Spirit work encompasses the vast array of practices dedicated to perceiving, communicating with, commanding, collaborating with, or honoring non-corporeal intelligent entities. Found in virtually every human culture throughout history, spirit work represents one of the oldest forms of magical and religious practice, predating organized religion and continuing as a vital element of contemporary magical traditions.
Different traditions categorize spirits in various ways, but some common classifications include:
Deceased family members, lineage spirits, or cultural ancestors. Generally benevolent toward descendants, offering guidance, protection, and blessings. Found in virtually all cultures. Require regular honoring through offerings, prayers, and remembrance.
Spirits of places, plants, animals, stones, and natural phenomena. Include dryads (tree spirits), undines (water spirits), fairies/fae, land wights, genius loci (spirit of place). Relationship-based; require respect and reciprocity.
Messengers and servants of the divine in Abrahamic traditions. Organized into hierarchies (Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, etc.). Invoked in ceremonial magic for guidance, protection, and divine connection. Generally benevolent but can be stern.
Complex category ranging from fallen angels (Christian tradition) to neutral spirits (Greek daimon) to specific goetic entities. Not inherently evil in all traditions. Can teach, grant powers, or cause problems. Require careful protocols.
Gods and goddesses from various pantheons. Range from local/cultural deities to universal archetypes. Work with them requires devotion, not just technique. Relationship-centered practice involving offerings, prayer, and service.
Spirits embodying the four classical elements: gnomes (earth), sylphs (air), salamanders (fire), undines (water). Invoked in ceremonial magic and Wicca for elemental workings. Powerful but sometimes unpredictable.
Spirits in African diaspora religions (Vodou, Santeria, Palo). Complex beings who "ride" practitioners during possession trance. Require specific protocols, offerings, songs, and initiations. Not for casual work.
Artificially created thought-forms given semi-autonomous existence. Servitors created by individuals for specific tasks. Egregores are group thought-forms (organizational spirits). Chaos magic and ceremonial magic specialties.
Personal helping spirits in shamanic and New Age traditions. May be ancestors, nature spirits, or otherworldly teachers. Often met through journey work, meditation, or dreams. Offer guidance and support.
Spirit work has evolved through distinct phases:
Before attempting evocation or invocation, learn to receive messages:
Simple yes/no communication. Crystal or metal weight on chain. Establish signals (clockwise=yes, counterclockwise=no). Ask spirit to move pendulum. Verify with multiple questions. Susceptible to ideomotor effect—distinguish genuine contact from unconscious movement.
Enter light trance, invite spirit, allow hand to write without conscious control. Can produce messages, drawings, or symbolic information. Keep journal to track patterns. Discernment crucial—distinguish spirit communication from subconscious chatter.
Gazing into reflective surfaces (crystal ball, black mirror, water bowl, flame) to receive visions. Spirits may appear in medium or communicate through symbols. Requires practice developing the slight trance/unfocused gaze conducive to vision.
Invite specific spirit into dreams before sleep. Keep dream journal immediately upon waking. Spirits often communicate more easily in dream state when conscious filters down. Use protective prayers before sleeping.
Invite spirit to communicate through card reading. Ask questions, interpret cards as spirit's response. More structured than automatic writing. Cards provide symbolic language for communication.
Controversial but traditional. Participants lightly touch planchette which moves to spell messages. High risk of attracting random/deceptive entities. Proper opening, protection, and closing essential. Many practitioners avoid entirely due to risks.
Formal ceremonial practice of summoning spirits into perceptible manifestation. Based primarily on grimoire traditions.
Unlike evocation (spirit appears externally), invocation draws spirit's energy/consciousness into practitioner's body and mind. Ranges from light inspiration to full possession trance.
Wiccan practice of invoking Goddess (into priestess) or God (into priest) during ritual. Deity's presence fills practitioner, who may speak or act with divine authority. Requires proper training and support.
Golden Dawn technique of taking on appearance, posture, and consciousness of deity through visualization, mudras, and vibration of divine names. Lighter than full possession but connects to deity's archetypal power.
Full possession by loa during ceremony. Practitioner's consciousness steps aside as loa "rides" them. Loa speaks, acts, gives advice, heals. Requires initiation, community support, and proper protocols. Not for solo practice.
Modern pagan practice of partial deity embodiment. Practitioner retains awareness but allows deity to influence speech, movement, and perception. Lighter than full possession, safer for beginners.
Invoking a Helpful Spirit Guide:
Non-ceremonial approach to spirit communication through altered consciousness:
Safe and beneficial entry point to spirit work:
| Spirit Type | Traditional Offerings | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ancestors | Water, coffee, alcohol, foods they enjoyed, flowers, incense | Personal preference matters—offer what they loved in life |
| Fairies/Fae | Milk, honey, cream, butter, bread, shiny objects, flowers | Never say "thank you" (implies debt). "Fair exchange" instead |
| Nature Spirits | Biodegradable offerings—food scraps, flowers, libations poured on ground | Leave offerings at the specific location (tree, stream, etc.) |
| Angels | Prayers, frankincense, pure intentions, service to others | Angels typically don't require material offerings, prefer devotion |
| Demons (Goetic) | Incense specific to demon, sometimes blood offerings (own blood, animal), respect | Follow grimoire specifications. Blood offerings controversial/dangerous |
| Loa (Vodou) | Specific to each loa—rum for Legba, champagne for Erzulie, cigars, specific foods | Requires proper initiation and teaching. Not for eclectic borrowing |
| Deities | Varies by deity—research traditional offerings for specific god/goddess | Build relationship through regular devotional practice |
| Land Spirits | Cornmeal, tobacco, local foods, biodegradable items | Introduce yourself when moving to new location |
| Incense | Spirit Type | Properties |
|---|---|---|
| Frankincense | Angels, Solar spirits, Divine | Purification, consecration, raising vibration, protection |
| Myrrh | Ancestors, Chthonic spirits | Honoring dead, meditation, spirituality, underworld work |
| Sandalwood | General spirit work, Meditation | Opening psychic senses, peaceful communication, spiritual connection |
| Dragon's Blood | Protection during evocation | Power, protection, amplification, binding |
| Mugwort | Psychic work, Divination | Enhancing visions, dream work, psychic opening |
| Copal | Nature spirits, Ancestral work | Traditional Mesoamerican offering, purification, connection |
| Benzoin | Purification, Positive spirits | Cleansing space, attracting beneficial entities |
Golden Dawn's foundational banishing and protection rite. Clears space of unwanted influences, establishes sacred space, grounds practitioner. Should be mastered before attempting evocation.
Simple protective boundary. Pour line of salt in circle around working space. Spirits traditionally cannot cross salt. For extra protection, add protective herbs (rosemary, rue, sage) to salt.
Psalm 91 for protection, Psalm 23 for comfort and guidance. Lord's Prayer. Prayers to protective deities or saints. Faith-based protection powerful when sincere.
Pentacle pendant, Seal of Solomon, protective crystals (black tourmaline, obsidian), blessed medallions. Wear during spirit work for constant protection.
Invoke guardian angels, protective deities, ancestors, or spirit guides before working with unknown entities. Ask them to oversee and intervene if necessary.
Visualize roots extending from body into earth (grounding). Visualize protective sphere of light around self (shielding). Basic energy work essential for all spirit contact.
Medieval and Renaissance ceremonial magic systems for spirit evocation:
Indigenous spirit-working practices found worldwide:
Spirits central to African-derived religions:
Modern Western approaches to spirit communication:
Calling on protective spirits to guard home, person, or project. Angels, ancestors, protective deities. Spirit removal for hauntings or attachments.
Consulting spirit guides, angels, or deified ancestors for advice on life decisions, spiritual development, or complex situations.
Working with healing spirits, calling on Archangel Raphael, shamanic extraction of spiritual illness, ancestor healing work.
Inviting spirits to communicate through tarot, runes, or other systems. Asking specific entities for information.
Goetic demons for specific powers, planetary spirits for aligned energies, elemental spirits for elemental magic, servitors for specific tasks.
Working with Holy Guardian Angel (Abramelin operation), deity devotion, relationship with guides and teachers for growth.
Classic grimoire containing the Goetia (72 demons), Theurgia-Goetia, Ars Paulina, Ars Almadel, and Ars Notoria. Detailed descriptions of demons, their seals, powers, and evocation procedures. Essential but dangerous—not for beginners. Multiple translations available; Mathers and Crowley editions most famous.
Intensive 6-month (original) or 18-month (later) magical retirement to achieve Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, then gain authority over spirits. Foundational to Thelema and Golden Dawn. Requires serious dedication and life restructuring.
Foundational text of Core Shamanism. Extracts universal techniques from indigenous traditions in culturally sensitive way. Practical instructions for shamanic journey, power animal retrieval, and healing. Accessible entry point to spirit work without appropriating specific cultural practices.
Modern practical guide to spirit evocation from chaos magic perspective. Less dogmatic than traditional grimoires. Covers protection, preparation, evocation techniques, and working with various spirit types. Good intermediate text after mastering basics.
Hermetic texts foundational to Western esoteric understanding of divine communication. While not practical manual, provides philosophical framework for understanding relationship between divine, spirits, and humans. Essential context for ceremonial magic.
Practical guide to Hoodoo spirit work including ancestor veneration, working with saints, petition magic, and traditional rootwork. Respectful presentation of African-American folk tradition by initiated practitioner. Accessible to self-study.
Foundation of Spiritist philosophy. Q&A format presenting spirit teachings on life after death, reincarnation, and communication between worlds. While dated, provides systematic framework for understanding spirit nature and communication from Spiritualist perspective.
Contemporary guide to spirit work from experienced practitioner. Covers offerings, communication methods, different spirit types, and building relationships. Practical, grounded approach blending traditional and modern techniques. Excellent for intermediate practitioners.
Unique grimoire presenting angelic counterbalances to Goetic demons. For each demon, provides corresponding angel to control and direct the demonic spirit. Safer approach to Goetia than raw evocation. Scholarly edition with extensive commentary.