Abject Geekery

It’s been a long time since I gave this subject any thought, but as part of my scholarly journey into objective comparative theology, I spent a good deal of time studying cultural metaphysics and the occult as viewed from various religious traditions.

I believe think a conclusion that there are events and energies behind what we call “haunting” and/or “possession” is a fair intellectual pursuit… as are the nature of these events and energies open for equally fair debate.

In then end, as a more rational thinker… I cannot commit to any of these suppositions as part of my world view.  Regardless of that fact, Demonology is a tantalizing and even entertaining line of study for a genre geek like me, so I put together a reflection on the research I did.

Supernatural events are reported to follow a system of progression. In the following post, I will highlight the 5 stages of Demonic or Spiritual Influence.

Invitation: The event that generates the initial formation/incarnation of the energy/entity. These tend to be dynamic and explosive emotional events. Death, abuse or trauma leaves an “energy” or attracts an “entity”.

In popular culture, the Ouija Board could also be considered a formal invitation, though it is more of a catalyst to Recognition. “Professional” demonologists include use of other spirit attractors, such as palm readers and mediums as being methods of Invitation.

Recognition: The energy/entity becomes attracted to the energy/emotions of others. It forms actions or directives to provoke continued and deeper attention, which then excites it’s energies all the more.

Noises, such as scratching and the fluttering of wings have been reported. Cold spots in rooms. A misplaced object being found in an obvious place where is was not before. Objects lost. Even dreams. All these things are used to attract the specific attention of the living target of the “entity/energy”.

Oppression: Think if it as a feedback loop from recognition that has increased in level toward an intrusive element. With each recognition event giving energy/motivation for progressively more actions toward recognition, the energy/entity becomes more active. The question is… to what end?

Here lies a place of thought that one must contemplate a decision on the nature of this energy/entity as intelligent or non-intelligent. It’s the reason I keep referring to it as “energy/entity”. An entity presumes a form of personification or intelligence(i.e. ghost/demon/spirit/soul), whereas energy implies a non-intelligent “action/reaction” chain(nature spirit/bio echo/shadow).

In either case, we are working at a stage of chaos and destruction… either personal(intelligent) or a less specific damage(non-intelligent). If we are going with the paradigm of an “entity”, this becomes a personal danger. The entity has become more realized through Recognition and is now directly imposing its power to harm the person/household.

In the case of non-intelligent, the “energy” has increased to the point of more outward effects. Because it is chaotic in nature(unharnessed), it tends toward destructive manifestations.

Possession: I’ll define that based on the “Intelligent” versus “non-intelligent” perspectives, but the essence for both is that the energy/entity because of such a power that it overwhelms the person/household.

In the case of the “entity”… we are talking about anything from dramatic mood and personality changes, to identity subversion (demonic/spirit possession).

A non-intelligent interpretation would be a more tangible effect… the person/household is so disrupted by the Oppressive events as to be unhinged mentally and physically. Psychosis, depression and personality disorders are the result.

Finally…

Death: The natural progression to this would ultimately lead toward Death in the person/household. Of Course, this assumes another element does not interdict the progression somewhere along the way from Invitation to Possession. How the death occurs in not relevent. Human life is fragile, and interjecting this much tangible and unstopped chaos, either intelligent or not… will lead toward death.

The entity WANTS to be seen(recognition). After that, it WANTS to be relevant(oppression). Further… it will then WANT to dominate(possession). And that will lead toward an ultimate negative conclusion(death).

From what I have read of the anecdotes of events… most never get powerful enough to move from recognition to oppression. The suggestion is that it takes a profound level of negative emotion to move into Oppression… but once there, the move to Possession and Death is far more likely.

So… if we are going to “go there” in contemplating a suggestion of “haunting”, the only way to win the game is to not play. However, different cultures and religious traditions have different manners on how to approach it. Some think a karmic opposition will diffuse the energy(think happy thoughts to diffuse the aggressive energies). Others look to summoning a Will of Order/Good against such this Will of Chaos/Evil(think exorcism).

Now, I’m not saying I buy into all this. I’m not saying that I reject it. It is a mystery, much like God is a mystery.. and should be approached with the same humility of intellect that we need when studying the nature of God… something that is by definition beyond our finite understanding.