The Ars Goetia is the first part of an anonymus 17th century grimoire and one of the most popular handbooks of Demonology. It contains detailed instructions on the summoning and binding of 72 Demon that will perform various task for the exorcist who will employ their power. After the names, descriptions, abilities and seals of the 72 demons have been listed, the grimoire describes the necessary materials that the exorcist must obtain or forge.
What is of interest is the summoning incantation, which is followed by what reads like a troubleshooting guide for the case where the exorcist fails to achieve any result. The initial incantation is the following:
"I Invocate, conjure and command you spirit X, to appear and shew yourselfe visibly to me, before this Circle, in fair and comly shape, without any deformity or Tortuosity, by the Name & in the name ...[list of names]... [I command] That you make true and faithfull answers, to all my demands, and to performe all my desiers, so farr as in office you are capable to performe therefore come ye peaceably, vissible and affable now without delay, to manifest what I desire speaking with a perfect and clear voyce, Intelligible unto my understanding &c. "
It is still possible that the renegade spirit will remain unreachable, but there is no reason for the poor exorcist to be frustrated. It is quite normal for him to feel somewhat stupid by now, in front of his summoning circle in his awesome white robes. Understanding of the man's rage the author of the Ars Goetia directs the exorcist on how to torture and threaten the infuriating Demon. Since the summoner will be understandably unwilling to speak to the unresponsive spirit once more, the next incantation should be made towards the fir:
"write his name and seal on virgin parchment and put it into a black Box with Brimstone assafoetida and such things that have a stincking strong smell and bind the Box round with a wire and hang it on ye swords point and hold it over the fire of Charcoles, and say to the fire first as followeth"
Since the summoner will be understandably unwilling to speak to the unresponsive spirit once more, the next incantation should be made towards the fire:
"Say to the Fire:
"Behold your conclusion if you be disobedient. Behold the Pentacle of Salomon which I have brought heare before thy presence: Behold the person of the Exorcist who is called Octinomos, in the midst of the Exorcism, who is armed by god & without fear, who potently invocateth you and called you to appeare, Therefore make rationall answers to my demands and be obedient to me your master in the name of ye Lord Bathat rushing upon Abrac Abeor coming upon Aberer."
Finally, when the spirit has understood its position, and has been reprimanded for its late appearance it should be welcomed to the excorsist room, and all bad feelings put behind them:
"Welcom [thou] [spirit N. or] spirits or most noble king or kings I say you are welcome unto me because I called you through him who created both heaven & Earth & Hell and all that is contained therein and you have obeyed allso by the same power that I called you forth [by] I binde you that you remaine affably and vissibly hear before this circle (or before this circle in this triangle,) so constant and so long as I have occasion for you and not to depart without my leasure [licence] untill you have faithfully and truely performed my will without any fallacity [falsity] &c."
When the task requested by the Demon is completed, the exorcist should release the spirit and let it return to its realm, so that other exorcists can use it:
"O Thou spirit N. Because thou hast very dilligently answered my demands and was ready and willing to come at my first call I doe hear licence thee to depart unto thy proper place without doeing any Injury or danger to any man or beast depart I say and be ever reddy to come at my call being duly Exorcised and conjured by ye sacred rites of Magicke. I charge thee to withdraw peacebly and quiet1y, and the peace of God be ever continued between me and the [thee]. Amen."
Bibliography:
Peterson, J. H. [editor]: The Lesser Key of Solomon, Weiser Books 2001.
A great online version of it and many more similar texts can be found in The Esoteric Archives
What is of interest is the summoning incantation, which is followed by what reads like a troubleshooting guide for the case where the exorcist fails to achieve any result. The initial incantation is the following:
"I Invocate and conjure you spirit X. & being with power armed from ye supreame Majesty, I thoroughly command you by Beralanensis...[more names listed] ...That you forthwith appear and shew yourselves here unto me before this Circle, in a fair and humane shape, without any deformity or ugly shew and without delay, doe you come, from all parts of ye world to make & make [sic] rationall answares unto all Things which I shall ask of you; and come yee peacebly, visibly and afably without delay, manifesting what I desire, being conjured by ye Name [Names] of the Eternall liveing and true God Helioren I conjure you by ye especiall and true Name of your God that ye owe obediance unto and by yeName of your king, which beareth rule over you, That forthwith you come without tarrying, and fullfill my desires, and command, and persist unto ye End, & according to my Intentions and I conjure you by him by whome all Creatures are obediant [unto] and by this ineffeble name ...[names and powers of God listed]... com com why tarryieth you? hasten: Adonay Saday, the Kinge of kings commandeth you:"
The last part can be repeated for as many times as the exorcist wishes, and in case the demon does not appear, a second attempt should be made with following incantation:
"I Invocate, conjure and command you spirit X, to appear and shew yourselfe visibly to me, before this Circle, in fair and comly shape, without any deformity or Tortuosity, by the Name & in the name ...[list of names]... [I command] That you make true and faithfull answers, to all my demands, and to performe all my desiers, so farr as in office you are capable to performe therefore come ye peaceably, vissible and affable now without delay, to manifest what I desire speaking with a perfect and clear voyce, Intelligible unto my understanding &c. "
In case the demon once more fails to appear, the exorcist has to contact his superior in Hell, namely his King, who will scold the disobedient spirit and sent him to the summoner at once
"O you great mighty and Powerfull kinge Amaymon, who beareth rule by the power of thy supreame god over all spirits both superior and Inferiour of the Infernal order in the Dominion of the East, I invocate and command you ...[threats listed]... that you cause, enforce & compell X. to come unto me here before this Circle in a fair & comely forme, without doeing any harme to me or any other Creature, and to answere truely & faithfull to all my Requests, That I may accomplish my will and desiers, in knowing or obtaining any matter or thing which by office you know is proper for him to performe or to accomplish, through the power of god El who createth and disposeth of all things both celestiall, ayerall [aerial], Terrestiall [terrestrial] and Infernall."
If the Demon's rude behaviour continues, even after the King of Hell has been contacted and informed about the behaviour of his thrall, the exorcist should not be disappointed. He should threaten the Demon with prosecution and imprisonment in the following way:
"O thou wicked and disobedient spirit, because thou hast rebelled and not obeyed nor regarded my words which I have rehearsed They being all most glorious and Incomprehensible names of the true god Maker and creator of you and me and all the world, I by the power of those names which no creature is able to resist doe curse you into the depths of ye Bottomless Pitt, There to remaine untill ye day of doom in chaines of fire and Brimstone unquenchable, unless you dost forthwith appear before this circle in This Triangle To doe my will..."
It is still possible that the renegade spirit will remain unreachable, but there is no reason for the poor exorcist to be frustrated. It is quite normal for him to feel somewhat stupid by now, in front of his summoning circle in his awesome white robes. Understanding of the man's rage the author of the Ars Goetia directs the exorcist on how to torture and threaten the infuriating Demon. Since the summoner will be understandably unwilling to speak to the unresponsive spirit once more, the next incantation should be made towards the fir:
Since the summoner will be understandably unwilling to speak to the unresponsive spirit once more, the next incantation should be made towards the fire:
"Say to the Fire:
Burneobeyd not the command, nor kept the precepts of the lord thy god, neither wilt thou appeare to me nor obey me nor my invocations, haveing thereby called you forth, [I] who am the servant of ye most high and Imperiall Lord, god of hosts Jehovah, and dignified and fortified by his Celestiall power and Permission, Neither comest thou to answer to these my Proposalls hear made unto you, for which your averseness and contempt you are guilty of grand disobedience and Rebellion, and therefore I shall excommunicate you and destroy thy name and seal which I have hear enclosed in this black Box, and shall burne thee in immortall fire and bury thee in Immortall oblivion, unless thou Immediately comest & appearest visibly, affably, frendly, & curteously hear unto me before this Circle in this Triangle, in a faire and comly forme and in no wise terrible, hurtfull or frightfull to me or any other creatures whatever upon the face of the Earth and make rationel Answers to my requests and performe all my desiers in all things that I shall make unto you &c"After all this complains and trials the Demon is, according to the Ars Goetia, sure to respond and appear in the circle. When it does the exorcist should quickly douse the flames with some water, so that he does not actually harm the poor Demon, and render him useless. The exorcist should quickly establish his position as the boss in the whole ordeal:
"Behold your conclusion if you be disobedient. Behold the Pentacle of Salomon which I have brought heare before thy presence: Behold the person of the Exorcist who is called Octinomos, in the midst of the Exorcism, who is armed by god & without fear, who potently invocateth you and called you to appeare, Therefore make rationall answers to my demands and be obedient to me your master in the name of ye Lord Bathat rushing upon Abrac Abeor coming upon Aberer."
Finally, when the spirit has understood its position, and has been reprimanded for its late appearance it should be welcomed to the excorsist room, and all bad feelings put behind them:
"Welcom [thou] [spirit N. or] spirits or most noble king or kings I say you are welcome unto me because I called you through him who created both heaven & Earth & Hell and all that is contained therein and you have obeyed allso by the same power that I called you forth [by] I binde you that you remaine affably and vissibly hear before this circle (or before this circle in this triangle,) so constant and so long as I have occasion for you and not to depart without my leasure [licence] untill you have faithfully and truely performed my will without any fallacity [falsity] &c."
When the task requested by the Demon is completed, the exorcist should release the spirit and let it return to its realm, so that other exorcists can use it:
"O Thou spirit N. Because thou hast very dilligently answered my demands and was ready and willing to come at my first call I doe hear licence thee to depart unto thy proper place without doeing any Injury or danger to any man or beast depart I say and be ever reddy to come at my call being duly Exorcised and conjured by ye sacred rites of Magicke. I charge thee to withdraw peacebly and quiet1y, and the peace of God be ever continued between me and the [thee]. Amen."
Bibliography:
Peterson, J. H. [editor]: The Lesser Key of Solomon, Weiser Books 2001.
A great online version of it and many more similar texts can be found in The Esoteric Archives
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