summoning vs evocation

It is worth noting that the Goetia and the Key of Solomon stem from the Hygromanteia, a greek work on evocation. While, admittedly, I'm not as familiar with this original work as I should be the very fact the entire piece is rooted in working with demons while also working within original language from which the word Demon comes from, it is worth considering that such ritual summoning is not only to work with nefarious or evil beings. You will find that many of these connections derive their "evil" descriptor from the Hebrew fear and loathing of the Romans, and Persian Zoroastrianism's depiction of Deva worship and similar practice as evil.

It is also worth noting that while to the modern mind Summoning (calling, binding, and making demands of a spirit as it is most commonly perceived) is "rude" or cruel, many spiritual entities are decidedly not modern. It is foolish to assume that because you summon an entity you have summoned it's entire being, will, and attention. It is my belief that such entities frequently send but an aspect of themselves to such a call, much like you might just pay a bit more attention if you hear your name in a crowd. Further, while it is traditional to bind the demon or other such entity, and make demands of it and perhaps even bind it to an oath, nowhere does it suggest that you deal with it in a way that is lacking courtesy or respect. In the old world, a summons was a call. You might be summoned before your lord. You might be summoned before the merchant who employs you. But this does not mean that they were going to treat you rudely. If you served them well, they would often reward you in turn, and indeed being "summoned" was often an opportunity to rise in station and improve your lot in life. It is often much the same with any such spirit.

Within this practice, binding them with oaths and seals is merely an "old school" method that both displays respect and caution of the entities power, and creates a contract of sorts to achieve your aims.

But back to the original question: evocation is essentially summoning, when dealing with spirits/demons. Consider it wisely, and deal with it with respect.

When you evoke you are bringing the entity to you whether it likes it or not which tends to make the entity usually angry at you. When you summon you are calling and asking the entity to come to you. It can come if it wants or not. Evocation brings results faster but summoning is more respectful.

Thank you wolfstar, for regurgitating everything everyone else had said and/or not otherwise reading the rest of the post.

Hi Awake

Well if they're not very happy when you summonse them what makes you think they are gonna be any happier if you envoke em? Do you realize when you call them up from where they dwell you have to require service from them? Hmmm maybe that's where the problem is.

Zola, Evocation and summoning are largely the same thing, in regard to dealing with spirits and so forth, and one does not have to make demands or require services.

That being said, if you deal with them in a civil fashion they are generally rather receptive to any services you put forth for them. I encourage you to again read my original post here.

Thanks for the correction guys. Very useful information.

Ive also read that their is a large difference between invoking and evoking, to invoke means to call a deity or other spiritual power into a witch (or whatever you call yourself), whereas to evoke means to summon and allow the "spiritual power" to manifest externally.

There are two terms used when summonsing a spirit, one being the evocation and the other invocation. Evocation is used as a command or decree to a spirit to appear. In order to make the spirit appear, the conjurer must go through a long and elaborate ritual in which the spirit is evoked by explosive threats, perilously beckoning and calling the many names in which the spirit may be known. The evocation is, by its nature, extremely dangerous and I never use nor do I recommend this method . Invocation proclaims the endeavor is a request or invitation to the spirits to appear, not a command. An invocation should be delivered boldly yet lovingly. In the course of evocation and invocation a spirit evoked and is summoned into a specially drawn triangle marked with signs and words of power to contain it there. It can be long and draining ritual, and there is no guarantee that the spirit will appear.
AND...It is important to petition the correct spirit for a specific purpose, although the spirits who work most consistently and powerfully for you are always your personal guardians and allies as well as your ancestral spirits. Some spirits are benevolent, some are malevolent and most often the spirit encompass both. One must be open minded to the fact that one person’s guardian angel can be someone else’s demon.

summoning and evoking are just the same..

@zamboni- i just want to correct you from telling that you can't be friends with demons.. actually, you can.. well, because i'm a satanist thou.. well, that's the reason why some entities (especially demons) are getting mad when you are evoking (summoning) them its because you are calling them with force.. that's why some actually comes to you with horrific shapes its because you are not giving them respect.. well, i'm been into ceremonial magick before thou.. (please do not misinterpret this, i just want to clear things out-in a satanic point)..

darkest blessings..

Can anyone explain what the difference between invoking and aspecting are?