Demons of Magick FAQ

Demons of Magick by Gordon Winterfield

Frequently Asked Questions

This page is for questions relating to Demons of Magick. 

‘This is the best book on how to work with the demons of the Goetia that has ever been published.’ – EB, Amazon Review

ebook and paperback here: http://amzn.to/2qsXkfx

Page maintained by Adam Blackthorne.

Q: Can you tell me the best demon to use for my problem?

A: Nobody can. If you read the chapter called The Presentation of The Demons, Gordon talks about the need to avoid tables and charts, and instead to spend time becoming familiar with the powers so that you can choose appropriately. “Becoming familiar with the powers gives you access to them. A well-chosen power is more effective than a basic suggestion,” is how he puts it. This means that if you have a particular need, you may need to think a bit about what really needs to happen to get your result. There might not be a demon to ‘stop my boss from bullying me’, but if you look carefully, there are many, many ways you could bind, influence or prevent your boss from causing harm. This applies to so many problems. There are hundreds of powers listed, but when applied creatively, they are much deeper than their short descriptions, and this is deliberate, as your attempt to reach for the most appropriate power is how you begin the magickal work. If anybody else gives you an answer, that can never take into account the details you are aware of, the insights you have or the way you understand the powers, so the choice must be yours.

Q: The power I want to use isn’t listed. What do I do?

A: You will notice that Gordon gives many examples to show how magick can be applied, but you will see these powers are not described directly in the book. What does this mean? It means that you are being encouraged to see beyond the simple one-line descriptions of the powers. Gordon notes that the descriptions are brief, and then says, “You are compelled to contemplate, to think, to intuit and to interpret what is written here.” So, you can find the powers you need. If it seems to you that the demon’s powers could be interpreted to work in a certain way, you a probably right. It may take some deep and creative thinking, tackling the problem in an unexpected way, but this can be very effective.

Q: Is this method disrespectful to demons?

A: Gordon talks about co-operation and command, rather than slavery, but the balance of power is in your favour. That’s the best and safest way to work. We have found that when magick treats demons as monsters that need to be feared and banished, the magick doesn’t work as well. This book approaches the subject with respect for the demons’ power, but acknowledging that you remain in charge. You do not serve the demons; they serve you, which is how it should be.

Q: Some people suggest using this book without the angelic protections. Is this wise?

A: No, it’s not. It’s potentially risky and certainly weakens your chance of getting results. It’s a quite recent trend, apparently based on a misconception that demons rebel against angels during magick. This misconception comes mostly from fiction, and not from the reality of occult experience. Demons are part of an established hierarchy, and they operate with great power and dignity when they are ‘constrained’ by angels. It works well this way, and the demons are more willing and able to help you in a stable way when you approach the magick as written by Gordon Winterfield. It is wrong to suggest that demons resent this hierarchy, and we have never seen evidence of this or heard tell of it during evocation. Indeed, the demons are clearly more real, conscious and able to operate when welcomed in the way Gordon suggests. It is also utterly false to suggest that better results come when you strip away the angelic protections. Indeed, we believe that the essential power of this magick comes from the angelic emissaries. They do not merely offer protection to you, but enable the demons to operate in the most intelligent and insightful way. The angelic emissaries are one of the true gifts of this book (rarely published elsewhere) and to discard them is to miss out on the potential of this work. The danger is that if you take them away you are left with unruly and weakened aspects of the demons. We have worked this magick for decades, and seen others use it in recent years, and it is clear that those who follow the magick as written in the book get the best, safest results. We understand people want to experiment, but firmly believe that taking the angelic workings away is risky and disempowers the magick.

Q: Should we seek one special demon, or a ‘patron demon’, to work with.

A: The concept of a ‘patron demon’ was created by an author whose works are popular with some readers. That’s fine, but if you’re asking us, The Gallery of Magick believe, as Gordon says, “The true power of working with demons is that you have access to the varied powers of all seventy-two, and you should never limit yourself to one.” People are free to disagree and try to seek one special demon, but although some members of The Gallery have worked in this way at various times in their lives, it’s one of the approaches we abandoned as it was far too limiting and could lead to a dangerous fascination and attachment from which the demon benefits most, without you benefitting much at all. Demons don’t sit there waiting to prey on people, but when people attach to them as a sort of meta-God, the demons can respond to that God-feeling and act the part, and it’s something we’ve found to be counter-productive to results. We know there’s a very strong trend to pursue ‘patron demons’ at present in certain groups, but it’s not what’s in our books or what we’d recommend.

Q: There something else I don’t understand. Can you help?

A: Gordon writes in a rich style, and many of the answers are within the text. He does not offer summaries to ensure that you make your own, which in turn ensures that you have actually understood all the details. If you read and reread the book, and spend time contemplating what has been said, the answer may reveal itself to you. This is not Gordon being awkward or obscure for the fun of it, but to aid your genuine learning and to encourage your personal experience. Also, see the question above this one. It’s the key to many of the mysteries.

Q: I’m confused about how often I should perform rituals, and in what order. Can you help?

A: Again, Gordon is vague not out of laziness or for the fun of being obscure, but because being too precise would limit your experience. This is not a book like Words of Power where you do a ritual and get a result within a set of limitation. This means that many aspects of the magick are left for you to discover. The way to find the answer is to look at your actual needs, and then look at the magick you need to solve the problem. All other factors, such as timing, ordering, exactly how a power can be applied – these will all become clear as you work with magick. You are being given access to a mass of magick that can work for decades, so it may take more time to understand the ins and outs of it than usual. It’s worth experiencing the magick to discover what it can offer you.

Q: The book talks about combining powers. Does this mean several powers of one demon can be combined within one ritual, or that several demons can be called at once?

A: With this book, you need to read deeply and know that much subtle instruction is included in the simplest of statements. Yes, a single demon’s powers can be combined within one ritual, but the other way of combining powers is over time, progressively, from many sources (not by calling several demons at once). This is perhaps best summarised in The Ritual Preparation, where Gordon says, ‘Your role is to examine the situation thoughtfully and choose the powers that are most appropriate.’ This is not a throwaway sentence or obvious piece of instruction, but deep guidance that requires contemplation.

Q: If I want to call several demons at once, should I do all the opening ceremonies for each demon, or can I just open the ritual once and then call all the demons in turn.

A: This is your choice, but a more thorough and patient approach, with a break between rituals, would be more likely to bring results. Make sure you have the required energy, and also see the above question which addresses combined powers.

Q: I performed a ritual yesterday and didn’t get a result yet. Why not?

A: Magick can work instantly, but often takes much longer, and patience is an essential skill. Too much expectation can cause subconscious doubt, and that disrupts the magick. Gordon mentions patience frequently and notes that, ‘Even the easiest magick will manifest at different rates…’  The magick works, but if you expect it to work overnight you might be too anxious to see a result. Anxiety stifles magick. It needs room to breathe. The more patient you are, the faster it happens; let go of the results and allow them to happen when they happen. Study the final paragraph of What You Can Expect To Happen, as that shows how patience, along with other aspects of your mindset, are as important as the ritual itself. And you might also want to read: The Magickal Shortcut.

Q: Do I have to name the specific power in my request?

A: No. You name your desire as described in the book, but you don’t need to name the power being employed. As Gordon says, “Whatever you seek, you should state your desire, but do not overstate the means by which the results should be achieved.”

Q: I can’t include all the details in my request. Does the demon know what I want?

A: If your desire is clear, it will work. You know what you want and what you don’t want. The demon also knows this, because your desire is clear.

Q: Why do desires have to be sincere? Can’t I do a ritual for something that’s just for fun?

A: If you really want that result, even if it’s objectively trivial or base, that is sincere enough. Sincerity drives results, so what Gordon is implying is that you should do magick when your desire is real, rather than just to see what will happen.

Q: Should we do The Ritual Opening in addition to The Core Ritual? 

A: The Core Ritual includes The Ritual Opening. See the fourth paragraph of The Core Ritual. A thorough reading and understanding of this should be attained before proceeding.

Q: I heard I can find all this information free online. Is it true?

A: You can get the basics, of course, but the refined and original techniques, especially the Evocation Keys, the associated Angelic Emissaries, The Core Ritual and the unique Ritual Opening… no, you won’t find those online. As one reviewer put it, ‘Winterfield has synthesized centuries-worth of texts, systems, and theory into a modern compendium and guide. Readable, comprehensible, and usable, this is a contemporary tour de force on the demons of the Goetia.’

Q: Somebody said this is just a version of Dr Rudd’s method. Is it true?

A: No, it’s not true – Rudd related many of the traditional, longwinded ideas, which is precisely what Gordon has thrown out. Although this book uses some aspects of Rudd’s work, the rest comes from many other sources, as explained in the book.

Q: Somebody said I should check out the nature of the Angelic Emissaries, but I can’t find them in my angel dictionary. Why not?

A: As Gordon pointed out, the Angelic Emissaries and the Shem angels are assigned in Shorshei ha-Shemot, a relatively rare text, and are therefore too obscure for the mainstream dictionaries and encyclopaedias. You may find some names match the mainstream books, but they are unlikely to be the same angels. If you want to study further you’ll need to read Shorshei ha-Shemot or a similar source text.

Q: This book doesn’t contain as much detail as other books about lusting for results. Why?

A: Look for the line that reads, ‘All that you need to know about achieving results with magick has been explained in this paragraph if you are willing to see its message.’ The answers are there.

Q: Is this safe?

It is. The method uses Archangels, assigned Shem angels and Angelic Emissaries to make this magick safe, but if you have doubts or fears about working with demons we recommend you steer clear of it. You might get an idea about the potential powers and the nature of good and evil if you read this article on Demons of Magick.

Q: I’ve read a lot of frightening stories about demons in occult forums. Is it really safe?

If you’ve read the book you will understand that Gordon portrays the demons as more like royal guards of your household, than as monsters that are out to get you. Occult forums are not, in our experience, a good place to get the best information. Although there may be some people with experience and knowledge, they are often filled with trolls, scaremongers, book harvesters (who collect but never perform magick), and kids looking for a laugh. Trust that information if you like, but we all abandoned such forums many years ago.

Q: Somebody told me that working without circles, daggers and wooden triangles is dangerous. Shouldn’t I use the traditional equipment?

A: Most of those traditions are relatively recent compared to the magick itself, and are not required. Gordon knew perfectly well that many traditionalists would be offended by this book, but he wouldn’t change a word. For those who try the magick, it works safely and effectively.

Q: Are you aware that somebody claimed a demon was speaking to people in a ‘gallery of magick’ Facebook support group by supernaturally controlling a Facebook account?

A: In March 2018 we were contacted by several members of a Facebook group (not owned or controlled by us, but one that used ‘gallery of magick’ in the title) and were told that a demon was chatting to group members in text form, with the claim being that the demon was using Facebook directly – not being channelled, but actually using Facebook by taking over somebody’s account supernaturally. We were asked by concerned group-members to investigate, so in a spirit of open-mindedness we conducted a brief investigation, both mundane and magickal (involving evocation), and came to the conclusion that this was not a real occult event, and is very far from our many decades of experience of working with mighty, dignified and awe-inspiring demons. That group no longer uses the Gallery of Magick name.

Q: Why is the book so expensive?

The paperback is unavoidably expensive due to the color printing. It’s a large book, 8×10 inches, with 238 pages, so it costs what it costs; we make less money on this than anything else we publish, and we can’t trim the costs any more. And for the ebook, the cost of including over 80 high-resolution images is also carried by us, not Amazon. We’d rather make the price high than lower the quality of the images. We’ve done everything we can to make this the best we can, and the content should make it all worthwhile a thousand times over. It’s also worth noting that expense is relative: you could spend this much money on an evening of food and drink that will soon be forgotten, or you could spend it on access to a lifetime of magick.

Q: What’s the difference between working with angels and demons?

If you want to get a feel for this, you need to read the book, but if you want to know before reading it, please use the Look Inside feature on Amazon (click on the book on the top left), or order the free sample. You can read several opening chapters without any cost and get a good idea about what’s involved.

Q: I sensed that I was getting a response from the ritual as soon as I started thinking about it? What’s going on?

A: All magick is capable of affecting the past as well as the future. That is how results are sometimes able to come to you quickly – the past has been changed to bring you a new present reality. This effect can be very strong with demonic magick, so that as soon as you decide you want to do a ritual you may sense the future ritual that you enact. This doesn’t mean the demon is intruding on your life without permission, but that you are sensing your future power. If you don’t sense this, don’t worry; it doesn’t happen to everybody.

Q: Can this be used at the same time as angelic magick, or any other kind of magick?

A: Demons of Magick employs many angels to constrain the demons; angelic work is very much in harmony with this. You can use any other magick, so long as there’s no direct contradiction – if you perform magick to remain unseen you can’t use magick to be popular. There’s no reason why this can’t work with other magick, but you may want to read The Abundance of Magick.

Q: Can two people use this magick at the same time, for the same purpose?

Yes you can, but it helps if you’re genuinely close and your shared need is almost identical. Should you perform your rituals at the same time, use your own requests or share everything? That’s down to you. Some people craft the concept and perform the rituals together. Others work on the same project, but perform their rituals alone. Do what feels right to you.

Q: I’m frightened of demons, but want to do the magick. What do you recommend?

A lot of people are tempted by the power of the magick, but find that a sense of the supernatural makes them afraid. The first suggestion I can make (which is backed up by many comments on this site and on Facebook) is to read the main text of the book several times. If you read closely, and understand what Gordon has written, you will know that you re safe, and that if at any point you don’t like what’s happening you can shut it down using his instructions. If you want to work your way up to this kind of evocation, try The Angels of Alchemy by Damon Brand, as that evokes angels – the energy and presence is powerful, but less dramatic, and most people find this an excellent way to get used to the experience of evocation.

Q: How do I know when to reward the demon if the result I’m asking for is not completely clear?

A: Look for the paragraph that starts with, ‘Judging when to reward the demon can be difficult,’ and the paragraphs around it. At one point Gordon says, ‘When you believe that the demon has satisfied your demands…’ and that is all the guidance you need, but the other paragraphs in that part of the book offer guidance. But there is no obligation to get it right, and you offer when you offer, either at the first sign of a result or when satisfied.

Q: In Ritual One is there an alternative to burning the paper? I don’t want to burn my house down.

A: Gordon tells you to take all reasonable precautions to avoid accidents, and when it comes to fire that warning should be taken very seriously. You must only burn paper if you can do so safely, with precautions taken in case things go wrong, and if it can’t be done safely you should find an alternative. One option is to use a very small piece of paper, with the letters written on top of each other instead of in a line or cycle – this means there’s very little to burn. Another alternative is to simply tear the paper up instead of burning. If you use something small to burn, when it comes to the part where the demonic seal is concealed beneath the paper, use another piece of paper or your hand, but do make sure the paper with your petition actually touches the seal (even if it’s in the digital book) at some point.

Q: I noticed there are 72 angels in some books, and 72 demons in this one. Why?

A: There’s a lot of theory and legend, but in practical terms, each of The 72 Angels of Magick corresponds to a particular demon, and can therefore constrain that demon and make it safe. This book contains the correct correspondences, even though they may differ to those published elsewhere and those found online. There is an explanation for this in the book.

Q: Which is more powerful? An angel or a demon? If they battle it out, who wins?

A: This is largely theoretical speculation, as it’s very rare for such situations to arise in the real world. As such, it’s impossible to answer, except to acknowledge that results are always dependent on the clarity of will of the person doing the magick, the sincerity of need, natural abilities, the skill with which you perform the magick, and many other factors such as how patient and allowing of results you are. In practical terms, if you perform magick for what you sincerely want, using either angels or demons, you stand a better chance of getting what you want.

Q: What if I’ve made an offering that is difficult to complete in a ritual environment, such as one that requires me to leave the house?

A: It is better to plan your offerings to avoid such a situation. Offerings are optional, so a solution is to leave your offering incomplete. A second solution is to have the experience, and then summon the demon and offer the memory of the sensual experience.

Q: Are there dangers in using sexual pleasure as an offering?

A: Gordon says, ‘It can be quite difficult to enjoy your sexual activity while holding the demon’s existence in your mind,’ so it is a practical issue. Elaborate sexual offerings may also be difficult to organise. This is again a practical issue. Gordon mentions that you should not offer bodily fluids for reasons explained in the text, so sexual offerings should be sensual only, as described in the book.

Q: There are Words of Power in this book that make it easier to sense spirits. Can I use them in other magick?

A: You can, but you should consider it an experiment, as the specific Words of Power shown here were chosen from a larger list. That list contains words for working with many different classes of spirits. The ones in this book were chosen for this demonic ritual. If you use them elsewhere, with other spirits, the results may be unpredictable.

Q: Where can I download the sigil used in The Ritual Opening?

A: Here. This is the size it appears in the book. You may need to scale it up or down, depending on your computer/printer settings. Or you can use it on a device if you prefer. It only needs to be three or four inches wide.

Q: If I print out the sigils, what do I do with them after the ritual?

If you want to dispose of a sigil, leave some time, let it feel non-magickal and then dispose of it like any trash. Some people worry this is insulting to the demon, but so long as you do it casually, it is no more troubling than closing the book. Alternatively, you can keep printed sigils for reuse.

 

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