“…and they taught them charms and enchantments, and the cutting of roots, and made them acquainted with plants…And Azazel taught men to make swords, and knives, and shields, and breastplates, and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them, and bracelets, and ornaments, and the use of antimony, and the beautifying of the eyelids, and all kinds of costly stones, and all coloring tinctures…Semjaza taught enchantments, and root-cuttings, ‘Armaros the resolving of enchantments, Baraqijal (taught) astrology, Kokabel the constellations, Ezeqeel the knowledge of the clouds, Araqiel the signs of the earth, Shamsiel the signs of the sun, and Sariel the course of the moon.”

Excerpts from the Book of Enoch

Shekhinah שְׁכִינָה

• The indwelling presence of the divine

El Shaddai (אֵל שַׁדַּי)

• From the root word ‘shad’ (שד) which means breast, compounded/multiplied in the name Shaddai. El Shaddai is often connected with blessings, abundance, fertility. Sometimes referred to as the Many Breasted One.
• From the Akkadian language for ‘shadû’ meaning mountain or shaddā`û or shaddû`a meaning mountain-dweller.

Tohu vaVohu (תֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ)

• The Void. Depth. Oneness. No thing. Time before time. And space before space. Older than old. The most ancient before anything existed

Asherah

• Tree and nature goddess

Other Spirits

Serpents: Ancient spirits of nature. Spirits of the earth, wisdom, healing (transformation), power, medicine, medicinal and poisonous plants, and tricksters. Nehushtan is the name of a bronze/copper snake wrapped around a pole described in Numbers.

Angels: Androgynous spirits of the Jewish tradition. Messengers, healers, protectors, teachers. Connected with the divine/unseen spirit realms. Can be invoked for charging amulets, charms, incantations, and more. The ‘fallen’ angels are described in the non-canonical book of Enoch as spirits who were said to have taught humans magic, healing, divination, and plant knowledge:

“The angels taught the daughters of men incantations, exorcisms, and the cutting of roots, and revealed to them healing plants.”

Book of Enoch 9:7

Spirits (ruach) of the Directions + Crossroads: Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel of the four directions and elements air, fire, earth, and water or briyah, atzilut, assiyah, and yetzirah + above and below and center.

Lilith: Demon or Sheyd of the night. In traditional witchcraft, she is sometimes encountered as a goddess of witches. In the Jewish tradition, rituals and magic are generally done to protect against Lilith. She has been reclaimed by feminists as an archetype of sovereignty and empowerment and she is interpreted by modern astrologers through this lens.

The Ancestors: Spirits of lineage of blood, spirit, or both. They exist outside of material space/time, therefore, they can be of the past or future descendants. Called on for their merit, guidance, healing, and blessings.

Sheydim: Shades or demon spirits from the Jewish tradition. Spirits of the edges and in-between spaces. Shapeshifters. Created at twilight on the 6th day of creation just before Shabbat. They are morally ambiguous, likened to the Jinn. They can cause upset to humans but also support magical workings and aid in protection rites. The Talmud describes them as:

“In three ways they are like ministering angels: They have wings like ministering angels, and they fly from one end of the world to the other like ministering angels, and they know what will be in the future like ministering angels. And in three ways they are similar to humans: They eat and drink like humans; they multiply like humans, and they die like humans.” 

Babylonian Talmud Hagigah 16a

Plant Spirits: Plant spirits (which may be like angels or faery) are my most important guides, teachers, and spirit allies, especially the ‘poisonous’ plants. More about plant spirits, here.

Bee Spirits: Connection to the Faery, seeds, flowers, pollination, plants, nectar, honey, offerings, land spirits, mead, healing, apples + pomegranates, cooperation, community, dance + rhythm, venom/poison, trance and altered states. Swarming, hosting, buzzing, defense, and offense. Herbalism, medicine, salves, and healing. Honey is often used in Jewish rituals for health, hope, sweetening, celebration, thanksgiving, and offering.

Butterfly Spirits: Spirits encountered in work with the dead, mediumship, mystical states, dreams, and spirit travel. Movement and migration. Currents of nature, regeneration, and pollination. Expressions of color, brightness, beauty, sensitivity, and daytime. Psychic. Aether or spirit element. Mystery. The ephemeral.