Demon Work and Goetia: Playing with Fire?

By NICOLE LAU

Introduction: The Most Controversial Practice

Few magical practices inspire as much fear, fascination, and controversy as demon work—the practice of summoning, commanding, or working with demonic entities. From medieval grimoires to modern occultism, the idea of calling upon demons for knowledge, power, or assistance has both attracted practitioners and horrified critics.

Is demon work dangerous spiritual recklessness, or is it a misunderstood tradition with legitimate applications? Are demons literal malevolent entities, psychological archetypes, or something else entirely? And if you choose to engage with this practice, how do you do so safely?

This guide explores the history of demon work, the Goetia and grimoire tradition, different perspectives on what demons are, the real and imagined dangers, and safety protocols for those who choose to engage with this controversial practice.

What Is Demon Work?

Definition

Demon work (also called demonolatry, goetic magic, or infernal magic) is the practice of summoning, commanding, working with, or worshipping demonic entities for various purposes including knowledge, power, material gain, or spiritual development.

Types of Demon Work

1. Goetia (Solomonic Magic)

• Summoning demons in God's name to command them
• Based on grimoires like the Lesser Key of Solomon
• Demons are bound and forced to serve
• Christian framework—demons are fallen angels

2. Demonolatry

• Worship of demons as deities
• Respectful relationship, not commanding
• Demons seen as powerful spiritual beings, not evil
• Offerings and devotion

3. Pact Magic

• Making agreements or contracts with demons
• Exchange of services or offerings for assistance
• Historically associated with selling one's soul
• Modern practice more nuanced

4. Evocation

• Calling demons to visible appearance
• Elaborate ceremonial magic
• Protective circles and triangles
• Commanding and binding

5. Invocation

• Inviting demons into oneself
• Possession or channeling
• Extremely dangerous in most traditions
• Rarely practiced

Historical Context

Ancient and Medieval Roots

Jewish and Christian Demonology

• Demons as fallen angels who rebelled with Lucifer
• Hierarchies of demons (princes, dukes, etc.)
• Names and attributes catalogued
• Exorcism traditions

Grimoire Tradition (Medieval-Renaissance)

• Key of Solomon: Foundational text
• Lesser Key of Solomon (Lemegeton): Includes the Goetia
• Pseudomonarchia Daemonum: Johann Weyer's catalogue
• Grand Grimoire: Pact magic and summoning
• Grimorium Verum: Practical demon magic

The Goetia

• First book of the Lemegeton
• 72 demons with seals, attributes, and powers
• Detailed summoning procedures
• Assumes Christian framework
• Demons commanded in God's name

Modern Revival

19th-20th Century Occultism

• Golden Dawn and ceremonial magic revival
• Aleister Crowley's work with the Goetia
• Reinterpretation of demons as psychological forces

Contemporary Practice

• Chaos magic approaches
• Left-hand path traditions
• Demonolatry as religious practice
• Psychological models

What Are Demons? Different Perspectives

1. Literal Fallen Angels (Traditional Christian View)

Belief:

• Demons are real, malevolent spiritual beings
• Fallen angels who rebelled against God
• Seek to harm, deceive, and damn humans
• Working with them is spiritually dangerous and sinful

Implications:

• Demon work is extremely dangerous
• Can lead to possession, oppression, or damnation
• Should never be attempted
• Exorcism may be needed if you've engaged

2. Pagan Deities Demonized (Historical Perspective)

Belief:

• Many "demons" were originally pagan gods
• Christianity demonized pre-Christian deities
• Baal, Astaroth, etc. were gods before being labeled demons
• Reclaiming them as deities, not demons

Implications:

• Working with them is working with gods
• Respectful worship, not commanding
• Less dangerous than Christian view suggests
• Cultural and historical context matters

3. Psychological Archetypes (Jungian/Chaos Magic View)

Belief:

• Demons are aspects of the psyche
• Represent shadow, repressed desires, or psychological forces
• Summoning is accessing parts of your unconscious
• Useful for shadow work and integration

Implications:

• Psychological danger (confronting shadow) but not spiritual
• Can be therapeutic if done properly
• No literal entities involved
• Results come from psychological mechanisms

4. Autonomous Spiritual Entities (Occult View)

Belief:

• Demons are real spiritual beings
• Not necessarily evil, but powerful and dangerous
• Have their own agendas and personalities
• Can be worked with but require respect and caution

Implications:

• Real spiritual danger exists
• Proper protocols essential
• Relationship-based, not just commanding
• Can be beneficial or harmful depending on approach

5. Thoughtforms or Egregores (Modern Magical View)

Belief:

• Demons are thoughtforms created by centuries of belief
• Powered by collective consciousness
• Real in their effects but not independent beings
• Shaped by cultural expectations

Implications:

• They work because people believe they work
• Dangerous if you believe they're dangerous
• Can be reshaped or reinterpreted
• Pragmatic approach

The Goetia: The 72 Demons

Structure

• 72 demons, each with specific attributes
• Ranked: Kings, Dukes, Princes, Marquises, Presidents, Earls, Knights
• Each has a seal (sigil)
• Specific powers and abilities
• Number of legions commanded

Examples

• Bael: First demon, king, makes invisible, teaches sciences
• Paimon: King, teaches arts and sciences, familiar spirits
• Beleth: King, causes love, must be respectfully treated
• Asmoday: King, teaches arithmetic, astronomy, gives rings of invisibility
• Bune: Duke, makes dead speak, gives riches

Traditional Summoning Procedure

1. Preparation: Fasting, prayer, purification
2. Timing: Specific planetary hours and days
3. Circle: Protective circle with divine names
4. Triangle: Triangle of manifestation outside circle
5. Tools: Wand, sword, ring, lamen (protective pendant)
6. Conjuration: Lengthy invocations in God's name
7. Binding: Commanding the demon to appear and serve
8. Task: Giving the demon its assignment
9. License to depart: Dismissing the demon
10. Closing: Banishing and closing the circle

Dangers of Demon Work

Spiritual Dangers (If You Believe in Literal Demons)

1. Possession or Oppression

• Demon may enter or attach to you
• Influence your thoughts and actions
• Difficult to remove
• Can affect mental and physical health

2. Deception

• Demons lie and manipulate
• May pretend to be helpful
• Lead you astray spiritually
• Give false information

3. Spiritual Contamination

• Negative energy in your space
• Affects your spiritual development
• Can spread to others
• Difficult to cleanse

4. Karmic or Divine Consequences

• Violating spiritual laws
• Karmic debt
• Divine punishment (in some beliefs)
• Spiritual regression

5. Loss of Control

• Demon may not obey
• Can't make it leave
• Situation escalates beyond your ability to handle
• Need professional help (exorcist, etc.)

Psychological Dangers

1. Mental Health Issues

• Can trigger or worsen psychosis
• Paranoia and delusions
• Dissociation
• Trauma

2. Fear and Anxiety

• Overwhelming fear
• Nightmares and sleep disturbances
• Constant anxiety
• Hypervigilance

3. Obsession

• Becoming obsessed with demons
• Compulsive practice
• Isolation from others
• Neglecting other aspects of life

4. Shadow Integration Gone Wrong

• Confronting shadow material unprepared
• Being overwhelmed by repressed aspects
• Acting out shadow impulses
• Psychological fragmentation

Practical Dangers

• Social consequences: Stigma, relationships damaged
• Legal issues: If practice involves illegal activities
• Financial: Spending money on elaborate tools and materials
• Time: Obsessive practice interfering with life

Safety Protocols (If You Choose to Practice)

Prerequisites

• Mental stability: No history of psychosis or severe mental illness
• Magical experience: Not for beginners
• Strong will: Ability to maintain control
• Knowledge: Thorough study of the tradition
• Support system: Experienced mentors or community
• Clear motivation: Know why you're doing this

Protection Measures

1. Proper Circle Casting

• Strong, properly constructed protective circle
• Divine names and protective symbols
• Never break the circle during work
• Circle must be large enough and properly sealed

2. Binding and Commanding

• Use proper conjurations and bindings
• Command in God's name (traditional method)
• Have license to depart prepared
• Know banishing procedures

3. Protective Tools

• Consecrated wand or sword
• Protective ring or lamen
• Holy water, salt, incense
• Protective amulets

4. Timing and Preparation

• Choose appropriate planetary hours
• Fast and purify beforehand
• Be in strong mental and physical state
• Not when tired, ill, or intoxicated

During the Working

• Maintain control: You are in charge
• Stay in the circle: Never leave until work is complete
• Be respectful but firm: Don't show fear
• Verify identity: Test the spirit
• Be specific: Clear commands and requests
• Don't make deals: Unless you fully understand terms
• Trust your intuition: If something feels wrong, stop

After the Working

• Proper dismissal: License to depart
• Banishing: Thorough banishing ritual
• Cleansing: Yourself and space
• Grounding: Return to normal consciousness
• Record: Document the experience
• Monitor: Watch for signs of attachment or problems

Alternatives to Traditional Demon Work

1. Working with Angels Instead

• Angelic magic from same grimoires
• Generally considered safer
• Positive, helpful entities
• Still requires respect and protocol

2. Psychological Approach

• Treat demons as archetypes
• Shadow work and integration
• Therapeutic rather than literal
• Less spiritual risk

3. Deity Work

• Work with pagan gods instead
• Reclaim demonized deities
• Worship rather than commanding
• Relationship-based

4. Chaos Magic Approach

• Paradigm shifting
• Use demon imagery without literal belief
• Pragmatic, results-oriented
• Psychological safety valves

When Demon Work Goes Wrong

Signs of Problems

• Persistent negative presence
• Unexplained phenomena
• Mental health deterioration
• Feeling of being watched or followed
• Nightmares and sleep disturbances
• Personality changes
• Physical illness

What to Do

1. Stop all demon work immediately
2. Thorough banishing and cleansing
3. Seek help: Experienced practitioner, priest, exorcist
4. Mental health support: Therapist if needed
5. Protective measures: Shields, wards, amulets
6. Cut energetic ties: Cord cutting
7. Spiritual cleansing: Repeated as needed

Ethical Considerations

What Are You Using Demons For?

• Harmful purposes: Cursing, manipulating others—ethically problematic
• Personal gain: Money, power—consider the cost
• Knowledge: Learning, wisdom—more defensible
• Spiritual development: Shadow work—can be valuable

Consent and Harm

• Don't use demons to harm others
• Don't manipulate people's free will
• Consider karmic consequences
• Take responsibility for your actions

Conclusion: Not for Everyone

Demon work is one of the most controversial and potentially dangerous practices in occultism. Whether you believe demons are literal fallen angels, psychological archetypes, or something in between, this is not a practice to approach lightly.

Key points:

• Demons are understood differently across traditions and perspectives
• Real dangers exist—spiritual, psychological, or both
• Not for beginners—requires experience and knowledge
• Proper protocols are essential if you choose to practice
• Alternatives exist that may be safer
• Ethical considerations matter—what are you using this for?
• You don't have to do this—there are many other magical paths

If you choose to engage with demon work, do so with full knowledge of the risks, proper training, strong protection, and clear ethical boundaries. If you're uncertain, afraid, or unprepared, don't do it. There's no shame in recognizing that some practices aren't for you.

The grimoires exist, the tradition continues, and some practitioners work with demons successfully. But this is advanced, dangerous work that demands respect, caution, and serious consideration of whether the potential benefits outweigh the very real risks.

Play with fire if you choose—but know that you might get burned.

NICOLE LAU is a researcher and writer specializing in Western esotericism, Jungian psychology, and comparative mysticism. She is the author of the Western Esoteric Classics series and New Age Spirituality series.