Correspondences:
Dates: March 1st to 10th
Direction: North
Tarot: 9 of Cups
Planet: Venus
Metal: Copper
Element: Water
Colour: Green
Plant: Honeysuckle
Incense: Sandalwood
Zodiac: 10°–20° Pisces

Enn: Avage ayer Dantalion on ca

From the Goetia:
“…appearing in the Form of a Man with many Countenances, all Men’s and Women’s Faces; and he hath a Book in his right hand. His Office is to teach all Arts and Sciences unto any; and to declare the Secret Counsel of any one; for he knoweth the Thoughts of all Men and Women, and can change them at his Will. He can cause Love, and show the Similitude of any person, and show the same by a Vision, let them be in what part of the World they Will.”

Dantalion is a spirit that many practitioners hold in high regard, though curiously there is far less written about him than might be expected given his popularity. He appears in the form of a man with many faces—those of men and women—while holding a book in his right hand. His offices include teaching all arts and sciences, declaring the secret counsels of anyone, knowing the thoughts of all people, and being able to change those thoughts to his will. He can also cause love, show the likeness of any person, and reveal them in visions regardless of distance.

Modern interpreters expand upon this description. Connolly views Dantalion as a spirit who helps one relate with others on an emotional level, teaching empathy and emotional intelligence. This resonates strongly with his role as a figure who reads and influences human thoughts, not in a manipulative sense alone, but in ways that can foster deeper understanding.

Mirta Wake points out the difficulty in finding detailed information on Dantalion, noting that many sources simply repeat Goetic or infernal dictionary entries. She observes that what is needed in the occult community are genuine shared experiences—personal gnosis offered without fear of being “wrong.” Only by comparing these accounts can a fuller picture of Dantalion be built. Wake also notes a speculative link between Dantalion and Daedalion, the son of Hesperus (the Greek counterpart of Lucifer). This connection emphasises the possibility of trickster elements in Dantalion’s nature, warning practitioners to double-check information he provides, as he may test with misleading answers.

The Goetia Ritual interprets his many faces as symbols of elemental powers, mutable forms, and shape-shifting qualities. The book in his hand has been variously understood: some see it as the Liber Vitae or Liber Mundi, the universal record of names of the living and the dead, while others regard it as a representation of hidden knowledge. Dantalion is also described as a bringer of both soaring dreams and oppressive nightmares, reminding us of his capacity to reveal both inspiration and shadow.

Despite his popularity among magicians, Dantalion remains enigmatic. There is little consolidated lore beyond these fragments, which makes direct engagement and personal record-keeping vital for anyone who wishes to work with him. His lessons appear to centre on the mysteries of mind, empathy, thought, and dream, but he resists being pinned down too neatly. He is a spirit who must be known by experience, not just by study.

Watch the short film from Omeleto, “Summon a Fiend”.