Devocation in Chaos Magick is the deliberate act of dismissing an invoked energy, entity, or psychological state at the conclusion of a ritual. It functions as a form of banishment, ensuring a clean break from the magickal operation and a safe return to a baseline state of consciousness. It is a fundamental practice of magickal hygiene.
Here’s what you should understand about devocation:
- It is a neutral act of dismissal, not necessarily an aggressive exorcism.
- The primary purpose is psychological closure and preventing lingering magickal effects.
- Techniques range from formal ritual to spontaneous acts like convulsive laughter.
- It is an effective safety measure when working with any summoned entities.
- Mastery of grounding, centering, and shielding reduces the need for reactive banishing.
Introduction to Devocation and Banishment
This section explains the foundational concepts of devocation and banishment within the paradigm of Chaos Magick. It clarifies what these practices are, why they are performed, and how they differ from related concepts like exorcism. The focus is on the psychological and energetic management of the practitioner and their ritual space.
Defining Devocation in Chaos Magick
Devocation is the formal process of revoking a magickal state. Within the Chaos Magick framework, where belief is a fluid tool, devocation is the act of consciously “un-believing” the paradigm used for a ritual. It’s less about expelling an external evil and more about resetting the operator’s own psyche. It is the controlled closing of a psychological and energetic door that was intentionally opened for the working.
The Purpose of Banishment: Magickal Hygiene and Closure
Banishment serves two main functions: clearing a space of unwanted influences before a rite and dismissing all invoked elements after a rite. This practice of magickal hygiene prevents the buildup of energetic residue, which can lead to unintended consequences. Furthermore, it provides psychological closure, signaling to the subconscious that the operation is complete. This also helps to neutralize lust of result, a state of anxious attachment to an outcome that can sabotage the magick itself.
Distinguishing Devocation from Traditional Exorcism
Devocation should not be confused with exorcism. Exorcism is an antagonistic rite intended to forcibly expel a malevolent entity that is present without invitation. Devocation, on the other hand, is the dismissal of forces, entities, or psychological states that the magician intentionally engaged with. The tone is one of authoritative finalization, not spiritual warfare. It is the difference between showing a guest the door after a party and forcibly ejecting a trespasser.
Rituals and Techniques of Banishment
The methods of banishment are diverse, reflecting the eclectic and results-focused nature of Chaos Magick. This section covers the spectrum of techniques, from structured ceremonial rites to highly personal and unconventional methods, emphasizing intent over dogma.
Ceremonial Magick vs. Chaos Magick Approaches
Ceremonial magick offers structured, time-tested rituals like the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) or the Gnostic Pentagram Ritual (GPR). Such rituals oftentimes rely on established sounds, symbols, god-names, and gestures to clear a space. A Chaos Magician may use the GPR if it works for them, but they see it as one tool among many, not a sacred requirement. The chaos approach is pragmatic; if it works, use it. The effectiveness is derived from the psychological impact on the user, not from any inherent power in the ritual itself.
Unconventional Methods: Laughter as Devocation
A hallmark of the Chaos Magick toolkit is the use of laughter as a banishing technique. A deep, genuine belly laugh completely shatters the solemn, focused state of gnosis required for most rituals. By laughing at the entity, the sigil, or the very absurdity of the magickal act, the practitioner breaks the psychological tension, asserts dominance, and reduces the invoked phenomenon to a manageable scale. This divine mockery is a powerful psychological reset button.
Creating Personalized Banishing Rituals
Chaos Magicians are encouraged to develop their own banishing methods. This could be anything from a sharp, commanding gesture and word, to a specific piece of music, to visualizing a psychic vacuum cleaner clearing the room. The only criterion for a successful banishing is that it effectively clears the space and returns the practitioner’s mind to its default state. The power lies in the personal meaning and intent invested in the act by the magician.
Foundational Protective Practices
Effective protection is not solely reactive; it begins with maintaining a stable and resilient energetic and psychological state. These foundational skills are the practitioner’s first line of defense, making the personal sphere inhospitable to unwanted influences and reducing the need for frequent banishing.
Magickal Grounding and Centering for Stability
Magickal grounding is the practice of connecting one’s personal energy field to the Earth to discharge excess or foreign energies and establish stability. A common method is visualizing roots extending from the feet deep into the ground. Magickal centering is the complementary act of drawing one’s awareness to their core of being, finding a point of inner stillness and balance. Together, these practices create a stable foundation for any magickal work.
Magickal Shielding for Repelling Negative Energies
Magickal shielding is the visualization of a protective barrier of energy around oneself. This shield is programmed with the intent to filter or repel negative energies, psychic intrusions, or unwanted influences from the environment. It can be visualized as a sphere of light, a suit of armor, or any other symbol that feels personally potent. A well-maintained shield acts as a passive, continuous form of protection.
The Role of Devocation in Entity Work
When a magician intentionally engages with any non-physical intelligence—whether a servitor, goetic spirit, or god-form—devocation is often the final step. It ensures the interaction is concluded cleanly, safely, and respectfully, reinforcing the sovereignty of the operator.
Safely Engaging and Dismissing Summoned Forces
Any act of invocation or evocation is typically bookended by a clear beginning and a clear end. A formal banishing clears the stage, and a formal devocation closes the curtain. While some people, including me, do not always devoke/banish, most do, and not-banishing is, in fact, an advanced practice (sometimes used for illumination purposes). A license to depart, given with authority, ensures the entity understands the interaction is over and that it is to return to its own sphere. Failing to do this is akin to leaving the front door of your house wide open in an unknown neighborhood.
The Ceremonial Mindfuck: Deconstructing the Ritual State
Devocation is the ultimate expression of the Chaos Magick paradigm shift. After spending a ritual in a state of intense belief in a specific pantheon, spirit, or symbolic system, the devocation can serve as a deliberate ceremonial mindfuck. This is the act of consciously and sometimes abruptly deconstructing that belief system. By laughing at the god-form you just revered or mentally filing away the demon you just commanded, you reaffirm that belief is a tool you pick up and put down at will.
Finalizing the Rite and Returning to Normal Consciousness
The final purpose of devocation is to facilitate a smooth return to normal consciousness. The altered state of gnosis, while effective for magick, is not sustainable or desirable for everyday life. Devocation acts as a psychological airlock, allowing the magician to decompress and transition back to the mundane world without carrying over lingering energies or obsessions from the ritual chamber. It punctuates the end of the work and releases the magickal intention to do its job without interference.
FAQ
What is the main difference between devocation and banishing?
Banishment is a general term for clearing any unwanted energy from a space, often done before a ritual. Devocation is the specific act of dismissing an entity or energy that you intentionally summoned after the ritual is complete.
Is it ever acceptable not to devoke after a ritual?
Advanced practitioners may intentionally omit devocation to permanently integrate a desired energy or character trait, a practice associated with illumination. This is an uncanny technique that requires immense self-confidence and mental stability to perform safely.
What are the risks of not devoking properly?
Failing to devoke can lead to psychological obsession, unwanted poltergeist-like activity, and the lingering influence of the entity affecting your thoughts and emotions in unintended ways.
How often should I perform a general banishing ritual?
A full banishing is recommended before and after any formal ritual. Many practitioners also perform a daily banishing, such as the LBRP, for routine psychic hygiene.
Can I banish for non-ritual reasons?
Yes, banishing is highly effective for clearing a room of a negative atmosphere after an argument or for dispelling your own lingering foul moods and unwanted thoughts.
What should I do if a devocation doesn’t feel successful?
If an influence lingers, repeat the banishing with more force and intent. Afterwards, perform a magickal grounding exercise and use a simple method like a cold shower or convulsive laughter to shock your consciousness back to its baseline state.
What is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP)?
The LBRP is a foundational ceremonial magick ritual from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. It uses visualized pentagrams and the invocation of archangels to establish elemental balance and purify the magickal space.
What is the difference between an entity, a servitor, and an egregore?
An entity is any non-physical consciousness, a servitor is an artificial entity you create for a specific task, and an egregore is a thoughtform created by the collective belief of a group. All such constructs and beings should be managed with proper devocation unless intentional integration is the goal.