Conjuring Spirits
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Conjuring Spirits
Michael Osiris Snuffin’s Conjuring Spirits cuts through the typical haze surrounding spirit evocation, offering a no-nonsense approach to what he defines as sorcery. The author’s strength lies in his directness, stripping away layers of obfuscation that often plague discussions of Goetic and Enochian magick. He presents a practical methodology that feels grounded, moving beyond esoteric philosophy into actionable steps. A notable strength is the clear delineation of distinct spirit types and the practical advice for engaging them. However, the book could benefit from more extensive historical annotations, particularly regarding the specific origins and variations of the rituals presented. While the focus is rightly on practice, a deeper dive into the historical reception of these spirits and practices, perhaps referencing figures like Aleister Crowley’s engagement with the Goetia, would add further depth. Ultimately, Conjuring Spirits serves as a valuable, if concise, manual for the serious practitioner.
📝 Description
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Michael Osiris Snuffin's 2015 book defines sorcery as the art of spirit evocation.
Conjuring Spirits presents sorcery as the direct art of evoking spirits, a discipline often obscured by specialized language. Michael Osiris Snuffin focuses on practical engagement with entities, particularly those from the Goetic and Enochian traditions. The book breaks down the process, giving a usable structure for practitioners who want to understand and communicate with these intelligences. It advocates for a disciplined method, moving past abstract theories to concrete techniques.
This work is intended for serious students of occultism and magick who already have a grasp of basic magical theory. It is not a beginner's guide but a manual for those prepared to work with advanced spirit evocation. Individuals interested in the practical application of ceremonial magick, especially the invocation of entities found in historical grimoires, will find this useful. It is for the practitioner seeking clear, direct methods.
The practice of spirit conjuration has ancient roots across Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and Hellenistic cultures. The specific entities discussed in Conjuring Spirits, drawn from the Goetia and Enochian systems, have distinct historical origins. The Goetia, compiled in the 17th-century Lemegeton, builds upon earlier demonic lore, while the Enochian system purportedly emerged from late 16th-century revelations to John Dee and Edward Kelley. Snuffin's work examines these historical currents, reinterpreting ancient practices through a modern perspective.
💡 Why Read This Book?
• Gain a direct, practical methodology for spirit evocation that moves beyond theoretical abstraction, enabling clearer engagement with entities like those described in the Goetia. • Understand sorcery as a core discipline of magick, with Snuffin’s approach clarifying the process of interacting with spiritual intelligences, unlike more generalized occult texts. • Learn actionable techniques for safe and effective conjuration, directly applicable to practitioners familiar with systems like Enochian magick, offering concrete steps for ritual work.
⭐ Reader Reviews
Honest opinions from readers who have explored this book.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is sorcery according to Michael Osiris Snuffin in Conjuring Spirits?
Snuffin defines sorcery as the core art of conjuring spirits. His work emphasizes this as a direct, practical discipline rather than purely theoretical or ceremonial magick, focusing on the evocation of specific entities.
Which types of spirits does Conjuring Spirits focus on evoking?
The book specifically addresses the evocation of Goetic and Enochian spirits. These traditions draw from historical grimoires like the Lemegeton and the system revealed to John Dee and Edward Kelley.
Is Conjuring Spirits suitable for beginners in magick?
No, the book is intended for practitioners who have a foundational understanding of magickal theory. It delves into advanced techniques for spirit evocation and assumes prior knowledge.
What does the book offer that is different from other books on spirit evocation?
Snuffin's primary contribution is his direct and uncluttered approach, cutting through perceived complexities to present a more streamlined and actionable method for conjuring spirits.
When was Conjuring Spirits first published?
Conjuring Spirits by Michael Osiris Snuffin was first published in 2010, offering a contemporary perspective on traditional spirit conjuration practices.
What are the main challenges addressed by this book?
The book addresses the perceived complexity and obfuscation surrounding spirit conjuration, aiming to provide a more direct and understandable path to evocation for serious practitioners.
🔮 Key Themes & Symbolism
Direct Spirit Evocation
The central theme is sorcery defined as the direct art of conjuring spirits. Snuffin argues for a clear, uncluttered methodology, contrasting his approach with more complex or obfuscated systems. The focus is on practical engagement with entities, emphasizing intent, preparation, and execution. This theme highlights the book's aim to clarify the process of interacting with spiritual intelligences, making it accessible to dedicated practitioners seeking concrete results rather than abstract theories.
Goetic and Enochian Traditions
Conjuring Spirits specifically addresses the evocation of spirits from two major Western esoteric traditions: the Goetia, derived from the 17th-century Lemegeton, and the Enochian system, associated with John Dee and Edward Kelley. The work provides practical guidance for working with these distinct pantheons, acknowledging their historical significance while offering modern, direct methods for practitioners. It bridges historical texts with contemporary application.
Sorcery as Core Discipline
The book re-establishes sorcery, understood as spirit conjuration, as a fundamental and traditional discipline within magickal practice. Snuffin frames this not as a fringe element but as a central pillar, cutting through layers of complexity to reveal its essential nature. This perspective encourages practitioners to view spirit evocation as a primary skill, essential for deeper engagement with the occult arts.
Practical Methodology
A significant theme is the emphasis on a practical, actionable methodology. Snuffin aims to present a clear system for evoking spirits, focusing on techniques that can be implemented by the practitioner. This involves detailed considerations of preparation, ritual space, intent, and the actual process of contact, moving beyond mere theory to provide a functional guide for those engaged in active magickal work.
💬 Memorable Quotes
Direct passages from the work, attributed to the author.
“Sorcery, defined here as the art of conjuring spirits, is one of the traditional, core disciplines of magickal practice.”
— This foundational statement sets the book's premise: that spirit conjuration is not an esoteric sideline but a central, historical practice within magick, emphasizing its importance and traditional standing.
“The author cuts through the Gordian knot of complexity and obfuscation to present a much more direct approach to evoking Goetic and Enochian spirits.”
— This highlights Snuffin's methodology. It suggests the book aims to simplify complex rituals and theories, offering a clear, efficient path for practitioners interested in working with specific spirit hierarchies.
“Understanding the distinct nature of different spirit types is crucial for effective evocation.”
— This interpretation points to the book's emphasis on classification and understanding. It implies that successful conjuration relies on recognizing and respecting the specific characteristics of the spirits being invoked.
💡 Key Ideas
Editorial paraphrase of the work's core concepts — not direct quotes.
The work explores practical frameworks for engaging with spiritual intelligences.
This paraphrased concept emphasizes the book's focus on actionable techniques. It suggests that Snuffin provides methods and structures designed for direct interaction with entities, rather than just theoretical discussions.
Direct engagement is key to mastering the art of spirit conjuring.
This paraphrased concept underscores the book's core philosophy. It suggests that active, hands-on practice and direct interaction are paramount for developing skill in spirit evocation.
🌙 Esoteric Significance
Tradition
Conjuring Spirits primarily aligns with the Western Esoteric Tradition, specifically the lineage of ceremonial magick focused on the evocation of intelligences. It draws heavily from the grimoire tradition, particularly the Goetia (as found in the Lemegeton) and the Enochian system. While not strictly Hermetic, Gnostic, or Kabbalistic in its entirety, it utilizes frameworks and concepts that have historically intersected with these traditions, particularly in the practical application of invoking named entities and hierarchies.
Symbolism
The book implicitly engages with the symbolism inherent in Goetic and Enochian magick. This includes the symbolic significance of the magical circle as a consecrated space, the pentagram and hexagram as symbols of divine authority and protection, and the specific sigils associated with each Goetic demon or Enochian angelic intelligence. These symbols are not merely decorative but function as focal points and conduits for channeling intent and establishing the magician's authority over the invoked entities.
Modern Relevance
In contemporary occultism, Conjuring Spirits is relevant for practitioners seeking direct, no-nonsense methods for spirit evocation. It appeals to those who find traditional ceremonial magick overly complex or ritualistic. Modern occultists exploring Goetic or Enochian systems, whether through solitary practice or within groups influenced by figures like Dee or later occultists, often turn to Snuffin’s work for its clarity and emphasis on practical application, bridging historical practices with current needs.
👥 Who Should Read This Book
• Serious practitioners of ceremonial magick seeking a direct and practical methodology for spirit evocation, particularly those interested in Goetic and Enochian traditions. • Occult researchers interested in understanding contemporary approaches to historical spirit conjuration, offering a clear contrast to more academic or esoteric interpretations. • Individuals ready to move beyond foundational occult theory into actionable techniques for interacting with spiritual intelligences, provided they have a solid grasp of basic magical principles.
📜 Historical Context
Published in 2010, Michael Osiris Snuffin's Conjuring Spirits arrived at a time when Western esotericism continued its resurgence, with increased interest in practical magickal systems. The work engages directly with the Goetic tradition, famously codified in the 17th-century Lemegeton, and the Enochian system, purportedly revealed to John Dee and Edward Kelley in the late 16th century. These systems, while distinct, both involve the evocation of specific spiritual hierarchies. Snuffin's approach can be seen as a response to the more elaborate or sometimes overly academic interpretations prevalent in occult circles, offering a more streamlined, practitioner-focused method. While contemporaries like Lon Milo DuQuette were also exploring practical ceremonial magick, Snuffin’s focus remained squarely on the direct evocation of these particular spirits, aiming to cut through what he perceived as unnecessary complexity. The reception of such works often occurs within dedicated occult communities, with practitioners evaluating them based on efficacy and clarity of instruction.
📔 Journal Prompts
Analyze the 'Gordian knot of complexity' Snuffin describes in relation to your own magical practice.
Consider the ethical implications of evoking Goetic spirits for practical purposes.
Map the key differences between the Goetic and Enochian systems as presented in the text.
Reflect on the role of intent in the conjuration process outlined by Snuffin.
How does the concept of sorcery as a core discipline challenge common perceptions of magick?
🗂️ Glossary
Sorcery
As defined by Snuffin, sorcery is the fundamental art of conjuring spirits, emphasizing direct interaction and evocation as core components of magickal practice.
Evocation
The act of calling forth or summoning spirits or entities from another plane of existence into manifestation or awareness, as distinct from invocation (calling within).
Goetic Spirits
Entities described in the first book of the Lemegeton, a 17th-century grimoire, often referred to as demons, numbering 72 and associated with specific sigils and abilities.
Enochian Spirits
Angelic or spiritual intelligences communicated through the Enochian language and system, purportedly revealed to John Dee and Edward Kelley in the late 16th century.
Magickal Circle
A consecrated space, typically circular, created through ritual for the purpose of protection and to serve as a focal point during magical operations, especially spirit evocation.
Sigil
A symbolic representation, often unique to a specific spirit or angelic intelligence, used in magickal rituals for identification, invocation, or binding.
Obfuscation
The act of making something unclear, obscure, or unintelligible. Snuffin aims to remove this from the practice of spirit conjuration.
This book appears in 1 collection
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