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Invocation
Invocation is the ritual act of calling on a higher presence (deities, angels, spirits, archetypal energies) to obtain help, protection, inspiration or strength. It differs from evocation: invocation "calls within" the presence, evocation "calls it out".
Religious invocation
All the great religions have forms of invocation: the Christian prayer that asks for the help of God or the saints, the Islamic du a, the Hebrew Shema mantra, the Hindu invocations to the deities, the Buddhist taking refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha). Invocation is the most widespread form of devotional interaction.
Esoteric invocation
In Western magical traditions (Golden Dawn, Crowley) invocation is a specific ritual practice: the practitioner "invites" an archetype or divine name to manifest in their own consciousness in order to obtain its qualities. It differs from evocation (which aims to make external spirits appear within ritual circles).
FAQ
Difference with evocation?
Invocation calls a higher presence within oneself (prayer, identification). Evocation calls spirits or entities outside oneself (traditional rituals of operative magic).
Is it safe?
Traditional religious invocations are part of spiritual practice. Esoteric evocations require psychological caution: in suggestible people they can produce anxiety-inducing experiences.
Is it a magical practice?
It is in Western esoteric traditions. In religious contexts it is a simple act of prayer or devotion.