An elementary is real, at least more real than that which is imaginary, which is a topic unto itself. Furthermore, it is probably not something you could actually refer to as a friend.
There are two ways by which an elementary is brought into existence. The first and unfortunately the most popular method is by way of accident. The second method, as you may have already guessed, is through the assertion of one's own will. This is however the less traveled road - which, by the way, is due to the lack of information published on the subject, as there are, unfortunately, many authors who fail to see the importance of magickally generated entities. Not to mention another cause, the lack of concern for the prospect of growth in the field of magick and occultism.
In regard to the first method, elementaries that occur unintentionally come about when one's emotional state becomes heightened, or rather, shall I say, goes awry for a sufficient period of time. Another way unintentional generation may happen is through the repeated occurrence of such emotional episodes. These moments become so inciting that they cause a entity to form separate from the person who bears the burden of the emotional experience.
This is not to say that every time you suffer a nervous breakdown you create a separate entity from yourself. However, you are likely contributing to the development of one, intentionally or unintentionally. Yet, one need keep in mind that the end product of one's lunacy is far from completion as, regretfully, these things take time. Also, do not think that an elementary created so is truly an entity without dependence on its creator, as it does need the emotions that brought it into being to begin with. In this case, the creator of the elementary will for some time be "pregnant" with the entity, as it were, unless one of two things happen.
The first possibility for birth is when the elementary has enough overall energy stored up in its being that it obtains the ability to seek out a more potent source of input, emotional or otherwise, so that it may evolve into a more potent being. Human beings who desire a better life, and are willing to bring about the necessary changes, demonstrate such ability every day. A show of assertiveness on behalf of the elementary is not something unexpected; in fact, it should be anticipated and encouraged. So long as the parent source does not overestimate, nor underestimate, his or her importance in the grand scheme of things, all will go as expected.
In other words, the creator must realize the position that he or she holds throughout the evolution of the entity. In the beginning, the operator is viewed by the entity as a source of energy. Should the elementary surpass the level of energy inherent in the parent source, or have need of a surrogate source, what position then does the operator hold?
The second possibility for birth is when the elementary is discovered and banished or simply dissipates due to a change in the outlook of its original source of life. Note that for the elementary to manifest itself into a full-fledged entity, independent and capable of perpetuating its own existence, the emotional output of the operator must be favorable to the growth of said being. The initial creative energy and the nurturing of growth energies must remain consistent.
As an example, I shall illustrate the most common interactive pattern between an unintentionally created elementary and its parent source. The entity I speak of here possesses a negative base energy. The person who created this entity is having, shall we say, a hard time in his or her dealing with people and desires harm come to everyone he or she sees. This desire eventually becomes a preoccupation of the individual, and as time passes, he or she becomes somewhat fanatical about his or her dislikes. Through this fanaticism, he or she gives rise to the development of an elementary.
Due to the nature of the energies that brought about this manifestation, we shall call this entity Hate, although in truth it is slightly more defined then that. This person continues in this outlook on humanity for a while, and it is through this consistent flow of growth energies that the elementary becomes stronger and more potent in its influence.
Time passes, and the person who has endured these harsh emotions begins to gain a better understanding of himself or herself and the people around, initiating a change of heart. This is not good, at least for the elementary born out of the hatred of its creator. The result that follows is how elementaries in general received such negative publicity. The elementary cannot continue without the output of growth energies and therefore begins to dissipate.
So what, besides die, does it do? One of two things. It either finds a surrogate source of input, or it seeks to improve the original source of sustenance, the parent source.
To do the latter, the elementary attempts to influence its creator into the same mode of thought that gave rise to it. Depending on the amount of stored energy of the elementary and the intensity of this energy, the creator may be able to avoid a sociopathic relapse, resulting in the dissipation or passive banishment of the elementary. Or the elementary may cause its initial source or creator fall to back into his or her emotional rut, thereby becoming more of a victim than anything else.
In extreme cases, the elementary does more than merely rekindle past outlooks and emotions. It instead intensifies them to a point where the victim is all but overthrown, leaving him or her in a state of mind where he or she may begin to act on impulses, thereby becoming more of a creation of the elementary then the creator of it.
To mistake this as malicious behavior on the part of the elementary, however, as so many have done, is to demonstrate a lack of understanding. After all, the elementary is just trying to survive. If the creator has become so weak as to lose himself or herself to it, isn't that then the fault of the creator for not being aware of his or her environment and the inhabitants thereof? Not to mention the fact that the creator may be dealing with things he or she knows not how to control.
The main fact remains that we all get what we deserve, and in the case of the elementary, this is particularly true. For one to assume that one is void of the responsibility of one's own actions is idiocy and more harmful to the self than the elementary could have ever been.
However, the relationship between the entity and the individual isn't always a negative one. For example, you could become fanatically preoccupied with being happy. After a while, should your state of joyousness be constant and intense, you may end up creating an entity separate but at the same time dependent upon you for its survival. In this case, the only way that the entity can sustain itself is to make you happier. This may not prove exceptionally great for those around you, but it would sure do you a world of good.
Another way to bypass a negative situation is to create a new elementary to undo a more harmful one. This is done by concentrating on the welfare of the counter entity, thereby robbing the initial entity of the energy it needs and poisoning it, as it were, with energy not conducive to its growth and existence.
Also, keep in mind that just because you create an elementary intentionally, that doesn't mean things won't go badly for you. For example, if you create an entity based on negative energies, you may be consumed by those energies, weakening yourself and giving the entity a chance to capitalize on the opportunity to grow. If you give it an inch, it may just take a mile. Like any intelligent being, the elementary has the need to evolve, and to do so it must have the energy it needs.
Before I move on, I would like to bring to light another type of elementary. This elementary we will, for lack of better words, refer to as a collective elementary. This type of entity occurs when there is more than one source of energy for it to draw from.
As a model for this subject, we shall employ the previous example of the negative-based entity. But instead of the elementary being unintentionally created, we shall suppose it was intentionally created. The creator in this case sought to gain more energy for his or her entity and therefore brought his or her creation to light, so other people might know of it.
The entity, which has been made known, is now called upon by another person. The elementary then influences the new source and feeds off the energy output. In return, the new source employs the entity to work his or her will. The elementary, now that it has a secondary source, has become more powerful, and due to the acquisition of more energy, it performs the function it serves better.
Because of this boost in the elementary's success, the second caller passes information about it to another, who then calls upon the entity. The elementary now has three sources and thereby becomes even more potent in its influence and ability to perform given tasks. Eventually, the entity gains more and more employment and therefore more stored energy from its collective energy sources. After a while it becomes self-sufficient, an entity unto itself. Its level of obedience or willingness to serve after that point depends on the willingness of its supporters to make a tit-for-tat trade of services. The exception to this would be if constraints have been set on its existence, by which it can be made to bend to an operator's will, but that is another story altogether.
At this point, I shall bring to your attention things to consider when creating an elementary. The first thing to consider is the question why? Why would anyone want to deal with something so potentially harmful to one's mental and emotional state?
First, an elementary is not always harmful; whether or not an elementary is harmful depends on the base energy of the entity. Second, as has already been illustrated, an elementary can be invoked as an extra boost of energy or as a way to set someone in a state of mind proper to the intent of the operator. Third, an operator can also evoke an elementary to serve a purpose of a type within its power, depending on its nature and potency.
Before I go any further, allow me to explain the difference between invocation and evocation. Invocation is a process by which energies, influences, ideas and so on are called within the operator, the one who performs the functions that control the outcome of the operation or ritual. For example, when a spirit is invoked, it is brought inside the conscious sphere, where it is tapped as a source of energy for the operator. When a spirit is evoked, energies, ideas and so forth are called before or outside of the sphere of consciousness of the operator.
For example, when one calls a spirit to a receptive circle, that is evocation. When one endeavors to mingle consciousnesses with the spirit, so to speak, that is invocation. Essentially, one is impersonal and one is personal.
The next thing to concern yourself with is the question of what? This question refers to the purpose of your elementary. What function does it serve?
To answer the question, first determine the base energy of the proposed entity, which is positive or negative. From there, determine a single word that best describes its purpose. For example, an elementary whose purpose is to protect could be described as Protection. Likewise, an elementary that has been designed for the purpose of lending healing energies could be described as Health. Breaking down the purpose of the entity will serve to help one focus on the energy or idea behind the being and help determine the type of energy needed to create and sustain it, which also describes the type of being it is. For those who like to work with animal forms, determining the elementary's purpose may assist you in figuring out what type of animal best fits it, what it will look like to you and how you will perceive it. Determining a purpose can also lead to the addition of personality traits, which serves to make the being less clinical in nature and more personal.
On the list of concerns follows the question of when? When will the elementary be invoked or evoked? When, if ever, will time be allotted to the entity? When will it be observed? When is the best time to call upon it? When are energies of like nature at a high point so as to add to the potency of the endeavor?
Examples of answers to these questions are the methods of timing given in The Greater Key of Solomon, which suggests that the best time to call upon the spirits depends on the planetary hours and days. Another method is given in The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, where the previous method is scorned, saying that it is ludicrous to assume the planets rule a set schedule of days and hours. Abramelin the Mage asserts it is best to observe the true rising and settings of the planets as they occur naturally. Yet another method is by following the elemental quarters, to which are attributed seasons, moon phases and times of the day. For even more simplicity, one may choose to make observances coincide with particular phases of the moon.
Choosing times for the entity ensures that time is set aside for the entity. Whether or not one chooses to observe these times depends on one's sincerity in desiring to empower one's creation.
Fourth in the list is the question of where? What type of environment do you feel best represents your elementary? Where will you tend to its needs? What kind of surroundings do you think would add to the power of the entity's conjuration? What place would provide a good source of energy for the being to manifest itself in?
I have seen it stated that most spirits prefer out-of-the-way places far from human contact, but I find this to be incorrect. The place of manifestation is more a question of preference. Places that one may consider are forests, fields, basements, rooms, rooftops, rivers and alleyways - wherever you feel adds the energy that best reflects the spirit's nature, the "what" of the spirit.
The next thing to consider is the question of who? Who is your entity? You already know the why, the what, the when and the where of it. But who is it?
What is the name of your elementary? You can determine this by what you envision your entity to be. As previously suggested, animal forms can be chosen. In such a case, choose a name that represents the animal the elementary was modeled after. Other considerations when choosing a name are simply to name it after its function or simply to call it the first thing that comes to mind.
To recognize the importance of naming the entity, one need consider what is in a name. A name is a symbol that is used to identify something. Therefore, a name is a tool to be employed during the invocation or evocation of the elementary. It also serves to separate one entity from the other should your list of elementaries grow. Not to mention that naming is usually the best method by which one can communicate the existence of an entity.
With all that out of the way, it is finally time to consider the how? of the entity. One takes this step after one has figured out all else. How will you call upon the spirit? By what method will you invoke it? Will you invoke it at all, or will it just be used in evocations? Will you choose to employ the invocatory method of transubstantiation, the method by which one seeks to gain the virtue of another through the consumption of that which symbolizes the other?
One way to discover the how of your entity is to attribute a set of symbols to the entity that will enable you to call upon it for whatever purposes you may have. This set of symbols will also serve in determining how the elementary may be dealt with on other occasions, such as during observations, and by which method it may be dismissed, banished or restrained if necessary. These symbols also are helpful when passing along information about the entity to others so it may be employed by others.
The best way to attribute symbols is to appeal to the five senses, sight, sound, taste, smell and touch.
There are many things attributable to sight, and many ways to employ it. One such method is the seal. A seal is the graphic symbol of the elementary. Examples of spirit seals can be found in the Lesser Key Of Solomon and other references of similar nature. The best way to develop an elementary seal is to simply let it come to you. Ways in which you can employ the seal range from banners or the drawing of the seal on the ground in flour or some other such substance, to the imposing of the seal on a food item relevant to the elementary and consuming it, as in the act of transubstantiation.
These of course are not the only methods by which one may employ the sense of sight. Other methods include visualizing the image of the elementary and thereby willing it into being. One may discover many worthy visualization procedures by reading texts on the subject of conjuration.
Second of the senses that deserves attention is the sense of sound. In regard to this sense, choose the sound that best represents the elementary. This sound could be noise, or it could be music. The important thing is that you believe that employing this sound will have the desired effect, which is to contact the entity you have in mind.
The way such contact works is that, when the appropriate sounds are employed, the mood of the operator will change to meet the needs of the situation. In this case, the need is to conjure the entity. This is not to say that, using the sound, you will automatically reach a trancelike state; the state may in fact be far from trance. The important thing is that your mood be focused and that you be in the proper frame of mind to commit the act.
Another way that the sense of sound is employed is in the spoken word. Here I am speaking of script, affirmations and once again the use of names.
If you chose to use a script, it is best not to predetermine the bulk of it, as such things tend to lose momentum the second time around, as well as sincerity and overall emotional impact. The best way is to use a predetermined script is only in the form of affirmations and to symbolize the beginning and end of a conjuration. Doing so allows one to retain an emotional quality in what is spoken, which is an important part of anything of this nature.
Again, a name is important when dealing with an entity as it serves to further identify who you are attempting to reach. An example of this can be observed in daily life. Next time you are in a room with a bunch of people, say the name of someone whom you know is there, and see what you get.
The third sense is always a good one, taste. Now you may ask yourself, what is being said? Should we eat our elementary? My answer to that is, whatever makes you happy, but my point here is to add yet another association as a tool in the dealing with the entity. A good entity is associated with a good taste, a bitter entity, a bitter taste, and so on.
Another thing to consider is what food best represents the entity. You can consume this symbolic food to gain the virtue of the entity. Whatever the procedure you use to invoke or evoke the entity, the sense of taste when used will enhance the conjuration, as will the use of all the other senses.
The next sense to explore is the sense of smell. What scent would be appropriate to the function of the elementary? Using visualization to assist in elementary perception helps focus attention, which in turn helps the overall conjuration. Similarly, once you have determined the scent of the entity, you may choose to develop an incense blend that is in harmony with its reason for being. There are many books on the market that address the magickal use of herbs, as well as books on incenses; the only problem is finding them. Incenses that may serve one well are ones that play a role in the evocation, invocation and license to depart and observational, devotional, or offering blends.
The last of the senses to discuss is the sense of touch. This sense is valuable for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it allows you to perceive the entity's energy field. Keep in mind touch doesn't always need to be physical; it could be a sensation such as weight, or a sense of pushing without actually physical pressure. You could also employ the sense of touch to determine the energy level of the elementary, the same way you can determine the energy field of a person. Doing so will help you discover the whereabouts of the entity.
Touch can also be employed in the creation of physical tools or the use of those tools during dealings with the elementary. Such tools, for example, include effigies and engraved symbols.
Whatever method you employ to symbolize your entity, the main thing is that the method must work for you. If for some reason one way doesn't prove valuable, find another. Magic is not only a science but also an art; whatever method you feel best expresses what you are trying to achieve, and at the same time obtains the desired results, is the method you should use.
I would now like to share information on a particular elementary that I have created and that you may find useful to evoke.
The name of this entity is King Possum. I created King Possum on the second day of January 1996. He is named King Possum because he is just that, a big possum, what a guy. The function of this entity is to cause anxiety.
Why would anyone want to do that? First, King Possum provides a good way of clearing magickal space. When I created him, I often worked in a public space, by the railroad tracks, and King Possum allowed my workings to go on undisturbed. Second, on a level of functionality, to evoke stress is to evoke a sense of need. Need is a very important emotion that fuels intention and compels people into action. People who suffer from terminal apathy could benefit, as anxiety causes one to care. King Possum is a catalyst for action. When he is present, you will feel compelled.
A couple of other goodies that one may find useful as elementaries are obsession and motivation. The point of these would be to basically get the blood moving and you along with it, thereby raising one's potential for success in any other operation or activity.
But back to the possum. His seal is a red, three-pointed crown. The time devoted to him is the time of day governed by the Elemental Quarter of the North. He smells like a wet dog, and the food that represents him is apples and the juice thereof.
With that, I shall leave you to evoke him or not. If you choose to do so, keep in mind he is a possum. If you call him and you don't think he has come, he might just be playing dead. One thing I have found is that some spirits don't make themselves known right away, but then again some do. When he chooses to make himself known, you will know. The feeling will be unmistakable.
As intelligent beings, we have been bestowed with the power to create through the assertion of will and will alone. To not take advantage of this ability would be to deprive ourselves of unique opportunities, which ought not be passed up due to fear, apprehension or doubt of the self and the seemingly impossible. Anything that can be thought of can be accomplished, if one takes the time and effort to make it happen.
Whatever you do, remember, you asked for it.
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