What are servitors?
Firstly, a servitor is a magical construct, created with specific intent. This definition could apply to many things; sigils, art, thought forms, writing, words, thoughts, memes and so on. All of these could also be considered servitors, to some extent.
Servitors can vary so widely in form, function, and ability, that this definition is the lowest common denominator. In my experience, it does not really matter which model is used to define or create the servitor; good results can be gained with any of them. The only implication as far as I see is how the model you subscribe to influences the creation, action, and maintenance of the servitor.
The only implication as far as I see is how the model you subscribe to influences the creation, action, and maintenance of the servitor. I will provide you several models of servitor creation below. Firstly, lets look at a popular question…..
The difference between a sigil and a servitor
The difference is usually in the nature of the task looking to be completed.
A sigil will generally serve to perform a single function, a once off.
A servitor may be created by a magician who desires
1 – Longer duration of effect
2 – A more complex action; such as when a specific event occurs, to respond in a particular way. For example, a servitor that wakes you up at 7 in the morning, or a servitor that will remind you to get bread and milk from the shops.
3 – Dealing with an unknown variable, such as gathering information or influencing something that you are not aware of but meets the conditions set. For example: protecting your house from intruders while you are not there, or assisting in dreams when you are unconscious.
4- When some kind of intelligence and discernment is needed; such as detecting subtle energies, not attacking every uninvited person who comes to your house, keeping things static or in a particular range, as opposed to just increasing or decreasing (which a sigil would be more suited for)
5- Situations with multiple components, such as getting a good job (location, transport, salary, benefits, nice boss, etc) although a sigil would likely be effective, I feel that a servitor would handle it with more finesse and accuracy. Generally the servitor will be created with just enough sentience and intelligence and agency to complete its task.
In my experience, the more emotionally charged and focused the intent for the servitor is the less intelligent and discerning it will be.
Models of understanding servitors
There are different ideas about what servitors are, depending mostly on the model that the practitioner uses:
Part of self – This model holds that the servitor is an extension of the creator. The servitor may become self-aware to some extent, and self-sufficient, but is ultimately the representation or expression of a particular part of the creator’s subconscious mind.
Programmed energy – The idea that the servitor is an energetic construct that has been programmed for a particular purpose. It is still essentially a part of the magician, but the focus is less on the subconscious and more on energy.
Created – This model holds that servitors are a separate thing that has been created by the magician. This includes thought forms and psychically or emotionally constructed servitors.
Defined – This idea is that the servitor is defined by the magician, shaped out of magic and khaos. The intent is more aligned on the purpose and function of an intended goal, leaving the servitor to fill in the negative space created. Although this may sound similar to the previous definitions, practically it is a very different thing, and perhaps a little bit more difficult.
Memes – This is another slightly more advanced model, which draws a parallel between meme theory and servitors. Memes can fit well the definition of servitors, and function in a very similar way. Note that “memes” here refers to Dawkins’ definition: “an idea, behaviour, or style that spreads from person to person within a culture”. A meme acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols, or practices that can be transmitted from one mind to another through writing, speech, gestures, rituals, or other imitable phenomena with a mimicked theme.
Supporters of the concept regard memes as cultural analogs to genes in that they self- replicate, mutate, and respond to selective pressures.”
Doesn’t matter – This is a model that takes no sides and chooses not to bother with strictly defining the servitor, what it is, and how it works. It can hold that the model chosen bears no real impact on the servitor, and as long as it works, that’s fine. The understanding of the nature of the servitor is irrelevant to the use and creation of them.
A large benefit to using servitors is that the servitor is considered external to us. This allows us to let go of it and the result, which removes conscious mind interference. It is a magical thing and it is “out there” which makes out own doubt, distraction, interference and second-guessing moot, because these are internal processes and the servitor is separate from that.
Unconscious creation
Be aware also that servitors can be created unconsciously, and without conscious intent. This can happen as thought forms or emotional constructs. Anyone, even those untrained in magic can do so.
Obsession and extreme emotional states, especially coupled with an altered perspective or unstable cognitive function can do this. This can happen when we anthropomorphize a particular thing and consider it external to ourselves.
This can be useful to help define and move away from a particular influence, such as depression or fear or procrastination. We can then banish or battle or dismiss this thing. But it should be used cautiously, as this could potentially make it more difficult to resolve the issue, if the person tends towards a powerless or victim stance.
Also, very often pushing against a thing can make it larger, more defined and a stronger mental construct. This should be handled with caution. There is an idea that places can become haunted by retaining the strong emotions of the people who were there. Violence, death, pain and such seem to be “heavier” and denser and attach more easily to physical spaces.
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