A guide to demonolatry
WHAT IS DEMONOLATRY?
Daemonolatry / demonolatry is an eclectic spiritual practice dedicated to working with Daemons. Unlike more conventional views that associate Daemons with evil and even see them as beings that owe us submission, demonolatry views these entities in a more complex way. They are often seen as guides, protectors, or representatives of natural and cosmic forces (such as Divinities).
Modern Demonolatry is a polytheistic religion, focusing on the worship and cult of demons, both adepts and students of the Left Hand can adopt it in two ways.
In Demonolatry, we invoke them without trapping them in magic circles - like in goetia - because we are similar to them and like us, they deserve their freedom and autonomy.
As described by S. Connolly on her book: The complete guide of demonolatry: "A DEITY IS COMPOSED OF MATTER. WE WORSHIP (WORK WITH) THIS "MATTER". THROUGH PRAYER, WE GIVE IT FORM AND POSITIVE ENERGY. IN TURN, IT WILL RETURN THE FAVOR."
In other words, the primary objectives of this spiritual path include achieving spiritual growth and a greater understanding of the self and the universe through interaction with these entities. Practitioners also seek spiritual protection and support for daily challenges, using the relationship for self-improvement and the development of personal qualities.
Additionally, the practice involves an exploration of the occult to uncover spiritual mysteries and hidden truths. These interactions are governed by the principle of respect, acknowledging Daemons as powerful spiritual entities. The relationship is further defined by reciprocity, viewed as a mutual exchange where devotion or acts are offered in return for guidance. Finally, spiritual individualism is emphasized, valuing the practitioner's autonomy and their ability to develop a unique personal path.
WHAT ARE DEMONS?
Demons/daemon = spirit of knowledge and wisdom, a devil in Christian mythology, daemon derives from daimon which means full of wisdom, divine power, the word is of Greek origin.
These deities were worshipped in the pre-Christian (pagan) era and religions, many entities of paganism, Roman, Greek, Egyptian pantheons were classified as demons by the Christian church. We can say that these spirits are great teachers, ancient gods.
Examples of Gods and Goddesses who got demonized that I remember from the top of my head, could be: Astarte and Baal Hadud, Lucifer, Baal Poer (Belphegor/e), Baal Zebub, Adrammelech and Annamelech, and the list goes on.
CATEGORIES OF DEMONOLATRY
First let's understand what demonolatry and demonology mean, just so you don't get confused.
Demonology = the study and cataloging of demons. Tons of lists and hierarchies you'll find in your path carries values from the Right Hand Path, always exalting the bad qualities of demons. Use your own discernment as you learn.
Demonololatry = the worship of demons and/or the practice of ritual magic with the help of entities known as demons.
Demonolators = those who practice demonolatry in the form of worship or practice magic.
Theistic Demonolatry: they see demons as real entities, they are gods of the past, ancient gods, they are rulers of the world.
Modern Demonolatry: In this current, demons are forces of elemental energies that help with spiritual self-knowledge and magical operations. They personify an emotion, an element or an idea. Demonolatry is an individual system, each follower has their beliefs regarding demons, if you work with demons you are a demonolator.
ENNS
Enns are magical invocations designed to summon demonic spirits. No one knows what language the Enns come from - some have said that they were given to us by a demon. They were first considered demonic enns in the late 16th century by the demonolator Alexander Willit. Enns are unique in that they appear in several family grimoires from different geographic locations and always remain the same.
You can chant the enn while you meditate so you and the demon can connect to each other, you can use it as a form of flattery. There's many ways one can use it.
SIGILS OF DEMONS
Sigils are symbols created for a specific magical purpose.
In Demonolatry, sigils are representations of demonic entities. Sigils allow the practitioner to focus on the demonic entity, connect with the demon's energy, and also simply honor the demon. They are tools used to help the practitioner summon a Demonic Entity.
Sometimes you'll receive a specific sigil from the demon you're working. Other times, you could create a specific sigil for them, even more if the demon you're working with has no known sigil.
THE NINE DIVINITIES
Earlier I told about how each practioner have their own beliefs. There's multiples ways to work with demons, multiple hierarchies. So I'm going to talk the most famous hierarchy created by Richard Dukante.
The Dukanté Hierarchy specifically focus on the nature of demonic entities, their roles, and the way practitioners interact with them. The hierarchy is outlined in a way that provides an understanding of how demons are organized and how they can be called upon or worked with in magickal practice.
The nine deities, according to Richard Dukante, are the demons of the fundamental energy of the universe, of existence and balance. These energies are: fire, earth, air, water, positive polarity (health), negative polarity (destruction), life and death.
All these energies together form Satan (the Whole), but individually, they are distinct demons.
These demons are:
Fire – Flereous
Earth – Belial
Air – Lucifer
Water – Leviathan
Health – Verrine
Destruction – Amducious
Life – Unsere
Death – Euronymous
Personally I don't specifically work with this hierarchy. As stated before, each practicer can and should have their own beliefs and find what work better for them.
RITUALS TOOLS
These tools are pretty used for witchcraft already. But they aren't mandatory and can be adapted to whatever you have on your hands.
By association, most demonolaters have items that represent the four elements on the altar, a dagger / athame. The dagger is to draw in the air a symbol of opening and closing the pillars of each elemental demon (still inside the Dukante Hierarchy).
Candles and incense according to the correspondence of the demon you are going to work with.
A metal bowl to burn the seal and the request. Burning the demon's seal in Demonolatry is not seen as disrespectful to the demon, but rather signifies sending a small amount of your vital energy to the entity transmuted by the element of fire. In the ritual, it is advisable to burn the seal and also another piece of paper with your requests.
In Demonolatry, the magician does not use a triangle or a circle of protection, as contact with these energies will not be aggressive or hostile, and we will not need banishments and threats, here we work with partnership and mutual respect.
Here, evocation (the act of binding them as is done in goetia) is seen as disrespectful. The ideal is for the magician to magnetize the demon's energy to achieve what he wants by joining forces in an invocation, which is when the magician and the demon will interact by exchanging energies.
When calling the demons into your ritual circle, the traditional way to do it is to use the enn, or an invocation of your own devise, and use the ritual dagger or your hand to draw the following in the air in front of you, starting at the arrow and ending at the dot:
The invocation symbol above is often refered to as the ZD or DZ sigil. It is also used as a sigil representing Satan. Within the ZD are nine points representing the nine demonic divinities. The symbol is one fluid motion and is encircled as a sigil to represent the whole encircling all its parts.
It starts with the closest point of the arrow with Unsere, then it's Lucifer, then it's Flereous, then it's Verrine, then it's Belial, then Amducious, then Leviathan, Satan and finally it ends at the point with Eurynomous.
The ZD is also employed to invoke each Demon, no matter which one, with respect to the nine. Some common courtesies (to avoid disrespect toward the Demons) when invoking: Don't command or be aggressive with the demons!!!! Nor stab the ritual blade into the air!!
TYPES OF OFFERINGS
In Demonolatry, much like any contact with other entities, we offer things like foods and drinks, fruits, poems, and incense, items related to them or their domain. The way I see specifically, the type of offerings (a physical offering or a devotional act you do in ther honor) depend on the purpose and the demon you are working with.
You can offer blood, as it contains our vital energy, though, please, only offer blood to those you're close. Don't go making offerings of blood just because.
And please, if you're uncomfortable, try another option, let them know.
Other common offering is sexual fluids, an hour of study about a demon, or the disclosure of their seal and names, helping new practioners, things like that.
This can be discussed specifically with your demon. Ask them if they want something specific, follow your intuition.
INTERACTION
Be respectful, first and foremost. Call them gently by chanting their enn, invite them, make your offerings and read your petitions, if this is your first contact with them. As your relationship progress, you'll find yourself comfortable enough and at ease, I know the first contact can be quite scary.
I should also add this; but if a daemon doesn't want to work with you right now. Don't insist, thank them for their time and search another daemon that allign to your ideals.
Information about Satanism
The word and its derivation “Satanist” appeared for the first time in French and English in the sixteenth century during the European Wars of Religion. In publications from this period, Roman Catholic authors directed it against Protestant Christians, and vice versa, while both applied the epithet to Anabaptists.
Their polemical use of the term did not necessarily mean that they thought their religious counterparts were self-consciously and secretly worshipping the devil — although mutual abuse might occasionally spill over into such allegations, particularly with regard to the Anabaptists — but rather that Roman Catholic veneration for “graven images” or Protestant adherence to “heresy” implied being a fellow traveler on Satan’s bandwagon. In the early nineteenth century, the terms “Satanist” and “Satanism” acquired even broader meanings and came to designate a person or thing with a “Satanic character,” a person or thing inherently evil or wicked.
Only toward the end of the nineteenth century did the word “Satanism” come to hold the significance that it still has, for historians of religion, B-film directors, and the general public alike, namely, as the intentional and explicit worship of Satan. This is not to say that the concepts and practices embodied in this word did not exist prior to that time.
According to Children of Lucifer: The origins of modern religious Satanism - Ruben Van Luikj.
Satanism as we know now is divided into two: theistic Satanism and atheistic Satanism. Let's delve a little into how differente they are now.
Modern Satanism has its roots in the 20th century, with figures such as Anton LaVey, founder of the Church of Satan in 1966, and writer of the Satanic Bible.
LaVey also structured his own commandments, which are:
I - You shall love and hate with equal intensity. II - You shall love yourself above all else. III - You shall love others as they love you. IV - You shall know yourself. V - You shall always seek material and spiritual improvement. VI - You shall not use Satan's name for wrongful purposes. VII - You shall respect and protect children and animals. VIII - You shall live every second as if it were your last. IX - You shall walk your own path but respect the path of others. X - You shall give your best in everything you do
LaVeyan Satanism, for example, is more of an atheistic philosophy that uses the figure of Satan as a symbol of rebellion, individualism, and skepticism. There is no belief in literal demons or deities.
Theistic Satanism, though, involves belief in Satan or demons as real entities and may include worship practices similar to Demonolatry.
In LaVeyan Satanism, practices include symbolic rituals, ritual magic, and the celebration of values such as hedonism and rational selfishness.
In Theistic Satanism, practices may include worship, invocations, and offerings to Satan or demons. Pretty similar to how things are done in demonolatry.
Demonolatry involves the worship of demons as deities, and is more devotional and spiritual. LaVeyan Satanism does not believe in literal demons, and focuses more on an atheistic philosophy focused on individualism and skepticism, while Theistic Satanism may involve the belief in Satan or demons as real entities.
Information about goetia
Solomonic Goetia has its roots in ancient texts such as the "Lemegeton" or "The Lesser Key of Solomon". It is a traditional and well-structured practice. It involves the evocation and control of demons through detailed and authoritative rituals, often calling upon angels and burning their sigils seeking to dominate and command these entities to obtain benefits or perform specific tasks.
Its practices include the creation of magic circles, the use of sigils and the performance of complex rituals to evoke and control demons. The focus is on controlling and dominating demons to achieve specific goals, such as power, knowledge or the accomplishment of tasks.
Meanwhile, Luciferian Goetia is a modern evolution of Solomonic Goetia popularized by Michael Ford, if I'm not mistaken, adapting ancient practices to a more contemporary philosophy, emphasizing collaboration and learning from demons, viewing them as spiritual mentors or allies.
The approach is more enlightened and less authoritarian, focusing on spiritual growth and self-knowledge; calling upon Lucifer so he can mediate between magician and daemon, being seen in this current as the emperor above all other daemons. This branch uses rituals, sigils, and invocations, but with an intention of partnership and mutual respect rather than control or domination, like in goetia.
Each of these practices offers a unique path for those seeking to interact with demonic entities, but with different philosophies, methods, and goals. I wish upon all a great path and good luck in your endeavors!
