Attempted Work With Astaroth - Failed, got sick because of this working Options

To better warn people of the potential dangers of working with certain spirits that are believed to be "Gods" or "Goddesses" and therefore must be nice, I decided to write about this experience here for you all.

Since I've read Astaroth is good with helping women with love, I used this spirit to compel a man to love a friend of mine. I went through the process of leaving offerings of red roses and honey for Astaroth near her leather seal that I made for her. I was basically trying to contact the Godform that so many occultists claim she truly is.

Not much luck in contacting her during the offering stage. So, I started preparing for an evocation of my own design. I never use tools or weapons other than my own holy water and salt. Not a standard set-up at all, I know, but it's always worked well for me. The night before the evocation I told Astaroth's seal that I would be evoking her and to prepare for it.

So that night, I had a pretty intense dream. I was outside in my backyard, where I have my physical circle drawn on the ground. A man was trying to rape a girl I know and she pulled a gun out and killed him and he fell inside my circle. I quickly ran over inside the circle and saw that some "guy" was trying to stab me once I entered it, and I realized I didn't have any weapons. The only thing I had nearby was the stick I use to draw the circle. I stabbed him and killed him with it, but not before he stabbed me too. My mom was also shot up pretty bad in that dream, and although I was able to heal her a bit, it wasn't enough.

It was a pretty unsettling dream that pretty much told me that I was not ready to evoke this spirit until I had more tools.

After that, I began to get sick. Getting headaches, a fever that didn't go down, etc. I would banish, and my fever would go down for awhile, then go back up. I would banish again, and same thing all over again. This went on for three days at least. The friend I was doing this for also got sick the same day I did. I read an email from her today, saying she had a dream where Astaroth visited her and told her she was not the right spirit to help her, and that she should get another demon to do it. So, I destroyed the leather seal today in a fire and gave the license to depart all over my house. I feel much better and my fever is down almost completely. I told my friend to also give the license to depart and burn the seal she has. I only wrote her today, so I don't know if she's done it yet.

So far, this has been quite a fascinating and interesting experience, and it's one that I think most newby's should read about when they are considering working with a demon that is supposedly a god. Firsthand experience is much better than secondhand stories, or worse yet, opinions from armchair occultists that have never worked with the spirits they are talking about.

I'd like to hear others experiences with this spirit in particular, and if you all encountered the benevolent female or the evil fallen angel version. My friend says this spirit appeared to her as a woman.

Greetings!
I am most sorry to hear of your experience(s)...I'd take abit of time off and find your center and ground before flexing your magic again. This means to strengthen your auric field and some 'smart' living (proper food/rest).
I have had some experience with Astaroth. BUT, I use the tools etc. when conjuring a spirit for the first time! I also make sure to have the Ring handy. Please remember that by forgoing the standard rituals etc. leave you vulnerable to some nasty surprises! I know that I'm considered old fashiones and not 'with it'......all you types that feel that you know it all, etc. but that there is method to the madness.
I have a feeling that you opened a link to the spirit in question and you were not ready to deal with it. There are reasons for using shields/circles/rings/etc. IMHO I would no more attempt to conjure one of the Goetia without strict preparations than fly. Be thankful that you managed to escape with only a 'love tap' (pardon the pun).
No matter what your newaged sources say, Astaroth is far different than Astarte! Next time you wish to muck about with love magic DON'T USE DEMONS! It is PERILOUS to turn your nose up at various preparations! The present newage attitude of "I don't need to pay any attention to those old fashioned/outmoded rules..." is just stupid.
The fever and sickness you encountered is typical of a severe energy bleedoff caused by the link. Bridging the gap between here and there isn't difficult but keeping the energies involved in check are critical....it's like handling radioactive material. You just don't use your bare hands! I've found that consorting with demonic currents can be draining to your life energy. And for Gods sake WHY? There are many less toxic adventures than demons to engaghe in.
Well...again, I'm sorry that you were caught in a bad spot but now, you must allow yourself and your partner to heal. But that, as well as the failed operation, is your choice. PM me if you'd like. I hope you both are feeling better soon! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/black eye.gif)

This post has been edited by bym: Jan 10 2007, 06:45 PM

Thank you Bym, for the advice. I always enjoy your posts.

I definately don't think I know better than you about these things. I don't like the new-age beliefs either. For the most part, they seem pretty silly actually. I've never understood why people take Crowley's word for it when they say that demons are aspects of our minds. Crowley wasn't a psycologist, was he?

I think my biggest problem was that I was overly confident in my old magical abilities, and didn't realize that I haven't really been taking care of myself lately. Since I got a girlfriend, I've really been skipping on my ritual work, meditation, and have gained weight from eating out too much (with the GF, of course). Stupid me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush2.gif)

I will PM you soon, but I thought I should say publicly that yeah, Astaroth is not Astarte. Praying to Astarte is pretty nice, but this attack came out of nowhere (without warning, I mean) and hit me like a ton of bricks, and it's totally unlike Astarte.

I'm feeling a bit better now, but I know I have to take it easy for a bit. Before I read your post I had already decided to start a diet and do more solar meditations. I remember my aura used to be pretty strong, but I recently looked at it and it's pathetically small and weak now.

I've never understood why people take Crowley's word for it when they say that demons are aspects of our minds.

I think my biggest problem was that I was overly confident in my old magical abilities, and didn't realize that I haven't really been taking care of myself lately.

I will PM you soon, but I thought I should say publicly that yeah, Astaroth is not Astarte.

The "Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic" essay fails in several ways to account for spirit conjuring. Foremost is the fact that the work prescribed in Goetia, to which it is preface, simply does not produce any sort of mind-blowing altered state wherein one might hallucinate. Secondly it fails to account for how, if there were some form of psycholgical effect generated from the rites, the brain's activity might influence such events as earthquakes, storms, etc as are described by the book. Third, it fails to account for the actual powers themselves, for example whereas the grimoire suggest treasure to be discovered, Crowley repalces the notion with that of "stimulated business capacity" and not veins of golden ore, and the "destruction of enemies" becomes compassion. Its sole redeeming note is the suggestion that we thoroughly experiment to resolve the matter.

There is no ability or skill in Goetia, or in any other grimoire to my knowledge, other than that required to produce the tools and carry out the work itself. If the Goetia appears too rigorous, it is apparent that Astaroth is conjured with equal effectiveness through other systems. It appears you wanted some sort of love-spell, and it is strange to me that you would even consider adapting a grimoire to this purpose when innumerable love-spells exist.

I have never conjured Astaroth by Goetia, but you raise a common point of curiosity that I will settle eventually and put in the Imperial Arts journal when completed. I classify the powers of the spirits as "greater" mysteries; and such trivia as the origins and correct pronunciations of the spirit names, the exact appearances, and the relevance to mythology as the "lesser" mysteries of that art. Aside from the fact that Astarte and Astaroth are traditionally identical, there is the fact that Astaroth is attributed to Venus and that its appearance includes a "beast like a dragon." The serpent or dragon motif frequently appears in connection to Astarte.

Ave

I would say your operation went awry at one vital point: you mixed entities. If you believe that Astaroth is indeed the ancient Caananite Goddess Astarte, then you must pursue that spirit in that way, devotions to the Goddess,using Astarte as her name, using her symbol(s), research her cult's practices, etc. But, you instead mixed the Demon Astaroth with your idea that it was a God(dess), thereby giving him (or her, I've met with Astaroth in the form of a woman before) the general status in your mind as a God(dess). I would say that this is why you had averse reactions with the Demon, while many work with Astarte with much benevolence, you expected the God(dess) to come and help by using the name and seal of a Demon (regardless is the evidence that it is a demonized form of an ancient goddess, it is, litterally, a DEMONIZED FORM and not the Goddess). The Demon came and you did not protect yourself as you should have, hence the experience. Banish and invoke your higher self, regardless if you've met it or not yet, and do some prayer work to your Deity for purification from the Demon's influence.

Ad Scientiam

This post has been edited by Lucian: Jan 11 2007, 03:24 AM

Imperial Arts,

I actually tried to work with Astaroth because, well, everybody thinks that demons are just cool and that they must have some great power to influence the mind. I actually just did a santeria spell with Astaroth's seal underneath the jar I used for the spell. I didn't evoke her, and I certainly didn't use any kind of blood or physical link at all in the spell.

I've actually meditated and done similar things with other goetics that result pretty well, but I guess the problem here was my lack of "astral senses". Since I can't hear in the astral, Astaroth couldn't actually tell me she wasn't the right spirit to help out with the spell, so she started affecting my physical life until I got the picture.

Lucian,

You're right, that's exactly what I did, unfortunately. Now I know better. I will be invoking my higher self on a regular basis now. I've not met him yet, but I've had good success in invoking him before. Actually, doing alot of spellwork and spirit work is only partially (for me anyway) to receive what I work on, but it's also to get into situations (like this one) where I am potentially in danger and I will be forced to look to my higher self for assistance. The way I see it, the more I flex my magical muscle, the closer I get to achieving union. I'm not a praying kind of person, so that's why I do things the way I do.
Pretty stupid, I know, but that's me.

Altpath its not stupid at all. You learn best by doing so that is what it takes. Good fortune.

The goetia demons are an odd bunch. Some of them don't appear very demonic, tricksters or neutral mostly but don't seem "evil" whatever that might mean. Now others are just down right nasty customers as you have now learned.

You were lucky that Astaroth let you know it wasn't a good idea before you had actually evoked her, otherwise you might not have gotten away as well as you did. A burned hand is the best teacher and you just learned a valuable lesson.

Work on invoking your higher self. MP helps as well to clean off any residue. Perhaps call upon a few of the angels to aid you in your recovery. Good luck.

A burned hand is the best teacher and you just learned a valuable lesson.

Oh yes, that's very true.

Work on invoking your higher self. MP helps as well to clean off any residue. Perhaps call upon a few of the angels to aid you in your recovery. Good luck.

I recited the bornless ritual today during trance and I feel good. I use that ritual to invoke my higher self.
The MP is a ritual I haven't practiced in a long time since I switched it for chakra techniques I learned a while back but I remember I had good results with it. I'll try it again.

I was actually going to call on Raphael last night, hoping that maybe he'd be kind enough to help me out with the sickness, but I decided to instead call on Michael to charge an Amulet to ward off unwanted energies and spirits, and I don't regret it. I feel a big difference from yesterday in my health today.

Thank you everybody!

Greetings!
You guys are really great for your support to Altpath and the experiment!
I wish that I had such a support group when I was younger! *sigh*

Now...If I may take abit of your time. When we approach the idea of holding an 'operation/experiment/working' we begin the act of Magic! It doesn't start when you have finally prepped for the event, you start at its inception! Even though Altpath hadn't actually performed the rite, he suffered a 'backlash' effect. This often occurs when the operator has innate abilities with Magic. When your mind is meditating on all the seals etc. you are building up a charge. Unless you take the proper precautions to keep energies balanced and yourself centered etc., you run the risk of the energies tipping out of control. Now everybody is different in the ways they achieve a 'charge' so the precautions can differ abit from one to another. As an example of this I had employed a close friend at University to help with the conjuration of Asmodeus. I spent weeks preparing. Two days before the scheduled event my friend, our friends and myself were recipients of dark shadowy presences that were also palpible by outsiders! These included a couple of strong visions of the actual working...occuring before the rite took place! This is when I discovered that time/space means little to the energies involved and that one needs to be vigilant with protections ahead of time! Incidently, all electronics within close proximity to us and the space we used for the rite were disrupted in some interesting ways during and after the experiment. During the rite, two incense burners 'blew up' into metallic shrapnel. All of us heard disembodied voices for months afterwards! All the banishings were adhered to and the License to Depart spoken. It took me about 6 months to fully normalize. Not everyone will experience these phenomena and that is good!
Interesting note here....when I evoked Ashtaroth, it did not take the female gender in appearance but rather one of 'angelic' qualities but genderless. Whether or not some of these demons being are deposed/forgotten dieties or facets of the Collective Unconciousness, they will assume the current with which they are in/e-voked. IMHO! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Incidently, all electronics within close proximity to us and the space we used for the rite were disrupted in some interesting ways during and after the experiment. During the rite, two incense burners 'blew up' into metallic shrapnel.

I've had that sort of thing happen to me too. Whenever I need to rely on something (like a certain type of incense I want to use to consecrate my circle, or a certain colored light bulb) something goes wrong and I'm forced to work without it. I've had problems like not being able to get a fire going or even not being able to get a candle to light no matter how hard I try.

One of the things that has happened during every "major" ritual I've performed, especially when I prep for it ahead of time several days in advance is I get dark and gloomy storm clouds forming above my house. Eventually, if I've prepared for it with much time ahead, the clouds spread over the whole town. Once the ritual starts, so does the rain. This is unusual because it happens even if it's not the rainy season. I have a friend who works in construction and finds it annoying when I do these things because he is usually sent home because they can't work in the rain, so I feel bad about that sometimes (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Sounds terrible to be out of it for 6 months after a ritual, but I guess that's the price of experiementation with spirit work right? I wonder if maybe things just went terribly wrong for me since I didn't actually go through with the ritual? After all, I gave the offerings without any side-effects, and once I chickened out of the evocation, I started getting sick and terrible luck, too.

to help with the conjuration of Asmodeus.

lol That is why I love you Bym, when you choose a demon you don't screw around.

I have worked with Astaroth many times and never had a problem. However I had been practicing magic for a few years before I ever started calling entities. So the bit of experience might help. Also, I tend to like to spend a month getting to know a new Daemon before any long term work with them. That and, well some Daemons and some people just don't mesh. Each Daemon just loves some people, and just doesn't like others at all. Sometimes there isn't even a particular reason for this. Also to note with Astaroth in particular, she won't help if the guy or woman is bad for yourself/client.

I guess for recommendations in general I would say get out a pendalum and ask the spirit if they would like to work with you in general, as well as ask if they would be willing to help in each particular case. Definatly s ome scarey dreams! Fortunatly the Daemons will often give messages in dreams.

Athena

Thank you Athena,

I think what happened here is that Astaroth thinks the guy my friend wants is a total jerk. But this girl was stubborn about wanting him, so this is what happened.

Yeah, the dreams can be freaky. They're usually like a "duel" for me in my temple. Never actually received images of things she'd like or things I could do, mainly just a "fight". I lost (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Greetings,

I would associate the female version of Astaroth (also Ashtaroth, Astarot, and Asteroth) with Astarte. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astarte

or Ashtart.

I am familiar with the male version such as in the Lesser Key of Solomon.

He worked great for me.

Give a nice sacrifice and follow ritual as close as possible. Treat him with the respect he is due and he will answer.

He was the most useful to me of all the lessor spirits so I will speak of his merit.

Also make sure that what you are asking for is well thought out and a worthy of asking his help. These spirits are prideful and will scoff at you if you ask them to do something they may feel is beneath them.

In that way the Goetic spirits remind me of the ever prideful Solar Angelic spirits of the Greater key.

You are correct to view this spirit in a God form as the Christian demons are just forgotten Gods to begin with.

BYM gives excellent advice in regards to this spirit above.

Aim high!

Peace!

This post has been edited by Edunpanna: Jan 12 2007, 08:44 PM

So, I destroyed the leather seal today in a fire and gave the license to depart all over my house.

Aye, this spirit was heavily worshipped as Ishtar and Isis, but that does not make her a God. Unless you are especially tied to this spirit [female, chosen, etc?] I would banish the house THOROUGHLY. I wish you the most perfect of blessings.
Nill

Excellent topic. Kudos to all involved.

I've not worked with Astaroth, and when I asked a friend of several decades experience for his advice prior to working the Goetia I was warned off him until I have more experience, along with several others of the 72. By all accounts he is definitely heavy.

Anyway, I don't have a great deal to add other than to agree with Lucian's thoughts on the nature of the spirits. "Demon et Deus Inversus" and all that, and I'm inclined to the belief that many of the God/angel/demon forms we are familiar with are the same basic entities in different modes of operation.

Edit: edit for grammar.

This post has been edited by J*S: Jan 26 2007, 03:32 AM

Greetings Nill,

It is true that Astoroth has roots in the Goddess. However he appeared as male to me simular to what is described in the Goetia.

Greetings J's,

Yes he is very strong. The air does feel heavy. I respect that strength.

Peace