My mind, for a while, has been stuck on the subject of demons, which got me wondering. Of course (In my mind, at least) demons exist, but, how where they portrait in the way they are in modern culture?

Historical culture doesn't class a demon as what they do now. In Japanese mythology, a beckoning cat, as in the model, came to be when the cat of a poor priest beckoned a pope from out under a tree in a storm, the tree then being struck by lightening. Modern mythology would class any animal with human attributes as a demon.

But, onto my main point. The devil, to me, obviously looks demonic. Or at least, his portrayal in drawings. One night, I decided to contact a sort of spirit guide of mine, in search of help on the subject. (In my belief anyway) this dimension is made up of thousands of other dimensions, like an onion has membranes, and are all pressed together, and somewhere, there's a rift between the two dimensions. Some are sucked through, like the smaller ones, and others venture out of curiosity.

I also learnt that most spirits from other dimensions naturally drift back into their own dimension, unless they 'attach' them selves, via the life cord, or other means, to something in this dimension, thus, binding it here.

Just thought I'd say. x]

So happy to be grace with your presence, OMJ!

Thanks for all the the mythological background. It is interesting, as is your multiple dimension theory likened to an onion.

So the main question is...how did demons become portrayed as they have in modern culture. Which would be the horned, winged type?

I really enjoyed the responses to the question "Where did the image of Devil/demons come from?" on yahoo answers.

I believe that the demon image is something that reaches all the way back as far as recorded human history can be traced. Most "myths" contain some version of these entities. Many of the early Gods were these mixes of animals and human, or horned, hooved, and/or winged.

I never gave it much thought at all until I opened my mind and said to the great all-that-is, "show me what you got," and I received images of wolf-people and then later Green Man, elementals galore, and your classic winged, horned, hooved beings. Not at all what I expected. But very fascinating and not at all malevolent.

Interesting about the spirits from other dimensions attaching themselves to something in this dimension. Is that a good thing for both entities?

I think they became portrayed as they are in modern culture through modern, and historic religions. The devil is horned, hoofed, and winged, and so one automatically assumes that his demons are akin to his likeness, like we are of god. (In the Christian religion, anyway). I also think that people see demons as "reality but different", humanoid, but little changes making a big difference, such as goats legs, horns, and sharp teeth. I think Demons are also symbolic of fear. It was a belief once, that bad dreams where caused when a lesser Demon sat upon its victims chest, and fed off their fear.

I think they reach back that far, too! I think people weren't so 'blinded' by science and upbringing in the first ages of man, and so the world was as it was, and thus, the spiritual existence of a secondary plane was a very open reality.

I think it is good for both entities, yes. The 'emigrating' spirit gets to stay in it's chosen dimension, whilst the hooked entity shares the emigrating spirit's knowledge and strengths, with also a strengthened eye to the spirit world. Who knows, maybe people with "Multiple personality disorders" may have simply been hooked by a spirit, wanting to stay here, and simply works on the same wavelength as the spirit.

Ooo, good points, Jim!

Though I know I am connected to a spirit on another plane, "hooked" as you say, I had not thought of it in these terms. But this is valid and has broadened my view, and that is the reason I love to share as openly as I can about this and appreciate your participation.

I think these spirit connections can be viewed in multiple ways, as all things can be. And this view of yours is very enlightening. I love your description in the last paragraph. It makes sense that it is good for both human and demon-like spirit. I definitely have that impression with the entity that I link with, I receive her strengths and she mine. It is really wondrous.

I did think of it as a linking, I suppose, but your description brought more concrete thoughts about it that way. I also see it as a merging. In my dreams and mind's eye I see myself merging with this female wolf-demon-like spirit and she with me. I feel there is a similar male that is part of me as well.

As far as demons, devils and Pan-like gods, I saw the image of the Devil tarot card in my mind early on in my quest to understand spirit, and most recently I experienced an entity that I knew to be Baphomet. These things are symbolic and at the same time literal, which is one of the main things I am coming to understand. We all are both etheric and material, both spiritual and scientific, both symbolic and literal, both female and male, ida and pingala, mercy and justice... it's all about gaining masterful balance of the two polar ideals.




Baphomet by Eliphas Levi 1854


Devil Tarot Card


And interesting about your multiple personality theory, too.

Thanka, Alisa! ^-^

First thing I shall say, wasn't Bathomet a messenger of Jesus or something?

It makes me wonder if there are any who aren't latched with a secondary spirit of some sort. After all, nearly all of us have heard 'That little voice' in the backs of our mind, that we take for granted as being our own subcontious.

I'm glad my description helped at least one person! It's what I'm here for. x] And others in turn to help me, of course.

And I agree - everything is based on balance, and usually, is two forces of chaos fighting at the same level to create order. Who says two wrongs don't make a right?

And, thanks. I have never thought of twin (or more) personalities as a problem. And I've never believed it to be mental, either. I think it's to do with more souls then "usual", like twins born in the same body.

Thanks for your wonderful input, OMJ!

It seems that there are several theories to the origins of the name Baphomet (as per Wiki). One is that it is the misspelling of Muhammad. Another that it is the backwards abbreviation tem. o. h. p. ab meaning "father of the temple of peace of all men". Another that it is from an Arabic word meaning "The Father of Understanding". Or that ciphered (Atbash substitution) from Hebrew means "Wisdom". Or that it comes from Greek words meaning "Baptism of Wisdom".

No matter which is true, it's all good.

I also like the description of Baphomet by Lévi (who made the drawing in post above). According to Wiki, he "considered the Baphomet to be a depiction of the absolute in symbolic form and explicated in detail his symbolism in the drawing that served as the frontispiece:"

"The goat on the frontispiece carries the sign of the pentagram on the forehead, with one point at the top, a symbol of light, his two hands forming the sign of hermetism, the one pointing up to the white moon of Chesed, the other pointing down to the black one of Geburah. This sign expresses the perfect harmony of mercy with justice. His one arm is female, the other male like the ones of the androgyn of Khunrath, the attributes of which we had to unite with those of our goat because he is one and the same symbol. The flame of intelligence shining between his horns is the magic light of the universal balance, the image of the soul elevated above matter, as the flame, whilst being tied to matter, shines above it. The beast's head expresses the horror of the sinner, whose materially acting, solely responsible part has to bear the punishment exclusively; because the soul is insensitive according to its nature and can only suffer when it materializes. The rod standing instead of genitals symbolizes eternal life, the body covered with scales the water, the semi- circle above it the atmosphere, the feathers following above the volatile. Humanity is represented by the two breasts and the androgyn arms of this sphinx of the occult sciences."

Your idea that maybe everyone is attached to a secondary spirit resonates with me. I see myself (and hence others) as comprised of entities on many levels (perhaps infinite).

Ooo, and interesting concept...twins born in the same body.