Invocation

Invocation is the act of calling upon a deity, spirit, or supernatural force, typically through prayer, ritual, or spoken formula, to seek guidance, assistance, or presence.

In mystical or esoteric practices, invocation can be a means of aligning oneself with a higher spiritual principle or archetype, fostering personal transformation or enlightenment.

Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations, where invoking deities or supernatural forces was integral to both public rituals and private devotion.

Texts such as the Enūma Eliš, the Babylonian creation myth, begin with invocations to the gods, emphasizing their foundational role in maintaining cosmic order.

In Islam, one of the earliest treaties on invocations, attributed to a scholar named Khālid ibn Yazīd, has survived on a papyrus booklet dated 880-881.

In Hermeticism and Neoplatonism, invocation was a key practice in theurgy, where practitioners sought to ascend to higher spiritual realms by invoking divine intelligences.

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.

While formal prayers (salat) follow prescribed structures, du'a allows for spontaneous, personal invocations of Allah for guidance, forgiveness, and assistance.

[18] In Buddhism, invocation is commonly practiced through the chanting of mantras, prayers, and devotional recitations directed toward Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or protective deities.

In Vajrayana traditions, invocation involves complex rituals and deity yoga, where practitioners visualize themselves as enlightened beings like Tara or Avalokiteshvara to embody their qualities and accelerate spiritual progress.

Shamans often invoke spirit guides, animal totems, or elemental forces during healing rituals, trance states, or vision quests.

These invocations are believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world, allowing the shaman to receive guidance, perform healings, or influence natural phenomena.

The Hermetic corpus describes rituals in which the practitioner invokes celestial powers to achieve gnosis (spiritual enlightenment) and union with the divine.

[15] In 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.

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.

[6] In New Age practices, invocation may involve calling upon spirit guides, ascended masters, or cosmic energies for personal growth, healing, or manifestation.

In 1995 National Geographic journalist Carol Beckwith described events she had witnessed during Vodoun possessions:[24] A woman splashed sand into her eyes, a man cut his belly with shards of glass but did not bleed, another swallowed fire.