Spirit Profile: The Djinn

The djinn are ancient, powerful spirits with connections to nature, knowledge, and human fate. They are portrayed as intermediaries between humans and the divine, playing a significant role in magical practices, rituals, and even poetry. Reputed to bear knowledge of lost civilizations and arcane secrets, djinn may be considered “living archives”, traditionally consulted by soothsayers and diviners for guidance on the future or hidden truths. They also hold a unique role as protectors of ancestral wisdom, connecting the living with their heritage and sometimes serving as conduits to communicate with the dead. 

To those of us in the West, djinn lore is especially compelling for what it reveals about the links between Western and Middle Eastern magical traditions: an association that, in our political climate, has become, in its own right, something of an arcane secret. They're also a fascinating case study of what gets lost through the process of demonization, especially considering their connections to the Goetia demons, which are discussed in part 5 of this article. 

In pre-Islamic animist societies, nature was viewed as alive with spiritual forces, and djinn were seen as playing a major role in this spiritual ecosystem. Djinn were thought to inhabit natural elements like deserts, mountains, caves, oases, rivers, and trees. They were believed to be guardians of nature who could control the elements, including the weather, water, and wind. They could bring rain or drought, whirlwinds or calm, making them both feared and revered: similarly to the Aos Sí in Irish folklore. Like in Irish folklore, many taboos kept people from entering certain areas, cutting down certain plants, or killing certain animals, on the chance that this would disturb a resident djinn— or worse, kill a djinn who had shape-shifted into an innocuous natural form. The consequences for this could be the djinn lashing out, or the djinn’s relatives carrying out a campaign of revenge. 

Djinn were thought to have access to supernatural knowledge, and could be consulted for insights into events hidden from human eyes (the etymology of “djinn” being “hidden” or “concealed”). Soothsayers, diviners, and fortune-tellers communicated with djinn to gain access to hidden knowledge and to foretell the future. Djinn are also frequently portrayed as being in contact with the dead, often facilitating communication between the living and the dead. Many cultures viewed djinn as guardians of family lineages, protecting their ancestral heritage. This led to the belief that dinn could influence the fate and well-being of descendants, watching over them as they navigated life. As carriers of ancestral knowledge, djinn preserved cultural stories, traditions, and wisdom, conveying these teachings to the living to ensure that important aspects of heritage were not forgotten.

In Middle Eastern folklore, djinn are described as having long lifespans, sometimes living for thousands of years. Because of this, they are believed to have witnessed events from the distant past: including primordial cosmic or terrestrial changes, the rise and fall of empires, and the creation of sacred texts. In many traditions, djinn are associated with ancient civilizations that have been lost to time. They are said to have retained the wisdom of forgotten cultures (including these cultures' science and magic), because they lived through these cultures. Historically, they were seen as reliable sources of information about events that had faded from human memory. Djinn are closely linked to the protection of hidden treasures, both material and intellectual (this function is still vaguely retained in the Western concept of the genie). They are often depicted as guardians of libraries, or of texts whose contents have long been forgotten. For centuries, sorcerers and mystics have worked to summon or make pacts with djinn, believing that they can reveal secret spells, incantations, and other lost information. Their hidden repositories might contain ancient scriptures, scientific treatises, or— this is particularly characteristic— secrets of magic, alchemy, and other occult arts.

Djinn were further seen as intermediaries between humans and more powerful deities. They could influence the world in ways that gods might not engage with directly, making them important figures in rituals, prayers, and magical practices. Shamans and magicians were believed capable of summoning djinn to perform tasks, reveal hidden truths, or bring good fortune: for this, they were often highly regarded members of society. 

In pre-Islamic thought, and later in Islamic thought, it was believed that every individual had a djinn companion, known as a qareen. Rituals or meditation were used to develop a deeper connection to the qareen, in order to gain spiritual insight. Djinn were also believed to inspire poets. Some poets claimed that their works were relayed to them by a djinn companion, sometimes called a sahir (meaning "magic" or "enchanter"). These djinn were thought to act as muses, inspiring verses and revealing new forms of artistic expression. The djinn muse is also occasionally credited with granting prophetic abilities to those they favored. 

Poetry in the pre-Islamic era had a magical quality: poets were seen as intermediaries between the human and spiritual worlds, possessing supernatural power through their words.Their verses could praise or curse, inspire love or war, heal or harm. Because of this, it was natural for poets to credit djinn as the source of their inspiration. This explained how poets could craft works capable of moving entire tribes emotionally and spiritually. The djinn, as liminal beings who exist between the physical and spiritual worlds, were perfect agents to provide inspiration that transcended human experience.

Through trade, conquest, and cultural exchanges, djinn legends and folk practices traveled to Europe, where they were often linked to magical practices, namely alchemy.

In Medieval and Renaissance Europe, the belief in djinn, while not universally widespread, influenced a variety of esoteric traditions. Certain influential grimoires, such as the "Picatrix", reference djinn as spirits that could be summoned to assist practitioners in their magical endeavors, guiding them through complex rituals: similar to the notion of familiar spirits in European witchcraft. 

In European as in Middle Eastern thought, djinn were portrayed as custodians of esoteric knowledge. A number of alchemists believed that they possessed hidden truths about the natural world and the secrets of transformation, making them essential to the alchemical process. Djinn were sometimes linked to the four elements, representing the forces of nature that alchemists sought to manipulate, and alchemical texts often included invocations to djinn as part of ritual practices. Petitions to them were meant to summon their assistance, helping the alchemist harness their powers for successful transmutation and acquisition of knowledge: particularly, knowledge about astrology, herbalism, or the properties of metals.

Alchemists sought to transform not only base metals into gold, but also to achieve personal spiritual enlightenment, and djinn were seen as intermediaries who, as shape-shifters themselves, could assist in these transformations. This is again similar to Middle Eastern grimoire traditions, namely the "Shams al-Ma’arif"*, a Sufi grimoire written around the 13th century. Djinn were believed to aid in the inner transformation of the practitioner, facilitating a deeper understanding of both the material and spiritual realms.

Djinn were also linked to Hermetic traditions, and viewed by writers like Agrippa as entities that could bridge the human and divine realms. This connection reinforced the belief (common to the West and to the Middle East) in a complex spiritual hierarchy, where djinn played a role in mediating between different planes of existence.

Djinn and the Goetia demons** share several connections in Renaissance magical thought, reflecting a blend of Islamic and European occult traditions. 

Both djinn and the Goetia demons are often petitioned for assistance, knowledge, or power. Like djinn, the Goetia demons are described as potential allies who can provide practical assistance in daily life.

Arguably, the most famous grimoire to feature the Goetia demons is "The Lesser Key of Solomon”— which was in no way written by King Solomon, but whose title is still significant for the nod it pays to Solomon's reputation as "master of all djinn" (in the folklore, Solomon may be half-djinn himself, but that's another story.)

Like djinn, the Goetia demons are:

• Thought to possess ancient knowledge and insights about the natural and metaphysical realms. By invoking these spirits, practitioners aim to access their wisdom, which can reveal secrets about the universe, nature, and the laws governing existence.

• Regarded as guides towards practical and magical goals. By establishing a relationship with these entities, practitioners hope to receive guidance and support in seeking out both material and spiritual benefits.

Like djinn, the Goetia demons are petitioned for:

• Divination on past, present, and future events

• Communication with the dead

• Rapid acquisition of knowledge or skills

• Access to hidden treasure

• Swaying the opinions of others

• Money and personal success

• Success in war

...and so on.

Like djinn, the Goetia demons were frequently invoked for assistance in alchemy. Again, many Renaissance thinkers viewed alchemy as the transformation not only of substances, but of the soul. By working with Goetic spirits, practitioners sought (and seek) to transmute their spiritual and emotional states, unlocking hidden potentials and transforming their inner selves.

Unlike the djinn, who were traditionally supplicated through offerings, the Goetia demons have traditionally been "commanded and compelled" by would-be mages: carry out my will, or else! This is a cultural difference in the magical styles of Europe vs. the Middle East,*** although it should be said that earlier grimoires, in the tradition of the Picatrix, overwhelmingly favor respectful invocation over more coercive methods. 

So how do complex, nuanced entities like the djinn (or for that matter, the Goetia demons) get reduced down to scary, monstrous, bad, untrustworthy entities in the public imagination?

Why do I google "djinn" and find stuff like this?

In my opinion, it's through a predictable process:

When a new religion comes on the scene, it has to compete with the old, established beliefs. Its best method for doing this is by rebranding the old beliefs: as dark, dangerous, unreliable, and generally ooky-spooky. With time, the folklore reflects these changes. The old beliefs become:

• "Forbidden" (why forbidden? Because they're Bad, or because the new religion doesn't want people doing them?)

• "Dangerous" (why dangerous? Because they're Bad, or because the new religion doesn't want people doing them?)

• Disreputable and "dark" (why so fringe all of the sudden? Is it because they're being pushed out of the social fabric?)

That's why I've said "pre-Islamic djinn" so many times in this article: because after "the new religion" comes on the scene, the folklore is going to change dramatically, especially if that religion is monotheistic.*****

As a consequence, if you know anything about the djinn today, you probably know them as dark, unreliable forces— not as poetic muses, not as alchemical specialists, and not as keepers of history.

For example, in the Islamic era, we get this story to explain why people should no longer consult the djinn on future events:

I think it's very important, when thinking about so-called "dark" entities, to consider the source of the lore: is it basically an advertisement for the new religion (“Try our predictions-they're 52% more reliable than other leading brands!”)?

As beings with control over the natural world, there has always been an element of fear, combined with reverence, associated with the djinn. In the past several centuries, shifts away from reverence, and towards an overwhelmingly fear-based attitude, do not, I believe, tell us much about the entities under consideration: they do, however, speak to a broader historical effort to redefine cultural narratives in order to promote one doctrine over another. Which, to me, is the ookiest-spookiest thing of them all.

*****Actually, the prevalence of djinn belief in contemporary Islamic societies can partially be attributed to that religion's policy of absorbing the prior beliefs of its peoples. This is in contrast to Christianity's policy (laid out in "The City of God", by Saint Augustine) of flatly suppressing the beliefs of "conquered peoples". 

Throughout the Quran, the djinn are also portrayed as bringing their historical knowledge to bear and chiming in with support and affirmation of the Prophet Muhammed:

In "The Story of the Listening Djinn", the djinn overhear a recitation of the Quran and recognize that its message aligns with the teachings of earlier prophets. They return to their villages, and urge their people to believe in the message of Muhammed.

In "The Conversion of the Djinn", a group of djinn are again so impressed by the Quran's historical precedents that they immediately convert to Islam.