Thread: Devil Traps?

I know this is a silly question but, if anyone has seen supernatural, those symbols they used on the show called Devil's traps that if a demon is within its boundaries it will be trapped or contained. Is there anything actually like this in real life, any type of symbols or magical seals, circles, or sigils, that will trap a demon inside of it? Are there any type of magical boundaries whatsoever that can be created that will trap a demonic entity within it? sometimes television uses stuff from actual things, not always but sometimes. Let me know anyone that knows about this.

Why do I have images of Elmer Fudd trying to trap Bugs Bunny?
Supernatural is a entertainment show its written out and those are actors you see in front of a camera. TV Supernatural is not a semi Docu-Drama on the Occult.

Yes, and no. While I have not personally seen the show, save one or two episodes, there are "traps" that serve the same purpose, but not in the same way, as you mention. In almost every grimoire, a magical circle to protect the magician is called. Usually it is accompanied by another circle to entrap the entity being summoned, or another geometric shape. It is this way that one might protect oneself and one's environment from any negative effects of conjuring a spiritual entity. It is doubtful, however, that one could engineer a "demon trap" similar to an animal trap. The kind of trap where you wait for something to walk into it and then become ensnared. It would also be rather impractical as demons aren't really just running around willy-nilly. Unless you somehow baited the trap, it would likely sit for many years before you could catch a demon...... I recommend, if this subject greatly interests you, that you read the classic grimoires, namely, the Lesser Key of Solomon. I hope I was able to answer your questions.

The old skool phrase is, 'to homunculize an egregore.' The homonculus itself is the container. It could be simply a drawing on paper, but more would more often be something like a seal or a medallion. The egregore is the, 'spirit,' that will enter the container so that magic can be done. As far back as the Golden Dawn, the egregore was seen as a, 'thought construct.' However, in the older skool an egregore would have been a spirit.

again I am speachless and amazed. Okay a Witches circle is not a Devil trap Witches do not believe in Devils. So our circles are not created to trap devils.

okay I also would like to point out the TV show Full Metal Alchemist isnt real.
The definition of Homunculus (masculine, Latin for "little human", plural: "homunculi"; from the diminutive of homo) is a term used, generally, in various fields of study to refer to any representation of a human being.

The word "egregore" derives from the Greek word, ἐγρήγοροι (egrḗgoroi), meaning "watchers" (also transliterated "grigori"). The word appears in the Septuagint translation of the Book of Lamentations, as well as the Book of Jubilees and the Book of Enoch.

I would also like to point out the definition of devil "The Devil (Ancient Greek: διάβολος or diábolos = 'slanderer' or 'accuser'" Nothing more or less.
So in retrospect I would hate to summon something that has no power and going to stand around trying to give me a bad name or accuse me of crap I never did. If I wanted that I would have stayed with my ex. LOL

A witch who believes in devils no. that would fall under a Christian or type of Satanist who practised old Pagan customs somehow off shoot it into something else. Witchcraft is older then the Christian concept of Devils,Satan,Demons and Jesus. I do preform rituals to honor dietys and God's
Those beings are not nor ever will be Devils. Just because a Christian through fear claims a pagan diety is a demon doesnt make it one.
I do rituals for Baphomet, Christians tend to see the drawing of Baphoment and see there Devil. I can point my finger at you all day and call you a Banana and really wish and believe you are that doesnt mean your a Banana cause I say so.
People like myself take great offence and have a knee jerk reaction to others calling us Devil worshipers. Cause through the centuries my people "Gypsies" and Witches were considerd evil and in contracts with the devil.
Now I see nothing wrong with Satanistic beliefs I have actually dated one for a while.
But just because he might wanna use my pentagram or I would burrow his Atheme doesnt make me a Satanist or him a Witch.
I think many people new agers or kids due to TV shows and alot of wrong information really dont know what a Witch is. Or what they believe and sorta start making things up as they go.
But please understand just because I say I am Jewish-Satanist-Muslim-Catholic-Mormon-Jahovas Wittness doesnt mean I am one or that I understand there beliefs. We do not use circles to conjure anything Christian.
Angels.Demons.Jesus.Prophets of the bible,Devils,Demonic sins nothing because Witchcraft is older then the Christian concept.
I hope that maybe clears some misunderstandings up.
I do believe in supporting all beliefs and religions and have great respect for those who do find spirituality in off stream religions.
Now like I said I have no problem with someone infusing a Satanic belief with Witchcraft. But its like trying to infuse Christianity with Buddism the 2 are completly different.
But if thats what your friends do I support it I am simply saying its not part of the Craft.

I don't know of any true Witch that believes in "devils", or the Christian notion of "demons" either.

Originally Posted by Broomhilda

A witch who believes in devils no. that would fall under a Christian or type of Satanist who practised old Pagan customs somehow off shoot it into something else. Witchcraft is older then the Christian concept of Devils,Satan,Demons and Jesus. I do preform rituals to honor dietys and God's
Those beings are not nor ever will be Devils. Just because a Christian through fear claims a pagan diety is a demon doesnt make it one.
I do rituals for Baphomet, Christians tend to see the drawing of Baphoment and see there Devil. I can point my finger at you all day and call you a Banana and really wish and believe you are that doesnt mean your a Banana cause I say so.
People like myself take great offence and have a knee jerk reaction to others calling us Devil worshipers. Cause through the centuries my people "Gypsies" and Witches were considerd evil and in contracts with the devil.
Now I see nothing wrong with Satanistic beliefs I have actually dated one for a while.
But just because he might wanna use my pentagram or I would burrow his Atheme doesnt make me a Satanist or him a Witch.
I think many people new agers or kids due to TV shows and alot of wrong information really dont know what a Witch is. Or what they believe and sorta start making things up as they go.
But please understand just because I say I am Jewish-Satanist-Muslim-Catholic-Mormon-Jahovas Wittness doesnt mean I am one or that I understand there beliefs. We do not use circles to conjure anything Christian.
Angels.Demons.Jesus.Prophets of the bible,Devils,Demonic sins nothing because Witchcraft is older then the Christian concept.
I hope that maybe clears some misunderstandings up.
I do believe in supporting all beliefs and religions and have great respect for those who do find spirituality in off stream religions.
Now like I said I have no problem with someone infusing a Satanic belief with Witchcraft. But its like trying to infuse Christianity with Buddism the 2 are completly different.
But if thats what your friends do I support it I am simply saying its not part of the Craft.

I think we're looking at a terminology problem here.
Can I ask what you mean by 'witch', 'witchcraft' and 'the Craft'?

I'm asking because, at the time the word 'witch' came into common use, it specifically meant someone who had made a deal with the Christian concept of the devil.
It doesn't have that meaning now, but what exactly it does mean is not always clear- it means different things to different people.

You refer to yourself as a witch, and you have nothing to do with anything relating to devils/demons, etc. That's great, cool, groovy and entirely your own business- but do you really feel equal to saying that anyone who does is NOT a witch at all?
They aren't the same type of witch that you are, but that doesn't make them 'Not a witch'.

Also, what elements of Witchcraft do you believe to be older than Christianity?

Incidentaly, 'demon' is also from a Greek word- 'daemon' (I don't have a Greek font on this computer). It simply means a spirit of some type that is somewhere between gods and humans. The personification of Death is a daemon, for instance. Angels can be thought of as daemons.

(And devils, Satan, demons and the mythology of Jesus are all themselves older than the Christian concepts of them.)

Originally Posted by Ghost of Shaolin

I don't know of any true Witch that believes in "devils", or the Christian notion of "demons" either.

You're heading towards the 'No True Scotsman' fallacy here....

Witches are people who practice witchcraft, and witchcraft is not in itself inherantly religious. So it is quite possible for someone to believe in the Christian concept of devils, demons, etc, and still practice witchcraft.
Satanic witches, for instance.
Although I'd agree that they're probably in a bit of a minority.

I suppose you got me on the Satanic Witch bit, as by definition one might say that they do believe in and work with demons and devils. But saying that Witchcraft is not inherently religious depends one one's definition of religion. Friends of mine who are traditional, natural, bloodline Witches do see it as a "religion" of sorts, as well as a way of life, code of conduct, etc. They do NOT believe in the notion of devils and demons in the Judeo-Christian-Islamic sense, nor in the concept of a Christian hell, which sort of alludes to the belief in devils and such. There's no "bad place" where all of the "bad things" live. You are correct with your interpretation of demon as coming from the Greek daimon (and latinized daemon.) Demons are guardian spirits, and each of us has one. They are not good or evil per se, which is in opposition to the standard Christian viewpoint of everything being evil unless it's been approved by the church. So, I again contend that traditional Witches do not believe in demons, devils, etc.

I would say that the core tenets and the foundation of Witchcraft itself are older than Christianity as an organized religion. Most every fundamental element of Withcraft is older than Christianity, as is the case with every tradition that works with the natural world (Daoism included), rather than believing it's just here for us to control and use as we see fit. Also, most traditions and systems that do not have such sharply defined notions of good and evil are older than Christianity.