theurgy
Rituals summoning divinity
Theurgy is ritual practice aimed at invoking divine presence or achieving union with the divine.
The term comes from Greek words meaning "god-work" and originally described Neoplatonic rituals believed to purify the soul and draw it toward the gods.
In contemporary use, theurgy appears in discussions of Western esoteric traditions and ceremonial magic, distinguished from thaumaturgy (wonder-working or practical magic) by its spiritual rather than worldly aims: The order's practices emphasized theurgy over mere spell-casting.
Relating to a famous Roman
- henosisMystical absorption into ultimate reality
- emanationSomething that flows out
- demiurgeDivine cosmic craftsman
- nousFaculty of rational thought
hypostasis · sympathy · hieratic · divine names · Alexandria · mystical union · contemplation · ascent
Supernatural beings worshipped
- deityWorshipped supernatural being
- divine unionSpiritual oneness with deity
- communionProfound shared closeness
- deificationElevation to divine status
apotheosis · henosis · divine light · providence · grace · divine presence · theophany · divine will
Spellwork following prescribed forms
- ceremonial magicFormalized supernatural invocation practice
- talismansObjects imbued with power
- amuletsObjects worn for protection
- divine namesAppellations for deities
symbols · sigils · conjuration · summoning · evocation · sacred objects · divine power · supernatural
Calling upon higher authority
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
- purificationRemoval of contaminants
sacrifice · offering · altar · temple · sacred rites · liturgy · cult · initiation
Esoteric Greco-Egyptian spiritual tradition
- GnosticismSalvation through hidden wisdom
- KabbalahJewish esoteric tradition
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
initiation · Hermes Trismegistus · mysticism · arcana · spiritual transformation · gnosis · adept
Greek prophetic sanctuary
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- ChaldeanAncient Mesopotamian people
- OrphismGreek mystery religion
pagan · Hellenistic · Greek religion · hierophant · Greco-Egyptian · mystery cults · Isis
Julian
Relating to a famous Roman
- henosisMystical absorption into ultimate reality
- emanationSomething that flows out
- demiurgeDivine cosmic craftsman
nous · hypostasis · sympathy · hieratic · divine names · Alexandria · mystical union · contemplation · ascent · divine realm
gods
Supernatural beings worshipped
- deityWorshipped supernatural being
- divine unionSpiritual oneness with deity
- communionProfound shared closeness
deification · apotheosis · henosis · divine light · providence · grace · divine presence · theophany · divine will · sacred
ritual magic
Spellwork following prescribed forms
- ceremonial magicFormalized supernatural invocation practice
- talismansObjects imbued with power
- amuletsObjects worn for protection
divine names · symbols · sigils · conjuration · summoning · evocation · sacred objects · divine power · supernatural · occultism
invocation
Calling upon higher authority
- ritualCeremonial set of actions
- ceremonyFormal event marking occasions
- incantationSpoken magical formula
purification · sacrifice · offering · altar · temple · sacred rites · liturgy · cult · initiation · lustration
Hermeticism
Esoteric Greco-Egyptian spiritual tradition
- GnosticismSalvation through hidden wisdom
- KabbalahJewish esoteric tradition
- theosophyMystical divine knowledge system
mysteries · initiation · Hermes Trismegistus · mysticism · arcana · spiritual transformation · gnosis · adept
Delphi
Greek prophetic sanctuary
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- mysteriesUnexplained phenomena or events
- ChaldeanAncient Mesopotamian people
Orphism · pagan · Hellenistic · Greek religion · hierophant · Greco-Egyptian · mystery cults · Isis
theurgyblack magic
Evil supernatural practice
necromancy · diabolism · sorcery · dark arts · left-hand path
theurgyscience
Systematic study through observation
empiricism · scientific method · rationalism · materialism · positivism
theurgyatheism
Rejection of deities
secular humanism · materialism · physicalism · irreligion · disenchantment
theology, thaumaturgy, theogony, thaumaturgic, thaumaturgical, thaumaturgist