Murmur (also known as Murmus or Murmuur) is the 54th spirit described in the Ars Goetia, a section of the 17th-century grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon. He is depicted as a warrior duke of Hell who appears as a griffin-winged warrior riding a griffin, accompanied by two ministers. Murmur specializes in teaching philosophy, revealing the secrets of the past, present, and future, and compelling souls of the deceased to answer questions. He commands 30 legions of spirits and is considered a relatively benign demon in demonological lore, often invoked for knowledge rather than harm.

Preparation for Summoning

Traditional grimoires emphasize that summoning requires purity of intent, protection, and respect for the ritual’s gravity. Missteps can lead to psychological distress or unintended consequences. Always approach with caution, and consider consulting modern occult experts or therapists if exploring for personal reasons. Key preparations include:

Mental and Physical Purity: Fast for 24-48 hours beforehand. Bathe in salted water to cleanse negative energies. Meditate to align your intent—focus on knowledge, not power or malice.
Timing: Perform during a waxing moon, ideally on a Tuesday (associated with Mars, fitting Murmur’s warrior nature) at midnight. Avoid Fridays or full moons.
Location: A quiet, enclosed space like a basement or dedicated altar room. Draw a protective circle on the floor using chalk or salt, at least 9 feet in diameter.
Tools Needed:
A consecrated black-handled knife (athame) for tracing symbols.
Incense: Frankincense and myrrh to honor his aerial/griffin form.
Candles: Two black candles for the ministers, one white for illumination.
Offerings: Wine, blood from a small animal sacrifice (ethical alternatives like red wine mixed with pomegranate juice are common in modern practice), or symbolic items like feathers.
Sigil of Murmur: Draw his seal (a complex geometric design with crosses and circles—search for “Murmur sigil Ars Goetia” for visuals).
Grimoire: A copy of The Lesser Key of Solomon for reference.

The Ritual Steps

Follow these based on Goetic traditions. Recite invocations clearly and confidently. The full ritual can take 1-2 hours.

Cast the Circle:
Stand outside the circle facing east. Use the athame to trace a pentagram in the air at each cardinal direction (east, south, west, north), invoking the elements: “I call upon the guardians of the watchtowers…”
Step inside, sealing the circle with salt. This protects against unwanted entities.
Preliminary Invocation:
Light the incense and candles. Place Murmur’s sigil in the center of the triangle of art (a smaller triangle drawn outside the circle for manifestation).
Recite a general license to depart for any stray spirits: “O thou spirit [name any felt presences], I release thee in peace.”
Conjuration of Murmur:
Gaze at the sigil and chant the primary conjuration three times (from Ars Goetia, adapted for clarity):

“I do invocate and conjure thee, O Spirit Murmur, and being with power armed from the Supreme Majesty, I do strongly command thee, by Beralanensis, Baldachiensis, Paumachia, and Apologiae Sedes; by the most Powerful Princes, Genii, Liachidae, and Ministers of the Tartarean Abode; and by the Chief Prince of the Seat of Apologia in the Ninth Legion, I do invoke thee, and by invocating conjure thee. And being armed with power from the Supreme Majesty, I do strongly command thee, by Him Who spake and it was done, and unto whom all creatures be obedient… Appear thou before this circle in a fair and comely shape, without deformity or horror… I conjure thee by the seal of thy King and by the most mighty and powerful names of God: El, strong and wonderful; Elohim, God the strong; He, the living God; Adonai, the ruler; Yah, the great; Tetragrammaton, the all-sufficient; Agla, the redeeming… Come thou, Murmur, forth unto me!”

Evocation and Binding:

If no manifestation occurs, repeat with increasing intensity, vibrating the name “MURMUR” (prolonged “Muuuurrr-muuuurr”).
Offer the prepared libation: Pour wine into a chalice while saying, “I offer this to thee, Duke Murmur, in exchange for thy wisdom.”
Command his purpose: “Murmur, I command thee to appear visible and affable, and to answer truly my questions on [state your query, e.g., ‘the secrets of the philosopher’s stone’].”
Communion:
Murmur may appear visually (rare), audibly (whispers or voices), or astrally (visions). Ask your questions directly—up to three for clarity.
Record responses in a journal. Thank him: “For thy service, I thank thee, Murmur.”
Dismissal and Closure:
End with: “O thou spirit Murmur, I thank thee for thy presence and wisdom. Depart in peace to thy abodes, harming none. By the power of the divine names, so mote it be.”
Extinguish candles counterclockwise. Erase the circle with your foot, saying, “The circle is open but unbroken.”

Risks and Modern Considerations

Dangers: Goetic texts warn of possession, madness, or backlash if commands are rude or protections fail. Modern occultists report anxiety or sleep disturbances as common side effects.
Alternatives: For safer exploration, use meditation with the sigil or scrying (staring into a black mirror) instead of full evocation.
Ethics: Consent and harm reduction are key—never summon for coercion. If you’re new, join online communities like r/occult for guidance.