20 Famous People Who Were Fascinated by the Occult

Newton didn’t just study physics; he spent years trying to decipher biblical codes and turn lead into gold. He even believed that nature held magical secrets just waiting to be revealed. One might think that a mathematical genius would stick to numbers, but he was convinced that the universe held magical secrets that only a select few could unravel.

As President Lincoln’s wife, she had to cope with depression stemming from the Civil War and the loss of her children, and she began holding séances in the “Red Room” of the White House. She consulted famous mediums of her time and even attempted to photograph the spirits she believed were visiting her.

The creator of Sherlock Holmes was surprisingly easily fooled when it came to the supernatural, which is ironic given how logical his famous detective was. He fervently defended the existence of fairies and spent a fortune trying to prove that spirits could communicate with the living. Even when he was shown proof that it was a hoax, he remained true to his mystical beliefs until the very end.

This famous poet was a member of an elite magical order known as the Golden Dawn. He participated in complex rituals, had given up eating meat because of them, and firmly believed that many of his poems had been written under the inspiration of supernatural entities. It is clear just how deeply his immersion in mysticism influenced nearly every line of his famous literary work.

It’s no secret that the “people’s princess” regularly consulted psychics and astrologers to help her cope with the pressures of royal life. She sought guidance in the stars and often visited healers to find peace during her most difficult years. Her interest in the occult was simply another way for her to try to regain a sense of control in a world that was constantly in the public eye.

He thought he could invent a kind of “spirit phone” capable of recording messages from the afterlife. Edison was convinced that ghosts were not magical at all, but were simply “living entities” that could be detected using the right equipment. Spoiler alert: that prototype still hasn’t been found.

The first African American woman to win an Oscar was deeply involved in the world of spiritualism and often consulted mediums. She found comfort in the idea that existence was not limited to what one sees on the surface, especially during her career in Hollywood.

Although he is best known for his ghost stories, Dickens was also an active member of the Ghost Club and loved investigating supernatural phenomena. He practiced mesmerism, a precursor to hypnosis, and believed he could cure people’s ailments by manipulating their “magnetic” energy. It is clear that he was personally fascinated by the strange.

Nicknamed the “Mad Monk,” this Russian figure gained immense power over the royal family thanks to his alleged mystical healing abilities. He also appeared to be immune to poison and knife wounds, leading many to believe he possessed supernatural powers. Whether he was a true mystic or simply a skilled conjurer, his life remains one of the greatest occult mysteries in history.

The legendary singer and actor based much of his career on the teachings of Aleister Crowley. In the mid-1970s, Bowie even immersed himself day and night in the study of occult symbols in order to protect his home and his energy from psychic attacks. It is clear that his multifaceted, ever-evolving persona often drew inspiration from his in-depth explorations of esotericism and the unknown.

You probably know him as one of the Founding Fathers, but rumor also had it that he was a member of the infamous Hellfire Club in England. That group was known for its secret rituals and worldly paganism, which adds a somewhat dark touch to his image. When exploring his social circles, we discover a man who was just as interested in occult traditions as he was in electricity.

It’s hard to believe that she has become the spokesperson for the Psychic Friends Network. Warwick has never hidden her belief in astrology or the fact that she uses her knowledge of tarot to help her make decisions. For her, the occult has never been a source of fear, but rather a tool to be used to achieve success.

For decades, rumors have circulated about Disney’s interest in cryogenics and the symbolism of secret societies hidden within his theme parks. While some of these stories are nothing more than urban legends, there is no doubt that he was fascinated by the idea of creating a perfect, controlled world that seemed almost magical. His obsession with the future often blended with a very particular and mystical vision of human potential.

Often dubbed the “white witch” of rock, she has cultivated a mystical aesthetic for decades—one that goes beyond mere appearances. She has openly spoken about her belief in crystals, spirituality, and channeling when composing her music. Her ethereal style and lyrics have made her an indispensable icon for all those who love moonlight and mystery.

The Prime Minister was once initiated into a Druidic order. He often visited Stonehenge and consulted with people who claimed to possess psychic powers while Britain was going through its darkest hours. It is interesting to wonder how his belief in destiny helped him remain strong during such a dark period in history.

When she attended meetings of the Society for Physical Psychology, she and her husband would spend time observing physical mediums. They hoped to discover connections between psychic energy and radiation. This is an excellent example of how even the brightest minds can be open to exploring the supernatural.

We all know that Houdini exposed fake mediums, but he himself had been searching for one long before he began debunking them. Long before his career as a famous skeptic took off, Houdini was desperately searching for a way to contact his mother after her death. His career was, in essence, a lifelong struggle between his skeptical mind and his hopeful heart.

The co-founder of Stanford University was so devastated by the loss of her son that she turned to spiritualism to find answers. She devoted the next twenty years to the practice of spiritualism. Stanford invested millions of dollars in an effort to make contact with her son, and even had occult statues erected inside the Stanford University chapel.

Elvis had an entire library devoted to books on the occult. For years, he also had a spiritual advisor who accompanied him on tour. He was particularly interested in telepathy and spent years meditating to amplify his brain waves.

Tesla claimed to receive many of his visions from “entities” and said he could even communicate with Martians. He would walk around buildings three times before entering them and believed he had a special connection to the number three. His mind operated on a level that, to his contemporaries, seemed more like magic than engineering.