Theurgy

Theurgy (/ˈθiːɜːrdʒi/; from Greek θεουργία theourgía), also known as divine magic, is one of two major branches of the magical arts,^[1] the other being practical magic or thaumaturgy.^[2]^[3] Theurgy describes the ritual practices associated with the invocation or evocation of the presence of one or more deities (also called "godforms"), especially with the goal of achieving henosis (uniting with the divine) and perfecting oneself.^[4]

"Divine magic" redirects here. For the magic in Dungeons & Dragons, see Divine magic (Dungeons & Dragons).

(c. 480): theurgy is "a power higher than all human wisdom embracing the blessings of divination, the purifying powers of initiation and in a word all the operations of divine possession."^[5]

Proclus

: "Spiritual magic or theurgy was based on the idea that one could reach God in an ascent up the scale of creation made possible by a rigorous course of prayer, fasting and devotional preparation."^[6]

Keith Thomas

: "Theurgy is a type of magic. It consists of a set of magical practices performed to evoke beneficent spirits in order to see them or know them or in order to influence them, for instance by forcing them to animate a statue, to inhabit a human being (such as a medium), or to disclose mysteries.^[1]

Pierre A. Riffard

To Hen (τό ἕν), The One: Deity without quality, sometimes called The Good.

(Νοῦς), Mind: The Universal consciousness, from which proceeds

Nous

(Ψυχή), Soul: Including both individual and world soul, leading finally to

Psychē

(Φύσις), Nature.

Physis

In Western esotericism[edit]

Esoteric Christianity[edit]

Esoteric Christianity accepts theurgy as a tradition that could greatly benefit a person. The main feat of Esoteric Christianity is to learn the mysteries of God (see Raziel) and to rise to higher consciousness in the understanding of God's relationship to individual consciousness. Theurgy, in the esoteric tradition, uses this knowledge to heighten one's own spiritual nature.^[11] Some branches of Esoteric Christianity hold that if an Esoteric Christian, Rosicrucian, or Theosopher practices it they could potentially rise to the degree of Magus or Adept after a certain level of spiritual attainment. In a traditional and magical sense, theurgy is seen as the opposite of Goetia, even though many argue that they overlap.^[12]

– Worship of stars and other heavenly bodies as deities

Astral religion

– Hermetic starfire body

Body of light

– Vajrayana practice involving visualization of a deity

Deity yoga

– To become divine

Divinization

– Angel assigned to protect and guide a particular person

Holy Guardian Angel

– Christian theologian

Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite

– Doctrine of Sufism

Simiyya

– Likeness to or union with God