Book Discussion Goetia Pathworking: Magickal Results from The 72 Demons by Corwin Hargrove

[dandadan]

Should I begin with pathworking, then invoke the demon by name, followed by performing the elemental breath? I like this approach, Corwin mentions that reading the pathworking allows the words to generate the images can this approach be used for other pathworking systems? I’ve been practicing from the book, and I can confirm that just reading the pathworking helps me perceive it clearly. Have you had any success with Corwin Hargrove’s Goetia Pathworking Magickal Results from The 72 Demons?

 

[reverendsteveii]

I've had a lot of success integrating the pathworkings into a larger ritual. The usual script is:

1) Exercise or physical activity like dancing or frenetic drumming for 15-20 minutes in order to induce endorphins

1.5) optional - marijuana usage. I'm not quite at the gordon white level of "if you're not doing drugs you're not doing magick" but marijuana concentrates sometimes help me achieve a more intuitive, influencable state conducive to evocation. I won't say that you have to do it, but I will say that it helps me. It also runs the risk of derailing the whole thing if I get too high so it's not exactly a cure-all

2) LBRP

3) Meditation to fully enter the ritual headspace

4) Focusing on the pathworking for a bit, really sitting with each line. This part is often accompanied by binaural beats/emdr, really intense music or both

5) Calling out to the demon in question. This part involves chanting their enn, invoking them by their name(s) and canonical characteristics a lot (eg recently I've been designing a ritual for Behemoth and it's a lot of "BEHEMOTH, GREAT BEAST WITH BONES OF COPPER AND MUSCLES OF IRON, COME TO ME! BAHAMUT, AVATAR OF STRENGTH AND HUNGER, COME TO ME!", shit such as). This lasts as long as it needs to, until I either make the connection or all the energy I (sometimes literally) drummed up in the previous steps has dissipated

6) Assuming contact is made, we have (finally) arrived at the point of the ritual, which is where I talk with the entity about the reason I asked to see it today. Sometimes it's devotional. I regularly make contact with Dantalion just to tell them I love them. Sometimes it's thaumaturgical and I want some sort of change to the outside world, which we discuss. Sometimes it's theurgical and I want some change to or advice pertaining to my internal mental/emotional world, which we discuss. This part is very informal, it's chatting between friends. None of that "I bind and abjure thee" Solomonic stuff or any of the groveling and scraping that angels seem to be fond of. Just a "Hey man, how've you been? Great to see you, thanks for coming out. So anyway, here's what I wanted to chat about" and a lot of empty, silent space that serves the purpose of being somewhere the entity can put its thoughts and advice.

7) Say thanks again, tell the entity that it's welcome to be on its way and close out the space

8) LBRP again

My first attempt to do any of this was with Goetia Pathworking and it's still an integral part of my practice today. I've even crafted my own pathworkings for entities that don't have one based on the apparent formula of a visual image, a sound, a smell/taste, and then an establishing shot sort of image to close.

 

[dandadan]

I've had a lot of success integrating the pathworkings into a larger ritual. The usual script is:

1) Exercise or physical activity like dancing or frenetic drumming for 15-20 minutes in order to induce endorphins

1.5) optional - marijuana usage. I'm not quite at the gordon white level of "if you're not doing drugs you're not doing magick" but marijuana concentrates sometimes help me achieve a more intuitive, influencable state conducive to evocation. I won't say that you have to do it, but I will say that it helps me. It also runs the risk of derailing the whole thing if I get too high so it's not exactly a cure-all

2) LBRP

3) Meditation to fully enter the ritual headspace

4) Focusing on the pathworking for a bit, really sitting with each line. This part is often accompanied by binaural beats/emdr, really intense music or both

5) Calling out to the demon in question. This part involves chanting their enn, invoking them by their name(s) and canonical characteristics a lot (eg recently I've been designing a ritual for Behemoth and it's a lot of "BEHEMOTH, GREAT BEAST WITH BONES OF COPPER AND MUSCLES OF IRON, COME TO ME! BAHAMUT, AVATAR OF STRENGTH AND HUNGER, COME TO ME!", shit such as). This lasts as long as it needs to, until I either make the connection or all the energy I (sometimes literally) drummed up in the previous steps has dissipated

6) Assuming contact is made, we have (finally) arrived at the point of the ritual, which is where I talk with the entity about the reason I asked to see it today. Sometimes it's devotional. I regularly make contact with Dantalion just to tell them I love them. Sometimes it's thaumaturgical and I want some sort of change to the outside world, which we discuss. Sometimes it's theurgical and I want some change to or advice pertaining to my internal mental/emotional world, which we discuss. This part is very informal, it's chatting between friends. None of that "I bind and abjure thee" Solomonic stuff or any of the groveling and scraping that angels seem to be fond of. Just a "Hey man, how've you been? Great to see you, thanks for coming out. So anyway, here's what I wanted to chat about" and a lot of empty, silent space that serves the purpose of being somewhere the entity can put its thoughts and advice.

7) Say thanks again, tell the entity that it's welcome to be on its way and close out the space

8) LBRP again

My first attempt to do any of this was with Goetia Pathworking and it's still an integral part of my practice today. I've even crafted my own pathworkings for entities that don't have one based on the apparent formula of a visual image, a sound, a smell/taste, and then an establishing shot sort of image to close.

It seems like your ritual is both detailed and genuine, which probably helps you connect more authentically and developing your own pathworkings shows you really understand your process.

Did you choose to make your ritual more elaborate because simpler versions didn’t give you the results you wanted? Or did it just naturally evolve that way for you? I recall Hargrove saying that basic practices are so simple you can add complexity if you like, but it’s not necessary.

 

[reverendsteveii]

They just kept evolving. It all started as just doing the pathworking, then sitting and repeating the enn until I found a connection. The buildup and pageantry are, more than anything, how I mark a full evocation and ask from a simple summoning. There are times when I just want to either invoke or acknowledge an entity's influence real quick in my daily life and running through the pathworking or repeating the enn X number of times (the number usually being revealed to me in a UPG) is a way of doing that.

 

[dandadan]

They just kept evolving. It all started as just doing the pathworking, then sitting and repeating the enn until I found a connection. The buildup and pageantry are, more than anything, how I mark a full evocation and ask from a simple summoning. There are times when I just want to either invoke or acknowledge an entity's influence real quick in my daily life and running through the pathworking or repeating the enn X number of times (the number usually being revealed to me in a UPG) is a way of doing that.

I really like how you’ve described your process it’s a flexible approach that fits well with everyday life while still maintaining a connection to the deeper work. I think many of us develop our practices that way, starting simple and then expanding as we gain confidence.