Introduction
Raum is the 40th spirit listed in the Ars Goetia, part of the 17th-century grimoire The Lesser Key of Solomon. He is described as a Great Earl of Hell commanding thirty legions of spirits. Raum appears as a crow that can transform into a man with a foul odor.
His powers include stealing treasures from kings, destroying cities and reputations, revealing past, present, and future events, and reconciling enemies. Though said to speak truthfully, he is known for his deceitful nature. These attributes place him among the more complex figures of the Goetic hierarchy, embodying both chaos and revelation.
Origins and Background
Raum appears in several demonological sources, including Johann Weyer’s Pseudomonarchia Daemonum (1577). These texts formed the foundation of later grimoires, combining medieval demonology with Renaissance occultism.
As an Earl of Hell, Raum represents subversive intelligence and destructive insight. His crow form reflects his link to death, prophecy, and transformation—symbols found in many mythological traditions.
Preparation for the Ritual
Traditional Goetic practice demands strict preparation, ritual purity, and mental focus. Adaptations from the Ars Goetia and later occult works maintain the same structure of protection, invocation, and control.
Required Items
| Item | Purpose | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Protective Circle | Contains the spirit | Draw with chalk or flour, 9-foot diameter, inscribed with divine names such as Tetragrammaton. |
| Triangle of Art | Space for manifestation | Outside the circle; place a black mirror or scrying crystal inside. |
| Incense | Attracts the spirit | Frankincense or myrrh preferred. |
| Sigil of Raum | Focal point of evocation | Draw on virgin parchment in red ink. |
| Wand or Dagger | Directs energy | Use oak, iron, or consecrated steel. |
| Robes and Fasting | Personal purification | White robe; fast for twenty-four hours beforehand. |
| Offerings | Honor or appeasement | Symbolic blood, red wine, or coins. |
Timing and Setting
- Best Time: Saturn’s hour on Saturday night, or when the moon is in Aries (Raum’s astrological sign).
- Location: A secluded, quiet room or outdoor area under the stars. Face east and ensure privacy from interruption.
The Summoning of Raum
Step 1: Purification
Cleanse yourself with salt water. Sprinkle the space with consecrated or perfumed water, saying:
“By the power of the divine names, I cleanse this place of all impurity.”
Light incense and walk the perimeter three times clockwise.
Step 2: Casting the Circle
Trace a protective circle with your wand, invoking the four archangels:
“Michael in the East, Raphael in the South, Gabriel in the West, Uriel in the North — guard me in this work.”
Enter and remain within the circle until the ritual is complete.
Step 3: Preparing the Triangle
Outside the circle, draw the triangle of art bearing Raum’s name and sigil. Place a candle or oil lamp inside to illuminate the space of manifestation.
Step 4: The Evocation
Gaze into the black mirror or scrying surface and recite the conjuration adapted from the Ars Goetia:
“Raum, Earl of the infernal legions, I call thee forth by the names Adonai, El, Elohim, and the seal of thy office. Appear before me in fair and comely shape, visible and affable, without terror or deformity. By the power of the Most High, come peaceably and answer truly. I bind thee to this triangle until thy task is fulfilled.”
Repeat the invocation three to seven times, deepening your tone with each repetition. Offer incense as a sign of will and focus.
Step 5: Communication
When a presence is perceived, state your request with precision:
“Raum, reveal the truth about [matter or person].”
You may ask questions concerning loss, secrets, or reconciliation. Remain composed and respectful.
Step 6: Dismissal
When finished, thank the spirit:
“Raum, I release thee with gratitude. Depart in peace to thy proper place, harming none.”
Extinguish candles counterclockwise and erase the circle, saying:
“The circle is undone; harmony returns.”
Banishment
If the ritual becomes unstable, perform a banishing immediately:
- Trace protective pentagrams in the air while invoking the archangels.
- Burn cleansing herbs such as sage or cedar.
- Declare: “By the light of the divine names, all shadows depart.”
Interpretation and Symbolism
Raum embodies the duality of destruction and understanding. As a crow, he symbolizes the scavenger of truth, feeding on the remains of deceit. As a man, he represents ambition, corruption, and the volatility of human desire.
In occult philosophy, Raum’s destructive attributes are not purely malevolent but signify the breaking down of false structures. His power to reconcile enemies and reveal secrets makes him a spirit of transformation through upheaval.
Modern View
Contemporary practitioners interpret Raum as an archetype of controlled chaos — the force that dismantles to rebuild. In modern esotericism, he is associated with the planet Saturn, representing limitation, fate, and karmic reckoning.
Meditating on his sigil or attributes is often used as a symbolic exercise to confront inner turmoil or understand cycles of loss and renewal.
Conclusion
Raum, the 40th spirit of the Ars Goetia, remains one of demonology’s most paradoxical figures — a destroyer who also reveals, a thief who restores truth. His legend reflects the human struggle between ambition and morality, ruin and enlightenment.
In the lore of the Goetia, Raum endures as the black crow of revelation, a shadowed messenger who teaches that through loss, one may find transformation.