Invocation - Revision history

Ash at 19:19, 29 January 2005

2005-01-29T19:19:10Z

New page

{{MTP}}

To "invoke" is literally to "call in" or to "speak within", in contrast with [[evocation]], which is calling or speaking <i>out</i>. In [[magick]], invocation is the process of bringing a desired god or similar entity within oneself.

[[Aleister Crowley]] discusses the theory of invocation throughout his technical works on magick, including a particularly brief and direct treatment in Chapter XV of [[Magick in Theory and Practice]].

==Invocation as identification==

The formula of invocation is ultimately one of identification; that is, to invoke a god successfully is to become that god (or equivalently, for that god to become you). Often this ultimate identification is preceded by several preparatory stages in which the god is addressed externally through descriptive salutations, pleas, and similar techniques. All such preparations are intended to arouse the magician to the point that successful identification becomes possible.

It is in this particular that invocation differs from other techniques for dealing with spirits. Rather than commanding, pleading, adoring, or otherwise interacting with the being as a separate entity, one becomes the entity and speaks one's will as that entity. If it is desired that the goddess Venus should bring one love, one does not implore Venus for assistance; one becomes Venus and states with absolute, calm assurance that love will come.

==The Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel==

There is another, more esoteric type of invocation involved in [[the Great Work]], that of the invocation of the [[Holy Guardian Angel]]. While this can be seen as a type of identification as well, it more closely follows the model of a marriage, and is expected to result in a bond which endures for life rather than the duration of a particular ceremony.

==Other uses of invocation==

It is also the case that invocations can be used for purely exploratory or sensual purposes, without a particular end desired. For example, an [[astral]] exploration of the sphere of [[Netzach]], associated with Venus, might be preceded by an invocation of Venus to attune the magician to the appropriate symbols and energies.

Traditionally, rituals intended as invocations involve [[deosil]] (clockwise) motion, mirroring the direction of the Earth's rotation. This may be contrasted with rituals of [[banishing]], which traditionally move [[widdershins]] (counterclockwise), opposing the Earth's rotation. Thus for example the [[Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram]] is technically closer to being an invocation than a true banishing; in this case, it is the archangels that are invoked as guards for the circle.

[[Category:Magick]]

Isomeme: Full entry on invocation; now we need one on evocation...

2004-09-27T14:00:51Z

Full entry on invocation; now we need one on evocation...

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:00, 27 September 2004
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	~~isomeme~~ (~~Craig Berry~~) -- this ~~topic reserved~~, to be ~~completed~~ by ~~Sunday evening 9/26~~.		To "invoke" is literally to "call in" or to "speak within", in contrast with [[evocation]], which is calling or speaking <i>out</i>. In [[magick]], invocation is the process of bringing a desired god or similar entity within oneself.

			[[Aleister Crowley]] discusses the theory of invocation throughout his technical works on magick, including a particularly brief and direct treatment in Chapter XV of [[Magick in Theory and Practice]].

			==Invocation as identification==

			The formula of invocation is ultimately one of identification; that is, to invoke a god successfully is to become that god (or equivalently, for that god to become you). Often this ultimate identification is preceded by several preparatory stages in which the god is addressed externally through descriptive salutations, pleas, and similar techniques. All such preparations are intended to arouse the magician to the point that successful identification becomes possible.

			It is in this particular that invocation differs from other techniques for dealing with spirits. Rather than commanding, pleading, adoring, or otherwise interacting with the being as a separate entity, one becomes the entity and speaks one's will as that entity. If it is desired that the goddess Venus should bring one love, one does not implore Venus for assistance; one becomes Venus and states with absolute, calm assurance that love will come.

			==The Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel==

			There is another, more esoteric type of invocation involved in [[the Great Work]], that of the invocation of the [[Holy Guardian Angel]]. While this can be seen as a type of identification as well, it more closely follows the model of a marriage, and is expected to result in a bond which endures for life rather than the duration of a particular ceremony.

			==Other uses of invocation==

			It is also the case that invocations can be used for purely exploratory or sensual purposes, without a particular end desired. For example, an [[astral]] exploration of the sphere of [[Netzach]], associated with Venus, might be preceded by an invocation of Venus to attune the magician to the appropriate symbols and energies.

			Traditionally, rituals intended as invocations involve [[deosil]] (clockwise) motion, mirroring the direction of the Earth's rotation. This may be contrasted with rituals of [[banishing]], which traditionally move [[widdershins]] (counterclockwise), opposing the Earth's rotation. Thus for example the [[Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram]] is technically closer to being an invocation than a true banishing; in this case, it is the archangels that are invoked as guards for the circle.

Isomeme: Reserving page for "two article challenge"

2004-09-25T05:08:15Z

Reserving page for "two article challenge"

New page

isomeme (Craig Berry) -- this topic reserved, to be completed by Sunday evening 9/26.