THE GOETIC DEMON OF 'HEREDITARY'

WARNING! DESCRIPTIONS OF BLACK MAGIC SYMBOLS AND SPELLS AHEAD!

Monsters, as you know, come in all forms and guises, from human, to supernatural, and including those straight from Hell itself. In the case of Ari Aster's film, HEREDITARY, the monster comes as a demon from the world of diabolical spirits.

In the last act, we see that a secret cult worships and calls upon King Paimon, a spirit from the first section of a book of incantations called Ars Goetia, or the Goetic Craft. The Goetia (Go-et-tia) is a component of a larger compilation of magical texts from the mid-17th Century called The Lesser Key of Solomon (aka Lemegeton Clavicula Salomonis or Lemegeton). It is purported to be one of the most potent collection of spells and summonings of all the grimoires (grammar or language found in medieval books of magic). Indeed, it was thought to be essential enough to be translated into English by two of the most influential occultists of the magical renaissance of the 1890's, S.L. Macgregor Mathers and Aleister Crowley (later plagiarized by Lauron William de Laurance, a popularizer of occult books and metaphysical thought in the early 20th Century). Mathers is primarily known for his translations of occult texts and as one of the founders of the legendary Order of the Golden Dawn. Crowley usually needs no introduction, as he was Britain's most notorious magician (or magickan, in his parlance), earning a moniker in the press as "The Wickedest Man in the World".

King Paimon figure from the film, HEREDITARY.

In the Lesser Key, Paimon is the ninth in the order of 72 spirits and is descibed thus:

"The Ninth Spirit in this Order is Paimon, a Great King, and very obedient unto LUCIFER. He appeareth in the form of a Man sitting upon a Dromedary with a Crown most glorious upon his head. There goeth before him also an Host of Spirits, like Men with Trumpets and well sounding Cymbals, and all other sorts of Musical Instruments. He hath a great Voice, and roareth at his first coming, and his speech is such that the Magician cannot well understand unless he can compel him. This Spirit can teach all Arts and Sciences, and other secret things. He can discover unto thee what the Earth is, and what holdeth it up in the Waters; and what Mind is, and where it is; or any other thing thou mayest desire to know. He giveth Dignity, and confirmeth the same. He bindeth or maketh any man subject unto the Magician if he so desire it. He giveth good Familiars, and such as can teach all Arts. He is to be observed towards the West. He is of the Order of Dominations.13 He hath under him 200 Legions of Spirits, and part of them are of the Order of Angels, and the other part of Potentates. Now if thou callest this Spirit Paimon alone, thou must make him some offering; and there will attend him two Kings called LABAL and ABALI , and also other Spirits who be of the Order of Potentates in his Host, and 25 Legions. And those Spirits which be subject unto them are not always with them unless the Magician do compel them. His Character is this which must be worn as a Lamen before thee, etc."

Key to the demon's appropriation in HEREDITARY can be found in the passage, "thou must make him some offering". The type of offering is not clearly specified early on, but we know how it is ultimately fulfilled in the movie. Make no mistake, although Paimon is described as a "Great King", he is no benevolent giver of gifts; he and the other listed spirits in the Goetia are identified as part of a "Book of Evil Spirits", so it is not hard to imagine the true nature of these beings.

King Paimon's Seal from The Lesser Key of Solomon.

King Paimon is the 22nd Spirit listed in Johann Weyer's Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1563) and his description is used, albeit in a more succinct narrative, in the Goetia:

"Paimon is more obedient in Lucifer than other kings are. Lucifer is heere to be understood he that was drowned in the depth of his knowledge: he would needs be like God, and for his arrogancie was throwne out into destruction, of whome it is said; Everie pretious stone is thy covering (Ezech. 88 [28.13].). Paimon is constrained by divine vertue to stand before the exorcist; where he putteth on the likenesse of a man: he sitteth on a beast called a dromedarie, which is a swift runner, and weareth a glorious crowne, and hath an effeminate countenance. There goeth before him an host of men with trumpets and well sounding cymbals, and all musicall instruments. At the first he appeereth with a great crie and roring, as in Circulo [*the book Empto.] Salomonis, and in the art is declared. And if this Paimon speake sometime that the conjuror understand him not, let him not therefore be dismaied. But when he hath delivered him the first obligation to observe his desire, he must bid him also answer him distinctlie and plainelie to the questions he shall aske you, of all philosophie, wisedome, and science, and of all other secret things. And if you will knowe the disposition of the world, and what the earth is, or what holdeth it up in the water, or any other thing, or what is Abyssus, or where the wind is, or from whence it commeth, he will teach you aboundantlie. Consecrations also as well of sacrifices [offerings, libations] as otherwise may be reckoned. He giveth dignities and confirmations; he bindeth them that resist him in his owne chaines, and subjecteth them to the conjuror; he prepareth good familiars, and hath the understanding of all arts. Note, that at the calling up of him, the exorcist must looke towards the northwest [better: North], bicause there is his house. When he is called up, let the exorcist receive him constantlie without feare, let him aske what questions or demands he list, and no doubt he shall obteine the same of him. And the exorcist must beware he forget not the creator, for those things, which have beene rehearsed before of Paimon, some saie he is of the order of dominations; others saie, of the order of cherubim. There follow him two hundred legions, partlie of the order of angels, and partlie of potestates. Note that if Paimon be cited alone by an offering or sacrifice, two kings followe him; to wit, Beball & Abalam, & other potentates: in his host are twentie five legions, bicause the spirits subject to them are not alwaies with them, except they be compelled to appeere by divine vertue."

King Paimon is also mentioned in Jacques-Albin-Simon Collin de Plancy's Dictionaire Infernal, and several other ancient magical texts. Paimon is depicted as apparently earthbound and "sitting upon a Dromedary" (i.e. a camel) in what appears to be a windstorm, perhaps a shamal or khamsin, inferring that he is of middle eastern origin (see title image above). Perceived in this manner, could this suggest that Paimon was the infernal counterpart of one of the Biblical Three Wise Men?

Following is the translated Ars Goetia by Mathers and Crowley, first published in 1904. It is intended to provide context, as well as for educational purposes. A warning to the curious: DO NOT attempt the invocations contained in this book unless you are an experienced magician!