Lencher is a demonic name that appears in certain grimoire traditions, most notably as a variant or corruption of a spirit listed in the Ars Goetia, the first book of the Lemegeton. The name likely stems from a mistranscription or regional variation of a more familiar Goetic title, such as Leraje or Leraie, though its exact etymology remains uncertain. In the context of the 777 correspondences, Lencher is assigned to the 15th path on the Tree of Life, the path of Samekh, which connects the sephirah Tiphareth (Beauty) to Yesod (Foundation).

Position on the Tree of Life

Lencher is attributed to the 15th path (Samekh), a vertical path on the Tree of Life that bridges the upper and lower realms. This path is associated with the astrological sign of Sagittarius, the Archer, and symbolizes the arrow of aspiration piercing the veil of illusion. As a demonic intelligence on this path, Lencher embodies the testing and refining energies of this transitional route, where the seeker must confront shadow aspects to achieve spiritual integration.

Astrological and Planetary Correspondence

The 15th path is ruled by Sagittarius, a fire sign governed by Jupiter. This planetary and zodiacal combination infuses Lencher with qualities of expansion, philosophical inquiry, and the pursuit of higher knowledge—but in a distorted or adversarial form. The demonic aspect here represents the perversion of these energies: dogmatic rigidity, reckless idealism, or the misuse of spiritual authority.

Historical Context

The name Lencher does not appear in the earliest manuscripts of the Lemegeton (e.g., Sloane 3824 or Harley 6483), which list spirits such as Leraje (a great earl who causes great battles and disputes) or Leraie (an archer demon). The variant "Lencher" likely emerged in later printed editions or in the works of occultists like S.L. MacGregor Mathers or Aleister Crowley, who compiled and systematized Goetic correspondences for Liber 777. In these later sources, Lencher is sometimes conflated with Leraje or treated as a distinct entity, though no independent grimoire tradition supports a unique biography. The name may also be a scribal error for Leraje, whose title as an "archer" aligns with the Sagittarian symbolism of the 15th path.

In the context of Liber 777, Lencher is listed in the column for the Succendent (the second of the three demonic hierarchies, corresponding to the astrological succedent houses). This placement reinforces its role as a spirit of intermediate power, operating in the sphere of fixed qualities and testing the initiate's resolve.

Lencher in Liber 777

In Aleister Crowley's Liber 777, Lencher appears as the demonic intelligence for the 15th path, placed in the column of the Succendent. This attribution aligns it with the path's Sagittarian nature and its position between Tiphareth and Yesod. As a Goetic spirit, Lencher is invoked for purposes of conflict, revelation, or the breaking of illusions—consistent with the arrow's symbolism. Practitioners of ceremonial magic may call upon Lencher to confront hidden enemies or to pierce through deceptive appearances, though such workings require careful preparation and protection.