Invocation vs Evocation
Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 7:44 am
Yes, there is a difference - and it's rather important.
Invocation is the act of invoking. When you invoke in occult practices, it typically means you are absorbing an energy into yourself. You are inviting a spirit, entity, or force to take up residence within your mind/body/spirit and act through you.
Invocation can also generally involve calling energies up from within yourself that align with the presence you are focusing on - and in doing so simultaneously bring the presence into you which manifests off of that. (This particular way of things may allow a little more power over the situation, through the use of self- identification as a tool to fully immerse oneself in the presence/energy of focus.)
Invocation can be done ritually with or without particular guidelines, although inherently releases some key restrictions that would be present during evocation.
Evocation is the act of evoking. When you evoke, it means you are inviting an energy into your space/to a particular location. Calling upon a spirit, entity, or force to come to you - but usually with greater restriction for them.
In most situations evocation is considered a more structured request - and sometimes "command" depending on the situation, upon your target to come forth through certain ritual methods, and in coming to you will be arriving under direction as specifically posed in the way of evocation applied. This process can easily be an elaborate one that may take quite a lot of energy and work to establish in comparison to basic invocation.
Words and their intent have much power. If you call upon something with the intent of invoking, be prepared for what could possibly happen and will happen as a result.
If you are requesting the presence of any being for them to assist you with a task, or in completion of any effort, aiming for this to be a smooth (and probably temporary) connection through a structured process and for a very specific outcome - it may not be as wise to invoke to accomplish the effort - as it suggests less control over the situation (even if this manifestation is through you, consider the power of the being/force).
This does depend much on your intent, what exactly you seek out of the experience and how you are open to receiving it - it is simply important to choose the method that fits the situation based on your desires or what would manifest the goal most effectively.
When deciding whether invocation or evocation is best for any given situation, be very aware of the nature of the spirit/entity/energy you are going to be dealing with. Do things in a way that feels best to you (and so adding to effectiveness), but while also being fitting to your work.
Invocation can be a truly great experience... some fascinating insight, power, liberation (as well as revolution.. of the mind and soul) can come of it - just know when to apply it, and understand what it truly signifies.
However many times it is not the most appropriate method to apply..taking into account different elements necessary of the form of magick at hand and for the desired outcome (which again, can still be up to the individual to judge based on what exactly is being done) -
but new occultists can *mistakenly* invoke when evocation is best usually as a result of not considering it properly or even knowing the difference it will make, which could lead to some pretty messy results.
This is why the key here is awareness of what you are doing, regardless of how you practice the arts and choose to apply things.
Invocation is the act of invoking. When you invoke in occult practices, it typically means you are absorbing an energy into yourself. You are inviting a spirit, entity, or force to take up residence within your mind/body/spirit and act through you.
Invocation can also generally involve calling energies up from within yourself that align with the presence you are focusing on - and in doing so simultaneously bring the presence into you which manifests off of that. (This particular way of things may allow a little more power over the situation, through the use of self- identification as a tool to fully immerse oneself in the presence/energy of focus.)
Invocation can be done ritually with or without particular guidelines, although inherently releases some key restrictions that would be present during evocation.
Evocation is the act of evoking. When you evoke, it means you are inviting an energy into your space/to a particular location. Calling upon a spirit, entity, or force to come to you - but usually with greater restriction for them.
In most situations evocation is considered a more structured request - and sometimes "command" depending on the situation, upon your target to come forth through certain ritual methods, and in coming to you will be arriving under direction as specifically posed in the way of evocation applied. This process can easily be an elaborate one that may take quite a lot of energy and work to establish in comparison to basic invocation.
Words and their intent have much power. If you call upon something with the intent of invoking, be prepared for what could possibly happen and will happen as a result.
If you are requesting the presence of any being for them to assist you with a task, or in completion of any effort, aiming for this to be a smooth (and probably temporary) connection through a structured process and for a very specific outcome - it may not be as wise to invoke to accomplish the effort - as it suggests less control over the situation (even if this manifestation is through you, consider the power of the being/force).
This does depend much on your intent, what exactly you seek out of the experience and how you are open to receiving it - it is simply important to choose the method that fits the situation based on your desires or what would manifest the goal most effectively.
When deciding whether invocation or evocation is best for any given situation, be very aware of the nature of the spirit/entity/energy you are going to be dealing with. Do things in a way that feels best to you (and so adding to effectiveness), but while also being fitting to your work.
Invocation can be a truly great experience... some fascinating insight, power, liberation (as well as revolution.. of the mind and soul) can come of it - just know when to apply it, and understand what it truly signifies.
However many times it is not the most appropriate method to apply..taking into account different elements necessary of the form of magick at hand and for the desired outcome (which again, can still be up to the individual to judge based on what exactly is being done) -
but new occultists can *mistakenly* invoke when evocation is best usually as a result of not considering it properly or even knowing the difference it will make, which could lead to some pretty messy results.
This is why the key here is awareness of what you are doing, regardless of how you practice the arts and choose to apply things.
:thumbup: Giving you a much deserved bump! & I hope that our newer members will take their time to read this! :candlep: 
emzy