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Invocation is the act of calling upon adeity,spirit, orsupernatural force, typically throughprayer,ritual, or spokenformula, to seek guidance, assistance, or presence.[1] It is a practice found in numerous religious, spiritual, andesoteric traditions, where it serves to establish a connection between the human and the divine or metaphysical realms. Invocation can be directed toward a singular deity, multiple deities, spirits, or abstract forces, and may involve formalliturgies, spontaneous prayers, chants, or symbolic actions. Unlikeevocation, which is generally understood as calling a spirit to appear outside the practitioner, invocation often implies inviting the entity to be present within or to closely align with the practitioner.[2]
The purpose of invocation varies across cultural and religious contexts. In many traditions, it is used to requestdivine intervention, protection,wisdom, or blessings in personal or communal matters. Invocation may also serve toconsecrate a space, mark the beginning of a sacred ritual, or facilitate a deeperspiritual experience. Inmystical or esoteric practices, invocation can be a means of aligning oneself with a higher spiritual principle orarchetype, fostering personal transformation orenlightenment. In some cases, invocation may result inpossession, where the invoked entity is believed to temporarily inhabit or influence the practitioner.[3]
The scope of invocation is broad, encompassing a wide range of religious,magical, and philosophical practices. In formal religious contexts, such asChristianity,Hinduism, andIslam, invocation is often integrated into prayers, hymns, and rituals. For example,Christian liturgy frequently includes invocations of theHoly Trinity or saints, while Hindupujas invoke various deities throughmantras and offerings.[4] Inceremonial magic andtheurgy, invocation is used to summon divine powers for guidance or to achieve specific spiritual outcomes.[5] Additionally, modern spiritual movements, such asWicca andmodern Paganism, employ invocation to call upon deities, elemental forces, or spirits of nature.[6] Beyond religious practice, invocation has also been explored in psychological frameworks;Carl Jung's concept of active imagination involves engaging with archetypal figures from theunconscious, a process that parallels the symbolic aspects of invocation.[7]
Invocation has played a central role in religious, spiritual, and magical practices across diverse cultures and historical periods. Its origins can be traced to ancient civilizations, where invoking deities or supernatural forces was integral to both public rituals and private devotion. As a supplication orprayer, an invocation calls uponGod, a god, or agoddess, either in a pre-established form or in the practitioner's own words. An example of a pre-established text for an invocation is theLord's Prayer.[8]
Inancient Mesopotamia, invocation was deeply embedded in religious ceremonies and daily life. TheSumerians,Akkadians, andBabylonians invoked their gods throughhymns, prayers, and ritual offerings to secure protection, favor, and guidance. Texts such as theEnūma Eliš, the Babyloniancreation myth, begin with invocations to the gods, emphasizing their foundational role in maintaining cosmic order. Many preserved texts, written incuneiform characters on clay tablets, are addressed toShamash,Ishtar, and other deities.[9]
Inancient Egypt, invocation was central to both state-sponsored and personal religious practices.Pharaohs and priests invoked deities during temple rituals, often accompanied by offerings, music, and recitations from sacred texts such as theBook of the Dead. These invocations were believed to maintainma’at (cosmic balance) and ensure the favor of the gods for both the living and the dead.[10]
Inancient Greece, invocation was a vital element in both public and private worship. TheOrphic Hymns, a collection of eighty-seven ancient Greek invocations addressed to various deities, were attributed to the mythical poetOrpheus. Poets such asHomer andHesiod famously began their epic works with invocations to theMuses, seeking divine inspiration to recount their tales. Religious ceremonies andoracles, like those atDelphi, involved invoking gods such asApollo for prophecy and guidance. Invocation also played a role in themystery religions, including theEleusinian Mysteries, where initiates called uponDemeter andPersephone during secret rites aimed at securing blessings and insights into the afterlife.[11]
Inancient Rome, the adaptation of Greek religious practices retained invocation as a key feature. Roman religious rituals, includingaugury andsacrifices, required the formal invocation of deities such asJupiter,Mars, andVenus. Legal and political ceremonies also incorporated invocations, emphasizing the close relationship between religion and governance in Roman society.[12]
Inearly Christianity, invocation evolved into formalized prayers andliturgies, often directed toward God,Jesus Christ, or theHoly Spirit. Early Christians also invoked saints and martyrs, believing they could intercede with God on behalf of the faithful. Invocation was particularly significant in sacraments such as theEucharist, where prayers called for the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.[13] This practice expanded during theMiddle Ages with the rise of Marian devotion and the invocation of theVirgin Mary in prayers like theHail Mary.
InIslam, one of the earliest treaties on invocations, attributed to a scholar namedKhālid ibn Yazīd, has survived on a papyrus booklet dated 880-881.[14]
Invocation has also been central in mystical and esoteric traditions. InHermeticism andNeoplatonism, invocation was a key practice intheurgy, where practitioners sought to ascend tohigher spiritual realms by invoking divine intelligences. Texts in theHermetic corpus describe rituals where practitioners call upon cosmic forces for enlightenment and union with the divine.[15] In medievalgrimoires, invocation was used to summonangels or spirits for magical purposes, often with complex rituals and protective incantations.
In formal religious rituals, invocation often takes the form of structured prayers or liturgies. InChristianity, invocations are integral to many sacraments and liturgical ceremonies. TheMass begins with invocations calling upon theHoly Trinity, and specific prayers invoke the presence ofChrist or theHoly Spirit to consecrate the bread and wine during theEucharist.[16] Additionally, theLitany of the Saints invokes a list of saints to intercede on behalf of the congregation. InEastern Orthodox traditions, invocations play a similar role, with prayers directed to theTheotokos (Mother of God) and various saints during services and sacraments. Incharismatic Christian traditions, invocation may manifest as spontaneous prayers orspeaking in tongues, believed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.
InHinduism, invocation is central topuja (ritual worship), where deities are called upon throughmantras, offerings, and ritual gestures. The process ofavahana (inviting the deity) is a key step in many Hindu rituals, symbolizing the arrival of the divine presence into amurti (sacred image) or ritual space. Mantras like theGayatri Mantra or invocations to deities such asGanesha are recited to seek blessings, wisdom, and protection.[17]
InIslam, invocation (duʿāʾ) is an essential aspect of personal and communal worship. While formal prayers (salat) follow prescribed structures,du'a allows for spontaneous, personal invocations ofAllah for guidance, forgiveness, and assistance. The99 Names of Allah are often invoked in these prayers to reflect different aspects of divine mercy and power. Additionally, invocations are made before daily activities, such as beginning meals or embarking on journeys, highlighting the integration of invocation into everyday life.[18]
InBuddhism, invocation is commonly practiced through the chanting of mantras, prayers, and devotional recitations directed towardBuddhas,Bodhisattvas, orprotective deities. Rather than appealing to a creator god, these invocations seek guidance, blessings, and the cultivation of virtues such ascompassion andwisdom. InPure Land Buddhism, practitioners invokeAmitabha Buddha through the recitation of thenianfo, aspiring for rebirth in thePure Land. InVajrayana traditions, invocation involves complex rituals anddeity yoga, where practitioners visualize themselves as enlightened beings likeTara orAvalokiteshvara to embody their qualities and accelerate spiritual progress.[19]
Inindigenous and shamanistic traditions, invocation is used to summon spirits, ancestors, or natural forces. Shamans often invoke spirit guides, animal totems, or elemental forces during healing rituals,trance states, orvision quests. These invocations are believed to facilitate communication with the spirit world, allowing the shaman to receive guidance, perform healings, or influence natural phenomena.[20] In many indigenous cultures, invocation is also central to rituals that honor ancestors or seek harmony with the natural world.
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Inmysticism andWestern esotericism, invocation serves as a means of aligning with higher spiritual forces or accessing hidden knowledge. InHermeticism andtheurgy, practitioners invoke divine intelligences or cosmic principles to facilitate spiritual ascent or transformation. TheHermetic corpus describes rituals in which the practitioner invokes celestial powers to achievegnosis (spiritual enlightenment) and union with the divine.[15] InKabbalistic traditions, practitioners may invoke the names of God or angelic beings through meditative and ritual practices to attain spiritual insights or achieve mystical states.
Inceremonial magic andgrimoire traditions, invocation is often used to summon deities, angels, or spirits for specific purposes. Texts like theKey of Solomon andThe Lesser Key of Solomon outline complex rituals for invoking spiritual entities, often accompanied by protective symbols, incantations, and ritual tools. These practices aim to establish control over the invoked entities to gain knowledge, power, or other desired outcomes.[21]Aleister Crowley distinguished invocation fromevocation, stating:[22]
To "invoke" is to "call in", just as to "evoke" is to "call forth". This is the essential difference between the two branches of Magick. In invocation, the macrocosm floods the consciousness. In evocation, the magician, having become the macrocosm, creates a microcosm.
Inpsychology, invocation can be understood as a process of engaging with internalarchetypes, symbols, or aspects of theunconscious mind. While traditional invocation involves calling upon external deities or spiritual forces, psychological interpretations often view this practice as a means of accessing and integrating inner psychological elements. This perspective is particularly prominent inanalytical psychology, founded byCarl Jung.
Jung introduced the concept ofactive imagination, a technique where individuals deliberately engage in dialogue with figures or symbols that emerge from the unconscious.[7] These figures often represent archetypes, such as theShadow,Anima/Animus, orWise Old Man, which are universal symbols found across cultures. In this process, the practitioner "invokes" these inner figures, not as literal beings, but as manifestations of deeper psychological truths. By interacting with these symbols, individuals can achieve greater self-awareness, confront repressed emotions, and facilitate personal growth—a process Jung calledindividuation.
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.
Moreover, invocation has been studied within the field oftranspersonal psychology, which examines the spiritual aspects of human experience. Here, invocation is viewed as a way to transcend the ego and connect with a larger sense of self, the universe, or the divine, whether interpreted literally or symbolically.[23]
In modern spiritual movements, invocation continues to play a significant role. InWicca andmodern Paganism, invocation is used to call upon deities, elemental forces, or spirits of nature during rituals and seasonal celebrations. TheDrawing Down the Moon ritual, for example, involves invoking theGoddess to speak or act through the practitioner, fostering a direct connection with the divine.[6] InNew Age practices, invocation may involve calling uponspirit guides,ascended masters, or cosmic energies for personal growth, healing, or manifestation.
The ecstatic, possessory form of invocation may be compared toloa possession in theVodou tradition where devotees are described as being "ridden" or "mounted" by the deity or spirit. In 1995National Geographic journalistCarol 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. Nearby a believer, perhaps a yam farmer or fisherman, heated hand-wrought knives in crackling flames. Then another man brought one of the knives to his tongue. We cringed at the sight and were dumbfounded when, after several repetitions, his tongue had not even reddened.
Possessive invocation has also been described in certain Norse rites whereOdin is invoked to "ride" workers ofseidr (Norse shamanism), much like the god rides his eight-legged horseSleipnir. Indeed, forms of possessive invocation appear throughout the world in most mystical or ecstatic traditions, wherever devotees seek to touch upon the essence of a deity or spirit.[25]
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The dictionary definition ofinvocation at Wiktionary
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