Leraje (also spelled Leraie, Lerayie, or Leraikha) is the 14th spirit in the Ars Goetia, a 17th-century grimoire compiled as part of the Lesser Key of Solomon. He is described as a Great Marquis of Hell, appearing as a bowman in green armor, carrying a bow and quiver. He commands 30 legions of spirits and is associated with:
- Instilling or healing wounds and diseases.
- Kindling battles and disputes.
- Knowledge of archery, poisons, and hidden treasures.
- General martial and destructive arts.
These descriptions stem from medieval demonology, where spirits like Leraje were invoked for practical or malevolent purposes. Note that such rituals are rooted in occult fiction and folklore, with no empirical evidence of efficacy. Proceed at your own risk, as historical accounts warn of spiritual dangers, psychological effects, or legal/ethical issues in some contexts.
Preparation for Summoning
Traditional Goetic evocation requires meticulous setup to “bind” the spirit and ensure compliance. These steps are drawn from the Ars Goetia and related texts like the Pseudomonarchia Daemonum by Johann Weyer.
- Purification and Fasting:
- Abstain from meat, alcohol, and sexual activity for 9 days (or at least 3–7 days). Bathe ritually with holy water or herbal infusions (e.g., hyssop, rue) to cleanse your aura.
- Confess sins or meditate on your intent to avoid backlash.
- Timing and Astrology:
- Perform during a waxing moon (for constructive goals like healing) or waning moon (for destruction). Ideal planetary hour: Tuesday (Mars-ruled, aligning with Leraje’s martial nature) at dawn or dusk.
- Avoid Mercury retrograde or eclipses, as they disrupt infernal communications.
- Materials Needed:
- Circle of Protection: Draw a 9-foot diameter circle with chalk or flour on the ground. Inscribe it with the First Pentacle of Solomon (a protective sigil) and names of power (e.g., Adonai, Elohim).
- Triangle of Art: Outside the circle, draw a triangle (4 feet per side) with a brazier or incense burner inside. This confines the spirit.
- Tools: Black-handled knife (athame), virgin parchment, raven’s feather quill, blood-red ink (or your own blood for binding), frankincense/myrrh incense, a bow or arrow as an offering.
- Sigil of Leraje: Draw his seal (a complex glyph resembling a bow crossed with arrows; reference images from Ars Goetia editions).
| Item | Purpose | Source Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Circle | Shields the summoner from harm | Ars Goetia, Chapter 1 |
| Triangle of Art | Traps and manifests the spirit | Lesser Key of Solomon |
| Sigil | Calls and binds Leraje specifically | Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia |
| Incense | Purifies air and attracts the spirit | Traditional evocation rites |
The Ritual Steps
Perform alone in a secluded space at night. Wear white robes or go skyclad (nude) for purity.
- Preliminary Invocation:
- Face east, light incense, and recite the Preliminary Invocation (from Ars Goetia): “I invoke and conjure thee, O Spirit [Leraje], by the power of the Most High… Appear before me in a fair and comely shape…”
- Enter the Circle:
- Step inside clockwise, knife in hand. Anoint the circle’s edges with oil. Place Leraje’s sigil in the triangle.
- Conjuration of Leraje:
- Chant his specific call three times, vibrating the words: “Leraje, great Marquis of the infernal legions, I summon and command thee by the power of the seals of Solomon, by the names Tetragrammaton, Agla, On, appear thou now within this triangle, visible and affable, in thy true form or that of a man skilled in archery. Obey my will, or be tormented by the flames of the pit!”
- Burn the sigil in the triangle while visualizing a green archer emerging from smoke.
- Communication and Binding:
- Once manifested (as visions, voices, or sensations), state your request clearly (e.g., “Teach me the art of unerring aim” or “Sow discord among my foes”). Offer a token (e.g., a drawn bowstring) in exchange.
- Use the License to Depart if compliant: “Go in peace, Leraje, and return when called.”
- Dismissal and Banishment:
- Thank the spirit, then recite the Banishment: “By the power of the pentagram, depart in peace!” Extinguish incense and dismantle the circle counterclockwise.
- Journal any experiences; burn notes if negative.
Warnings and Considerations
- Risks: Grimoires describe madness, possession, or curses if the ritual fails (e.g., improper circle breaches). Modern occultists like Aleister Crowley adapted these but emphasized psychological preparation.
- Ethics: Invocations often involve coercion; consensual spirit work (e.g., via chaos magic) alters this.
This is a faithful reproduction of historical methods