Catalog of Spirits and Entities.pdf

Catalog of Spirits and Entities

By Marcus Cordey

(mobius@exoblivion.com)

The world in which we live is not the world as it truly is. Our perception of the Universe is one that

is ever-changing and in constant flux. Whether that is because our perception of the Universe

changes, or that the Universe itself is changing, we can never truly know. What we can say is that

the "fact" of yesteryears now seems absurd today, and the facts of today will no doubt be

disproved in years to come. Things once imagined as fantastic have through science become

revealed -- ancient creatures of the deep have been discovered, civilizations once believed to be

myth have been uncovered, and evermore evidence gathers to support phenomenon both

paranormal and supernatural (though arguably nothing in nature is can be super- natural).

Since the beginning of human history, stories of strange spirits, demons, and creatures of the night

have haunted mankind. Indeed, some tales were exaggerated reports of exotic beast from far

away lands, while others might have been wholly fabricated by their teller. But some, such as

those of a higher and more spiritual nature, are not so easy to discount, nor are those which have

for centuries remained indelibly etched in the human psyche. Should such accounts be dismissed

merely because modern science may fail to unearth their mysteries, or should they be more closely

examined, as though with the critical eye of a police investigator concerned only with collecting

credible observations and first hand accounts?

The purpose of this document is to neither prove nor disprove the existence of supernatural spirits

and entities (again, the term "supernatural" is used with hesitance). Rather, it is to serve as a

catalog of those particular spirits and entities having the most significant potential impact upon

those practicing the magical arts, be that ritual magic, witchcraft (as in Wicca), or spiritual-based

forms of divination. Some practitioner may seek to contact them, while other may seek to be ride

of them, and still others may attract unwanted visitors by the very powers they invoke. To be

ignorant of these forces, both benevolent and malign, is to sail blindly between Scylla and

Charybdis. What recourse might you have should your undertaking draw the hauntings of a Night

Hag? What should you do upon seeing your Doppelganger, or that of friend? What dire portents

might the shriek of a banshee signify? Magicians and witches are the most likely individuals to

encounter such entities, for suc h entities are drawn to the powers that they harness. To that end,

the devoted magical practitioner should be prepared to deal such entities, and be ready to help

those who are themselves haunted.

Additionally, this document includes coverage not only of those spirits that may prove threatening

or harmful, but also those whose nature is, being either good or indifferent, and may be called to

aid in the workings of magic, or to empower the magical practitioner with aspects of their nature --

such spirits as angels, elementals, fairies, and muses. Benign demons (that is, daimons in the

Classical) are also frequently summoned in magical rituals, especially High or Hermetic Magic, and

it is not uncommon to find grimoires advertising the conjurations of malevolent demons (demons in

the Judeo-Christian sense). Though it is arguably hazardous to call even a benign daimon (for fear

that it may turn out malevolent), it is unquestionably unwise to purposefully summon any sort of

malevolent entity. Likewise, one should always be aware that, when summoning any spirit (even

angels, fairies, and elementals), what actually comes may not be the entity desired .

Spirits and Entities, Cordey, pg. 1

A Coecton of Sacred Magck | The Esoterc Lbrary | www.sacred-magck.com

Angels

Angels are celestial spirits of light who are powerful, benevolent, and

terrifying. The word "angel" comes from the Latin "Angelus" and the

Greek "Aggelos" which simply means "Messenger". The Judeo-

Christian concept of angels (and likewise, those of Islam) was heavily

influenced by the Yazatas and Amesha Spentas of Zoroastrianism.

But what are angels? This is perhaps one of the most pondered

questions in theology of the past two thousand years, second only to

the question of how many can dance on the head of a pin. The

answer, however, is at the same time both simple and complex.

Angels are gods. To understand this, one must understand the

transcendental nature of reality (see my essay on "Higher Worlds and

the Soul") as well as the concept of Divine Principles (see my essay

on "Theosia: Nature of the Gods"). In essence, angels can be viewed

as equating to the gods of polytheistic pantheons, not only in that they

are "emanations" of a higher Absolute Divine, but also in their basic

form, capabilities, and attributation to specific principles or aspects of

the human condition. Just as there are gods of love, war, the moon,

the sea, the elements, and so forth, so too are these things equated to

the angels and archangels. This should not come as a surprise, for even the Bible supports this

view. In Psalm 82:1 it is said: "God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among

the gods," and again in verse 6 of the same chapter: "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are

children of the most High." It has been noted by theologians that by "gods" it is meant "angels", as

in the Hebrew word Elohim .

Arguably, there are angels of both greater and lesser power, and this is no better illustrated than in

the complex hierarchy applied to angels in the Christian Church. Lower angels may merely be

messenger spirits, while archangels serve as guardians. Higher orders (Principalities, Powers,

etc.) are more similar to gods in the classical sense (see Principles, Divine ). In this sense, Angels

are simply the lowest order of the Divine Principles.

For further reading on Angelic Beings, A Dictionary of Angels by Gustav Davidson is an excellent

modern day book (probably the most useful and comprehensive written to date), or for older

sources consult the Liber Angelus and De Hierarchia Celesti .

Below is the Pseudo-Dionysus hierarchy of angels, along with the alternative St. Ambrose

hierarchy. Compare to the Orders (or "species") of Angels as given in the Zohar .

Hierarchy According

to Psuedo-Dionysius

Hierarchy According

to St. Ambrose

Orders According

to the Zohar

Seraphim

Malachim

Cherubim

Erelim

Thrones

Dominations

Seraphim

Dominations

Thrones

Hayyoth

Virtues

Principalities

Ophanim

Powers

Hamshalim

Principalities

Virtues

Elim

Archangels

Elohim

Angels

Bene Elohim

Ishim

Spirits and Entities, Cordey, pg. 2

Angels, Fallen

Fallen angels and demons are one in the same class of spirits. The

designation originates in the Judeo-Christian tradition which holds

that demons are angels who have rebelled and turned to evil, or are

otherwise "Fallen from Grace". The argument for the validity of this is

not to be questioned here -- such is matter of belief, not proof.

Nevertheless, the designation may be found in many medieval

grimoires, and it should always be remembered that a spell invoking

or calling upon a Fallen Angel is no different from a spell designed to

summon a demon.

However, the idea that Fallen angels exist also leads to the possibility of "Gray" Angels and "Gray"

Demons. See Grigori , Nephilim , and Bright Demons . The Book of Enoch (I Enoch) and the Secret

Book of Enoch (II Enoch) catalog a number of Fallen Angels, specifically the Grigori.

Archangels

According to Judeo-Christian-Islamic traditions, there are four Archangels -- Michael, Gabriel, Uriel,

and Raphael. Though there is mention of other Archangels (see below), these four are the only

ones consistently named as such. In the magical arts these four Archangels are called upon in

many rituals and spells, and their names can be found in Hebrew on countless magical seals from

the medieval period. Generally, the names of Archangels are invoked as "words of power" in order

to control other spirits, keep evil forces at bay, or banish demons. Rarely are the Archangels

called to manifest or communicate with a magician. These beings are simply too powerful for

mortals to comprehend.

As it has been said, angels and archangels are equitable to the gods and goddess of other

traditions (see the entry on Angels ). If the traditional Christian hierarchy is considered to be

accurate, then archangels are the second lowest order of angels, being superior only to the order

designated as "angels" (see the entry on Angels for a full listing of this hierarchy). These higher

angelic beings are more similar to gods in the classical sense, and may be considered such (see

Principles, Divine ).

The following is a list of Archangelic correspondences. Planetary correspondence is based on the

Sephirothic correspondence, which in turn yields the various deities that they may be considered

equivalent in magical ritual. Additional correspondences can be derived from these.

Archangel

Sephiroth Planet

Deity

Element Direction

Metatron

Kether

Neptune Creator Deities: Ptah, Gaea, Brahma

Ratziel

Chokmah Uranus

Ruler Gods: Zeus, Osiris, Odin, Shiva,

Uranus, Dagda,

Water

West

Tzaphkiel

(Cassiel)

Binah

Saturn

Ruler Goddesses: Hera, Isis, Cybele,

Demeter, Rhea, Frigga, Danu

Air

East

Tzadkiel

(Sachiel)

Chesed

Jupiter

Sky Deities: Jupiter, Amun, Horus, Indra,

Thor, Enlil, Marduk

Earth

North

Kamael

(Samael)

Geburah

Mars

War Deities: Mars, Ares, Athena, Thor,

Vishnu, Hephaestus, Morrigan, Vulcan

Fire

South

Michael

Tiphereth Sun

Solar Deities: Ra, Apollo, Helios, Mithra

Fire

South

Haniel

(Uriel)

Netzach

Venus

Love Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Hathor,

Freya, Ishtar, Astarte

Earth

North

Raphael

Hod

Mercury Teacher Deities: Mercury, Hermes,

Thoth, Anubis, Prometheus, Ogma

Air

East

Gabriel

Yesod

Moon

Lunar Deities: Luna, Selene, Diana,

Artemis, Hecate, Bastet

Water

West

Sandolphon

Malkuth

Earth

Earth Deities: Ceres, Cernunnos, Herne Earth

North

Spirits and Entities, Cordey, pg. 3

A Coecton of Sacred Magck | The Esoterc Lbrary | www.sacred-magck.com

Banshees

Banshee, from the Irish Bean Sidhe (wailing woman of the hills), is a terrible fay spirit who

foreordains the coming of Death. A Banshee may sometimes visit a house and wail, warning that

a member of the family is about to die. If the banshee is caught, she is obliged to tell the name of

the doomed. A banshee can be recognized by her long streaming hair (black or gray), her gray

cloak and green dress. Her eyes are fiery red and may burn like coals in the dark. When many

banshees wail together, it heralds the death of someone great, or the death of many people.

Banshees are not evil spirits, they are neutral if anything, and come from the dark lands of the

Faery Realm. In fact, some believe they are the ghosts of dead fairies . Whatever the case, a

wailing banshee is a frightful thing indeed. They are nearly impossible to catch since they can

vanish in an instant. Though it may be possible to summon a banshee, there are no specific

techniques for doing so.

Black Dogs

Black Dogs, also known as Hell-Hounds (or Hounds of Hell) have

been associated with demonic spirits and the Underworld, and seem

to bridge this world with the world of the dead. The belief in Black

Dogs as harbingers of death can be found in Arthur Conan Doyle’s

"Hounds of the Baskervilles", though the legend precedes Sherlock

Holmes by millennia. The legend of the black dog may even trace to

Hecate who always traveled with three black hounds at her side It is

said that if you hear more than one hound baying in your

neighborhood late at night, you can be sure that a Black Dog is

prowling the streets, having come to deliver a soul to the Otherworld.

In this way, Black Dogs are also similar to Cerberus.

Daimons

In Greek, daimon means "filled with knowledge." The ancient Greeks believed there were both

good and bad daimons. Good daimons were called eudaimons and evil daimons were known as

cacodaimons. Eudaimons were considered to be guardian spirits, giving guidance and protection

to the ones they watched over. Cacodaimons, on the other hand, led people astray. However,

when the Old Testament was first translated into Greek, the world daimon was used to identify with

any sort of wicked spirits. The distinction between eudaimons and cacodaimons was eventually

lost, and term "Demon" was thereafter used to refer exclusively to the spirits of darkness.

And yet, there are today millions of people who believe they have some guardian angel or spirit

watching over them. Many have experienced their power, heard their warning, felt their presence,

or even caught a glimpse of them. These are most certainly eudaimons as they were known to

Greeks. Since every human being appears to have a eudaimon, it is possible that these spirits

many in fact be projections of our own soul ( psyche ) or spirit ( pneuma ). Cacodaimons, on the

other hand, may be dark reflections of our own psyche -- the temptations and dark desires of our

most hidden selves.

Through magical ritual and spells, it is possible to summon one's eudaimon. It is unlikely to prove

fruitful, however, since the eudaimon cannot provide any information you do not already know

(being that it may simply be your own psyche ). However, a daimon may still be able to grant

protection from malicious spirits since it exists on the level of the Astral plane.

Spirits and Entities, Cordey, pg. 4

Demons

"Demon" is a general term for an evil spirit or entity. They are more

than just cacodaimons (see Daimons ), for they exist far beyond the

psyche of the human mind. They are as Angels, but sinister and

malign. They are all that is evil, putrid, dark, and hateful. Demons

are darkness incarnate. In Judeo-Christian traditions, demons are

the servants of Satan (or the Devil), rebellious angels who joined

with Lucifer when he turned against the Divine Will. According to

this tradition, a third of the heavenly host were expelled with Lucifer

fell into the Abyss and became Satan. But demons are not exclusive

to Judeo-Christian beliefs. In Zoroastrianism, the eternal opponents

of the Amesha Spentas and Ahura Mazda, the Supreme God of

Light, are the terrible Daevas who are ruled by Angra Mainya (or

Ahriman), the Supreme God of Darkness. Remarkable, Daeva and

Demon have a similar etymological resemblance. Such evil spirits

are universal to all classical mythologies, including Egyptian, Celtic, Native American, Japanese,

and Chinese religions.

As a result, the existence of demons cannot be denied (unless you discredit religion all-together).

Demons are the diametric opponents of angelic beings. And if there are demons, the so to must

there be "lords of demons" (dark gods of the demonic hierarchies). Demons and their lords are

believed to exist in a world opposite to the Heavenly Kingdoms, a "Realm of Shadows" so to

speak, between which lies our Mortal World torn in eternal conflict. Humans are caught in the

middle of this spiritual conflict, desiring to do good, yet tempted by evil. How much power demons

physically have in the Mortal World is debatable -- some traditions hold that they can only influence

mortals through temptation, while other myths and folklore holds that demons can take possession

of mortals, or manifest (either spiritually or physical) to wreak havoc.

Demonologies include such books as the Lemegeton (Goetia) , The Grimoirium Verum , The

Pseudomonarch Demonicus , and The Dictionnaire Infernal , also know as the Demonographia .

Though these books are not themselves evil, using magic to summon demons always bears a

heavy price. It is true, however, that most of these grimoires also contain spells for banishing or

exorcising demons, or may have rituals or talismans that help grant protection from them.

Demons, Bright

Under the supposition that neutral "angelic beings" can exist, such as Grigori and Nephilim, it is

conceivable that "Bright Demons" may also exist. Just as Free Will applies to mortal and angelic

beings, so to does free will apply to demonic beings. A Bright Demon is one that chooses to turn

from darkness and either become neutral or may even work to do good. The neutral spiritual

beings in the Theurgia Goetia (Book Two of the Lemegeton ) are possible examples of "Bright

Demons". The exact nature, power, and motives of "Bright Demons" is unknown, and some hold

that they are not "bright" at all (except in the sense of being "crafty"), and are instead evil demons

who deceive would-be magicians into summoning them under the pretense that the are good. As

a result, magicians should be wary of calling up any sort of demon, even if they are said to be

"bright". The consequences of calling up a malevolent demon is overwhelmingly terrible. Bright

Demons may also be termed Genies ( or Genii ), being most similar to genies of Classical antiquity .

Doppelganger

A Doppelganger (from the German for "double-goer") is a frightful image of oneself, the sight of

which could foretell your own imminent demise (on other occasions the double of someone else

may be seen). To this day, the fear of the double is observed, if unknowingly, in the custom of

covering all the mirrors in a house where a death has just occurred. Sometimes described as the

Spirits and Entities, Cordey, pg. 5

A Coecton of Sacred Magck | The Esoterc Lbrary | www.sacred-magck.com

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