Ministering Spirits and Ceremonial Magic
Regardless of our attitude toward Ceremonial Magic, this field has a long and rich history. Whether we take spirits to be projections of the mind or objectively existing beings, we must concede that people have for millennia found ways to interact with them, and that often those interactions were initiated by the “other side.”
Modern manuals on Goetia and Ceremonial Magic are usually unclear about the nature and modes of action of the spirits they describe working with. For the sake of rhetorical flourish and greater appeal, these beings are commonly labeled “Demons“, without much reflection on what that word actually signifies. In ordinary imagination it evokes an image like the hero of Lermontov’s eponymous poem: an ancient, melancholy, and — in its own way — beautiful Spirit. Romantically inclined Magi abound, frivolously seeking contact with those in whom they find an ideal — the rebel, the freedom-loving and ungovernable adolescent striving to break free from parental authority.
At the same time, the word historically carries a somewhat different meaning.
Let us leave aside discussions of “good” and “evil,” and whether the spirits with which the goetic magus contacts should be considered “servants of Hell” or something else — although that point is hugely attractive to some and repellent to others. Let us speak of something else.
All mythological systems (Greek, Judeo-Christian, Islamic, Buddhist traditions) that use the notion of “demons” invest it with the sense of “lesser gods.”
A very enticing idea for a Magus, not well versed in the structure of the world, is to summon into his circle a Being who commands the movement of entire planets.
When we spoke of the inhabitants of the Worlds, demons did not appear. This is because the creatures that inhabit the Worlds of the World Tree belong to the Free Beings. Yet the Tree itself, alongside such inhabitants, also includes so-called “ministering” forces that ensure the movement of Power along the Tree.
In the case of Yggdrasil, for example, this is the squirrel Ratatoskr, carrying the Eagle’s words from the top of the Tree to the Dragon at its roots. The same basic function is performed by many of the mythic beasts that serve as mounts: the horses Arvak and Alsvinn that pull the Sun (as, likewise, the wolves Skoll and Hati that chase them).
In other words, the integrity of the cosmos is maintained by two classes of beings. The task of the first is to be aware of the worlds and their “inner life,” while the task of the others is to form the worlds themselves and the currents of Power between them.
Judeo-Christian mythology calls the Spirits that provide the linkage between worlds Angels (“messengers”) and enumerates nine angelic hierarchies (the tenth being the “holy souls, ishim, who assume this function as a kind of ‘mission’).
And here we understand that Demons, the “Fallen Angels,” by their nature are also ministering spirits. Whereas “Angels” cause a flow of energy from above downward, filling the worlds with “upper” energy and thus encouraging a drive toward evolution, “Demons” exert a downward pull on energy, drawing energy into a descending current and opposing the ascending flow.
And interaction with “ministering” spirits is, in essence, the management of that exchange of energy.
A Magus can command only those Spirits that by their very nature are meant to “minister,” that is, those that are “dependent,” “derivative” from the Flow of Power.
Such a view, of course, is a blow to the megalomania of those who would command the gods, yet it can be very useful for understanding the goetic situation.
Thus, summoning spirits is possible because they perform certain functions and are therefore not entirely free.
But how does the Magus intercept these functions?
Two things play a key role in such interception: knowledge of the Names and possession of the Signs.
If we regard Spirits as ministering entities, we can readily understand that Names embody precisely those laws which the given spirits are meant to execute (that is, one can say that by knowing the name of the Being that sends a given spirit to perform its mission, we can in a sense take that Lord’s place and thus command the spirit).
Signs, in turn, embody the actual movement of Power that the spirits produce. Therefore such signs (Sigils) are, so to speak, the embodiment of the spirit itself.
King Solomon (whoever might be concealed under that name — a single person or an entire generation of priest-Magi), to whom we owe the origin of goetic practice, was the first historically described figure to learn to act from an understanding of the nature of ministering spirits. The 72 Demons of the Lemegeton, Grey Spirits, imprisoned in the Copper Pitcher, were precisely those ministering spirits whose control keys Solomon found.
In fact, a ministering spirit is like a “carrier pigeon” that the Magus intercepts and ties his own message to, using the spirit’s power to deliver it. The pigeon continues on its route, and the Magus achieves his aim.
At the same time, of course, even a carrier pigeon is hardly delighted at the necessity of hauling an extra load. Thus spirits, though ministering, seek many means and tricks to avoid such an “overload.” Endowed with ancient subtle intelligence, they usually find ways to turn even such a situation to their advantage — by stealing from the Magus or, at the very least, clouding his mind.
You shouldn’t belittle demons and fallen angels like that; otherwise, they ended up being called carrier pigeons and service spirits. Demons think differently, and if you make friends with at least one, it will be better than forcing them to work for you. Demons were not created to serve us from the very beginning; understand this – you are a demon, you go about your business when some underachiever calls you into a triangle and starts cursing and torturing you to make you serve him – if I were any angel or demon in that situation, I would go wild and tear that angel apart like a blender does to an elf – anime lovers know what I am talking about. And a magician can only command those who are created to be commanded – we can also be commanded, but very few notice that, yet we all consider ourselves great magicians – man proposes, but fate looks down and chuckles when we crash headlong into the wall.
Magic, in reality, is very different from the concept of it in fantasy books and computer games. The consciousness of service spirits (they are called ‘service’ not because they serve people, but because their existence is not free) really differs greatly from human consciousness, but it is also very far from the gloomy, gothic, elevated representation of mass culture. Their consciousness is ancient and sophisticated, but completely uninclined to cooperate, let alone be ‘friends’ with humans (or any other free beings).
Yes, that’s true… But it’s better not to even try to command them. Each has its task, its work, which they continuously perform. Trying to play human ambitious games with them, trying to prove to oneself that you’re cool, threatens the failure of the plan (on their part); they will be punished, and how this punishment will reflect back on us distractors – it’s better not to know.:)
But if they willingly come into contact – there’s much to learn, to inquire about, to talk with… and the Power in them is immeasurably greater than human…
In fact, when addressing any spirit for a request, they take from us an equivalent of this request! In order not to disrupt the balance!
Good evening authors of the previous comments on the site. I read your comments and am horrified; it turns out it’s all so simple: you log into the internet, download a grimoire, put on a cloak, draw a circle, set up candles, recite psalms, incantations, and then voilà, the goetic spirit appears before you! And you nonchalantly sit in your circle in a cloak with a cigarette and methodically start asking the spirit about what was, is, and will be…… because who else but you, possessing strength, purity, sanctity, and the prudence that was inherent to King Solomon, should be granted a spirit……….. NONSENSE! Now, my dear ones, let’s descend from the heavens to the earth, take off our crowns and put them in a cabinet until better times and think soberly!!! I am 100% sure that none of you (except, perhaps, the site’s author) have seen, heard, felt, or experienced this terrifyingly intense feeling of the presence of a spirit, let alone its visualization (materialization) – otherwise you’d run out of pampers at the pharmacy. The nonsense you write in your comments is a dry primitive retelling of internet presentations of grimoires! And before debating goetic spirits with Enmerkar, ask him questions not just about methodology but about the very state a person is in when a spirit manifests, and then you can show off about the properties of spirits, their nature, and everything else. And in your reasoning remember that for spirits (the most fallen among them and occupying the lowest rank), you are a worthless, small, primitive mortal being and realizing this will sober you up, as all your statements make the site resemble a forum about Harry Potter. Good luck to all.
TO: Demon With your statement: “In fact, when addressing any spirit for a request, they demand a reciprocal offering for this request! To maintain balance!” I fundamentally disagree!!! You quote Lomonosov “if something diminishes somewhere, it means something will increase somewhere,” it’s commendable that you remembered it from a school chemistry lesson, but this statement may be true in case of an agreement (pact) with spirits, but by no means in the case of their subjugation (I’m sure you lack the cunning and ‘authority’ for that) that’s one, and two – there are pentagrams and sigils whose properties and actions you as a ‘cool’ magician should theoretically know! And then you would not make such conclusions.
The phrase ‘us’ Luke in your statement: “they will be punished, and how this punishment will affect us” actually describes a very broad meaning that you embedded in it, you did not specify a particular person like an ‘operator, magician’ but mean humanity as a whole, because even an unsuccessful ritual, in your opinion, can invisibly and imperceptibly for you summon entities into ‘our’ world that should not be here by definition and the consequences of their presence can be fatal.
“…it’s better to keep the sheep in relative ignorance, which is happening everywhere… it’s better for them to be afraid of the wolf.”
As far as I remember, the word ‘daemon’ translates from Greek as – the power of God.
And do you all need all this? ))) You can’t figure it out within yourselves, something is constantly pulling you somewhere. ))) And you still want to make someone submit. One mistake and you will regret having found your Self and Body once upon a time. ))))… When it’s necessary, they will come to you themselves and tell you what you need.
They will come and tell. ‘The Light of the Soul is valued in all worlds’ they told me when it all began. The Co-suffering accumulated in many incarnations gives the Light of the Soul. Love from Bulgaria.
They won’t come themselves. It seems there is no need. 🙂
Good day, Enmerkar. Trying to understand why servant spirits initially appear in the form of animals. Can it be said that their form carries an encrypted direct indication of their undifferentiated or androgynous nature of the powers from which it consists? That is, a Lion or a Fish – fire, water. If a knight is in red, it means he is under the influence of Mars, etc. Or is the reason different? The question is primitive in principle, but nonetheless, how to correctly determine the nature of the SS?
Of course, complex systems and scales of correspondences were built for that Order and School, so that one could determine the place of vision in the overall system of Myth.
The concepts have become confused.
Spirits conduct the current of Power between worlds. In a macrocosmic understanding (Yav, Prav, Nav) – it’s clear.
But how to relate it to the microcosm (the tree of sephirot).
Nonetheless, are service spirits forces of nature or the shadow side of consciousness?
The Tree of Sephirot equally reflects the structure of both the macrocosm and the microcosm. And service spirits facilitate the flow of Powers along this tree; for example, if Taftaratarat at the macrocosmic level facilitates the movement of the power of application, adaptation, fluidity, then in the microcosm, it also participates in the manifestation of these properties as categories of consciousness. The Law of Analogies distinctly fixes such a state of affairs, where at different levels, in different scales, essentially the same forces are at work.
There are certain laws of seals. But that is if you are strong enough. By the way, you can also be sealed. For example, if you are called by your true name in a dream, you will respond to it. That’s how you get caught. Now you can be summoned at any time to fulfill any whims…
Could you please tell me what qualities a mage should possess for goetic practices? What dangers does evocation of a goet pose for a person overall? Does a circle really provide protection, or is it just symbolism?
The main qualities are honesty and strong will. The main danger is obsession. A circle provides real protection if built correctly.
When passing through oneself, you are no longer entirely human, since at the subtle level there is an exchange. If someone happens to – it is important to maintain balance.