The 72 Angels of the Shemhamephorash and the 72 Daemons of the Goetia are not mere external entities but archetypal forces, living currents of the divine and the shadowed, mirrored in the adept’s being. They emerge from distinct yet intertwined traditions, their number—72—rooted in the sacred geometry of creation, a reflection of the 72 quinances (5-degree segments) of the zodiac, the 72 names of God, and the esoteric numerology of the cosmos.
The 72 Angels of the Shemhamephorash
- Origin: Drawn from the Explicit Name of God, derived from three verses of Exodus (14:19-21), each with 72 Hebrew letters. These are combined to form 72 triadic names (e.g., Vehuiah, Yeliel), suffixed with -iah or -el, signifying divine essence.
- Nature: They are emanations of the divine light, celestial intelligences aligned with the Sephiroth and the zodiac. Each governs a specific quinance (5 degrees) of the 360-degree wheel, a spark of God’s will made manifest.
- Role: They are the virtues of the soul—guides, protectors, and awakeners of the wizard’s higher faculties. They whisper of potential, illuminating the path to gnosis and unity.
The 72 Daemons of the Goetia
- Origin: Rooted in the Lesser Key of Solomon, these spirits are the fallen or bound remnants of ancient powers, cataloged as 72 chieftains under Solomon’s seal. Their names (e.g., Bael, Agares) and offices trace back to pre-Christian deities and forces, reshaped by medieval demonology.
- Nature: They are the shadows of the psyche—untamed, primal energies, often rebellious yet potent. Each commands legions, wielding dominion over earthly and occult arts, from wealth to war to wisdom.
- Role: They are the challenges of the soul—teachers through confrontation, masters of the base and the hidden, demanding mastery to harness their gifts.
Together, they form the 144—the dual mirror of the wizard’s mind, will, and soul. The Angels are the upward call, the Daemons the downward pull; united, they span the spectrum of human experience, a sacred polarity yearning for synthesis.
What Do They Represent?
At their deepest level, the 72 Angels and 72 Daemons are aspects of the adept’s being—144 dimensions of consciousness, power, and potential. They are not external beings to summon but inner forces to awaken, integrate, and transmute. For the wizard, magician, and alchemist, they embody:
- The Mind: The Angels are the illuminated intellect—clarity, intuition, divine inspiration. The Daemons are the shadowed mind—instinct, cunning, suppressed desires. Together, they are the 144 facets of thought, from the ethereal to the visceral.
- The Will: The Angels are the directed will—purpose, virtue, alignment with the divine. The Daemons are the raw will—ambition, rebellion, untamed drive. They are the 144 currents of intention, balanced in the adept’s mastery.
- The Soul: The Angels are the soul’s ascent—light, love, transcendence. The Daemons are the soul’s depths—passion, fear, transformation. They are the 144 threads of the spirit, woven into wholeness.
The 144 as a Unity
144 aspects of the wizard’s soul. A sacred geometry, a microcosm of the divine mind reflected in the human. The number 144 (72 + 72) echoes the 144,000 of apocalyptic lore, the 12 squared of cosmic order.
Classical Source Texts
The primary names, order, and Psalm verses of the 72 angels come from:
- Kabbalistic sources (e.g. Sefer Raziel, Zohar, and later grimoires)
- The Book of Exodus (14:19–21), where the 72-letter name of God is derived using a special triadic method.
- Medieval angelology texts and grimoires, especially in Christian Kabbalah (e.g., Cornelius Agrippa, Athanasius Kircher)
Each angel is associated with:
- A name derived from the Shem HaMephorash formula
- A divine virtue or area of influence
- A Psalm verse (traditionally chanted or prayed for invocation)
Perhaps these 72 angels and 72 daemons represent 72 aspects of one’s mind 144 different powers, abilities, awakened dominions To go through them and study them and contact them and go through the process is to awaken them, discover them, integrate them, heal them…. It is a very sophisticated form of psychology and therapy - and so much more…
The 72 Angels and 72 Daemons embody the dual nature of existence—polarities that dance within the wizard’s mind and spirit. The Angels are the virtues, the illuminated faculties, the divine sparks seeking expression. The Daemons are the wounds, the untamed forces, the primal urges demanding mastery. Together, they are 144 powers, aspects, or dimensions of the self, a sacred geometry of transformation.