Demonology. Why focus on the negative?

[Apotheose]

So, as I’ve been studying christian demonology for a few years now, I still can’t help but to think that it is an absolute waste of time. Reason why I’m planning to quit it for good.

 

Why study demons when you can avoid “them” if you sustain a healthy and balanced way of living life?

 

Of course, you can definitely “encounter” “demons” if you cultivate extreme opinions and identity yourself with strong worldviews, hence the karmic-educational nature of life.

 

But why would an actual mystic —who practices under a legit organization or tradition— would spend his time studying in detail such a negative field which, by the way, actually leads to nowhere?

 

In fact, all demons are representations of something, and the Holy Bible is on point, since there are no random demons. However, isn’t it more productive to improve your spiritual experience through “taking the correct path” instead of “avoiding the wrong paths”?

 

(Obviously) The study of demonology, because of its very nature, tends to be sought after by teens and young adults, which is justified. But why would an adult mystic —who likely knows the allegorical implications of its study— think he would find so much answers in its study?

 

Have they forgotten the meaning of John 1:5?

”And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”.

[Ascetic]

Well, there's a lot you can learn and improve about yourself when studying Demons. Its effectively a study of lifeforms that lack more than we do, as a side effect of being raised in Hell and all.

While approaching issues and problems as demonic taint is certainly a faster character growth than any emotional separation. It's honestly rewarding to be able to blame Demons for things, better than always rolling up your sleeves. While it seems evil and perhaps chaotic, it is to me more efficient than any other ways of thinking.

We're so used to having to blame ourselves all the time, but rarely does someone who knows a lot about Demons actually find the space to ever blame themselves for anything. It's always a Demon that causes problem, and that conviction is freedom of its own kind.

Understanding of Demons will also translate very clearly to any actual talent for Magic. Now of course if someone isn't interested in Magic a lot of Demonology becomes useless, but Demonology isn't just for magic, it's also how most people should learn etiquette.

Even if Demonology is only used for the banishing of Demons, any subtle understanding will turn even the corpses of Imaginary Demons into Real Wealth. The value of Runes alone on a Demon is often more than what most gain after a lifetime of meditation. The merit of harvesting Runes from Demons alone is enough for me to consider Demonology worthwhile.

When I don't know how to draw a Rune even, I don't study manuscripts, no, instead I shuffle through Demons.

[Neirong]

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

But why would an actual mystic —who practices under a legit organization or tradition— would spend his time studying in detail such a negative field which, by the way, actually leads to nowhere?

 

Who told you it leads nowhere? It is extremely rewarding field of self-cultivation.
 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

The study of demonology

The demonology is very much like biology, but instead of studying elementals of life (animals and various  "life" forms), it examines creatures from other worlds.

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

So, as I’ve been studying christian demonology for a few years now, I still can’t help but to think that it is an absolute waste of time. Reason why I’m planning to quit it for good.

 

Why study demons when you can avoid “them” if you sustain a healthy and balanced way of living life?

 

Why do people train in martial arts and develop their bodies if they never plan to fight on the street?
 

Security based on skill and ability, rather than chance or luck, is a key reason. Also, it improves your health, well-being and productivity in life.

I know of many cases where people were parasitized and victimized by otherworldly entities (demons) without even realizing it was happening. It is easy to fall into a trap and have your entire life consumed or drained by entities, without the host ever becoming aware of it.

The consequences of being "eaten" may not be as dramatic as depicted in movies but can be as common as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, fatigue, and an inability to think clearly or enjoy life. If you cannot resist and protect your energy and mind from external influences, you will inevitably become prey.

Remember the scene in The Matrix where humans are kept in capsules and their energy is siphoned off by another civilization?

Edited yesterday at 07:54 PM by Neirong

[Nungali]

20 hours ago, Apotheose said:

So, as I’ve been studying christian demonology for a few years now, I still can’t help but to think that it is an absolute waste of time. Reason why I’m planning to quit it for good.

 

Why study demons when you can avoid “them” if you sustain a healthy and balanced way of living life?

 

Of course, you can definitely “encounter” “demons” if you cultivate extreme opinions and identity yourself with strong worldviews, hence the karmic-educational nature of life.

 

But why would an actual mystic —who practices under a legit organization or tradition— would spend his time studying in detail such a negative field which, by the way, actually leads to nowhere?

 

In fact, all demons are representations of something, and the Holy Bible is on point, since there are no random demons. However, isn’t it more productive to improve your spiritual experience through “taking the correct path” instead of “avoiding the wrong paths”?

 

(Obviously) The study of demonology, because of its very nature, tends to be sought after by teens and young adults, which is justified. But why would an adult mystic —who likely knows the allegorical implications of its study— think he would find so much answers in its study?

 

Have they forgotten the meaning of John 1:5?

”And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not”.

 

There are many reasons that are valid , but I assume they are beyond you .

 

And if one is going to study this , I would not recommend 'Christian demology' at all . 

 

No wonder you got a biased education on it ! 

[Nungali]

4 hours ago, Neirong said:

 

Who told you it leads nowhere?

 

 

 

The Christians . But they should not have ... they should have said it leads to hell and eternal damnation  ! 

 

  

 

 

4 hours ago, Neirong said:

 

 

It is extremely rewarding field of self-cultivation.
 

The demonology is very much like biology, but instead of studying elementals of life (animals and various  "life" forms), it examines creatures from other worlds.

 

And that is without examining the whole historical concept  and understanding of the term  .  I guess the Christina demonologists left that bit out ? 

 

4 hours ago, Neirong said:

 

Why do people train in martial arts and develop their bodies if they never plan to fight on the street?

 

Ya never know .... walking down the street one day and ..... 

 

Dr Wilson Van Dusen in his article 'Presence of spirits in madness ' observes that  psychiatric patients that complain of possession or similar conditions are often previously 'normal people like me and you ' that have a strange event 'happen to them ' ... you need not have a history of 'psychosis' .

 

and of course, as you hint, there a variety of other reasons  to study as well .

 

 

 

[Neirong]

1 hour ago, Nungali said:

The Christians . But they should not have ... they should have said it leads to hell and eternal damnation  ! 

 

No wonder , people who make a living by telling others how they should live and think, would not be interested in anyone learning to think by themselves. It is common among religions to just label magic as evil practice, satan or shaitan occultism.

Magic is akin to science, involving the exploration of reality and the pursuit of truth.
During the medieval era, religious authorities often persecuted scientists and brilliant minds, through burning or torture.
 

1 hour ago, Nungali said:

Ya never know .... walking down the street one day and ..... 

 

Dr Wilson Van Dusen in his article 'Presence of spirits in madness ' observes that  psychiatric patients that complain of possession or similar conditions are often previously 'normal people like me and you ' that have a strange event 'happen to them ' ... you need not have a history of 'psychosis' .

 

and of course, as you hint, there a variety of other reasons  to study as well .

 

One benefit of studying and practicing magic is the development of mental resilience and protective layers. A person living an entirely mundane life without any exposure to cultivation faces a much higher risk of accidentally going insane, becoming possessed, or losing their mind and sanity. In contrast, those like myself and peers in magic, who regularly venture into dangerous realms, interact with spirits, and engage in astral battles, are better safeguarded.

[Apotheose]

I’m into Magic too, and the kind of Magic I practice is that of the Heart. And that leads me to disagree with some of your points like [by Ascetic] (i) “The value of Runes alone on a Demon is often more than what most gain after a lifetime of meditation” and [by Neirong] (ii) “If you cannot resist and protect your energy and mind from external influences, you will inevitably become prey”.

Respectfully, believing that external forces can takeover your wellbeing when your have a strong enough inner conversation is a excessively bold idea IMO. I don’t know if any of you are into christian mysticism, but that premise, in and of itself, entirely contradicts the Holy Bible (John 1:5 being maybe the best example of it). Runes are not needed, neither is resisting maleficent external sources of information, if you truly are a source of Light.

 

In general, I see that (christian) practices like Magic and Theurgy come from a very strong premise that “outer” things can never takeover one’s “inner” state if the latter is of Light. Hence the hermeneutical exegesis of “taking the correct path” instead of “avoiding the wrong paths”. No need to occupy yourself with “not doing wrong things” when you could just be “doing the right things”.

 

Of course demonology can be informative to someone who is suffering from anger, depression or anxiety, but first we need to address the compulsory karmic nature of life. There’s no “occasional” anger or depression as well as there’s no “random” demons. For every action there is a proportional educative compensation. So, if one happens to reap what he’d sowed, it will be his own inner atributes that will be responsible for putting him on the right tracks again.

 

In my opinion, the best way to protect yourself from external waves of negative “outsiders” is to cultivate a healthy inner world, which of course is attainable through Magic — and not through the practical or theoretical approaches of demonology.

[Nungali]

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

I’m into Magic too, and the kind of Magic I practice is that of the Heart. And that leads me to disagree with some of your points like [by Ascetic] (i) “The value of Runes alone on a Demon is often more than what most gain after a lifetime of meditation” and [by Neirong] (ii) “If you cannot resist and protect your energy and mind from external influences, you will inevitably become prey”.

 

 

You probably already have become 'prey' . This goes way beyond the concepts mentioned here . Consider indoctrination, advertising propaganda  .... etc . 

 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

Respectfully, believing that external forces can takeover your wellbeing when your have a strong enough inner conversation is a excessively bold idea

 

 

One of the aims of demonology though is to improve and strengthen  - and manage the right way - that 'strong inner conversation' .

 

Then there is the question of how external are those 'external' forces ?   If they were external, trouble comes about when they become internal .  Or  a lot more accurately , the other way around ;   an internal force or drive becomes separated from the 'governor'  and assumes or  becomes convinced ( and then tries to convince you  and itself )  that  it is  disparate . 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

 

IMO. I don’t know if any of you are into christian mysticism, but that premise, in and of itself, entirely contradicts the Holy Bible (John 1:5 being maybe the best example of it).

 

Not just the Bible - throughout the whole magical  tradition  ( well, the 'valid' tradition ) ;   Its a Central theme  and power source of Magick But also of Psychology 

 

Hence first steps like pentagram / banishing / middle piller , etc. exercises . 

 

BUT  I note your inclusion of  " strong enough "  .  Here is the issue - hence the 'subliminal approach' of the 'demon'  ( whether spawned from an unresolved nagging internal doubt or an external Coca-cola advert) . 

 

It's a bit like saying if you are healthy enough you will not catch a cold .  

 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

Runes are not needed, neither is resisting maleficent external sources of information, if you truly are a source of Light.

 

 

That takes some time and evolution to accomplish though . 

 

 

The Magician .

 

O Lord, deliver me from hell's great fear and gloom!
Loose thou my spirit from the larvae of the tomb!
I seek them in their dread abodes without affright:
On them will I impose my will, the law of light.

I bid the night conceive the glittering hemisphere.
Arise, O sun, arise! O moon, shine white & clear!
I seek them in their dread abodes without affright:
On them will I impose my will, the law of light.

Their faces and their shapes are terrible and strange.
These devils by my might to angels I will change.
These nameless horrors I address without affright:
On them will I impose my will, the law of light.

These are the phantoms pale of mine astonied view,
Yet none but I their blasted beauty can renew;
For to the abyss of hell I plunge without affright:
On them will I impose my will, the law of light.

 

- Eliphas Levi .

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

 

In general, I see that (christian) practices like Magic and Theurgy

 

 

Are they not at least discouraged practice for the non-clergy in Christianity ... if not banned or even considered 'sinful'  ? Does not the Bible preach against them ?  

 

Maybe I missed something , perhaps you are ordained and 'allowed' to practice magic in the church ? 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

come from a very strong premise that “outer” things can never takeover one’s “inner” state if the latter is of Light. Hence the hermeneutical exegesis of “taking the correct path” instead of “avoiding the wrong paths”. No need to occupy yourself with “not doing wrong things” when you could just be “doing the right things”.

 

 

Sometimes one can realize one is immersed in a surrounding ocean of wrong doings - the correct path may not be clear at all for many. Then of course there is the huge blunder that one might be self assured they are full of right and righteousness  ... we see that constantly .  .

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

 

Of course demonology can be informative to someone who is suffering from anger, depression or anxiety, but first we need to address the compulsory karmic nature of life.

 

Can you explain what this means please ?

 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

There’s no “occasional” anger or depression as well as there’s no “random” demons. For every action there is a proportional educative compensation. So, if one happens to reap what he’d sowed, it will be his own inner atributes that will be responsible for putting him on the right tracks again.

 

 

 

What does 'there is no occasional anger or depression '   mean ?   You never have 'mood swings' .  Are you talking about some 'above it all state ' where you are never effected by the external world due to your inner world being so illuminated ? 

 

16 hours ago, Apotheose said:

 

In my opinion, the best way to protect yourself from external waves of negative “outsiders” is to cultivate a healthy inner world, which of course is attainable through Magic — and not through the practical or theoretical approaches of demonology.

 

Demonology has always been a part of magic though  and its part of maintaining and cultivating a healthy inner world . 

 

I found that many many years back during some visits to a  Kama Kargu   temple  - straight in the door ; demonic invocations .  Yet all the monks there  very happy and compassionate  - they looked after a few homeless  youth ,  and had taken in a one eyed cat and three legged dog , all there seemed to have ......   ' resolved ' certain things . 

[Paradoxal]

If one assumes Abrahamic religion is "good" or "positive", then what it condemns is naturally "negative".

 

From all I've seen of Abrahamic religion, it is an exceptionally negative influence on the world, thus it becomes tempting to view its enemies as positive.

 

Nonetheless, in reality, it contains both negative and positive aspects. If you truly profess to "study" demonology, then you should do so after letting your biases go.