The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King

Book Review   

The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King

 by Miguel Connor  

Destiny Books, 2025, Softcover 276 pages, Illustrated (b&w), (Chapter) Notes, Bibliography, Index, ISBN-13: 979-88885015351

Available in softcover, Kindle and Audiobook formats

Reviewed by Nigel Patterson, May 2025

Occult:  The occult (from the Latin word occultus; lit. 'clandestine', 'hidden', 'secret') is "knowledge of the hidden". In common usage, occult refers to "knowledge of the paranormal", as opposed to "knowledge of the measurable", usually referred to as science.

This year I have read a diverse selection of books about Elvis, from straight biographies and photo-journals to subject specific and non-linear compilations. However, the most unusual (so far) is certainly Miguel Connor's study of Elvis and the occult.

The Occult Elvis  is a distillation of information from disparate sources. The author's approach is largely descriptive, drawing information from the wide range of sources - the Bibliography runs to eight pages and the Notes section, 16 pages! Conner has done an admirable job in bringing together and logically organising the eclectic and cryptic mix of enigmatic subjects.

In writing his book, two information sources were early catalysts for its genesis, the Baz Luhrmann film, Elvis, and Gary Tillery's substantive examination of Elvis and his search for meaning, The Seeker King: A Spiritual Biography of Elvis Presley. 

There is so much in The Occult Elvis that it is hard to know where to start. A great deal of what is in the book will be new to many readers.

It is no secret that as an adult, Elvis engaged in an ongoing search for meaning in his life. His avid reading and questioning of world religions and alternative practices, made him knowledgeable about many “esoteric/new-age” practices and “non-mainstream” religions, for example, Kabbalah, Gnosticism, Theosophy, and Eastern traditions including karate.

Also, an early chapter, The Apocalyptical World That Created Elvis: At the Crossroads of Heaven and Hell, is a colorful account of the role of music, particularly myth-infused, Blues, in determining who Elvis Presley, was.

It is within these contexts that Miguel Conner eruditely gives meaning to Elvis’ search.

The author provides a cogent account of how Elvis studied the works of major 19th and 20th century occultists, such as H.P. Blavatsky, G.I. Gurdjieff, P.D. Ouspensky, and yogi Paramahansa Yogananda.

That Elvis was well read in the esoteric practices of sex magic, meditation, astrology, and numerology may surprise some readers, although most will be aware that one of Elvis’ favorite books, in fact a book never far from his side, was Cheiro’s Book of Numbers.

The author writes with flair and an evocative tone (appropriate for the mysterious and challenging subject matter):

"It is time for the world to see America's Magician, for, as will be discussed, we are in a dangerous time of transition, and Elvis was essential to a previous shift.”

“Never mind that Elvis was the trickster, the Lord of the Crossroads, a man busy changing history, fortune’s fool and healer of the sick, or that he transformed millions of souls who listened to his music or saw him live. Never mind that so many prophecies and portents followed him like a Messiah. Reality is still that persistent illusion…… ...and the crowds always want more proof that the shaman can manipulate that illusion.”

One of Connor's conclusions is that Elvis Presley was not just a singer, but the greatest magician America has ever produced. He provides various evidence in support of his claim, including:

Elvis underwent a one-way shootout with a brand-new Pantera car. The vehicle wouldn’t start, so he got out and casually shot the engine five times. The car magically started. “It’s like he even scared the hell out of the car,” (Linda) Thompson remarked.

On the issue of Elvis' magical and healing powers, critical minds will suggest there are other, more worldly explanations for the many cited pieces of evidence. For instance, Elvis curing his grandmother, Minnie Mae's, arthritis and other ailments, Priscilla Presley's claim that his hands could cure her headaches, and Elvis eradicating Jerry Schilling's crippling back pain, are all open to more than one explanation. For instance, while Jerry mentioned the incident in his memoir, 'Me and a Guy Named Elvis: My Lifelong Friendship with Elvis Presley', he did not believe his pain was cured by Elvis.

There is also Ginger Alden's claim that during a bout of nausea Elvis cured her by placing his hand on her abdomen. I will leave the reader to ponder this incident.

Elvis' power to move clouds has a prosaic explanation that anyone who has watched clouds in the sky, when there is no apparent hint of breeze, can attest to.

Accepting the foregoing claims without challenge or deeper consideration is reductive and offers the reader only a slanted view (albeit an entertaining one).

As we learn in the book, Elvis’ moment of enlightenment occurred when he was with Larry Geller. I won’t go into great detail, suffice to say it involved a cloud turning into the image of Joseph Stalin before changing into the image of Jesus Christ (symbolically evil and goodness).

Other accounts that may surprise are consideration of the dreams experienced by Elvis and others in his family, astral travel and Elvis’ sightings of UFOs (UAPs). Conner also discusses the significance of Elvis “visitations” and conspiracy stories since his death.

About one of Elvis’ UFO sightings the author records:

One night in 1966, at his Bel Air mansion, Elvis was hanging out with Sonny West. Suddenly, Elvis blurted out, “Do you see that?” Sonny glanced up and saw a potent light coming through the trees.

I found this apparent statement by Elvis (sourced by the author from The Tao of Elvis, David Rosen) particularly thought-provoking:

"My moment of glory is being on that stage and singing and feeling all the love the audience sends to me. It's a complicated circle of love we send each other. It's beyond any mortal high..... It's like a surge of electricity going through you. It's almost like making love, but even stronger than that.... Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode."

 

Conclusion: The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King is a confronting, entertaining and thought-provoking release. Miguel Connor offers an interesting insight into mystical areas that were important to Elvis but largely occurred away from the gaze of the media and fans.

However, regardless of how we feel about its arcane nature, it is an important release as it adds to our understanding of who Elvis was and how he thought about and viewed life.

Due to its subject matter, The Occult Elvis is a book that will undoubtedly divide fans. I assume the book is targeted at those with an interest in "new age - "alternate universes" and those wanting a different or unusual read. In this respect, Conner has succeeded admirably. However, like Elvis' search for his life's meaning, I suspect that for other readers, The Occult Elvis will be conclusively wrong or, at best, inconclusive, leaving many lingering questions. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, despite these lingering questions.

For book samples and more information go to...

Amazon US Paperback - Kindle - Audible << - >> Amazon UK Paperback - Kindle - Audible

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About the Author

Miguel Conner is a writer, voiceover artist, and host of the popular podcast Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio. His books include Voices of Gnosticism, Stargazer, Heretic, and The Executioner’s Daughter. He lives in northern Illinois, USA.

Other reviews of 'The Occult Elvis'.

Based on its numerous reviews on Amazon, The Occult Elvis has been well received by many experts in the "esoteric" field: 

“The Occult Elvis  takes us on a thrilling and surprising journey of the wide range of occult, religious and mystical subjects that greatly interested Elvis Presley.” Paul Wyld, author of Jim Morrison, Secret Teacher of the Occult

"Miguel knows how to peer into overlooked corners, unearth vital references, and follow trails of meaning that other historians are unaware, even exist. In plumbing Elvis’s spiritual search, the author uncovers all of our own—and finally discovers why Elvis means so much.” ― Mitch Horowitz, PEN Award–winning author of Occult America, The Miracle Club, and Modern Occultism

“This is the kind of book that shakes one to the core and gets one to see that things are not what they seem to be, especially with the King of rock ’n’ roll. Everything we thought we knew, we didn’t. The truth is way, way stranger.” ― Jeffrey J. Kripal, author of How to Think Impossibly

“Miguel takes the ever-impressive depth of esoteric knowledge and insight he’s known for and applies it to a pop culture cornucopia of unexpected threads spiraling out from the King himself. It’s easy to forget that the magical fabric of reality can be found in unexpected places, and what we have here is a grand, bedazzled, suit-shaped reminder. Hallelujah!” ― Greg Carlwood, host of The Higherside Chats

“Miguel writes with sincerity balanced by a sense of humor and pop sensibilities balanced by knowledge of esoteric traditions. Even well-read Elvis fans will find surprises in this romp of an informative read about a man many Americans still call the King.” ― Ronnie Pontiac, astrologer and author of American Metaphysical Religion and coauthor of The Magic of the Orphic Hymns: A New Translation for the Modern Mystic

“Memphis, Egypt, was a center of the mystery cults of Osiris, which were the ancient world’s favorite venue for sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll. Given that Osiris was the King of the Gods and the God of Kings, it’s no accident that Memphis, Tennessee, would give rise to the King of Rock ’n’ Roll. ― Christopher Knowles, author of The Secret History of Rock ’n’ Roll

Book Review by Nigel Patterson.
-Copyright EIN May 2025
EIN Website content © Copyright the Elvis Information Network.

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