Beginning Evocation

This is a topic I get asked about quite often.  Many people confuse the word “evocation” with the term “invocation”, using the two interchangeably to mean the same thing.  Unfortunately, however, the two terms are names for completely different techniques.  Let me explain.  To “invoke” something means you take it into yourself, whether it be energy, a spirit, or a deity.  To “evoke” something means to call it forth into your presence, so that it’s in the room with you, not inside of you.  Simply put, evocation is the art of summoning spirits. 

 

One of the most popular grimoires used in evocation is the Goetia, or Legemeton, also known as the Lesser Key of Solomon.  This book presents the reader with a list of 72 spirits, each with its own specialization and personality.  If you are looking into evocation for the first time, or have tried and failed and are looking for a few pointers to help you get the spirit there, I hope this article will help.  Keep in mind that I am assuming you already have a method in mind for the evocation (out of the grimoire or otherwise).

 

PSYCHE OR SPIRIT?

 

Now, before going any further, there are essentially two schools of thought on exactly what these spirits (or any spirits) are:

 

1)      Parts of the magickian’s psyche or

2)      Actual individual autonomous entities 

 

Personally, I am of the latter group.  Through my own experience, I believe that they are individual, autonomous spirits with distinct likes, dislikes and tastes, and not a part of the human mind.  Whichever school of thought you ascribe to, however, is irrelevant — it won’t affect the results of an evocation per se. 

 

BY-THE-BOOK METHOD

 

Near the end of the Goetia, a full system of calling forth these entities is given.  It is here where most people will stop and never attempt the summoning.  Not because of fear, mind you, but because the method outlined is really quite daunting.  And many of the supplies can be difficult to find, such as the lion skin girdle and genuine parchment. 

 

However, it is possible to obtain these items as prescribed in the book.  It may take some time and quite a bit of money, but it is possible.  And to be completely truthful, it is worthwhile.  Though much of the true meaning and intent behind the Goetia and other similar grimoires are veiled with clever wording and metaphor, successfully working the method listed in each respective book can be very rewarding.

 

And it is highly recommended that you attempt to work the grimoire’s method before moving on to attempt what I have to say in the next section, if only to give yourself a chance to try the summoning as it was meant to be.

 

Bear this in mind, too — when reading through the Goetia and other grimoires, it is made distinctly clear (or at least clearly implied) that the author has evoked these beings into physical manifestation, meaning that they were visible with the naked eye.  Most modern magickians will tell you that it is EXTREMELY rare to get a full physical manifestation.  It is far more likely for you to “see” or “hear” them in your mind’s eye than to see them with your physical eye. 

 

One thought behind this is that the amount of energy it requires for them to manifest physically is enormous, and very difficult for them to muster.  Another is that in our modern age, we are far more concerned with instant gratification, thereby taking short cuts in our preparations.  The short cuts I’m referring to are, for example, buying the ritual blade instead of forging it, purchasing parchment instead of slaughtering your own goat and making it, printing the demon’s seal instead of hand-painting or drawing it on quality fabric, etc.. By taking such short cuts, and therefore not putting the amount of intent, focus, and will into the entire working that the authors intended, the manifestation results are much less spectacular than the grimoire describes.

 

Nevertheless, as you will agree, I’m sure, results are what really matter; not how well you could physically see the spirit standing before you.  As one of my former teacher’s once put it, “Who cares if you see the Devil sporting Jimmy Hoffa on his back and running naked through your living room if your desires never come to pass?”  Besides, you will have plenty of other “signs,” I am sure.

 

A MORE “LEFT-HANDED” APPROACH

 

Those who take a right-handed approach to evocation may not like what I have to say next, but ah well.  I am not a right-hand mage.  Even if you decide to use the methods outlined in the grimoire you are working with, at least the first portion of the following should be of value to you.  

 

Now, I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar”.  Keep that saying in mind as you read the rest of this article.

 

In the grimoires, the magickian is given a plethora of spirit chains, curses, and bindings, all designed as threats to the spirit as a means of forcing them to obey.  Some magickians labor under the idea that they have a “god-given right” to command these spirits, whom they believe God has placed “under their feet”.  I apologize if you are one of those who feel this way, but one doesn’t treat their dog in such a manner.  Why would you treat a spirit, who is infinitely more powerful than you, in this way, and from whom you are asking favors?  That has never made sense to me. 

 

I would never willingly grant boons to someone who mistreated, threatened, or cursed me.  I would not even react favorably to them.  Neither would you.  Neither will spirits.  Yes, there are magickians who have had results with those horribly degrading methods, but they are neither necessary nor are they the best way.  No one wants to be thought of as a jack-ass amongst his peers.  Treating spirits that way will result in your gaining that reputation amongst them as well.

 

Keep in mind, too, that the spirits are often pagan gods that were relegated by the authors of the grimoires to the station of “demon.”  You will also often find that the personality described by the authors is nothing like what you’ll experience.  Many of the spirits that are supposed to be the real nasty bad boys have turned out to be the nicest, sweetest entities I have worked with.  I really do think their reaction to you depends upon how you treat them from the get-go.

 

Now, let me present you with a scenario. 

 

Let’s say you are standing outside your local shops, window shopping and minding your own business.  Suddenly, a well-dressed stranger walks up to you and said, “Hey, I need to borrow $50 from you, and I expect it by tonight.”  The stranger then says “thank you” and walks away.  What would your reaction be? 

 

I’m pretty sure your reaction is going to be, “Excuse me?  Hell no, I’m not giving you $50!  I don’t even know you!”  That would be my reaction, I can tell you that.  And I’m certain the same applies to most other people, as well. 

 

Now consider this — when you evoke a spirit to ask it for assistance, you are putting yourself in the position of the well-dressed stranger.  The demon, daemon, or spirit you are calling is in your place in the above scenario.  Given your reaction to the stranger’s request, why should you expect a spirit, regardless of its type, one that you have never worked with or met, to simply obey your command just because you want it to?

 

Taking that same scenario again, replace the stranger with a friend who’s asking very politely for the $50.  How much more likely are you to give your friend the money?  I’d be willing to wager you’ll be a lot warmer to the idea than in the original situation.   

 

The same applies to spirits of all kinds.

 

If you don’t have a particular spirit in mind yet, look through the grimoire that you’re working out of, and read the description of each spirit listed there.  Do any catch your eye?  If so, choose of one of them to start with.  Chances are, if you feel some sort of connection from the description, you will have a much easier time during the evocation.

 

Before you actually perform your evocation, take some time to get to know the spirit that you intend to call.  This goes beyond just reading all you can about him or her.  Yes, reading what information you can find will help, but you really want to get acquainted with the spirit.

 

A good way to do this is to draw or trace (by hand) the sigil onto a piece of white fabric or a clean piece of paper.  DO NOT simply print the seal out on paper from your computer.  The action of drawing the seal by hand and the focus and energy you put into it will help connect you with the spirit.

 

Once you have the drawn sigil, for the next few nights, before you go to bed, hold it in your hands and ask the spirit to show you in dreams how you can best evoke it.  Ask it to tell you about itself, and let it know you want to get to know it.  Then, place the sigil under your pillow.  Keep close watch on your dreams for answers. 

 

For example, when I first did this with a spirit I work with very closely now, I dreamed I was sitting at a bar with a handsome dark-haired man.  As we chatted, he would tell me things he liked.  In this case, it was lavender, amethyst, almonds, and sweet grass.  Over the course of a few nights, I had a list of food, drink, scents, and other things that the spirit enjoyed, and was given ideas for adjustments to my ritual set-up that the spirit preferred. 

 

I would not do this for more than 4 or 5 nights in a row, however.  You may be sleeping, but that connection does slightly interfere with a good night’s rest.  It is not enough of an interference to be noticeable over the course of 5 days or so, but much longer and you will begin to notice a decline in sleep quality.

 

Another way of forging that connection and getting to know the spirit is to hold the sigil in your hands and meditate on it.  You may receive visions or even hear the spirit speaking to you.  Keeping the sigil on your person, in a pocket, etc., during the day will also help to connect you by getting you acclimated to the spirit’s energies.  In this way, you may get subtle messages during the day.  For example, you could be at the grocery store and suddenly the idea may pop into your head, “I should pick up blueberries.  <Spirit’s name> might like those.”

 

During the evocation itself, you will want to use what information you’ve gleaned.  If the spirit likes the incense arranged in a particular pattern, for example, try your best to set that up.  If you are using a triangle, you’ll want to place a glass of water, some sort of food and drink offering they like, along with the sigil or black mirror (if you use one).

 

By making the ritual space more attractive to the spirit, and by offering it things it likes, you’re making it much easier for the spirit to manifest and giving it a reason to show up in the first place.  I know I’m personally more willing to put in a personal appearance at someone’s home if the activities and food are going to include things I like, and I’m sure you’re the same way. 

 

Above all, please remember to treat the spirit with respect.  Commanding, binding and threatening are not respectful.  They are quite the opposite.  This entity is not only stronger than you, it is also far more intelligent and powerful than you.  They deserve the same amount of respect you would give any one of your friends and that you yourself expect to be treated with. 

 

CONFLICTS

 

One factor novice magickians sometimes fail to consider is that not all spirits will mesh with them.  You may get along fabulously with Buer, but you and Orobas just may not mix.  It’s no different in human relationships.  No one gets along with everyone, and there are spirits that are just not going to like you because your energy is distasteful to them.  Don’t take this personally.  It’s an energy thing.  If you find that you can’t get an entity to come no matter what you do or how much time and effort you’ve put into getting to know them, try another spirit.  It may be that you and that entity just wouldn’t get along. 

 

CONCLUSION

 

Some people find the idea of evocation quite frightening.  However, it really is a very rewarding experience, both for you and the entity involved.  They, for the most part, enjoy interacting with us, and we in turn are able to ask for help in matters we can’t handle alone.  It can be difficult, and even daunting, but with a little work and perseverance, you can successfully summon an entity into your presence.  I hope that this article has given you some ideas for doing so, and I wish you the best of luck. 

 

Feel free to ask if you have any questions.  I don’t mind answering them.