Editing Invocation

{{Short description|Supplication to a supernatural being}}
{{About|religious and spiritual invocation|the term meaning starting computer software|Execution (computing)|other uses|Invocation (disambiguation)}}
[[File:Gustave dore crusades invocation to muhammad.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|''Invocation'' by [[Gustave Doré]]]]
{{magic sidebar|Forms}}

'''Invocation''' is the act of calling upon a [[deity]], [[Spirit (supernatural entity)|spirit]], or [[supernatural]] force, typically through [[prayer]], [[ritual]], or spoken [[magical formula|formula]], to seek guidance, assistance, or presence.{{sfnp|Laude|2006}} It is a practice found in numerous religious, spiritual, and [[Western esotericism|esoteric traditions]], where it serves to establish a connection between the human and the divine or metaphysical realms. Invocation can be directed toward a singular deity, multiple deities, spirits, or abstract forces, and may involve formal [[Liturgy|liturgies]], spontaneous prayers, chants, or symbolic actions. Unlike [[evocation]], which is generally understood as calling a spirit to appear outside the practitioner, invocation often implies inviting the entity to be present within or to closely align with the practitioner.{{sfnp|Eliade|1959}}

The purpose of invocation varies across cultural and religious contexts. In many traditions, it is used to request [[divine intervention]], protection, [[wisdom]], or blessings in personal or communal matters. Invocation may also serve to [[Consecration|consecrate]] a space, mark the beginning of a sacred ritual, or facilitate a deeper [[Religious experience|spiritual experience]]. In [[Mysticism|mystical]] or esoteric practices, invocation can be a means of aligning oneself with a higher spiritual principle or [[archetype]], fostering personal transformation or [[Enlightenment in Buddhism|enlightenment]]. In some traditions, the practitioner [[Ritual identification|ritually identifies]] with the deity or spiritual figure.{{sfnp|Hanegraaff|2012}} This is distinct from [[Spirit possession|possession]], where the invoked being is believed to inhabit or act through the practitioner directly and autonomously.{{sfnp|Turner|1969}}

The scope of invocation is broad, encompassing a wide range of religious, [[magic (supernatural)|magical]], and philosophical practices. In formal religious contexts, such as [[Christianity]], [[Hinduism]], and [[Islam]], invocation is often integrated into prayers, hymns, and rituals. For example, [[Christian liturgy]] frequently includes invocations of the [[Holy Trinity]] or saints, while Hindu [[Puja (Hinduism)|pujas]] invoke various deities through [[mantra]]s and offerings.{{sfnp|Smart|1998}} In [[ceremonial magic]] and [[theurgy]], invocation is used to summon divine powers for guidance or to achieve specific spiritual outcomes.{{sfnp|Luck|2006}} Additionally, modern spiritual movements, such as [[Wicca]] and [[modern Paganism]], employ invocation to call upon deities, elemental forces, or spirits of nature.{{sfnp|Hutton|1999}} Beyond religious practice, invocation has also been explored in psychological frameworks; [[Carl Jung]]'s concept of active imagination involves engaging with archetypal figures from the [[Unconscious mind|unconscious]], a process that parallels the symbolic aspects of invocation.{{sfnp|Jung|1964}}

==Historical background==
Invocation has played a central role in religious, spiritual, and magical practices across diverse cultures and historical periods. Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations, where invoking deities or supernatural forces was integral to both public rituals and private devotion. As a supplication or [[prayer]], an invocation calls upon [[God]], a god, or a [[goddess]], either in a pre-established form or in the practitioner's own words. An example of a pre-established text for an invocation is the [[Lord's Prayer]].{{sfnp|Gallusz|2017|loc=ch. 3}}

In [[ancient Mesopotamia]], invocation was deeply embedded in religious ceremonies and daily life. The [[Sumer]]ians, [[Akkadian Empire|Akkadians]], and [[Babylon]]ians invoked their gods through [[hymn]]s, prayers, and ritual offerings to secure protection, favor, and guidance. Texts such as the ''[[Enūma Eliš]]'', the Babylonian [[creation myth]], begin with invocations to the gods, emphasizing their foundational role in maintaining cosmic order. Many preserved texts, written in [[Cuneiform (script)|cuneiform]] characters on clay tablets, are addressed to [[Shamash]], [[Ishtar]], and other deities.{{sfnp|Dalley|2008}}

In [[ancient Egypt]], invocation was central to both state-sponsored and personal religious practices. [[Pharaoh]]s and priests invoked deities during temple rituals, often accompanied by offerings, music, and recitations from sacred texts such as the ''[[Book of the Dead]]''. These invocations were believed to maintain ''[[ma’at]]'' (cosmic balance) and ensure the favor of the gods for both the living and the dead.{{sfnp|Assmann|2001}}

In [[ancient Greece]], invocation was a vital element in both public and private worship. The ''[[Orphic Hymns]]'', a collection of eighty-seven ancient Greek invocations addressed to various deities, were attributed to the mythical poet [[Orpheus]]. Poets such as [[Homer]] and [[Hesiod]] famously began their epic works with invocations to the [[Muses]], seeking divine inspiration to recount their tales. Religious ceremonies and [[oracles]], like those at [[Oracle#Pythia at Delphi|Delphi]], involved invoking gods such as [[Apollo]] for prophecy and guidance. Invocation also played a role in the [[mystery religion]]s, including the [[Eleusinian Mysteries]], where initiates called upon [[Demeter]] and [[Persephone]] during secret rites aimed at securing blessings and insights into the afterlife.{{sfnp|Burkert|1985}}

In [[ancient Rome]], the adaptation of Greek religious practices retained invocation as a key feature. Roman religious rituals, including [[augury]] and [[sacrifice]]s, required the formal invocation of deities such as [[Jupiter (god)|Jupiter]], [[Mars (mythology)|Mars]], and [[Venus (mythology)|Venus]]. Legal and political ceremonies also incorporated invocations, emphasizing the close relationship between religion and governance in Roman society.{{sfnp|Beard|1998}}

In [[early Christianity]], invocation evolved into formalized prayers and [[liturgies]], often directed toward God, [[Jesus Christ]], or the [[Holy Spirit]]. Early Christians also invoked saints and martyrs, believing they could intercede with God on behalf of the faithful. Invocation was particularly significant in sacraments such as the [[Eucharist]], where prayers called for the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.{{sfnp|Ferguson|1999}} This practice expanded during the [[Middle Ages]] with the rise of Marian devotion and the invocation of the [[Virgin Mary]] in prayers like the [[Hail Mary]].

In [[Islam]], one of the earliest treaties on invocations, attributed to a scholar named [[Khalid ibn Yazid|Khālid ibn Yazīd]], has survived on a papyrus booklet dated 880-881.{{sfnp|Tillier|2022}}

Invocation has also been central in mystical and esoteric traditions. In [[Hermeticism]] and [[Neoplatonism]], invocation was a key practice in [[theurgy]], where practitioners sought to ascend to [[Seven heavens|higher spiritual realms]] by invoking divine intelligences. Texts in the [[Hermetica|Hermetic corpus]] describe rituals where practitioners call upon cosmic forces for enlightenment and [[Divine embodiment|union with the divine]].{{sfnp|Fowden|1993}} In medieval [[grimoire]]s, invocation was used to summon [[angel]]s or spirits for magical purposes, often with complex rituals and protective incantations.

==In the major religions==
In formal religious rituals, invocation often takes the form of structured prayers or liturgies. In [[Christianity]], invocations are integral to many sacraments and liturgical ceremonies. The [[Mass (liturgy)|Mass]] begins with invocations calling upon the [[Holy Trinity]], and specific prayers invoke the presence of [[Christ]] or the [[Holy Spirit]] to consecrate the bread and wine during the [[Eucharist]].{{sfnp|Taft|1986}} Additionally, the [[Litany of the Saints]] invokes a list of saints to intercede on behalf of the congregation. In [[Eastern Orthodox]] traditions, invocations play a similar role, with prayers directed to the ''[[Theotokos]]'' (Mother of God) and various saints during services and sacraments. In [[charismatic Christian]] traditions, invocation may manifest as spontaneous prayers or [[speaking in tongues]], believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

In [[Hinduism]], invocation is central to [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]] (ritual worship), where deities are called upon through [[mantra]]s, offerings, and ritual gestures. The process of ''[[avahana]]'' (inviting the deity) is a key step in many Hindu rituals, symbolizing the arrival of the divine presence into a ''[[murti]]'' (sacred image) or ritual space. Mantras like the [[Gayatri Mantra]] or invocations to deities such as [[Ganesha]] are recited to seek blessings, wisdom, and protection.{{sfnp|Flood|2011}}

In [[Islam]], invocation ({{transliteration|ar|DIN|[[dua|duʿāʾ]]}}) is an essential aspect of personal and communal worship. While formal prayers (''[[salat]]'') follow prescribed structures, ''du'a'' allows for spontaneous, personal invocations of [[Allah]] for guidance, forgiveness, and assistance. The [[99 Names of Allah]] are often invoked in these prayers to reflect different aspects of divine mercy and power. Additionally, invocations are made before daily activities, such as beginning meals or embarking on journeys, highlighting the integration of invocation into everyday life.{{sfnp|Nasr|1981}}

In [[Buddhism]], invocation is commonly practiced through the chanting of mantras, prayers, and devotional recitations directed toward [[Buddhas]], [[Bodhisattva]]s, or [[Dharmapala|protective deities]]. Rather than appealing to a creator god, these invocations seek guidance, blessings, and the cultivation of virtues such as [[compassion]] and [[wisdom]]. In [[Pure Land Buddhism]], practitioners invoke [[Amitabha Buddha]] through the recitation of the ''[[nianfo]]'', aspiring for rebirth in the [[Pure Land]]. In [[Vajrayana]] traditions, invocation involves complex rituals and [[deity yoga]], where practitioners visualize themselves as enlightened beings like [[Tara (Buddhism)|Tara]] or [[Avalokiteshvara]] to embody their qualities and accelerate spiritual progress.{{sfnp|Snellgrove|1987}}

==In indigenous and shamanistic traditions==
In [[Shamanism|indigenous and shamanistic traditions]], invocation is used to summon spirits, ancestors, or natural forces. Shamans often invoke spirit guides, animal totems, or elemental forces during healing rituals, [[trance]] states, or [[vision quest]]s. These invocations are believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world, allowing the shaman to receive guidance, perform healings, or influence natural phenomena.{{sfnp|Eliade|1964}} In many indigenous cultures, invocation is also central to rituals that honor ancestors or seek harmony with the natural world.

{{expand section|date=February 2025}}

==In mysticism and esotericism==
In [[mysticism]] and [[Western esotericism]], invocation serves as a means of aligning with higher spiritual forces or accessing hidden knowledge. In [[Hermeticism]] and [[theurgy]], practitioners invoke divine intelligences or cosmic principles to facilitate spiritual ascent or transformation. The [[Hermetica|Hermetic corpus]] describes rituals in which the practitioner invokes celestial powers to achieve [[gnosis]] (spiritual enlightenment) and union with the divine.{{sfnp|Fowden|1993}} In [[Kabbalah|Kabbalistic]] traditions, practitioners may invoke the names of God or angelic beings through meditative and ritual practices to attain spiritual insights or achieve mystical states.

In [[ceremonial magic]] and [[grimoire]] traditions, invocation is often used to summon deities, angels, or spirits for specific purposes. Texts like the ''[[Key of Solomon]]'' and ''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]'' outline complex rituals for invoking spiritual entities, often accompanied by protective symbols, incantations, and ritual tools. These practices aim to establish control over the invoked entities to gain knowledge, power, or other desired outcomes.{{sfnp|Skinner|2015}} [[Aleister Crowley]] distinguished invocation from [[evocation]], stating:{{sfnp|Crowley|1997|p=147}}

{{blockquote|
To "invoke" is to "call in", just as to "evoke" is to "call forth". This is the essential difference between the two branches of Magick. In invocation, the macrocosm floods the consciousness. In evocation, the magician, having become the macrocosm, creates a microcosm.
}}

==In psychology==
In [[psychology]], invocation can be understood as a process of engaging with internal [[archetype]]s, symbols, or aspects of the [[unconscious mind]]. While traditional invocation involves calling upon external deities or spiritual forces, psychological interpretations often view this practice as a means of accessing and integrating inner psychological elements. This perspective is particularly prominent in [[analytical psychology]], founded by [[Carl Jung]].

Jung introduced the concept of [[active imagination]], a technique where individuals deliberately engage in dialogue with figures or symbols that emerge from the unconscious.{{sfnp|Jung|1964}} These figures often represent archetypes, such as the [[Shadow (archetype)|Shadow]], [[Anima and animus|Anima/Animus]], or [[Wise Old Man]], which are universal symbols found across cultures. In this process, the practitioner "invokes" these inner figures, not as literal beings, but as manifestations of deeper psychological truths. By interacting with these symbols, individuals can achieve greater self-awareness, confront repressed emotions, and facilitate personal growth—a process Jung called [[individuation]].

Invocation in this context is also related to the concept of self-suggestion and affirmation, where individuals use specific language or rituals to influence their mental and emotional states. This can be seen in practices like visualization, mantra repetition, and affirmations, which aim to align the conscious mind with desired goals or emotional outcomes.

Moreover, invocation has been studied within the field of [[transpersonal psychology]], which examines the spiritual aspects of human experience. Here, invocation is viewed as a way to transcend the ego and connect with a larger sense of self, the universe, or the divine, whether interpreted literally or symbolically.{{sfnp|Grof|1988}}

==In modern spiritual practice==
In modern spiritual movements, invocation continues to play a significant role. In [[Wicca]] and [[modern Paganism]], invocation is used to call upon deities, elemental forces, or spirits of nature during rituals and seasonal celebrations. The [[Drawing down the Moon (ritual)|Drawing Down the Moon]] ritual, for example, involves invoking the [[Goddess]] to speak or act through the practitioner, fostering a direct connection with the divine.{{sfnp|Hutton|1999}} 

In [[New Age]] practices, invocation may involve calling upon [[spirit guide]]s, [[ascended master]]s, or cosmic energies for personal growth, healing, or manifestation. 

In the currents of early [[theistic Satanism]], [[Temple of Zeus (organization)|Maxine Dietrich]] introduced the concept of 'respectful' invocation. Unlike earlier methods of Goetic summoning, which often involved commanding or coercing spirits, this approach emphasized a more respectful and cooperative relationship with the entities being invoked.

== As a form of possession ==
The ecstatic, possessory form of invocation may be compared to [[loa]] possession in the [[West African Vodun|Vodou]] tradition where devotees are described as being "ridden" or "mounted" by the deity or spirit. In 1995 [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] journalist [[Carol Beckwith]] described events she had witnessed during Vodoun possessions:{{sfnp|Beckwith|1995}}

{{blockquote|
A woman splashed sand into her eyes, a man cut his belly with shards of glass but did not bleed, another swallowed fire. Nearby a believer, perhaps a yam farmer or fisherman, heated hand-wrought knives in crackling flames. Then another man brought one of the knives to his tongue. We cringed at the sight and were dumbfounded when, after several repetitions, his tongue had not even reddened.
}}

Possessive invocation has also been described in certain Norse rites where [[Odin]] is invoked to "ride" workers of [[seidr]] (Norse shamanism), much like the god rides his eight-legged horse [[Sleipnir]].  Indeed, forms of possessive invocation appear throughout the world in most mystical or ecstatic traditions, wherever devotees seek to touch upon the essence of a deity or spirit.{{sfnp|Wallis|2003|p=96}}

==See also==
* {{anli|Prana pratishtha|''Prana pratishtha''}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
{{refbegin|2|indent=yes}}
* {{cite book |last=Assmann |first=Jan |title=The Search for God in Ancient Egypt |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=2001}}
* {{cite book |last=Beard |first=Mary |title=Religions of Rome: Volume 1, A History |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998}}
* {{cite journal |first=Carol |last=Beckwith |title=The African Roots of Voodoo |journal= National Geographic |volume=188 |number=2 |date=August 1995 |pages=102–113 }}
* {{cite book |last=Burkert |first=Walter |title=Greek Religion |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=1985}}
* {{cite book |last1=Crowley |first1=Aleister |author-link=Aleister Crowley |title=Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4, Parts I-IV |title-link=Magick (Book 4) |date=1997 |publisher=Weiser |location=Boston |isbn=0-87728-919-0 |edition=2nd rev.}}
* {{cite book |last=Dalley |first=Stephanie |title=Myths from Mesopotamia: Creation, the Flood, Gilgamesh, and Others |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2008}}
* {{cite book |last=Eliade |first=Mircea |author-link=Mircea Eliade |title=The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion |publisher=Harcourt Brace Jovanovich |year=1959}}
* {{cite book |last=Eliade |first=Mircea |title=Shamanism: Archaic Techniques of Ecstasy |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1964}}
* {{cite book |last=Ferguson |first=Everett |title=Early Christians Speak: Faith and Life in the First Three Centuries |publisher=ACU Press |year=1999}}
* {{cite book |last=Flood |first=Gavin |title=The Importance of Religion: Meaning and Action in Our Strange World |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |year=2011}}
* {{cite book |last=Fowden |first=Garth |title=The Egyptian Hermes: A Historical Approach to the Late Pagan Mind |publisher=Princeton University Press |year=1993}}
* {{cite book |last=Gallusz |first=L. |year=2017 |title=The Seven Prayers of Jesus |publisher=IVP |isbn=978-1-78359-568-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Grof |first=Stanislav |title=The Adventure of Self-Discovery: Dimensions of Consciousness and New Perspectives in Psychotherapy and Inner Exploration |publisher=SUNY Press |year=1988}}
* {{cite book |last=Hanegraaff |first=W. J. |year=2012 |title=Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture |publisher=Cambridge University Press}}
* {{cite book |last=Hutton |first=Ronald |author-link=Ronald Hutton |title=The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999}}
* {{cite book |last=Jung |first=Carl |author-link=Carl Jung |title=Man and His Symbols |publisher=Aldus Books |year=1964}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Laude |editor-first=Robert |chapter=Introduction |title=Pray Without Ceasing: The Way of the Invocation in World Religions |year=2006 |publisher=World Wisdom |isbn=978-1-933316-14-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Luck |first=Georg |title=Arcana Mundi: Magic and the Occult in the Greek and Roman Worlds |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-8018-8346-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Nasr |first=Seyyed Hossein |title=Islamic Life and Thought |publisher=State University of New York Press |year=1981}}
* {{cite book |last=Skinner |first=Stephen |title=Techniques of Solomonic Magic |publisher=Golden Hoard Press |year=2015}}
* {{cite book |last=Smart |first=Ninian |title=The World's Religions |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-521-63139-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Snellgrove |first=David |title=Indo-Tibetan Buddhism: Indian Buddhists and Their Tibetan Successors |publisher=Shambhala Publications |year=1987}}
* {{cite book |last=Taft |first=Robert |title=The Liturgy of the Hours in East and West: The Origins of the Divine Office and Its Meaning for Today |publisher=Liturgical Press |year=1986}}
* {{cite book |last=Tillier |first=Mathieu |title=Supplier Dieu dans l'Égypte toulounide : le florilège de l'invocation d'après Ḫālid b. Yazīd (IIIe/IXe siècle) |date=2022 |others=Naïm Vanthieghem |isbn=978-90-04-52180-3 |location=Leiden |oclc=1343008841}}
* {{cite book |last=Turner |first=Victor |title=The Ritual Process: Structure and Anti-Structure |publisher=Aldine Publishing Company |year=1969}}
* {{cite book |first=Robert J. |last=Wallis |year=2003 |title=Shamans/Neo-Shamans: Ecstasies, Alternative Archaeologies and Contemporary Pagans |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0-415-30202-1}}
{{refend}}

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