In this article I’ll be discussing the above, based on my own knowledge & experience; I’m stating in advance that some things I mention are my educated opinion and therefore NOT set in stone. Just be aware of that. But obviously the merit of my Word speaks for itself.
Let’s start off with the basic concept of the magic circle & triangle of the Art all too familiar to most people (even non-mages) as depicted below.
You might wonder “Where did this all come from based on intent etc.” What if I told you that this system is meant to constrict malevolent entities at its core. Because that’s exactly what it is. Just think about it- why would you need to go to such measures for a spirit summoning if He, She or It isn’t the friendliest, to put it that way (But constricting someone like this will piss them off either way, of course). This applies to the material plain as well obviously, for us as people; why do you have to talk to a convict through a glass barrier or similar constraints, rather than talk to them like a normal person- well, because they’re prone to hostility, that’s why. That’s the logic behind the above at a base- & primordial level. Needless to say, you wouldn’t or don’t need any of this to interact to a non-hostile, “normal” spirit or entity; your own strength & conviction protects you by default, and you’re “only” calling upon as much energy as you can mentally, so it can be dismissed by your own wit all the same (at least in general).
– The origin of Grimoires –
I’ll be giving, in relation to this topic, a few well-known grimoires as an example; most of these (at least in the Western World) are attributed to the great King Solomon, but (with all due respect to Him) He isn’t the one literally or directly responsible for them in the format that we know them, they are more named after Him as a means of paying homage since He (at the very least most likely) was the founder & architect of Magick, the way it is (generally) practiced in the Western tradition & globally (to a lesser extent, at least).
The Goetia and its 72 spirits for example, based on my extensive observation, is like the “baseball card collection” Magickally speaking; spirits, entities etc. were traded, acquired, collected and whatnot along with the exaggeration of their powers & skills, attributes etc. for anything from bragging rights to “making a sale”- and it goes on. This is excluding the premise of misinformation being implemented in it as a means to prevent those deemed “unworthy” to achieve success, or to throw them off. In this case, the aim was that “those that deserve it and have proven themselves worthy will see the truth of things”. As I already discussed in my evaluation of it (see below), the Goetia has (mainly) Infernal spirits (Fallen angels etc.) & Pagan Gods that were demonized, especially applicable to the outline of the Goetia; pretty much all of them, regardless of nature, are in essence coerced to take on hideous forms, even if that’s not what they’re like in actuality. And it just kept getting updated, until what we have in the present day.
The Greater Key of Solomon- The Order of the Pentacles is another example; to my understanding as a whole, these Pentacles serve as astral magnets in alignment with entities that are associated with them, towards one or more purposes & was created a long time ago (at least more than a few centuries ago)- not a lot to be said about it, other than what I’ve already stated- it does exactly as mentioned in the last edition that is used in present day. Potentially, one or more Pentacles were lost in translation and in the midst of the time-based overhaul from era to era, since it hasn’t eluded Me that not all the planets in it have the default 7 pentacles, some might be “missing”…
