Gediel, King of the South and by West

Gediel is one of the thirty-one spirits of King Solomon mentioned within the Ars Theurgia. He is the sixth spirit in order and the second in command under Caspiel in the South. Gediel has a total of forty servitors half of whom are nocturnal while the other half are diurnal. He appears in the Ars Theurgia alongside sixteen of his servitors – eight are nocturnal while the remnant eight are diurnal. His servitors respectfully bend to his will making things easier for mediums of all levels of experience. Their respective seals are also provided for the purposes of practice.

His lofty ranking is perhaps indicative of an underlying potency although his servitors are described as being loving and willing to do the bidding of the conjuror. The identities of his eight diurnal servitors are Coliel, Naras, Sabas, Assaba, Sariel, Ranciel, Mashel, and Bariel. The eight nocturnal servitors are Reciel, Sadiel, Agra, Anael, Aroan, Cirecas, Aglas, and Vriel. Each of these servitors have unspecified numbers of lesser demons apiece serving under their command.

Gediel has dominion over the south-western direction given his ranking as the second spirit serving under Caspiel. As an aerial demon, he has strong attachments to the element of air requiring an airy location for any summoning rituals. It is thought that aerial spirits need to fly freely within spaces during rituals. Gediel is endowed with divine magical abilities given his past as an angel. There are otherwise no further descriptions of this demon within the Ars Theurgia thereby making for a dearth in knowledge regarding him.

The first mentions of this demon within recorded history occurred in the 1499 publication of the Steganographia by Johannes Trithemius. It is from this publication that much of the second book of Lemegeton is based on. The process of invoking Gediel is similar to that used in the summoning of other high ranking aerial demons as it involves the use of a glass receptacle or a crystal stone for binding the demon. The willingness and obedience of his servitors is perhaps indicative of benevolence and this implies that he can be summoned even by relatively inexperienced mediums.

History

Gediel is a fallen angel like the other aerial spirits of King Solomon who are mentioned within the second book of Lemegeton. His entry in the Ars Theurgia borrows heavily from the 1499 Steganographia by Johannes Trithemius. This 1499 publication makes the first time which Gediel is mentioned within recorded history.

There are no associations of this demon with Graeco-Roman mythologies of antiquity with his ties to King Solomon forming the only links with ancient Middle Eastern accounts. As a fallen angel however, it is plausible that he was an olden pagan god who was only cast as a demon with the advent of Christianity during the Middle Ages.

Description

Rank: King of the South West / Second Spirit under Caspiel in the South

Element: Air

Gender: Male

Direction: South / West

Color: Black

Incense: Sandalwood

Appearance

There are no mentions of Gediel’s appearance within the Ars Theurgia despite the descriptions of his servitors as being obedient and willing towards the conjuror. The medium therefore has to feel the demonic presence as opposed to perceiving Gediel.

The “Demonic Enns” of Gediel

Veni, veni, o comitis Gediel

Liftoach Pandemonium, et germinet Gediel

The sigil of Gediel

Similar demons to Gediel

• Padiel
• Barmiel
• Maseriel
• Asyriel
• Camuel

Attributes of Gediel

• Gediel is described as the sixth spirit in order and the second under the command of Caspiel in the South. He is specifically associated with the South-Western direction.
• He has forty lesser spirits serving under his command. Twenty serve him the night while the other twenty provide servitude in the day. The implication here is that Gediel is both a nocturnal and diurnal entity.
• His servitors are described as being very willing, loving, and courteous within the Ars Theurgia. This makes Gediel a tempting prospect for inexperienced conjurors as the risk of punitive malevolence appears to be low.
• The ritual for summoning this demon is akin to that used in invoking other similarly high ranking aerial demons. It involves the use of a glass receptacle or a crystal stone.
• Despite the willingness and obedience of his servitors which is implicit of benevolence, it is still necessary to take care when dealing with demonic entities and to accord them respect.

When to summon Gediel

Like the other fallen angels, Gediel is bestowed with various divine magical abilities which the conjuror can use to further their cause. The demon can be called forth to provide insight on matters pertaining to magic and the spiritual world as his counsel should place the conjuror at a discernible advantage.

Items Required:

• Four inch diameter crystal stone / Glass receptacle
• The sigil of the demon worn on the chest
• Girdle tied around the waist of the conjuror
• Table of Solomon designed in the artistic model shown

Ritual Time:  The demon is both diurnal and nocturnal and can thus be summoned both in the day and night. He has two distinct sets of servitors who are called forth either in the day or night respectively.

Precautions:

• This demon is very potent given his large contingent of servitors. It is therefore necessary to accord him the utmost respect during rituals although he can be invoked by relatively inexperienced conjurors.
• The conjuror should take care to protect themselves from otherworldly energies by mentally visualizing a protection circle, opening, and entering it.
• It is also important to remember to use demonic powers with reservation to prevent building over-reliance.

Steps:

• The conjuror should prepare themselves for the ritual through engaging in meditation.
• The strong attachment of Gediel to the element of air requires that the ritual is conducted in an airy place.
• The conjuror must wear the sigil of the demon and tie a girdle on their chest and around their waist respectively.
• The conjuror should hum the following conjuration prayer severally until the demon manifests within the crystal stone or glass receptacle: “Wee conjure thee O thou mighty & potent prince Gediel, who ruleth as King in the South & by West, We Invoke constraine comand.”
• Once the demonic presence is felt, the conjuror should respectfully state their wishes or queries prior to the dismissal of Gediel and then wrapping up the ritual.

Sources

http://www.esotericarchives.com/solomon/theurgia.htm