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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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