One of the most confusing things that beginners deal with, apart from circle casting, is Invoking and Evoking. First of all, it may seem that there is little difference between the two, or maybe little point in doing it. But this is an important part of ritual, and is done quite frequently.
What is Invoking, and what is Evoking?
Evoking is when you ask a Deity, elemental, etc. to be present in the circle. Invoking is when you invite the Deity, etc. 'into' yourself, and for a time you 'become' that Deity.
Why do it?
You invoke or evoke to ask the Deity(s) to attend your ritual. When done well, a Deity will actually be present in your circle: you will be able to communicate with them, and they will be able to help you with whatever you have planned. (This is one reason that it is so very important to be clear in your intentions, and to have thought them out beforehand- the Deities are present, they are inside your circle, and they can see you).
Which one is best to do?
If you are a beginner, I would highly recommend sticking to evoking. For one, personally I find it easier to do. For second, it is more objective, and easier to figure out if you did it right. Third, being more objective, it's harder to fool yourself into believing you did it properly if you didn't. Finally, invoking can be especially difficult if you are conducting ritual alone.
How do I know which Deity to invoke?
Only one word of advice here: keep it simple. As a beginner, please don't invoke the Morrigan, Loki, Kali, etc. etc. etc. Not that I'm saying these are 'evil' Gods, it's just that you will probably find it more than you can handle. If you want a death Goddess, try Persephone. If you want success in battle, try Ares or Victoria, if you want feminine power, try Diana. If you want a trickster, try Mercury. There's no need to climb a mountain to see over the molehill.
So, how do I do it?
Cleanse your space, cast your circle, call your element(als). Generally, calling the Goddess is done in a 'Goddess position': arms and legs outstretched. Calling the God is done in a 'God position': feet together, with arms crossed across the chest (no, you don't have to do it that way). In doing the actual calling, you may or may not have something written down, or you might decide to adlib something; whatever suits you is fine. While you are reciting the call, visualize in your mind how that Deity looks to you. Are they short or tall,
blonde, brunette, or redhead? Are they strong willed, poetic, young or old? How does their 'soul' look to you, what color is their aura, what kind of personality do they have, how do they make you feel? Send out a call to this image, asking them to come and join your ritual. The hard part is learning how to call with your mind while you're reciting a spoken call. :)
Should I always cast a circle before Calling a Deity?
I would say definately yes. There's nothing really wrong with calling on a familiar Deity at any time. However, I would advise against calling a Deity you don't know well outside your circle.
Will this give me cool powers, like 'Sabrina'?
No.
How do I know if I've done it properly?
If you've evoked the Deity, and they do decide to come, you will probably notice it immediately. The air becomes electric, you may notice a 'presence' in the room, the temperature may change. Heck, they may decide to give you a hug. :)
Can I invoke/evoke elementals?
Well, technically, any time you call the elements, or the elementals, you are evoking them. I really wouldn't advise invoking any elemental. Stick with evoking for them.
How do I 'unevoke' a Deity?
Simple, thank them for coming, and mean it. Say you're glad they came, but now ritual is over, and thank you so much for stopping by. Just be respectful.
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By: Keitha (FireWind)
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