On the corporeality of demons

This is an uncompleted work by Michael Psellus, the 11th century Byzantine philosopher, historian and courtier. Apparently, Psellus was also a magician and perhaps a crypto-pagan. At the very least, he was accused of so being by his enemies. “On the Operation of Demons” is a dialogue on demonology. Unfortunately, this edition says very little about the context of the work. I therefore didn't find it that interesting. Presumably, I must hone my knowledge of Byzantine magic in the future!

As already noted, “De Operatione Daemonum” is a dialogue between two characters, Timothy and Thracian. The latter is presumably a stand in for Psellus himself. The former is the audience substitute. Thracian often quotes a certain Marcus, a former black magician from Mesopotamia who converted to the true faith and entered a monastery. One wonders whether Marcus isn't also a stand in for Psellus? The first part of the dialogue contains bizarre attacks on the “heretical” Bogomils, here called Euchitae, who are supposed to breed and sacrifice children to conjure the demons. Their founder is called Manes the Maniac, presumably a reference to the Persian prophet Mani. Thracian's description of Bogomil cosmology is peculiar, thus he claims that this Gnostic group was actually worshipping the Demiurge!

As for the demons, Thracian divides them into several classes. It seems there are demons literally everywhere, from the sub-lunar region of space down to the oceans and subterranean caverns of Earth. The demons are said to be corporeal, but made of very thin or delicate matter. This makes it possible for Thracian-Psellus to explain why demons are afraid of swords and other metallic object (they really can feel pain), how they can be seen by the naked eye, or why they are capable of speaking to humans. Some demons are said to derive their energy from moisture, others breathe oxygen. In modern occult terms, Psellus seems to be describing “etheric” beings rather than “astral” ones. Angels are also corporeal, but here Psellus gets into deep waters, since the angels nevertheless are capable of moving through solid objects, which of course suggests the exact opposite (they are spiritual).

The editor of this edition, Youtube personality Tarl Warwick (alias Styxhexenhammer666), is interested in herbs and psychedelic drugs, and have therefore highlighted Thracian's story about a spirit-medium who had shamanic trances (including a supernatural raven!) after partaking of a certain herb on a high mountain. Personally, I'm more interested in Psellus' hard slanders against the Bogomils. Didn't they and other “Messalian” heretics consider God to be corporeal? Is that why Psellus has to attack them, to avoid being confused with them due to his own view about the corporeality of demons?

Clearly, there is a lot to unpack here…

Three stars. “Don't try this at home, kids”.