demonology // beginners q&a
today i'm going to be answering some common questions that i receive in hopes of clearing the air and making a topic, such as demonology, that seems overwhelming a tad bit easier for you!
γ i would also like to mention all of these answers are from a demonaltors perspective, if you were to ask an abrahamic follower their point of view they would have different answers. perspective is key. γ
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γ tricksters vs demons γ
"a 'demon' is attacking me, what do i do?"
ah yes, the infamous question and one of the most common questions we get from newcomers. so, let's discuss it. the demonic divine firstly do not waste their time "attacking" a random person unless provoked, and even then, it takes a lot for a divine to "attack" someone. they are not easy to anger, nine times out of ten it is a trickster trying to scare you; especially if the entity is claiming to be Lucifer or Satan. parasitic beings thrive off of the emotion fear and implementing that fear of "Satan is attacking you" further pushes it and they feed off that energy.
so in short, its most likely not a demon, especially not a divine demon. possibly a lower or lesser known demon, such as a devil or imp, etc. but i still highly doubt it. the best thing to do would be to banish the entity and set wards. there are many methods of warding, banishing and cleansing.
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"how can you tell a trickster apart from a demon?"
tricksters will typically make you feel special, they will manipulate you to think that you have a specific destiny or reasoning. when in actuality, a divine demon would acknowledge that you forge your own destiny. demons would know more than anyone that you make who you are. tricksters will also get upset if you question them, they'll make you feel agitated, irritable and typically just low energy and have a negative attitude. they may mock you or belittle you. a divine demon would not do this. some signs to look out for for a trickster:
β’ telling you you're special
β’ mocking / belittling you
β’ feeling paranoid, irritable or irrational
β’ feeling constantly drained
β’ suggesting to do mundane things (i.e. watching a movie, going shopping, etc. key word being together, not in honor)
β’ acting out of character / don't know their own lore
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in short, no. the concept of "good" and "evil" are man made. this is not to say that morals or a definition of "good" and "evil" are bad, just to say that forcing any entity - not just demons - into how we see morals and how we see "good" and "bad" would be incorrect. demons, like deities, are neutral. they are not pure evil nor pure good. they have the capability and capacity of both.
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"do demons want our souls?"
no, demons, despite what Hollywood, the media and abrahamic beliefs say, do not want your soul. a soul is essentially useless to the infernal. your soul is a ball of energy full of emotion and consciousness. demons have no desire to grab your soul and run with it. they aren't opposed to soul selling, but they also won't force or manipulate you into that decision. you call the shots with what happens to your soul, not them.
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"do all demons work for 'the devil'?"
no, as "the devil" is typically arguable what / who that is. there are hierarchies, and you can decide for yourself what hierarchy works for you. or believe in no hierarchy at all. "the devil" can be seen as a title or a lower class of mischievous demons. the devil is also a construct of a pure evil being, and as we've discussed, demons are not pure evil. the reason behind the belief that demons and "the devil" are evil is because to the abrahamic view, anything away and against G-d is evil, disgusting and horrible (as G-d is pure good, beauty, etc).
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"do you have to sacrifice things?"
{ TW; animal / human sacrifices mentioned briefly, skip over this part if uncomfortable but know that the answer is no }
as in animal / human, no, absolutely not. animal sacrifices are a hot and debated topic. in my book, they're fine as long as it's a quick death for the animal and humane. human is out of the question period. demons do not require nor demand sacrifices of life forms. if a demon asks that of you, be sure that it is not a trickster and maybe consult a doctor to ensure it's not mental issues. please be safe with sacrifices - always meditate on if it is something you want to do and if the demon in question is actually who they say they are.
as for blood offerings, again be cautious and i would only personally give blood to one entity i work with. blood offerings are serious, it is a binding to that entity / demon. do plenty of research and be certain before going through with it. also, do not give blood if you are a minor. that is out of the question. as for "sacrificing" a valuable item to them, that is pretty costumery. giving an offering that has value and energy tied to it is pretty often and common.
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"do demons prefer to be worshipped?"
the answer you get will vary; generally it's a 'sorta' but then further elaboration will vary. the term "worship" has different definitions to everyone, Google defines worship as:
noun - " the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity. "
so in a way, yes, Demonolators do "worship" the demons they work with. however, there is a large difference in the way we go about worship. most people are probably familiar with deity worship and reverence - theres prayers, hymns, and holding the deity to a high standard and pillar. we have prayers, hymns and we do hold demons to a high standard, the difference is we hold ourself to that same standard. we worship and honor demons and walk alongside them, not behind them. we worship them and worship ourselves.
so in short, they enjoy being worshipped, appreciated and respected. but want us to worship ourselves as well. they do not want us to put them on a pedestal higher than we put ourselves. we are their equal, the same respect we give them we will receive from them.
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γ the infernal plane γ
yes, very much so, however it has a bad rep. when you think of Hell what do you think of? probably fire, pain, and everlasting death. well, technically that is the abrahamic rendition of Hell. Hell to a demonolator, however, is a paradise. it's full of beauty and peace. it is an afterlife plane just like any other. however again, perspective is also key. how you see hell will manifest and will be real to you.
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"what do demons look like?"
demons will vary on how they appear to you. there is no "wrong" way they can appear. there does typically tend to be consistent characteristics they might have with every practitioner. however, they will take a form that either you need, or a form that makes you feel safe and not frightened. their goal is not to scare you, it's to help you to be the best you that you can achieve.
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"do demons have different ranks?"
yes, depending on the hierarchy you're following and / or believe in. some demons will vary on ranking and such depending on the grimoire. because of this, if you do not know the demons ranking nor know what hierarchy they are from or what hierarchy you believe in, it is best to use "Lord / Lady" before their name. titles are out of respect and showing your respect for them. it's similar to how you call your doctor "Dr. ___" or a judge "Your Honor". It is out of respect for their divinity and work they have put in to earn that title. show them this respect, it's important and considerate.
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"who domains the seven deadly sins?"
depends on the variation you follow, generally the most accepted variant goes as follows:
the discussion of the seven "deadly" sins is a topic completely on its own, and it is important to note that these demons are *so* much more than what "deadly sin" they embody. these sins are needed in balance, which is what these seven demons can show you. "sins" and "virtues" are needed in balance, these demons can help teach that.
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"how do you start demon work?"
research! research is so, so very important. there are many books and sources here that you can read and look through. it's important to have a solid foundation of what demonology is. books from S. Connolly and Asenath Mason are my personal favorites, but there's loads of cites, wordpresses, etc. once you have a good foundation of your studies, i would look or ask for signs of a demon you have interest in. get your research down thoroughly about that demon and ask others who work with them for offering ideas, correspondences and what their personality is.
be sure that before any entity work that you have your basics of grounding, cleansing, banishing and warding down. especially in working with the demonic as parasitic beings / tricksters tend pretend to be demons.
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"why do people work with demons?"
the reason varies for every practitioner, but for the most part it is for self betterment. demonolators work and honor the demonic Divine to achieve a certain goal, generally though every goal intertwines with self betterment. to transform into the best version of you and to be your higher self.
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"what's the difference between deities and demons?"
the difference will vary on who you ask, to me, demons stand for self enlightenment, worship of self and transformation to its fullest extent. which is also why demons are so closely tied to the draconic path. this is not to say that deities do not want what is best for you, however, their methods and beliefs are different. demons will push you to your wits end if it means transformation. which is why boundaries are important. of course though, it will be up to the practitioner on what the difference between demons and deities are.
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"are 'demon guides' a thing?"
if you are referring to "demon guides" as the same as spirit guides, many demonolators would say no, myself being one of them. spirit guides have recently gotten muddled down to be defined as "any entity who guides you" which, i suppose is fine and if that works for you sure. but spirit guides are so much more than any entity. spirit guides are normally your family, ancestors, sometimes animals or any human spirit that is meant to guide you.
a demon can be a guide without being called "a demon guide". the demonic divine are mentors, teachers, or sometimes parental figures, they are not spirits in the same way spirit guides are. the demonic divine have a set role and are immortal. they cannot reincarnate - this is what separates them from spirit guides. and this is why it's so important to do research and to find what definitions fit for you.
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"invocation vs summoning"
invocation is the polite method of inviting a demon to your area. which can be done via meditation, giving offerings, and using their enn to "connect to their energy". invocation is having their energy present within you and getting familiar with it along with communicating with them.
summoning, is forceful. it is demanding and considered rude among the demonology community. while I do not personally believe that one can force a demonic divine to do anything - rather summoning is just a disrespectful way of invocation. it is disrespecting the demon and wasting their time. it is demanding their presence to be there. always ask before summoning, go through boundaries and ground rules when working with the infernal for their respect and for yours.
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"how can i communicate with demons?"
like how you communicate with any deity or entity! divination methods, meditation, and clairs. you can even use dreams and dream work to communicate and of course, astral projection.
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"how do you give offerings?"
however you'd like to! i normally present them on a little bowl or plate that they have on their altar. obviously cleanse any bowl or item before giving it to them. if it is a crystal, charge it. if it's a candle, statue, etc. bless it and cleanse it. as for food items, give it to them appropriately and after they're done with it (via using intuition or divination) dispose of it accordingly (ask them how they prefer; eating, burying, throwing away, etc).
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"what is a patron/how do i get one?"
ah yes, the infamous patron/patroness question. something i personally have struggled with. the definition of a patron, especially an infernal patron, will vary from practitioner to practitioner. to me, a patron and patroness means a, in this case demon, divine entity whom forms a close bond with the practitioner. a being who can stay with you for multiple lives, helps aid in magick, personal life and stays with you on your path (minus stepping aside for your own good). they feel like home and can be very parental.
as for how you "get" one, wait. as frustrating as that is (and I made this mistake too), saying that every being you love is your patron muddles down what it means to you and that special bond and closeness you have. be patient, such a title as "patron" or "patroness" are just that, titles. focus on more important things, like the relationship itself, you'll find them if you have one.
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"what is infernal priesthood?"
infernal priesthood and priesthood in general has been sort of a "trend" recently. so i believe it to be important to discuss. priesthood, especially with the infernal, is rare. a demon will come to you and offer the path. because it takes a certain person who has the skill set and personality to eventually become a priest. priesthood is a life long dedication. because of that, it's not for everyone.
it entails of learning all about the demon, learning their rites, rituals and celebrations. it's learning to be patient with yourself and with others. learning to give back to your community and coven. it entails of a healthy mind, body and soul. you must be ready for commitment to yourself, the demon, and the community. these are the reasons as to why it's not for everyone. priesthood is lovely for those who have the right personality and skill set - but it's also trialling and difficult.
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i hope that this helped clarify and helped any beginners to demonology. i also hope this helped clear some misconceptions. and i hope everyone enjoyed!
