Difference between angels and demons

[dhirendra.dugar]

In occultism what is the difference between angels and demons?
Whether It is difference in appearance or nature, Offering or work field?
If both are helpful and give assistance in magic, why they are mentioned as different entities?
In spritual world how they behave differently ?

 

[gerardobraham]

This question will have a wide range of answers. I have been in both kind of works and believe me when I say that Angels from the Mars and Saturn spheres make you shiver and activate your "flight" instinct as much as a demon does. But the main difference is the heaviness the demons leave after they are gone. The place feels dirty, there is an "smell" remaining that is similar to a sewer. Also their presence will affect your health, you will feel drained like with the flu if you do not take precautions.
In magic work, angels say no easily when the request will cause you harm. Demons love your requests, they are already ahead of you planning how to give you what you want and at the same time f*ck you over. But Demons really make things happen fast and they make it look easy.
So, both are helpful, they can fix issues. But with demons you always get what you asked with a twist.

 

[Sedim Haba]

I can only offer this info, since it's all I know as I don't work with either.

Only in Xianity are demons considered fallen angels. In both Judaism and Islam, angels cannot 'fall' as they have no free will.

In Kabbalah, they are known as 'shells', the toxic spiritual residue of Creation.

In Islam. all demons or shaitan are fallen Jinn.

So, if you encounter a demon who claims to be a fallen angel, it may be lying. JMHO, YMMV.

 

[FireBorn]

In my experience, angels are a higher frequency being than a demon. Neither are good or evil (unless you are into the Abrahamic framework). That said, demons are easier to contact than angels, or at least most times. Its not better, just different. You decide which you'd prefer to work with. That decision will be based on your belief and framework. Neither is better, just a different type of spirit.

Demons leaving a smell behind? Maybe treat them better and they wont fart in your little triangle.

As far as fucking you over? Once you learn that demons are firstly amoral, as in not good or evil, then you can learn to sharpen your skill at writing your intent. If you ask for money, they will get you money. If you aren't specific on how that money comes, you cant bitch about how it arrives. That is on you, not the demon. Blaming the demon, then telling others that demons do that is lazy and not accurate.

Can demons be dicks? Of course. Let me invite you into a triangle then scream shitty Latin at you and order you to do things for me, using the name of a god I dont believe in, threatening you with angels I dont actually work with, and lets see how cool you are to me. Zero thought goes into most of this shit these days I swear.

 

[Saint]

As @FireBorn pointed it out so well, angels are higher frequency beings, while demons are usually lower, although even among them, you see surprisingly high vibrational ones, and same goes for angels; there are some fairly low vibrational ones you may straight up accuse to be 'demonic', following the same logic.

Appearance wise, well let's just say, energetic beings does not have a physical body, so they can take shape any way they like. The aesthetic they chose usually delivers the energetic structure of their essence in a visual way, in which you get what you meant to see, or wish, or they wish you to see. Visualisation is important, and it's easy to discover 'preferences' in how they usually show themselves (individually); although, it can still vary based on the conjurer.

Why are they mentioned as different entities? Because they are different entities.

Every 'group' of entities has their frequency, general nature, so called 'culture', habits, their kind of 'moral' and just like in every sentinent being's case, they all have personalities of many kind, which means some can go against what you'd expect them collectively.

I've seen angels one would wholeheartedly call a 'prick', or straight up dangerous, and they are not necessarily less fond of bonding in a more sensual way demons are often described to. Yes, I had angels come to me for astral sex too. The line is blurred, and if you dive deep enough, deeper than the surface, you'll realise that angels are, in the common sense, not necessarily the 'good guys' people used to describe, typically.

And it's totally fine, because they don't have to be.
Same goes for demons. They don't have to be 'useful dicks', they can simply be 'useful'.

Matter of fact, my demons were quite caring and dedicated to me, and some highly protective without being asked.
Many times they proved to have greater patience than most angels do. One of my friend literally pissed Archangel Michael off, and knowing her, I totally seen it coming. I have a close and old bond with Michael, so I am not caught off-guard by it, and I share the same with Lucifer himself. They work quite well together, without an issue by the way. So, while I've seen my friend just making Michael 'quitting' their work (she's with Beelzebub now, and doing better than ever), I have Paimon in the other hand, who you'd expect to be very demanding, yet he was totally fine with me ghosting him for six years, until I finally settled. He always sent me signs here and there, but never lost cool, never went furious, never grow violent, and he is very eager we finally get to work together.

An another thing I noticed, is that demons are more of a 'yappers', unlike angels. They prefer to stay behind and communicate in less 'straightforward ways', while demons (exceptions exist, naturally) are generally love stepping out and work directly. They also rarely refuse a task, or a request. Angels are more 'picky' about what they're willing to help you with.
Usually, it's for your own sake, but let's be real, allowing you to do stupid things and learn from it is also a good way of teaching coming from demons; I'm with them on that one. It's not their fault if someone want to cause an issue for themselves, as long as they pay for it.

 

[MorganBlack]

Neat topic.

I do not full-tilt conjure angels but will use them in simple invocations and novenas. My two cents.

Archangels seem more "energy" -ish and less physical. I have never had one show up in my living room for a chat or 'abduction'. I did get lots of stereotypical divine visions calling the Shem to do some healing for a freind recently, which they did. (The GV Daimons can show up and scare the shit out of folks, so I do not send them to anyone I like.)

I usually try to stay grounded and treat all these glorious angelic visions like "Cool, story bro" unless they hit me emotionally really hard. Cool, but also distracting. The Catholic 'modulations /methods' are more "Saint-ish" with a necomantic aspect. I have a few ideas how that maybe works, but fuck if I really know. I am sure tons of people on the internet will "explain" it all to us.

More generally...

Most the stories, myths, and spevfic techniques of magic / sorcery are for our use to get a handle on things, and be useful for human interests. How we 'sit-in-relation-to' a living, breathing, alive Universe determines our experiences to a great degree, both in ritual and in life. They are affordance for us, and not totally objective truth, and not untruth.

A demon's character will take on the qualities of the relationship you have to it. In a sense, what it is to you is a manifestation of your specific relationship to each other. The various techniques of spirit conjuring are to find the "right relation" to the Daimonic Other. Even the grimoire , or lack of one, you use will color the pool you are wading into.

The old ideas left over from Wicca want to treats them all as the same singular individual. However, in Yoruba-influenced ATRs like Santería, the various spirits have different qualities of "caminos" (paths) or different manifestations of a singular spirit.

In Vodou, the way I was taught, we see them as many different individuals with the same name and a , if I can translate, a pattern/beiong that sit in in-relation-to-the community. More for us sorcerer , the individual. This is the framework I operate under.

In Vodou, there is an idea that a lwa you have your 'spiritual court' ( I first heatd that phrase used in the 1990's in Vodou, btw) say, Ogou Feray - will not be the same being as my Ogou Feray. But hey will rhyme., Similarly, my Guland is my Guland, and will probably be very different from your Guland. Y

That is partially according to their nature and partially our own as individuals. A demon that is helpful to me may be hostile and a danger to you. How we "sit in relation" to them is the art; all the techniques and statics in the magician's kit should not be discarded, and those include the Vodou-like offerings people all now use, or the more Solomonic pressures we can apply.

No that it should be lead with, but there is a place for yelling at them (in Latin, English, Spanish, Greek, or Kreyole) , or for giving them offerings and treating them like pagan gods. (And believe me, if they are pagan gods - whatever that mean s- then pagan gods are really fucking bizarre!).

And while the knife may not stop them if they are angry, if you look at the legends of the Fae and their fear of steel, the sharp knife - once they are brought "down" to an etheric/paranormal level and not left in the "mental plane" of the Theosophists - may cause them discomfort.

And speaking of discomfort: We can "push" them. A magician can put a serious strain on the universe. This requires delicacy because you can push too hard.

Many years ago, I had a metric fuck-ton of sorcery that had to happen and was running four concurrent workings. It was very Vodou-like, with four glass-encased tower candles. And I pushed. I can't quite describe the feeling of the pressure magicians can exert on the spirit world. Ya'' probably know it. Well, at a certain point, all four glass-encased candles simultaneously exploded. I talked to my Houngan about it the next day and he said, "Ah, you were pushing too hard."

Now, I think that idea can go too far as well. But I should point out that Demonolators will say you can't hurt them with knives - yet yelling at them hurts their feelings. Okay. I think the reality isa but more complex, but only applies once they are "in" human-space, by us through conjurations and all theother techiques magcians have employed at least since the Greco-Eqyptian pratices we see in the PGM, and probably long before then in more "shamanic" culturesm going back to the Neolithic if not even before.

 

[Firetree]

Play with them how you will and have fun .

But when things get serious and if you go psychotic or possessed THE distinction is not what is an angel or a demon but what is higher or lower and those , just being terms, indicate influences that are beneficial or detrimental .

Whether its a possessing demon or a 'low order hallucination ' it will try to subtly (or unsubtley ! ) undermine you, try to instill doubt and fear and shame - anything negative . A higher order will do the opposite and act more like the concepts we have of angels , they can also be 'daemons' .

'Demons' that most seem to be encountering here - are midway 'blind forces' neither good or bad, higher or lower . . . they can change however, depending on what is 'put into them' .

But angels dont usually tell you that you are a pathetic meat face shitbelly that grovels along the ground until you die .

( I can back this up by the way with professional clinical research )

 

[Ziran]

In occultism what is the difference between angels and demons?

Angels work for free. Demons demand a price.

Whether It is difference in appearance or nature, Offering or work field?

Angels are rare. Demons are everywhere.

If both are helpful and give assistance in magic, why they are mentioned as different entities?

Angels and Demons are like conjoined twins. They come from the same metaphorical "womb" but have very different dispostions.

In spritual world how they behave differently ?

Each Angel/Demon pair is unique. The answer to your question depends on which Angels and Demons you're referring to.

 

[Ohana]

Angels are rare. Demons are everywhere.

Can you elaborate on this point? On angels being rare? I'm confused at that since from my understanding if they are split in the womb of the world wouldn’t there be the same number of angels as daemons

If angels were rare wouldn't it be rare to find someone that works with an angel? Then theres the concept of people having guardian angels and wouldn't that take a lot of angels to do? I'm just kind of confused on that point

But angels dont usually tell you that you are a pathetic meat face sh#tbelly that grovels along the ground until you die .

( I can back this up by the way with professional clinical research )

I might be weird but I kind of prefer that because it feels more honest. I don't think I'm pathetic but people are on the ground and we do all end up below it technically.

I think the difference is whose in charge. Angels are the ones that are said to be able banish them. Seem like a difference in leadership but I don't though. Maybe angels immaterial and daemons material? But I could be wrong. Its definitely confusing to me.

 

[Firetree]

Can you elaborate on this point? On angels being rare? I'm confused at that since from my understanding if they are split in the womb of the world wouldn’t there be the same number of angels as daemons

If angels were rare wouldn't it be rare to find someone that works with an angel? Then theres the concept of people having guardian angels and wouldn't that take a lot of angels to do? I'm just kind of confused on that point

I might be weird but I kind of prefer that because it feels more honest. I don't think I'm pathetic but people are on the ground and we do all end up below it technically.

I think the difference is whose in charge. Angels are the ones that are said to be able banish them. Seem like a difference in leadership but I don't though. Maybe angels immaterial and daemons material? But I could be wrong. Its definitely confusing to me.

Well, it isnt a simple subject and take years of research and cross cultural study to get to the base of many things 'occult ' .

The nature of 'Guardian Angels' is one of those issues .

However ; the 'higher' forces are less present than the lower as they attach through the Id and not the super-conscious .


Dr Van Dusen found the same in his psychiatric clinical trials ;

''
In direct contrast stands the rarer higher order hallucinations. In quantity they make up perhaps a fifth or less of the patients' experiences. The contrast may be illustrated by the experience of one man. He had heard the lower order arguing a long while how they would murder him. He also had a light come to him at night like the sun. He knew it was a different order because the light respected his freedom and would withdraw if it frightened him. In contrast, the lower order worked against his will and would attack if it could see fear in him. This rarer higher order seldom speaks, whereas the lower order can talk endlessly. The higher order is much more likely to be symbolic, religious, supportive, genuinely instructive, and communicate directly with the inner feelings of the patient. I've learned to help the patient approach the higher order because of its great power to broaden the individual's values. When the man was encouraged to approach his friendly sun he entered a world of powerful numinous experiences, in some ways more frightening than the murderers who plotted his death. In one scene he found himself at the bottom of a long corridor with doors at the end behind which raged the powers of hell. He was about to let out these powers when a very powerful and impressive Christ-like figure appeared and by direct mind-to-mind communication counseled him to leave the doors closed and follow him into other experiences which were therapeutic to him. In another instance the higher order appeared to a man as a lovely woman who entertained him while showing him thousands of symbols. Though the patient was a high-school educated gas-pipe fitter, his female vision showed a knowledge of religion and myth far beyond the patient's comprehension. At the end of a very rich dialogue with her (the patient reporting her symbols and responses) the patient asked for just a clue as to what she and I were talking about. Another example is that of a Negro who gave up being useful and lived as a drunken thief. In his weeks of hallucinations the higher order carefully instructed him on the trials of all minority groups and left him with the feeling he would like to do something for minorities....''

'' ... Several things stood out as curious and puzzling. The lower order seemed strangely prevalent and limited. In the face of their claim of separate identity, their concealing or not knowing any fact (birthplace, schooling, name, personal history) which would set them apart was unusual. Their malevolence and persistence in undermining the patient was striking. And why would they consistently be unreligious or anti-religious? Just the mention of religion provokes anger or derision from them. In contrast, the higher order appeared strangely gifted, sensitive, wise and religious. They did not conceal identity but rather would have an identity above the human. ... ''

'' ...

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Identity above the human ; another way to put all this in context is to look at 'The Great Chain of being ; Angels and higher order are above humans , humans in the middle with their associated daemons above and 'demons' (malevolent ) below .

yes, if all people have a Guardian Angel that is a lot of angels .... but we have to factor how many (and how many types of daemons / demons are potentially 'attached ' to a human (most lie sublimated in the deep psyche ) .

 

[FireBorn]

Well, it isnt a simple subject and take years of research and cross cultural study to get to the base of many things 'occult ' .

How many years?

 

[Planet13]

I think the distinction between angels and demons can be understood not necessarily as a strict moral opposition of “good versus evil,” but as a polarity.
In many symbolic and philosophical systems, light and shadow are not enemies — they are complementary forces. Light illuminates, orders, and clarifies. Shadow grounds, deepens, and contains what is not yet conscious. One gives form; the other gives depth. Without shadow, light becomes blinding and flat. Without light, shadow becomes chaotic and directionless.
So rather than seeing angels as purely “good” and demons as purely “evil,” they could represent different aspects of the same underlying reality — transcendence and instinct, order and chaos, expansion and contraction. Both forces can be constructive or destructive depending on how they are integrated or expressed.
In that sense, the polarity is dynamic, not moralistic. It is about tension and balance, not about absolute virtue versus absolute corruption.
A worldview that reduces everything to light = good and darkness = evil risks oversimplifying the complexity of existence. Shadow is not inherently malevolent; often it represents what is hidden, repressed, or transformative. And transformation itself usually requires passing through darkness.

So perhaps angels and demons are about how opposing forces interact?

 

[Saint]

Angels work for free. Demons demand a price.

I agree but I also disagree.

If you have a built connection with them, they won't expect you to give. My demons often did/do more errands for me than I ever asked for, and they never ask anything in return (and they're the ones approaching me first, not the other way around) Our bond is reciprocal without rules or expectations, just like in a healthy relationship (either with a family, a partner, or friends).

However, I do agree, it's best to offer something to demons if you are unknown to them, and there for 'business', they are not charity; they are low frequency entities, so they won't necessarily can do much with your 'gratitude' and 'happiness' that stems from a fulfilled wish, unlike angels. High frequency energy is rewarding them too, if you're in a positive state, demons are a bit different.

Angels are rare. Demons are everywhere.

I also find it false, but that's just me. I see angels everywhere around humans, and they do a very tough work trying to help them without ever showing themselves straight up to them, until shit truly hit the fan. Only then, it usually get really obvious they has been there all time.

But HEY, I just found out a difference between them.

My angels could never. Right? Right?

 

[Firetree]

How many years?

A nice young lady had been visiting me , she is a friend's niece . Friend is also into 'magical stuff' and niece is very interested and has come to a few of our 'nights' . She visited recently and quizzed me for about 2 hrs with all sorts of questions then finished with ;

'' This ! This is what I want , I want to know about all that stuff , how can I do I do that ? ''

''Its fairly simple , you just have to stay on track, pursue what you love and what interests you , follow up and study anything related to it , cross reference then apply , observe , adapt , re apply observe adapt .... ''

Her ;

Me ; '' .... and just keep doing that for 70 years .''

Her ;

 

[Amur]

Well the fact might be that Demons (Not daemons) are unholified so they exhibit a different place than Angels, which are holified and pure. It's like comparing Sefiroth to that of the Qliphoth. The other is filled while the other is just an empty vessel.

I work with both Angels and Demons yet do not ask either of anything since I provide for myself everything I need for anything I need. Naturally I get anything I want in the entire existence thanks to my attitude. I live in the unholy spaces myself but can also cross the barrier to the holified side if I need to, this is because of my natural existence as a balancer of both Good & Evil. I'm just an observer and a neutral one at it. Was funny to see the Angels fight the Demons over some cosmic game and being a game referee, in fact the Angels cheated more than the Demons hehe.

Arch-Angels are different and are more magickal in nature and mysterious. Their day might seem like 2000 years as an Angels day is that of a human day about. Arch-Angels tend to be reflected in all of Creation, which tends to be alot and are perfect for Invocation and going through different spiritual paths.

Satan is just an unholified Arch-Angel which is a bit weird, but He looks after the unholified side. And while we are still living in the time of Satan's time here on this planet it's good to also have a beneficial relationship towards Him. Satan like the other Arch-Angels reflected what you have within, or the Jungian Shadow as called. It's only our negative aspect reflected through a scape-goat. Which makes his service to Creation itself invaluable.

Just my 2 cents on this topic.

 

[Kepler]

Discarding all the old definitions and not using daemons for spirits or whatever to cloud the definition.

So starting with a completely new definition without old baggage:
Angels are egregores and aligned with the celestial(The Heavens), demons were angels that were aligned with the celestial but fell out of alignment.

 

[Ohana]

So starting with a completely new definition without old baggage:
Angels are egregores and aligned with the celestial(The Heavens), demons were angels that were aligned with the celestial but fell out of alignment.

Hmm I don't know. That assumes the only thing an egregore could align with is the celestial. But theres also the material world. You think but you can also do. You can imagine running(celestial mind) or you can actually run (material earth)

Maybe some did fall out of alignment but thats still an if.

What if it was like programming. There is something in programming called daemons and they are just programs that run without user interference. So I guess spirits that run without people's interference? Nature itself????

This is kind of confusing.

 

[Kepler]

Hmm I don't know. That assumes the only thing an egregore could align with is the celestial. But theres also the material world. You think but you can also do. You can imagine running(celestial mind) or you can actually run (material earth)

Maybe some did fall out of alignment but thats still an if.

What if it was like programming. There is something in programming called daemons and they are just programs that run without user interference. So I guess spirits that run without people's interference? Nature itself????

This is kind of confusing.

Those don't exist as products of discrete celestial patterns. Then they're not celestial therefore not demons or angels according to that definition.

And it's not an if they fall out of alignment they do, simple precession changes observed astronomical alignments for biological life on the planet putting discrepancy between true celestial patterns and fabricated or imagined ones.

 

[Keldan]

Angels work for free. Demons demand a price.

Angels are rare. Demons are everywhere.

Angels and Demons are like conjoined twins. They come from the same metaphorical "womb" but have very different dispostions.

I agree with what FireBorn and Saint already said about the subject. I’ll just add a little more about the quote.

This is simply not true. None of the angels or demons I work with demand any price, and I work with a lot of them. Angels are everywhere, and demons are everywhere too. One isn’t rarer than the other. Maybe you haven’t encountered them much, so it seems rare to you, but that doesn’t mean they’re actually rare.

Demons don’t smell bad. Whoever said that probably did something wrong on their end for the being to show up or act that way. Their presence doesn’t affect your health as claimed either.

As for differences between angels and demons, there isn’t just one clear dividing line. The differences are countless. They’re not twins, and they’re not meant to be paired up because of some weird human invention. They’re separate beings, individual entities.

I will say this though. Angels can be quite dangerous. You may not have run into the dangerous types yet, but they exist. And the same can be said for demons, they can be dangerous too.

One can “study” angels and demons for years, but without lived experience they’re never going to get the full picture, just a bunch of untrue scribbles on paper.

 

[Ohana]

As for differences between angels and demons, there isn’t just one clear dividing line. The differences are countless. They’re not twins, and they’re not meant to be paired up because of some weird human invention. They’re separate beings, individual entities.

Can you make a list of some of the differences? I know theres not one clear dividing line but maybe a list would be helpful.