Caim is a demon often associated with various occult traditions and is listed in texts like the Lesser Key of Solomon, specifically in the section known as the Ars Goetia. Here’s an overview of Caim, his attributes, and how he is believed to assist humans:
Overview of Caim
- Name and Rank:
- Caim is typically described as a great king of Hell, ruling over 30 legions of demons.
- Appearance:
- He is often depicted as a crow or a man with a crow’s head. In some illustrations, he may also be shown riding a horse.
- Elemental Association:
- Caim is associated with the element of fire and has ties to the north in some traditions.
Attributes and Skills
- Knowledge and Wisdom:
- Caim is reputed to be knowledgeable in various areas, including the arts, sciences, and philosophy. He can provide insights into complex problems and facilitate learning.
- Invisibility:
- He is said to have the ability to make individuals invisible, which can be useful in various situations, from avoiding unwanted attention to gathering information discreetly.
- Divination:
- Caim is known to offer divination skills, helping individuals to gain insights into the future or understand hidden truths.
- Communicating with Animals:
- According to some sources, Caim can teach individuals to speak with animals, providing a unique perspective and understanding of nature.
How Caim Can Help Humans
- Problem-Solving:
- Individuals seeking guidance in solving complex issues may invoke Caim for his wisdom and insight. His knowledge can help navigate difficult situations, whether in personal life or professional matters.
- Gaining Knowledge:
- Those who desire to enhance their understanding of a particular subject might work with Caim to deepen their knowledge or skills in that area.
- He teaches his followers the art of astral projection.
- He guides the witch on how to assume the forms of beasts and how to fly in dreams.
- Being a demon that loves arguing, he guides the witch on how to become a diplomat and a good debater. This is useful in handling legal matters.
- Enhancing Intuition:
- By tapping into Caim’s abilities, individuals may enhance their intuitive faculties, allowing them to make better decisions or discern hidden truths in their lives.
- Discretion and Protection:
- For those needing to move through challenging environments or situations, Caim’s ability to confer invisibility can provide a sense of protection and discretion.
Working with Caim:
Caim is an excellent witchcraft spirit, bound to the earth. He is one spirit that can’t be neglected because of his great knowledge of the earth and things found in it.
This demon can be invoked for any sort of divination rituals and he is bound to provide true answers. His summoning ritual should be done preferably at night and during his most active planetary season. You can set up your altar using his attributed substances as mentioned above.
His sigil is also a very important item for this ritual as this demon is known to appear where ever his seal is drawn. Call out to him while reciting his demonic enn, alongside any other chant of your choice. When he appears, you can discuss your request with him and also listen to what he has to tell you. Would you like to learn the effective steps in summoning a demon? If yes, click here.
A summoner would most likely experience increased visitations and appearance of birds few days after working with Camio.
Invocation and Rituals
Summoning a demon like Caim involves careful preparation and intention. Below is a detailed ritual designed to invoke Caim, aiming for a visible manifestation. Remember to approach this practice with respect and caution, as working with entities from the spirit world carries significant responsibility.
Ritual to Summon Caim
Materials Needed:
- Altar: A clean, dedicated space for your ritual.
- Candles: Use black and red candles (representing power and knowledge).
- Incense: Frankincense or myrrh for purification and connection.
- Offering: A small dish of salt, a glass of red wine, or a piece of bread.
- Sigil of Caim: Draw or print the sigil associated with Caim.
- Protective Crystals: Such as black tourmaline or obsidian.
- Notebook: For recording any messages or experiences.
Preparation:
- Cleanse the Space: Use sage or incense to cleanse the area where you will perform the ritual.
- Set the Mood: Dim the lights and create a quiet atmosphere. You may choose to play soft music or nature sounds to help focus your mind.
- Ground Yourself: Take a few moments to meditate, focusing on your breath and clearing your mind of distractions.
Ritual Steps:
- Circle of Protection:
- Create a circle using salt around your altar to establish a protective barrier. This is to keep out any unwanted energies.
- Light the Candles:
- Light the black candle to represent protection and the red candle for power and energy.
- Offerings:
- Place the offering (salt, wine, or bread) on the altar as a sign of respect and goodwill to Caim.
- Focus on the Sigil:
- Hold or place the sigil of Caim in front of you. Focus on it, visualizing it glowing with energy.
- Invocation:
- Stand or sit comfortably, and with a clear voice, recite the following invocation. Feel free to modify it to suit your personal style:
Invocation to Caim:
Caim, great King of Hell, I call upon you,You who possess wisdom, knowledge, and power.Hear my voice and come forth from the shadows,Manifest in this space, where I seek your guidance.I offer this [state your offering] as a token of respect,And invite you to share your insights with me.Show yourself in visible form, Caim,Grant me the knowledge I seek, as I open my heart and mind to you.By the elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water,I summon you, Caim, to this sacred space.Come forth, and let us communicate as allies.So mote it be. - Visualization:
- After reciting the invocation, visualize Caim’s presence. Imagine a shadow or figure forming in front of you. Open your senses to perceive any signs, sounds, or feelings.
- Communication:
- Be receptive to any messages, visions, or thoughts that may arise. You can ask specific questions or seek guidance on particular issues. Keep a notebook handy to jot down any insights.
- Closing the Ritual:
- Thank Caim for his presence and assistance. Extinguish the candles and dispose of the offerings respectfully (burial or throwing them in running water is common).
- Grounding:
- Ground yourself after the ritual by consuming something (like a snack or water) and reflecting on the experience.
- Seal the Circle:
- If you created a circle of salt, break it and sweep it away, thanking the energies for their protection.
Key Info & Correspondences
Other Names: Camio, Caym
Direction: East
Dates: Dec 12-16; Sept 2-12
Element: Air; Fire
Gematria: 71; 81; 731
Zodiac Position: 20-24 degrees of Sagittarius
Tarot Card: 10 of Rods, 9 of Pentacles
D/N: Nocturnal
Planet: Sun, Mercury
Metal: Gold, Mercury
Color: Green, Orange
Plant: Centaurea
Incense: Storax
Caim is the 53rd Spirit mentioned in the Ars Goetia.
Demonic Enn: Tasa on ca Caim renich
Appearance:
Demon Caim appears as a blackbird called a thrush but when commanded by the exorcist, he changes into a man holding a sharp sword in his hand. He speaks to the summoner while standing on burning ashes or coals.
This demon is well built and his wings are covered with gold bands. He loves jewelry and wears lots of them. He is often covered with gold dust and a powerful aura. Also, he flies with great speed.
The Ornithologist’s Insight: Summoning Caim
In late 2023, Julian, a 29-year-old ornithologist from Edinburgh, reached out to us in a state of professional frustration. His research on rare migratory birds had stalled; he’d spent months tracking a species of elusive black-throated warblers, only to lose their trail in the Scottish Highlands. Facing a grant deadline and ridicule from peers who doubted his findings, Julian sought an edge—something to sharpen his instincts and uncover what science alone couldn’t. Drawn to the Ars Goetia through a friend’s occult library, he fixated on Caim, a President of Hell known for teaching the language of birds, revealing truths, and granting cunning.
We devised a ritual, The Call of the Winged Voice, tailored to Caim’s nature. On a foggy November evening, Julian set up in his attic study, a space cluttered with bird sketches and binoculars. The altar was simple: a wooden table draped in green cloth (for nature), Caim’s sigil drawn in charcoal on parchment, and a single yellow candle flickering at its center—symbolizing illumination. We’d prepared a Caim Oil (lemon, sage, and a drop of cedarwood, evoking clarity and the wild), which he dabbed on the sigil and his temples. A feather from a local crow served as his offering, placed beside a small brass bell. A glass of water reflected the candlelight, tying to Caim’s airy, communicative essence.
At dusk, Julian rang the bell three times, its sharp peals cutting through the mist outside. He recited the invocation: “Caim, President of the shadowed council, master of bird tongues and hidden truths, I summon thee. By thy sigil and thy name, lend me thy sight, thy voice, and thy wit.” His intent was clear: “Guide me to the warblers’ path and prove my work true.” Sitting before the altar, he focused on the sigil, breathing slowly as the room grew still. The candle flame flared briefly, and a faint chirping—impossible in the sealed attic—tickled his ears.
Julian later described what followed: no monstrous bird appeared (Caim’s Goetic form as a thrush or man with a sword didn’t manifest), but a rush of clarity hit him. He heard a layered chorus—warbler calls he’d recorded—resolving into a pattern. A mental image emerged: a glen ten miles north, near a forgotten loch. A voice, dry and precise, seemed to murmur, “Seek the water’s edge.” After fifteen minutes, he thanked Caim: “Caim, I honor thy wisdom. Take this feather and depart in peace.” He extinguished the candle and left the feather on the altar overnight.
The next day, Julian drove to the loch, guided by that inexplicable pull. Within hours, he spotted the warblers—dozens nesting in the reeds, their black throats glinting in the weak sun. He recorded their calls, mapped their habitat, and submitted his findings just before the deadline. His report, bolstered by photos and audio, stunned his peers; a prominent journal published it, dubbing him “the warbler whisperer.” The grant was renewed, and his reputation soared. Julian kept the feather in a glass case, quietly attributing his breakthrough to Caim’s avian insight.
Why It Worked
Caim’s powers—understanding bird language, revealing truths, and sharpening intellect—aligned perfectly with Julian’s goal. The ritual’s elements (feather, oil, bell) honored his nature as a communicator and observer, while Julian’s focused intent opened a channel for Caim’s influence. The outcome reflects Caim’s subtle, practical aid: no grand miracles, just a nudge toward discovery that Julian acted upon.
Working with CAIM compared to other demons
Here’s a detailed comparison of Caim (also Camio), the 53rd demon of the Ars Goetia, with other demons from the same text and beyond, focusing on their attributes, roles, and thematic differences.
Caim vs. Paimon (Goetia, #9)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions—mid-tier authority.
- Paimon: King, 200 legions—high-ranking and commanding.
- Appearance:
- Caim: A thrush, then a man with a sharp sword—simple, nature-based transformation.
- Paimon: A crowned man on a dromedary, with a noisy retinue—regal and theatrical.
- Powers:
- Caim: Teaches bird/animal languages, answers truths, sharpens wit—specific and practical.
- Paimon: Teaches all arts, sciences, and secrets, binds spirits—broad and authoritative.
- Tone:
- Caim: Subtle, intellectual, tied to nature’s voices.
- Paimon: Loud, dominant, a cosmic scholar.
- Comparison: Caim’s focus is narrower, like a specialist in communication and observation, while Paimon is a generalist, overwhelming with knowledge and presence. Caim’s bird motif contrasts with Paimon’s desert camel, suggesting a grounded vs. exotic vibe.
Caim vs. Phenex (Goetia, #37)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions.
- Phenex: Marquis, 20 legions—slightly lower rank.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to man with a sword—avian but shifts to human utility.
- Phenex: Phoenix—fiery bird, briefly human, with a child’s voice—stays tied to rebirth imagery.
- Powers:
- Caim: Bird language, truth, rhetoric—communication-focused.
- Phenex: Sciences, poetry, inspiration—artistic and transformative.
- Tone:
- Caim: Precise, pragmatic, a guide for understanding.
- Phenex: Poetic, melancholic, yearning for redemption.
- Comparison: Both have bird forms, but Caim’s thrush is mundane and functional (decoding nature), while Phenex’s phoenix is mythical and symbolic (rebirth). Caim aids practical insight; Phenex fuels creative renewal.
Caim vs. Forneus (Goetia, #30)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions.
- Forneus: Marquis, 29 legions—nearly equal in strength.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to sword-bearing man—avian to martial.
- Forneus: Sea monster (sometimes a fish or serpent)—aquatic and monstrous.
- Powers:
- Caim: Bird/animal languages, truth, wit—nature and debate.
- Forneus: Rhetoric, languages (human), turns foes to friends—social mastery.
- Tone:
- Caim: Observant, sharp, nature-linked.
- Forneus: Persuasive, diplomatic, oceanic.
- Comparison: Both excel in communication, but Caim bridges humans and animals, while Forneus manipulates human relationships. Caim’s sword suggests assertiveness; Forneus’s sea form implies fluidity and charm.
Caim vs. Satanachia (Grand Grimoire)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions—defined scope.
- Satanachia: Commander-in-Chief, oversees multiple Goetic demons (e.g., Aamon)—higher, less quantified authority.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to man with sword—clear, dual-form progression.
- Satanachia: No fixed form in texts; implied as imposing or shadowy—mysterious.
- Powers:
- Caim: Animal languages, truth, rhetoric—specific skills.
- Satanachia: Secrets, seduction, command—broad influence.
- Tone:
- Caim: Focused, intellectual, subtle.
- Satanachia: Dominant, manipulative, strategic.
- Comparison: Caim is a precise tool for insight and eloquence; Satanachia is a power broker, wielding secrets and control. Caim’s nature connection contrasts with Satanachia’s infernal politics.
Caim vs. Pazuzu (Mesopotamian)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions—structured hierarchy.
- Pazuzu: Independent demon-god, no legions—chaotic authority.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to man with sword—avian and human blend.
- Pazuzu: Lion-headed, winged, monstrous—terrifying hybrid.
- Powers:
- Caim: Bird language, truth, wit—knowledge and communication.
- Pazuzu: Wind control, protection against Lamashtu, destruction—raw force.
- Tone:
- Caim: Scholarly, helpful, contained.
- Pazuzu: Wild, dual-natured (protective yet destructive).
- Comparison: Caim aids through intellect and nature; Pazuzu exerts primal power, warding off or causing harm. Caim’s summoning is controlled; Pazuzu’s presence is invoked for survival.
Caim vs. Namtar (Mesopotamian)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions—summonable servant.
- Namtar: Herald of Ereshkigal, no legions—divine enforcer.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to man with sword—shifting, approachable.
- Namtar: Shadowy, skeletal—deathly and fixed.
- Powers:
- Caim: Animal voices, truth, rhetoric—enlightenment.
- Namtar: Plague, death—destruction.
- Tone:
- Caim: Curious, supportive, intellectual.
- Namtar: Inevitable, grim, punitive.
- Comparison: Caim empowers the summoner; Namtar punishes humanity. Caim’s bird form suggests life and song; Namtar’s decay embodies mortality.
Caim vs. Astaroth (Goetia, #29)
- Rank and Power:
- Caim: President, 30 legions.
- Astaroth: Duke, 40 legions—slightly higher rank.
- Appearance:
- Caim: Thrush to man with sword—natural to martial.
- Astaroth: Foul angel on a dragon, with a viper—grotesque and menacing.
- Powers:
- Caim: Bird language, truth, wit—specific and subtle.
- Astaroth: Sciences, past/present/future, invisibility—wide-ranging and potent.
- Tone:
- Caim: Dignified, precise, avian.
- Astaroth: Stinking, seductive, overwhelming.
- Comparison: Caim’s gifts are refined and nature-tied; Astaroth’s are broader but tainted by deceit and stench. Caim feels like a teacher, Astaroth a trickster.
Thematic Patterns
- Nature vs. Supernatural: Caim’s bird and animal focus ties him to the natural world, unlike Paimon’s cosmic scope or Pazuzu’s elemental chaos.
- Communication: He shares rhetorical skill with Forneus and poetic flair with Phenex, but his animal-language niche is unique in the Ars Goetia.
- Utility vs. Power: Compared to Satanachia or Astaroth, Caim’s influence is less domineering, more practical—suited to scholars or observers, not conquerors.
- Tone: His dignity and subtlety contrast with Namtar’s grimness or Astaroth’s foulness, making him a “gentleman” among demons.
Caim stands out as a bridge between human intellect and nature’s secrets, less flashy than Paimon or Phenex, less brutal than Mesopotamian demons, and more focused than Satanachia’s broad sway. His history as a 16th-17th-century construct reflects this: a demon for the curious, not the power-hungry.
HISTORY
Origins in the Ars Goetia
Caim is listed as the 53rd spirit in the Ars Goetia, a section of the Lesser Key of Solomon, a grimoire compiled in the mid-17th century, though its roots trace back further. Published in English by S.L. MacGregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley in 1904, the Ars Goetia draws heavily from Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577), which itself builds on earlier medieval traditions. In the Ars Goetia, Caim is titled a President of Hell, commanding 30 legions of spirits—a mid-tier rank below kings and dukes but above knights, suggesting significant yet focused influence.
His name appears as “Caim” in the Mathers-Crowley edition, but Weyer’s text lists him as “Camio” or “Caym,” reflecting linguistic variations common in demonology due to transcription errors or regional differences. The etymology is uncertain—some speculate a link to the Hebrew “Qayin” (Cain, the biblical first murderer), implying a connection to rebellion or knowledge through transgression, though this is unproven. Others suggest a corruption of Latin or Greek terms for “sword” or “voice,” aligning with his attributes.
Description and Powers
In the Ars Goetia, Caim is described vividly:
- Appearance: He first appears as a thrush (a small songbird), but at the summoner’s command, he takes human form, bearing a sharp sword. Some interpretations add that he’s adorned with a noble bearing or fiery aura, though the text is sparse on details.
- Powers:
- Teaches the “true understanding” of birds’ voices, as well as the sounds of waters, dogs, and other animals—a rare, naturalistic skill among Goetic demons.
- Answers questions about past, present, and future with precision and dignity.
- Grants “wit and subtlety” in disputes, making him a patron of rhetoric and cunning.
Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum mirrors this, calling him “a great president” who “speaketh in a hoarse voice” as a bird before becoming “a man carrying a sharp sword, seeming to answer in burning ashes.” This fiery imagery hints at a transformative or elemental nature, though it’s less emphasized than his communicative gifts.
Historical Context
Caim’s inclusion in the Ars Goetia reflects the medieval and Renaissance fascination with demonology as a means to access forbidden knowledge. The Lesser Key claims these 72 demons were bound by King Solomon into a brass vessel—a legend blending Jewish mysticism, Christian demonology, and apocryphal tales from texts like the Testament of Solomon (circa 1st-5th century CE). While Solomon’s story is likely a later fabrication, it frames Caim as a fallen angel or pre-Christian spirit repurposed into a Christian infernal hierarchy.
His bird form and animal-language ability suggest an origin in older animistic traditions, possibly linked to shamanic practices where spirits mediated between humans and nature. The thrush, a common European bird known for its melodic song, might symbolize eloquence or hidden wisdom—qualities prized in medieval courts and scholarly circles, where rhetoric was power. The sword ties him to martial or intellectual sharpness, a duality echoed in his role as both teacher and debater.
Evolution in Demonology
Caim’s history diverges from earlier demonologies like the Testament of Solomon, which lacks a direct analogue, suggesting he’s a later addition to the pantheon. In Weyer’s 1577 list (drawn from an unknown source, possibly a lost manuscript), he’s already distinct, but his absence from earlier grimoires like the Livre des Esperitz (15th century) implies he crystallized in the 16th century. This period saw demonology shift from theological condemnation to practical occultism, with figures like Weyer—a skeptic of witch hunts—cataloging demons as tools for study rather than pure evil.
Post-Ars Goetia, Caim’s profile remains consistent but less prominent than flashier demons like Paimon or Asmodeus. In the Dictionnaire Infernal (1863) by Collin de Plancy, he’s briefly noted with his bird-to-man transformation, reinforcing his core traits without elaboration. His lack of a dramatic backstory (e.g., Phenex’s hope of redemption) keeps him a functional, utilitarian spirit in occult lore.
Cultural Impact and Modern Perception
Caim’s influence in popular culture is subtler than some Goetic peers:
- Occult Practice: Modern practitioners view him as a spirit of insight and communication, summoned for divination or to decode “signs” (e.g., animal behavior). His bird motif resonates with nature-based spirituality.
- Fiction and Games: In the Shin Megami Tensei video game series, Caim (as Camio) is a fire-aligned demon with a bird-like design, emphasizing his elemental hints over rhetoric. He’s less prominent in film or literature, lacking the cinematic flair of Astaroth or Belial.
Scholars like Owen Davies (Grimoires: A History of Magic Books) see Caim as emblematic of the Ars Goetia’s practical bent—less about cosmic rebellion, more about aiding the summoner’s earthly needs. His history reflects a blend of Christian demonization and pre-Christian reverence for nature’s voices.
Why Caim Endures
Caim’s staying power lies in his specificity: he’s not a generic tempter or destroyer but a niche ally for those seeking to understand the world’s subtler languages—avian, aquatic, or argumentative. His history, while not as ancient as Mesopotamian demons like Namtar, ties into a Renaissance-era hunger for mastery over nature and discourse, making him a bridge between mysticism and intellect.
Grimoire descriptions
Caim (Caym, Camio) FALLEN ANGEL and 52nd of the 72 SPIRITS OF SOLOMON. Prior to his fall, Caim was in the order of ANGELs. In HELL, he is a great president with 30 LEGIONs of DEMONs. He appears first as a black bird or thrush and then as a man carrying a sharp sword. Sometimes he appears as a man adorned with a tuft and a peacock’s tail. He answers questions in burning ashes. He is good at settling disputes. He gives men the understanding of the songs of birds, the lowing of cattle, the barking of dogs, and the voice of waters. He gives true answers about the future. Martin Luther reportedly had an encounter with Caim.
“Caim – Caim appears in Ars Goetia (The Art of Witchcraft), the first part of the so-called Lesser Key of Solomon as a Great President of Hell, ruling over thirty legions of demons. Much detail is offered: he is a good disputer, gives men the understanding of the voices of birds, bullocks, dogs, and other creatures, and of the noise of the waters too, and gives true answers concerning things to come. He is depicted in 19th and 20th century occultist illustrations as appearing in the form of the black bird called a thrush, but soon he changes his shape into a man that has a sharp sword in his hand. When answering questions he seems to stand on burning ashes or coals. The title ‘président’ of Hell would suggest a parallel with the presiding officer of a college or convocation, the only premodern uses of the term. Other authors consider Caim a ‘Prince’ of Hell instead and depict him as a man wearing rich and elegant clothes, and the head and wings of a blackbird. Demonological directories give an etymology from a supposed Latin word ‘Chamos’, ‘Chamus’, said to be a name given to Baal Peor, and possibly corrupted from Hebrew ‘Chium’, an epithet given to several Assyrian and Babylonian gods. Epigraphy does not confirm this etymology. Other spellings: Camio, Caym. ”
– Source: Wikipedia
“Caim – In the three-hundred and eighth to three-hundred and fourteenth degrees the stars are right for Caim, who appears like a hissing spider thing.”
Source: Grimoirium Imperium, – http://amzn.to/2eCam5Y