Invocation/evocation? Options

So, It's actually a bit confusing. The dictionary's first entry has the exact same thing for Invocation as it does for Evocation. So, what's the difference? I thought I could just look it up in a dictionary, but it confused me even more that the exact same definition verbatim was used.

Regardless of theory and paradigm junk, evocation is to take the spirit into yourself, while invocation is to basically bring the spirit to you. Its the difference between letting somebody take over your body versus sitting and having tea with them.

Regardless of theory and paradigm junk, evocation is to take the spirit into yourself, while invocation is to basically bring the spirit to you. Its the difference between letting somebody take over your body versus sitting and having tea with them.

I had thought it was something like that, but not sure which was which. That was the perfect explanation and analogy, thanks.

Regardless of theory and paradigm junk, evocation is to take the spirit into yourself, while invocation is to basically bring the spirit to you. Its the difference between letting somebody take over your body versus sitting and having tea with them.

Err, I think you're getting the two mixed up...

In invocation, you absorb (something) IN to yourself.

In evocation, you call forth something (e.g., satan) from the universe (or yourself), and have tea with him (or constrain him to a triangle...but satan likes tea and crumpets better).

In other words, in invocation you (as microcosm) absorb the macrocosm. In evocation you become the macrocosm and create/call a microcosm.

This post has been edited by monkman418: Aug 14 2010, 01:40 PM

Yeah, I probably got the words mixed up~ Listen to Monk.

I was under the impression that Satan drank the blood of children and called it Merlot

yes invocation is inside you and evocation is outside. Personally I would never allow anything inside and will never preform an invocation as long as I have a body to preform one with. Evocations are fine with me though.

yes invocation is inside you and evocation is outside.

I knew a woman who would "invoke" the deities of other people for the purpose of compelling them to her own service. There was no change of consciousness, no godlike mental powers, and the person targeted had no idea it was happening, but the name of the deities were spoken before their images and the disciples of the deities would act in accordance with her wishes insofar as the deities held influence over them. Another example is the idea that one might invoke angels or saints, and while one is not inviting them to dwell within the mind of the supplicant, their influence is brought to bear within the situation wherein they are invoked.

Historically, the terms invoke and evoke mean the same thing. It is very common to find "I invoke thee..." as part of rituals obviously designed for what would be called evocation. DMKraig says that only an ignorant magician would confuse the terms, but despite his frequent references to Crowley, the Beast himself uses "invoke" where "evoke" would normally occur.

The bottom line is that it's an academic issue at best, and a poor one at that, but simply changing the way it is stated does not change the function of the ritual being performed. Saying "I invoke thee..." does not make it so, but is only a guide for the general effort of the ceremony.

I was under the impression that Satan drank the blood of children and called it Merlot

Muha! Yes, that's right, my bad.

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This post has been edited by monkman418: Aug 14 2010, 08:55 PM

Personally I would never allow anything inside and will never preform an invocation as long as I have a body to preform one with.

The irony of that would be that if you could evoke an entity, the entity would probably be powerful enough to control more than enough aspects of your consciousnesses. Personal experience taught me that, the little chalk circles ceremonial magick teaches, and talismans Daoism uses and whatnot are far from perfect against a demi-sentient.

The irony of that would be that if you could evoke an entity, the entity would probably be powerful enough to control more than enough aspects of your consciousnesses. Personal experience taught me that, the little chalk circles ceremonial magick teaches, and talismans Daoism uses and whatnot are far from perfect against a demi-sentient.

I probably wasn't as clear as I should have been. I mean I wouldn't invoke anything that is a sentient being. Energies and circles are fine with me