Invocation is a spiritual practice employed in various religious traditions, involving the act of calling upon or summoning a higher power, deity, or spirit for guidance, protection, or assistance. This practice has been a central aspect of human spirituality throughout history, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.

In the context of religious rituals, invocations often take the form of prayers, chants, or recitations, designed to facilitate communication with the divine or spiritual realm. The purpose of an invocation can vary, ranging from seeking blessings or enlightenment to requesting assistance in overcoming challenges or achieving specific goals.

In Christianity, for example, invocations may be directed towards God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, or saints. These prayers often begin with phrases such as “In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” or “O Lord, hear our prayer.”

In Hinduism, invocations are an integral part of religious ceremonies, often involving the recitation of mantras or hymns to invoke the presence and blessings of various deities. The Hindu practice of puja, a ritualistic worship of deities, typically involves invocations accompanied by offerings of flowers, incense, and food.

In ancient Egyptian religion, invocations played a crucial role in temple rituals, as well as in the rites performed by individuals seeking guidance or protection from specific gods and goddesses.

In the context of Western esotericism and occult practices, such as those found in ceremonial magic, invocations are employed to summon specific spiritual entities, like angels or demons, for the purpose of gaining knowledge, power, or influence over one's environment.

Regardless of the tradition, invocations share a common theme: the desire to establish a connection with the divine or supernatural, to seek support or insight beyond the limitations of human understanding. This universal aspect of invocation highlights the innate human desire for a sense of connection to a higher power and the quest for meaning in the face of life's challenges.

In Thelema invocation is a central aspect of magical practice and ritual. Thelemites use invocations to call upon various spiritual forces, divine entities, and archetypal energies for personal transformation, enlightenment, or to accomplish specific goals.

Thelema incorporates elements from a wide range of religious and esoteric traditions, such as Kabbalah, Hermeticism, and Eastern mysticism. As a result, invocations within Thelemic practice can be directed toward a diverse array of spiritual entities, including Egyptian deities, angels, and archetypal symbols.

Such as:

• Egyptian deities: Thelema draws heavily from Egyptian mythology, with many of its central figures being inspired by or directly associated with Egyptian gods and goddesses. Notably, the deities Nuit (sky goddess), Hadit (winged solar disk), and Ra-Hoor-Khuit (a form of Horus) are invoked in Thelemic rituals like the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram and Liber Resh vel Helios. These deities also feature prominently in Crowley's foundational text, “The Book of the Law.”

• Angels: Thelemites often invoke angelic beings, especially within the context of Kabbalistic and Hermetic practices. In the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, which Crowley adapted from the Golden Dawn tradition, practitioners invoke the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel for protection and purification. Additionally, the Holy Guardian Angel, an individual's personal spiritual guide or higher self, is a central concept in Thelemic practice, and the invocation of this entity is essential to discovering and manifesting one's True Will.

• Archetypal symbols: Thelemic invocations may also call upon various archetypal symbols or energies, often associated with the Tarot, astrology, or other esoteric systems. For example, the godforms of Therion (the Beast) and Babalon (the Scarlet Woman) are invoked in the Star Ruby ritual, representing the union of opposites and the transformative power of sexual energy. Likewise, the word of power “Abrahadabra,” which symbolises the Great Work of spiritual transformation and the accomplishment of one's True Will, is invoked in several Thelemic rituals.

A central tenet of Thelema is the belief in the individual's True Will, the unique purpose and destiny that each person is meant to fulfil. Invocations are often employed to help practitioners discover and manifest their True Will, aligning their actions with their innermost nature and achieving harmony with the divine.

One of the most well-known Thelemic rituals involving invocation is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, adapted from the Golden Dawn tradition. In this ritual, practitioners invoke the archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel to cleanse and protect their ritual space.

Another key Thelemic invocation is the ritual of the Star Ruby, which serves as a counterpart to the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. The Star Ruby ritual involves invoking various divine forces, including the godforms of Therion (the Beast), Babalon (the Scarlet Woman), and Chaos, as well as the powerful word of power, “Abrahadabra.”

In addition to these specific rituals, Thelemic practitioners may employ invocations in their personal magical workings or during the performance of the Gnostic Mass, a central ritual within the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), an initiatory magical order that promotes the teachings of Thelema.