A Cautionary Primer on Spirit Identification

Just because something shows up during your evocation doesn’t mean it’s the spirit you asked for.

A great many practitioners—especially those still early on the path—perform an evocation, feel a shift in the air, maybe hear a whisper in the mind or feel a chill on the skin, and take that as confirmation that the spirit has arrived. The spirit. The one named in the conjuration. The correct one.

But here's the uncomfortable truth: the spiritual world doesn't operate on the honour system. Just because you spoke the right name doesn’t mean the right entity answered.

Often, spirits you didn't call are listening. Waiting. Watching. Some are harmless passersby. Others are clever parasites. And still others are sophisticated, manipulative intelligences who will wear the name of another like a mask—especially if it means gaining access to your time, your energy, and your trust.

There are several reasons this happens—and why it happens more often than most practitioners would like to admit.

The first factor to keep in mind is inexperience - when you don’t know what you don’t know. Every practitioner was a beginner once. And early on, enthusiasm often outpaces discernment. You’ve read a few grimoires, drawn your first circle, memorized some Names of Power. You’ve seen the diagrams, maybe picked up a brass wand off the internet, and you’re ready to open the gates.

The problem? Spiritual protocol isn’t just about the “look” of the ritual. It’s about energetic alignment, precision, presence of will, and yes—experience.

A beginner may think they’ve summoned the planetary spirit of Jupiter, when in truth they’ve called a hungry trickster who mimicked the tone and grandeur they expected. They walk away convinced they’ve communed with a great intelligence... while the spirit walks away well-fed.

There’s no shame in being new. But there is danger in assuming that every “response” is a true result. You must learn to question, to test, to know—not to hope.

The second factor is a lack of spiritual power and authority. Magick isn't just about tools and rituals—it’s about presence, force, and spiritual authority. Some call it "magnetism." Others call it "command." We call it spiritual power. But all serious practitioners know this truth: spirits recognize power. And if you don’t have it, they won’t listen—or worse, they’ll play along while plotting something else entirely.

Spiritual authority is earned through practice, discipline, dedication etc. It’s not about barking orders, nor is it about ego. It’s the quiet but unmistakable force that tells a spirit: “I know who I am. I know what I’m doing. You will heed this call—or face the consequences.”

Without it, your circle is just a drawing on the floor. Your words are just vibrations in the air. You can dress the part, chant the ancient names, light the appropriate incense—and still be seen as prey.

The third factor is improper rituals or weak warding. Think of a ritual space like a sealed chamber. It must be set, warded, and protected. The moment you open the gates between the worlds, you invite spiritual attention—and not just from your intended guest.

If your circle (if you use one) is weak, your incantations are inaccurate or unsuitable, or you’ve skipped over “minor” steps like grounding and shielding, you may as well have rolled out a welcome mat for anything in the area.

Some spirits are subtle. They sneak in beneath your awareness. Others announce themselves boldly, pretending to be the one you called. And if you’re not shielded, they can—and will—entangle themselves with you and with your working.

This is especially true in necromantic rites. The dead are not always who you think they are. Spirits will sometimes imitate deceased relatives or the spirit you think you’re calling—right down to the voice and emotional tone. Mimicry is an ancient trick. And unless you have tight wards and strong discernment, you may never know the difference until it's too late.

Now let’s swing to the other extreme: you’re not speaking to a spirit. You’re talking to yourself.

This one’s common, and not always sinister—just misleading.

The human mind, especially when steeped in ritual energy and expectation, is brilliant at filling in gaps. You ask a question aloud, wait in silence, and suddenly a voice “responds” in your mind. It sounds like what you hoped to hear. It answers in the style you anticipated. And because you’re emotionally invested, you assume: It’s the spirit!

But more often than not, it’s your subconscious. Echoing your desires. Reflecting your fears. Playing both roles in the drama. Especially if you haven’t trained your spiritual senses, haven’t cultivated stillness within yourself, or don’t yet know how to recognize the distinct feel of an actual spiritual presence.

Self-delusion is the easiest spirit to conjure—and the hardest to exorcise.

Discernment is everything. It’s your compass in the dark. Your inner litmus test. And it doesn’t come from books—it comes from practice, inner work, and being willing to be wrong.

The development of spiritual senses—clairvoyance, clairsentience, energetic sensitivity—takes time. But they are essential if you want to move beyond divination and communication tools and into direct two-way communion.

These senses allow you to feel the difference between your thoughts and a genuine spiritual presence. They let you notice when something’s off—when the spirit’s tone is strange, the energy is erratic, the space feels wrong. Without them, you’re groping in the dark.

True spirits carry a signature—a pattern, a pressure, a quality of presence that, once known, cannot be easily faked. But to know it, you must first develop the senses that can detect it.

We also want to mention tricksters, parasites, and generally the ones who answer uninvited.

The spiritual ecosystem is full of opportunists. The moment you open a ritual space—even unintentionally—you signal to the unseen: “I’m open.” And many spirits are just waiting for that opportunity.

Some are small parasites, drifting astral debris drawn to light and attention. Others are far more advanced—able to read your mind (by establishing a link to you), cloak themselves in the guise of the spirit you desire, and manipulate you into trust and submission. They will imitate, flatter, reassure, and feed off of you for as long as you let them.

They are especially fond of new practitioners, because beginners rarely test them.

So, how do you know if it's the actual spirit you called forth? Good question. And the honest answer is: you test them.

The old grimoires didn’t just list conjurations—they also included methods of verification. These were rarely optional.

You don’t just accept a spirit’s presence—you verify it. Challenge it. Examine its energy. Ask it to confirm something only it would know. Or request a manifestation, sign, or signal that aligns with its nature. Watch for consistency in presence and message over multiple sessions.

A real spirit won’t be offended by this. In fact, many will respect you more for doing it. Authority is demonstrated through discernment.

We’ll be publishing a detailed breakdown of how to test spirits, with practical techniques, on our Patreon page for our Initiate, Adept and Master tier members right after we post this. That will include methods for establishing baselines, catching impostors, and training your senses to spot mimics before they cause harm.

For now, here are a few brief hints:

• Ask questions you can verify the answer to, but the spirit wouldn't know unless it is who it claims.

• Observe how the energy of the space shifts when the spirit arrives. Is it consistent with what you’ve experienced before—or radically different?

• Real spirits have presence. Weight. Texture. They don’t flicker in and out like static.

• When in doubt? Pause. Banish. Reset. Truth endures scrutiny—illusions unravel under pressure.

Spirit work is powerful. But power without clarity is a recipe for confusion—and often, danger. Don’t be afraid to question. Don’t be afraid to walk away. Don’t assume that every voice in the dark is a holy whisper. Sometimes it’s just static. Sometimes it’s something worse. And sometimes, yes, it’s just you. Learn to know the difference. That is the path of a true practitioner.

And if you’re ready to go deeper—into discerning presence, verifying spirits, and navigating the subtle politics of the unseen world—visit us on Patreon. We’ll help you develop the tools, awareness, and authority to not just talk to spirits... but to know exactly who’s listening.

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