manuscripts and artwork on the history of alchemy, occult chemistry, and early mysticism.
Why it is worth checking out: A massive online repository archiving freely accessible public-domain texts on esoteric belief systems, folklore, mythology, and world religions. If you’re looking for classical grimoires, Solomonic magic, occult philosophy, and ancient mythologies, you will find them here.
Why it is worth checking out: The world’s oldest free, volunteer-driven digital library founded in 1971 with over 70,000 free public-domain e-books. It is fantastic for finding classic gothic horror fiction, vintage folklore collections, 19th-century ghost stories, and early scholarly studies on superstition and demonology. Thousands of Project Gutenberg volunteers have digitized and proofread these books for you.
Do with that what you will (but be careful!)
As always, if you'd like to support me, read my books and leave reviews!
INTO THE DARK, WE GO - Appalachian supernatural thriller
FAIRBANKS - Dystopian family drama
LOUD AS BONES - Sapphic gothic horror
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