By Frater S.C.F.V.

I read a quote today by Gordon Winterfield, author of Demons of Magick who claimed that none of the tools of grimoiric magic that many of us in this group have devoted so much time, love, and energy to creating are “required” to work with goetic spirits. If you’ve read any of my articles researching the meticulous traditions surrounding the making of some of these tools and sharing my approaches to crafting them, you could probably imagine my facial expression upon reading this statement…

However, since I attempt to be a charitable listener, I will willingly concede to Gordon that yes, technically, none of the classical equipment is “required” to complete a successful evocation, with ‘successful’ meaning that “the spirit showed up when called.” Here’s the thing, though; this “success” can come at the price of great danger, risk, and chaotic and unpredictable results from evocations…