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©2001 The Atlantic Paranormal Society |
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Demonology Dictionary
This
entry comprises a collection of terms which the paranormal investigator
is likely to encounter when dealing in demonology, though some
of the terms which follow have been devised specifically for
TAPS reference.
Check out the Paranormal
Glossary |
| Allee, John Dewey: (b. March 8, 1951) Occult author and
founder of a "Satanic Church" in Salem, MA, and New
England's version of Aleister Crowley.
Note: On May 1st, 2003, Dewey's organization reported he'd expired;
it turns out he's merely retired. |
| Alchemy: The exploration and application of the sciences, particularly
chemistry and the pseudo science of astrology, such as they
were understood during the middle ages and early Renaissance
period. Alchemists were chiefly dedicated to the worthy pursuit
of producing gold from baser metals and various materials. |
Baphomet: Demon character supposedly worshiped by the Knights Templar
in 14th century France. Some present day practicioners of the
black arts regard Baphomet as a "god" of lust and
regeneration, or as symbolic of the Devil.
See also: Sigil of Baphomet |
| Carcosa: A mysterious nether region or outer-world containing the
mythical lake called "Hali," which appears in the
fiction of authors Ambroce G. Bierce ("An Inhabitant of
Carcosa") and Robert W. Chambers ("The King in Yellow"
: "Cassilda's Song"). There are students of arcane,
mystical lore who believe that Carcosa may truly exist, which
is why it is included with this roster of terms. |
| Crowley,
Aleister (Edward Alexander): (b. 1875, d.1947) Scottish-born
occultist, metaphysician, sorcerer, adventurer, poet and author
of many occult treatises and manuals, including 'Magick In Theory
And Practice.' Crowley oncec dubbed himself "The Greaat
Beast 666," one of the few of his many monikers which stayed
with him, and the press refered to him as "The Wickedest
Man in the World." Although in some respects brilliant,
Crowley gave himself over to excess, amorality and eventual
dissipation. His writings are still studied and analyzed by
many present day, serious students of the magic(k)al arts. |
| C'thulu: A creation of author H.P. Lovecraft and a favorite of horror/science
fiction enthusiasts, "c'thulu' (pronunciation is interpretive)
is described as a kind of demon-god from another world, a monstrosity
resembling a gigantic squid or octopus who "sleeps and
dreams" in his lair at the bottom of the Arctic ocean,
biding his time until some foolhardy "diciples" find
means to call him to rise and reclaim dominion of the earth.
Doubtlessly, some are actually trying! See also: H.P.
Lovecraft and Necronomicon. |
| Dee,
Doctor John: (b. 1527, d. 1608) Alchemist, astrologer, seer
and advisor to Queen Elisabeth I of England who, along with
his somewhat unscrupulous associate Edward Kelly, supposedly
devised a method of deciphering an angelic language, known as
the "Enochian Calls." |
| Demon: Hostile and resentful entity, supposedly of non-human origin,
which some believe to be "fallen (from grace) angels." [Read More] |
Enochian: A magical, "angelic" language first translated
by Dr. John Dee, and used in the rituals of both the "Hermetic
Order of the Golden Dawn" in the 19th century and the "First
Church of Satan" in the 20th century.
See also: Dee, Doctor John |
| Exorcism: Ceremonial expulsion of invading spiritual/demonic entities
from a person or dwelling, present in virtually every worldly
culture. The Jewish and Catholic Christian faiths each have
a formal 'Rite of Exorcism' to be conducted by the respective
Rabbi or Priest. |
| Faustus,
Doctor Johann: (b. circa 1455, d. 1540) Scholar, physician
and alchemist from Wittenburg, Germany, who was renown for his
proficiency in treating victims of the plague contagion (to
which the Doctor semed strangely resistant), and the basis for
the stories by Johann Wolfgang Goethe and Christopher Marlowe
about a learned man who sold his oul to the devil through his
infernal agent Mephistopheles in exchange for "four and
twenty years" of knowledge, youth and power. |
Homunculus: A form of miniature human supposedly produced (for purposes
unknown) in the laboratories of medieval alchemists.
See also: Alchemy |
| Incubus: Stemming from medieval lore, a demonic entity capable of
sexually arousing and sometimes assaulting human females. Cases
of apparent incubus attacks continue to be documented, suggesting
a germ of reality behind the myth. |
| LaVey,
Anton Szandor: (b. April 23, 1930, d. Oct. 29, 1997) Birth
name was Howard Stanton Levey. One of the major figures of the
occult revival of the 1960's and 70's. Charismatic and self-promoting,
LaVey formed the 'First Church of Satan' in 1966 and his 'The
Satanic Bible' was published by Avon Books in 1968. LaVey's
version of Satan was allegorical, symbolizing "the Spirit
of Rebellion" as well as an unknown, , but potentially
implementable "force of nature." The ceremonies he
devised were entertaining psychodrama, and his Satanic philosophy
was based on rational self-interest, albeit with overtly diabolical
trappings. |
Lillith: Devil of Hebrew origin, believed by Quaballists to have
been the first wife of Adam, later excluded from the Talmud,
and held by some occultists to be a vampire goddess and a powerful
succubus.
See also: Succubus, Vampire |
Lovecraft,
Howard Phillips "H.P.": (b. 1890, d. 1937) Horror
fiction writer from Providence, Rhode Island, whose prose apparently
is so haunting and convincing that some present day cults practice
rituals based on what is termed as Lovecraft's "C'thulu
Mythos."
See also: C'thulu and Necronomicon |
| Lucifer: Name taken from the Latin "luci" (light) and "fere"
(to bear), originally a Roman lesser deity, "Son of the
Morning," formerly the name for the planet Venus when observed
at dawn, in Christian theology identified with the Devil: arch
regent of fllen angels. Lucifer is sometimes called upon in
pagan ceremonies and rituals. (See also Satan) |
Necromancy: The practice of communicating with the dead to obtain
knowledge of the future, others' secrets, etc. An archaic
term, the necromancer was said to employ magic spells and
conjuration to summon, then banish, the spirits of the dead. |
| Necronomicon: A grimoire (that is, collection) of ancient sigils and incantations
of nebulous origins, discovered in the 8th century by the "Mad
Arab," Abdul Alhazred, said to be capable of opening a
chasm to the "Dread Dimension" and unleashing the
wrathful power of the timeless "Elder Gods." Although
some occultists believe this tome to be at least derived from
genuine (and nefarious) sources, we are fairly confident that
it sprang from the fiction of Providence, Rhode Island-born
horror author, Howard Phillips (H.P.) Lovecraft (b. 1890, d.
1937). |
| Necronomicon
Spellbook: A toned-down, elegantly printed companion book
to the 'Necronomicon,' also by Avon
Books. |
Oui-ja
(Board): A divining implement consisting of a small, round
or more often rectangular platform with letters, numbers and
various symbols printed upon it, and a "plancette"
which, when the fingers of two participants are lightly placed
along its edges, is intended to glide across the smooth surface
of the inscribed platform and indicate messages. Conceived
of as a parlour game in the wake of popular spiritualism,
this is potentially a very dangerous tool for inviting in
unpredictable, invasive forces. Experienced researchers
vehemently advise against their usage. |
 Pact: The belief, prevalent in the late middle ages through the
Renaissance, that someone could trade his or her soul in return
for wordly gain.
See also: Faustus, Doctor Johann |
| Pentacle/Pentagram: The traditional five-pointed star design, with its interior
pentagon dilineated, generally representing both spirituality
and protection when point "up"; when inverted, it
is said to signify diabolism. |
| Possession: Invasion of the human mind by a spiritual or demonic entity,
where the invading agent for a span of time, influences or entirely
subverts the personality of the human host. It is in these instances
that the boundaries of psychology, religion and spiritualism
are rendered less distinct. |
| Satan: Hebraic term for "Adversary," the "Tester"
in the Biblical Book of Job, the most familiar name of the Devil,
the "Falled Angel" and the "Evil One." Investigators
sometimes come across evidence of the activities of Satanic
cults, who perform animal sacrifices and apparently believe
that desecrations and obscenities are devotions to their dark
lord. |
| Séance: A group effort to contact the spirit world. In standardized
format, the lighting of the chamber in which the séance
is conducted is subdued, and the participants sit around the
table, either holding hands or with hands palm down, flat against
the table's surface and with fingertips touching those of the
adjacent partners. A candle generally is set on the center of
the table. The appointed director or "medium" addresses
the spirit(s) with whom contact is sought, and then it's "We
await a sign..." TAPS Note: We do not endorse the use of
séances. |
| Sigil
of Baphomel: Leit-motif if Satanism, this emblem
is composed of an inverted pentagram containing a goat head,
ancompassed by two, concentric circles, in between which are
placed five Hebriac characters. |
| Succubus: "Femal" counterpart of the incubus, a demonic
entity said to inspire lust in men (and most inconveniently!),
sometimes capable of physically attacking and inflicting injuries
(bruises & slashes). Following a nocturnal visitation from
a succubus, the human victom will always feel ill and depleted
of vitality, and inexplicably "un-clean." |
| Vampire: A demonic (?) entity in the form of a deseased person, which
perpetuates itself by draining the blood or psychic energy of
the living. |
| Warlock: Term originally meant "deceiver" or "
one who misleads," in more modern parlance has become associated
with a male witch. |
| Wicca: Witchcraft as a recocnized relizion, the practicioners of
which refer to their system as, "The Old Way" and
"The Ancient Religion." Wiccans in their rituals align
themselves with elementals and the earth's natural magnetic
fields, personified by the names of ancient Greek, Egyptian
ans Sumerian deities. |
| Witch: Broadly, a practitioner of the magic arts, spec.
a woman who employs charms, herbs and incantations to effect
the workings of her will. Also, a practitioner of the Wicca craft. |
| Wizard: A male sorcerer and conjurer who is especially adept
and experienced in his craft. |
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