rooted in the sacred geometry of creation, a reflection of the 72 quinances (5-degree segments) of the zodiac, the 72 names of God,
144: Shem Angels & Goetic Daemons
72 – The Shem HaMephorash
72 Divine & Infernal Spirits
- The 72 Names of God & the 72 Goetic Spirits.
- The ultimate balance between light and dark.
Stage in the Journey: Mastery of the full spectrum of existence.
The 72 Names of God
"This rare cut shows the name of God in seventy two languages inscribed upon the petals of a symbolic sunflower. Above the circle are the seventy-two powers of God according to the Hebrew Kabbalah. Below are two trees, that on the left bearing the symbols of the planets and that on the right the signs of the zodiac and the names of the tribes of Israel. The esoteric doctrines of the Kabbalah are in alignment with the secret teachings of all the schools of philosophy, but the method by which its secrets are revealed to the wise and concealed from the ignorant is most unusual."
- The Shemhamphorash or the 72 Names of God by Athanasius Kircher, 1654.
”In the Zohar (155 BC), the Hebrew Book of Splendour, it is said that God sent Archangel Raziel (Ratziel) with a book for Adam. This book was about the holy mysteries of the highest nature, the Holy wisdom of the 72 kinds of knowledge, virtue and power. In the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, these virtues were structured in nine groups of eight Angels, which are ruled over by its own Archangel. It is aid that this information concerning the rituals of the 72 Angels which originally came to light from a 12th Century manuscript, discovered in Spain. Which indicated that there are 72 Angels which guide humanity. But to date I have not been able to identify this particular manuscript by name. According to this manuscript the Angels sacred task is to imbue us with specific qualities of the Divine to be expressed through our unique human individuation. At the time of your birth three angels are allocated to each of us. Each angel has a sacred Hebrew name expressed in the context of sound syllables which accord and emanate specific angelic energies. Each of the 72 angelic energies has their own name, quality and function as well as being governed by particular days and times, giving personal relevance to each person that works with them. The 72 Angelic names are derived from Exodus 14.19-21, as previously mentioned. These three verses narrate the escape of the Children of Israel from Pharaoh's armies by Hashemas parting of the Red Sea. As great judgment is executed upon Pharoah and his armies, these names are attributed to Gevurah and are therefore called Gevurot.”
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.
72 Angels & Daemons
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.