Evocations Evocat ions I – Classical Methods Explained March 18, 2013
It’s It’s going going to be a few posts before before I get to my actual evocation methods, because because I have some background background information so they can be better understood. I will be posting some really cool methods shortly though. As I side note I don’t like the classical classic al method of evocation and I never use it. I consider it immoral and a tool of weak practitioners who cannot hold their own. Information on the method is provided only so a practitioner can have the necessary background background to understand the methods I’ll be posting later. When we look at classical ceremonial magic, the basic evocation ritual involves a circle and a triangle. Likewise the ritual is split into our parts! preparing the area, evoking the being, coversing with the being, and dismissing the being. "one o these methods are native to ceremonial magic. #here have alwa$s been evocations, even long beore ceremonial magic came into vogue, and all evocations attempt to manipulate the same basic principles to bring about results. % we knew the e&act evocation rituals o earl$ man we would no doubt ind similarities to modern ceremonial rituals, not because there has been a clear line o inluence, but because both rituals attempt the same thing, and there is onl$ so much much room or variation. 'ven the rituals in this book, which are advertised as an alternative to the predominate ceremonial methods, have clear similarities. (nce again this isn)t because o a direct inluence, but because there is onl$ so much room or variation. Constructing the Magic Circle
#he most important part o the classical method is the magic circle. #here is no one wa$ to make a magic circle, or even a best wa$. %n act the best wa$ or $ou to make a magic circle would be based on $our own spiritual belies and knowledge. %n its most basic orm a magic circle is *ust a circle. %t can be drawn onto the ground with chalk, etched into dirt, drawn into the air with a wand, knie, or inger, or it can be drawn on a piece o cloth that is laid on the loor. #he circle serves several purposes. %t creates an area which e&ists outside o space+time, it connects the magician to the divine, it empowers the magician, and it protects the magician. Let)s go over each o these our purposes individuall$ and how each is derived. irst o, in order to ma&imi-e our success with evocations, we need to be within an area outside o space and time. "ot ever$thing will be able to maniest into the available space. #he area ma$ be too small or it, or it ma$ be a small creature and the area ma$ be too big or $ou to see it. %t ma$ be o a vibration that cannot enter this world through normal means, or the enviornment o this world ma$ be too oreign to it or it to maniest here. Likewise the entit$)s normal movement through time ma$ not be conductive to communication. %t ma$ be moving backwards through time, or stagnant in a single moment o time, or it ma$ be moving too uickl$ or too slowl$ through time relative to the magician to make communication possible. %t ma$ also, or whatever reason, not be available at the e&act moment o evocation. / circle represents ininit$. %t has no begining or end. %t encompasses all space and time. When we are inside the magic circle, we enter into a space that is outside o space and time. %nside the circle, space and time ma$ move e&actl$ the same as directl$ outside the circle. %n act this is how it will most likel$ be moving when the magician irst enters the circle. owever once the evocation begins the circle will shit its place in time and space as needed to be conductive to communication. %t should be noted that the area directl$ surronding the
circle ma$ also be aected b$ these shits in space and time. / person standing directl$ outside o the circle ma$ not notice an$ change such as the magician moving slowl$ or rapidl$ through time, or instance because the$ are being aected b$ the same shits. owever inconsistencies in time can sometimes be sensed between the ritual area and an area that is ar enough awa$. econdl$ we want a connection to the divine, or at least some sort o higher power. /nd in the ne&t two steps we will talk about wh$ we need that connection. / circle is generall$ seen as a s$mbol o the divine, or 4od, or the gods because it is ininite and all encompassing. '&actl$ which higher power $ou wish to draw upon is going to be dependent on $our own personal belies. 5hristian m$stics will usuall$ draw upon the power o the 5hristian 4od or 5hrist, because the$ see him as being the highest power in the universe. (thers will call upon something called the /ll or the %s, which is simpl$ the sentient orm o the accumulation o all things in the universe, seen to some as the supreme god or creator. (thers will use a god or gods rom various pantheons. /nd still others ma$ call upon the power o the angels. Which one $ou decide to use isn)t that important. What is important is that what $ou)re using is real, that it is ver$ powerul, and that $ou)ll be able to draw its power down and access it. #hirdl$ the magic circle empowers the magician. %n the classical method o evocation power is provided b$ an e&ternal source, and this source is accessed through the magic circle. 6our connection to the divine is $our source o power. %t is important that the magician understand that their connection to the divine is their power source, and also that this power is absolute. #he$ also have to have aith that the power the$ draw upon is absolute. % the magician does not have an understanding o and a aith in the power, the$ are pro*ecting weakness instead o strength, and this in turn creates a weakness which can be e&ploited b$ the evoked spirit. Lastl$ the circle provides protection or the magician. #he circle is a source o absolute power, or at least a power ar greater than what is being evoked, and this power cannot in an$ wa$ be breached. #he circle is not onl$ there to protect the magician rom a direct attack, but also to protect them rom more subtle inluences that the spirit ma$ have upon the magician. Within the classical method o evocation this protection is essential, because rom the begining the magician attempts to control and e&ploit the evoked spirit through orce which creates a hostile relationship between the two. #he magician does this with borrowed power, which onl$ goes to illustrate how weak the magician is without his protections. The Triangle
#he other part o the classical ritual is the triangle. Much like the magical circle, there is no correct wa$ to make a triangle. %t can be drawn in the air, on the loor, in the dirt, or on a cloth. 7suall$ the triangle is much less elaborate than the circle. #he triangle is oten seen as much less important than the circle. #he triangle is the space in which we wish to evoke our entit$. Where as we wish ourselves, standing into the circle, to be connected into the highest power and a part o all times and all places, we want the e&act opposite or what we evoke. We want the spirit to appear in a speciic time and place. %deall$ we want it to have a spiritual preseance which can be channeled into, an astral presence which can be elt, and a ph$sical maniestation which can be seen and heard. We also want the entit$ to be contained, so that it can onl$ aect the world in the wa$s we command it to, and we want it to be weaker than us so we can control it.
%t should be noted that the importance o the triangle in the ritual varies between magicians and rituals. ome magicans preer to alwa$s use a triangle, and onl$ evoke spirits into the triangle, so that the$ alwa$s have the greatest amount o power and leverage throughout the entire evocation. (ther magicians evoke spirits outside o the triangle, and onl$ use the triangle when necessar$ to control the spirit, or when the$ eel the$ need the added protection. #hese magicians can use the triangle as a threat, orcing disobediant spirits into the triangle. ome magicians, meanwhile, omit the triangle all together, and instead onl$ make use o the protections provided b$ the circle. So why a triangle?
#he representation o the triangle is multiacited. irst and ormost, three is the number o the universe. 1 singularit$, 2 dualit$, and 3 triplicit$ are the three most powerul numbers in e&istance. #hree also represents the three realms into which we can evoke spirits. #he irst realm is the mental realm. pirits in this realm can be channeled b$ e&perienced practitioners in order to communicate and share knowledge. #he second realm is the astral or spiritual realm. pirits in this realm have a presence that can be elt. #he$ are able to move and manipulate energ$ and aect the astral realm. #he$ can be seen b$ and communicate with practitioners who are sensitive enough to see and hear ghosts. inall$ there is the ph$sical realm. pirits in this realm can ph$sicall$ aect the world. #he$ can move ob*ects. #he$ can be seen and heard b$ an$one. #hree is also a number o incompleteness and seperation rom the divine or complete power. emember there are ive elements. #hese ive elements are represented b$ the ive points o the pentagram. 5ombined these ive elements are considered to be absolute power, which is wh$ the pentagram is such a common and powerul magical s$mbol. owever the number our has the same power. pirit is oten time looked at as the combination o the other our elements, or that the other our elements all spring orth rom spirit. #hereor a representation o all our elements also represents spirit. 9ecause it does lack spirit though, our is sometimes seen as being absolute power in the realm o the ph$sical world where as ive is absolute power in all realms. #hree however is one less than our. %t onl$ represents three o the elements. /n$thing evoked into the triangle is onl$ allowed to be made up o three elements at once. /t an$ given moment, whatever is in the triangle is missing one o the our basic elements rom its being. #his means it is within a ver$ weakened state, a state through which it cannot make a true divine connection. #his is essential because it garuntees that the practitioner, in the circle, is more powerul than the spirit, that the practitioner has access to a power that the spirit is denied access to, and that the protections provided b$ the ritual cannot be breached. The Four Steps of the Ritual Step – !reparing the area " /deuate preperations need to be made prior to the evocation. ome practitioners preer to perorm a banishing ritual prior to the evocation so the$ can work within a clean space. (thers preer to use the e&isting energ$ o the area.
Most importantl$ the circle and triangle need to be constructed. pecial care needs to be taken with the placement o the triangle. #he triangle needs to be placed in an area that is ree rom an$ belongings. Likewise the area needs to be thouroughl$ cleaned and care needs to be taken
that an$ skin olacels, nail clippings, hair, and blood, o both humans and pets, are not present. #hese things will provide a link to the practitioner and those close to him and can be used b$ a malicious spirit to e&act revenge. Likewise all relective suraces, including black mirrors like $our computer monitor and tv, need to be covered, since the$ can give the spirit access to areas outside $our control. 'nerg$ also has to be raised in order to uel the evocation. pirits ma$ need large amounts o energ$ to maniest, and having large amounts o energ$ available in the room will help with that. %n addition to raising energ$ $ou ma$ also attempt to burn candles and use incence to provide additional energ$. With this method, even i a spirit can maniest on its own, it)s considered poor orm to be dependent on the powers o the spirit. #he practitioner should provide ample energ$ or maniestation. %n act the practitioner should do ever$thing the$ can to accomodate the spirit or the purposes o the evocation. / ailure to do so shows weakness, and the practitioner needs to be careul to alwa$s come rom a position o absolute power. /n$ tools being used in the ritual also need to be put in their place. % a mirror is being used or communication it needs to go into the triangle. % sigils or rings are being used those need to go into their proper place. /ll magical tools at the ritual should be placed inside the circle unless there is a speciic reason not to. Lastl$ the practitioner and an$one else attending the ritual needs to be inside the circle and needs to remain in the circle or the duration o the ritual. Step # – The Evocation " tep 2 is the actual evocation. ere the practitioner needs to call orth the spirit b$ name and command him to come orward. % the spirit does not respond, the practitioner should become more and more threatening, until inall$ the$ use the power o the circle, i need be, to pull the spirit orward. :uring this stage the practitioner should also command the spirit to maniest within the realm o the practitioner)s choosing either mentall$, astrall$, or ph$sicall$. #he$ should also make the spirit appear in a orm that is pleasing to the practitioner. 'ver$thing in this stage needs to be a command, and ever$thing needs to be done e&actl$ to the practitioner)s wishes. #he ke$ here is to establish a position o power and control rom the begining. Step $ – Co%%union " :uring this stage the practitioner talks with and commands the spirit. % the practitioner has evoked the spirit *ust or knowledge, then the practitioner should engage the spirit in conversation or that knowledge. % the practitioner has a task or the spirit, the$ should give the spirit this task. #he instructions given to the spirit need to be clear and concise with no room or independent thought or action, and the spirit must be given clear guidelines that this task is the onl$ wa$ the$ are allowed to aect the world outside the triangle. #he practitioner should not bargain with the spirit, agree to repa$ the spirit in an$ wa$, and i necessar$ the practitioner should orce the spirit to perorm the task. #he task should be perormed immedietal$ taking no longer than the duration o the ritual or the spirit to perorm its part. Step & – 'anishing " #he last step is or the practitioner to use the power o the circle to completel$ banish the spirit rom the triangle. #his is o utmost importantance. #he practitioner cannot leave the circle, nor should the triangle be broken, until ater the spirit has been completel$ banished. #o ail this step is to put the practitioner at the merc$ o the spirit which he has abused and e&ploited with no power other than his own to protect him.
!ros and Cons (dvantages to using this %ethod ) With the classical method the practitioner is able to ull$ e&ploit the powers o the spirit. %nstead o the spirit onl$ doing what it wants to do or is willing to do it is orced to do what the practitioner wants it to do. #) #he practitioner is able to command the spirit and take rom the spirit what he wants. #he practitioner does not need to bargain with the spirit, to pa$ back the spirit, or depend on the charit$ o the spirit. $) % done correctl$ and successull$, this method provides the practitioner the greatest amount o protection rom not onl$ direct harm, but also more subtle attacks such as being negativel$ inluenced b$ the spirit. *isadvantages to using this %ethod ) #his entire method is a hostile act against the evoked spirit. Man$ normall$ non+aggressive spirits ma$ become vengeul and violent and look or an$ opportunit$ to harm the practitioner. /t the ver$ least this method will create an adversitile relationship with most spirits where the spirit is not acting in the interests o the practitioner because it wants to, but is instead doing what it has to do. #) #he practitioner is dependent upon borrowed power or the evocation, control o the spirit, and his protection rom the spirit. /lthough commanding rom a position o power, the use o borrowed power shows the weakness o the practitioner. #he spirit is controlled b$, and possibl$ araid o, the source o the power, not the practitioner. $) /ll things considered, this method is probabl$ the most dangerous. /lthough this method uses ver$ powerul protections, it does so because it also creates such a dangerous position or a practitioner to be in. %t creates a hostile situation while the practitioner)s relaiance on e&ternal power advertises his weakness. % ever$thing is done correctl$ the method is entirel$ sae. owever the smallest error be it in the preperation, the ritual, the banishing, or even the wording o commands can prove disasterous. &) Man$ people have ethical and moral issues with this method. Man$ people see commanding and e&ploiting another, even i it is a spirit, or no other reason than because $ou can as un*ust. Man$ dierent religions and spiritual belies take issue with this method.
#Note: % ma$ be a bit biased because % am not a an o this method. % believe that the onl$ reason wh$ this method is so popular is because man$ people believe it is the onl$ method. M$ goal in writing this book was to not onl$ e&plain evocations, but also to provide alternate methods or evocations. %)ve e&plained this method in such detail because % wish to give a complete overview o evocations in this book, and also because understanding this method e&plains a good deal o the theor$ behind evocations and how the$ work in practical use, and this will also show what has been changed in the ;alterantive) methods and wh$.
Evocations II – Magic Circle Exercises March 21, 2013
#hese are some e&ercises to help teach $ou how to make magic circles. '&ercise <= reuires a white bedsheet and a black magic marker. "o tools are reuired or the other e&ercises. #hese e&ercises were designed to build upon one another, so the$ should be attempted in order. #he$ also aren)t meant to onl$ be done once, but to be done over and over again until a person gets it. / practitioner should start with e&ercise <1 and continue to do that e&ercise again and again until the$ eel like the$)ve been successul with it and eel comortable with it, or until the$ eel the$ can)t get an$ better at it. #hen the$ should move on to e&ercise <2, and continue doing this or all urther e&ercises. / person ma$ however, and should, go back to previous e&ercises and retr$ them rom time to time to see i the$)ve become an$ better at them, and to strengthen the core skills taught b$ the earlier e&ercises. % $ou like, $ou can light incense to aid $ou during the e&ercise, however this isn)t necessar$. M$rrh and Lotus will work reall$ well. 5innamon, :ragon)s 9lood, and >anilla are less eective, albeit still good choices. % $ou do use incense, $ou should stop using it b$ e&ercise <8 at the latest. Likewise $ou ma$ light candles i $ou wish. 1,3, or ? candles in ront o $ou or e&ercises <1+ 2. our candles spread out around $ou making a suare, or ive spread evenl$ around $ou or all other rituals. owever, once again, $ou should stop using candles b$ e&ercise <8 at the latest. Exercise +
it comortabl$ on the loor. 5lose $our e$es. #ake some time to rela& and calm $oursel. 5lear $our mind. "otice the empt$ blackness in ront o $ou. %magine a circle being drawn there. >isuali-e the circle and hold it in $our mind. While visuali-ing the circle, think about all the things which the circle represents. #hink about the idea o ininit$. %magine something tracing the line o the circle over and over again orever. #hink about the idea o absolute divine power, and how that idea is represented within the circle. #hink o all the things a circle means to $ou personall$ and what it personall$ s$mboli-es to $ou. When $ou are inished spend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +#
it comortabl$ on the loor. 5lose $our e$es. #ake some time to rela& and calm $oursel. 5lear $our mind. %magine a circle being drawn in the blackness. /s the circle is being drawn, visuali-e immense energ$ coursing through it. When the end o the circle meets the beginning, and the two ends meet, visuali-e a sharp increase in the energ$ o the circle, and the energ$ becomming absolute and divine. 5ontinue to visuali-e the circle and the divine energ$ lowing through it.
When $ou are inished spend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +$a
it comortabl$ on the loor. 5lose $our e$es. #ake some time to rela& and calm $oursel. 5lear $our mind. %nstead o imagining the circle being drawn in ront o $ou, imagine the circle being drawn around $ou on the ground. >isuali-e the circle and hold it in $our mind. While visuali-ing the circle, think about all the things which the circle represents. #hink about the idea o ininit$. %magine something tracing the line o the circle over and over again orever. #hink about the idea o absolute divine power, and how that idea is represented within the circle. #hink o all the things a circle means to $ou personall$ and what it personall$ s$mboli-es to $ou. When $ou are inished spend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +$,
it comortabl$ on the loor. 5lose $our e$es. #ake some time to rela& and calm $oursel. 5lear $our mind. %magine a circle being drawn around $ou on the ground. /s the circle is being drawn, visuali-e immense energ$ coursing through it. When the end o the circle meets the beginning, and the two ends meet, visuali-e a sharp increase in the energ$ o the circle, and the energ$ becomming absolute and divine. %magine the energ$ going upward, into the air above $ou, and creating a powerul and impenetrable barrier around $ou. 5ontinue to visuali-e the circle and the divine energ$ lowing through it. When $ou are inished spend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +& it comortabl$ on the ground outside, in dirt or sand, or an$where that $ou can mark the ground with $our ingers. % $ou have thick carpet, $ou ma$ be able to do this inside. 5lose $our e$es. @lace $our hands together behind $our back. @ush $our ingers into the ground and move $our hands awa$ rom each other, drawing a circle in the ground around $ou, and meeting direcl$ in ront o $ou.
>isuali-e energ$ coursing through the circle as $ou draw it. When $our hands meet, visuali-e a sharp increase in the energ$, and the energ$ becoming absolute and divine. %magine the energ$ rising up into the air above $ou and creating an impenetrable barrier around $ou. #hink about all the things which the circle represents. #hink about the idea o ininit$. %magine something tracing the line o the circle over and over again orever. #hink about the idea o absolute divine power, and how that idea is represented within the circle. #hink o all the things a circle means to $ou personall$ and what it personall$ s$mboli-es to $ou. When $ou are inished, take $our hand and wipe awa$ part o the circle, breaking it. >isuali-e the circle o energ$ ceasing to e&ist immediatel$ ater the ph$sical circle is broken. pend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +-
epeat e&ercise
it comortabl$ on the ground outside, in dirt or sand, or an$where that $ou can mark the ground with $our ingers. % $ou have thick carpet, $ou ma$ be able to do this inside. :raw a circle on the ground, as in e&ercise isuali-e energ$ lowing through the circle as $ou create it, and visuali-e an absolute and divine at the end o its creation. (nce $ou create the circle, remain sitting with $our e$es closed, point $our palms at the circle, and visuali-e the energ$ inside o $ou lowing into $our hands, and then visuali-e that energ$ lowing out o $our hands and the lines o the circle. >isuali-e $our energ$ intermi&ing with the energ$ o the circle, and urther empowering it. When $ou are inished, take $our hand and wipe awa$ part o the circle, breaking it. >isuali-e the circle o energ$ ceasing to e&ist immediatel$ ater the ph$sical circle is broken. pend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +/
7nold a large white bed sheet and place it on the loor. it in the center o the bed sheet with a black magic marker in $our hand. :raw a circle around $oursel as the inside border o $our circle. >isuali-e energ$ coursing through the line as $ou draw it. :raw a second circle around the irst to act as $our outside border, but be sure to leave some space between the two circles. /s $ou draw this second circle, visuali-e energ$ lowing through the line, and as the line completes itsel, visuali-e a sharp increase in energ$, and the energ$ lowing through the entire circle, rom one border to the other. and the energ$ being absolute and divine, and reaching upwards into the air above $ou.
#ake the marker, and between the inner and outer borders o the circle draw a s$mbol that has personal spiritual signiicance. 5ontinue to sit in the circle, and closing $our e$es think about or meditate on the s$mbol. #hink o all the things the s$mbol means, and what powers it has. pend several minutes or more doing this. With $our e$es still closed, move $our hand over the image $ou drew. %magine energ$ lowing out o $our hand, and imagine this energ$ empowering the image, and turning it on. >isuali-e the energ$ and power $ou associate with the image lowing out o it, and lowing into the circle urther empowering it. 5ontinue to draw more spirituall$ signiicant images into the circle and repeating the e&ercise. % $ou eel up to it, ater completing this part o the e&ercise $ou ma$ also repeat e&ercise
it comortabl$ on the loor. 5lose $our e$es. #ake some time to rela& and calm $oursel. 5lear $our mind. @lace $our hands behind $our back. @ut $our hands together behind $our back. Without touching the ground, move $our hands awa$ rom $ou, ar ound $ou, and have them meet directl$ in ront o $ou. /s $ou do this, imagine the circle orming around $ou. >isuali-e energ$ coursing through the circle as $ou create it. When $our hands meet, visuali-e a sharp increase in the energ$, and the energ$ becoming absolute and divine. %magine the energ$ both alling to the ground and rising up into the air above $ou creating an impenetrable barrier around $ou. #hink about all the things which the circle represents. #hink about the idea o ininit$. %magine something tracing the line o the circle over and over again orever. #hink about the idea o absolute divine power, and how that idea is represented within the circle. #hink o all the things a circle means to $ou personall$ and what it personall$ s$mboli-es to $ou. @oint $our palms at the circle, and visuali-e the energ$ inside o $ou lowing into $our hands, and then visuali-e that energ$ lowing out o $our hands and the lines o the circle. >isuali-e $our energ$ intermi&ing with the energ$ o the circle, and urther empowering it. %magine $our spiritual s$mbols appearing within the circle. Move $our hands over them, let the energ$ low out o $ou, and empower them. When $ou are inished with the ritual, visuali-e the energ$ o the circle collapsing around $ou and the energ$ ceasing to e&ist as uickl$ as $ou can.
pend a ew more minutes sitting with $our e$es closed. #hink about and evaluate all o the things $ou have visuali-ed. pend a bit o time calming $oursel and bringing $our mind back to this world. When $ou are read$ peaceull$ open $our e$es. Exercise +1
epeat e&ercise <8, but with $our e$es open the entire time. Exercise +2a
epeat e&ercise <8, but while standing up. Work on doing the ritual as uickl$ as possible. Exercise +2,
epeat e&ercise
5reate a magic circle while walking. 5reate the magic circle as uickl$ as $ou possibl$ can. Make the circle as powerul as $ou can make it. Make it so the circle ollows $ou and $ou are alwa$s at the center o the circle as $ou walk. #hen break down the circle as uickl$ as possible. epeat this e&ercise again and again as man$ times as possible. Further exercises3
Work on creating magic circles in various distracting situations and environments. #r$ doing it while having a conversation, while watching #>, while doing chores, and while doing various ph$sicall$ and mentall$ ta&ing activities, or instance. ee how large $ou can make the circle. 5an $ou make it so it covers a larger area around $ou, or above $ou, or below $ou. Make $our circles ever bigger. #r$ to see how much energ$ $ou can get coursing through the circle and how powerul $ou can make it. /nd o course, do it aster, and aster, and aster.
