Latest Posts by tulheadmateseance - Page 2

Sometimes you have to be yourself on purpose. What I mean by this is that sometimes we lose touch with ourselves and start coasting and just going through the motions. Which is fine for a while because we get tired and/or depressed and that's fine. Happens to everyone. But eventually it starts to feel bad and you get a specific kind of brainweird that's hard to describe but means that you've lost sight of who you are, what your values are, and what you love.

Leaning really hard into something that makes you go "this is the most me thing ever" helps that specific type of brainweird quite a bit! But maybe you don't know what the most you thing ever is. You are not alone! I get depressed and forget every interest I have. 100% understand that.

When this happens, it helps to remind yourself what you like and enjoy. So what do you do? Well for me, it helps to think about 1. Things I used to enjoy and 2. Things my friends Know Me For.

Like I've been feeling not myself lately and I haven't really knit or created much this month at all. But I'm the Makes Things Guy. I like making things and many of my friends not only know me as someone who makes things but a lot of my friendships specifically come from communities of People Who Make Things.

So I forced myself to pick up an old project, and that helped a bit. But what really helped was coming up with a project that combined my interests (leather jackets, art, and teapots) for me to look forward to and get really into planning for! The most ME I've felt in weeks has been the last hour I've spent planning on painting a famous fine China design on the back of my leather trenchcoat. Because not ONLY am I the Makes Things Guy, I am also The Teapot Guy. I finally feel like myself again.

I wish I had more concrete advice in regards to how you remember your own interests when you get disconnected from them, but a solid place to start is things you used to like and things your friends know you like. If you struggle consider asking a friend what things they know you like. Sometimes friends can see us better than we can see ourselves and it helps to use them as a mirror to see yourself through.

I am Imtithal from northern Gaza. I live in very difficult conditions because of the war and I struggle to provide basic necessities. I was displaced with my children 17 times in search of a safe place. There is no safe place. We suffer from a shortage of water, food, medicine and milk. Because of the famine war that we have been going through for 10 months, I need your support so that we can survive. Even if the support is simple, it helps my family a lot. Please donate and participate.

their gofundme is linked in their bio

I can’t donate myself on account of I am poor and broke but if you can please help

the system experience

>type did system into youtube search bar

>first option is "did system cringe"

>go onto reddit and type did system

>first option is fake disorder cringe

>feel fucking awful

>do a did presentation in medical class

>someone raises their hand and asks how to know if someones faking

>feel fucking awful

>tell someone you have did

>they ask if you're faking because you have a fictive

>feel fucking awful

>feel fucking awful

>feel fucking awful

>tell a close friend you have did

>they get disgusted when you say we instead of I

>look at tiktok compilations

>did cringe compilation

>follow a funny youtuber

>video on people faking did

>feel fucking awful

>try and look for resources

>psychiatrist making a presentation on how did systems looking for community is a sign of faking, uses system content without their consent

>psychiatrist making a presentation on how did systems being open is a sign of faking

>go onto tumblr

>type plural

>find post about how "the future is plural" is traumatizing children and should never ever ever happen because fuck plurals we don't need acceptance that bad right?

oh my god when does it fucking end

if you make a special box in your head called "thoughts that aren't mine" and put every thought that doesn't feel like your own into that box. let's just say. something magical happens

In-system relationships can be so intimate.

Waking up together, opening the same eyes, and stretching the same limbs. Yawning in time and saying a good morning that only you who are involved can understand what it's for.

Sharing a meal, not only from the same plate, but with the same hands and the same senses. Deciding what to eat together, something that fits all of your tastes.

Curled in the same bed, in the same blankets, in the same body, drowzily mumbling about nothing and everything to each other. Joking around and feeling their sleepy laugh as if it were your own.

Living life, and inviting them to share yours and your time in it--performing your daily tasks in the unison of cofront. Seeing and hearing and feeling everything together.

Feeling them blush when you flirt or compliment them. Feeling their joy when you get them a gift, or how safe you make them feel simply when you're around them.

Enveloped in the same love, from the same brain, with the same feeling of care for each other palpable between you. Feeling the emotions you feel yourself, coming from the other person. Feeling their love for you, in the rawest, most direct possible way.

Sometimes being a system is "yes this one person has been fronting alone for the past five hours"

And sometimes it's "there's like 13 people near front and god knows which one of them is actually in control of the body right now"

a reminder that the host isn’t the only person in the system who should be respected and made to feel comfortable.

the host is not ‘the important part’, we are all completely conscious and capable of our own thoughts, feelings and our own boundaries. our brain created us because it decided that we are all important and needed.

the host is not the only member of a system you should care about.

Shout out to people who are plural for "weird reasons"

Loneliness

Internet access

Illness

"everyday stress"

Bullying

Emotionally unavailable parents

Hoarding

Poverty

Gaslighting

Psychosis

Drug use

Perceived risk of abuse (no active abuse)

Neurodivergency

"gifted kid"

Lying

Etc.

You are just as valid as those with textbook traumas and we love you <3

- Tobie

i wonder how they're doing now...

Please. I want to be a creature.

shoutout to my therapist who, upon me telling her i didn’t like the word alter, started referring to my headmates as “my homies.” like “any updates on your homies? have you heard from your homies at all this week” she’s the only true plural ally

Since Plural Pride Day and Moon Landing Day fall on the same date, I have decided that the Moon is plural. Yep, that's right. The Moon is a median system and each of her phases is a different headmate. Aren't we all so lucky to have a celebrity so open and proud to be herself and show off all her headmates' individual styles? We should appreciate her more

As awareness of plurality continues to spread online, that also means more and more people will realize they are plural. And unfortunately, there will be a response from certain gatekeepy exclusionist types, who will push back against these newfound systems and insist on invalidating them. They’ll insist they’re just hopping on a trend, or just fooling themselves, or whatever other justification they can make up to maintain the idea that being plural is extremely rare and being plural means suffering for it.

Don’t fall for it. Being plural presents challenges and difficulties without question, but being plural also can bring joys and clarity that weren’t possible otherwise. Being plural can be hard, and it can be beautiful.

No two systems present and function exactly the same ways. No two systems are plural for the exact same reasons. So we can’t expect there to be an absolute common trait present in every system. So any attempt to weed out the “fakers” is pointless and malicious.

If someone believes themself to be plural, they have good reason to. No further “proof” needed. If someone comes to us believing themself to be plural, we will help them along without critique or question. And above all we will be happy for them. Even if someday they realize they aren’t plural, that process of being allowed to question and experiment is so important, and they should be allowed to do so regardless of where they end up.

Plurality is a spectrum that encompasses a vast swathe of experiences and outlooks. It can be difficult to reckon with, which is why community is so vital. And as that community online grows and becomes more and more visible, we should all do our part, systems and singlets, to make sure these newfound systems feel safe, seen, and welcome.

Here’s my metaphor for systemhood that I tell my singlet friends.

Imagine you’re playing a first person video game. You have the controller, you control your character. It’s a normal first person game. You are an alter, the character is the body. This is fronting.

Other people live with you. Sometimes, they come into the room and sit and watch while you play. They sometimes try to guide you, give you advice on what to do next. They don’t always agree, and they can argue with each other. Other times they scream at you that you’re doing everything wrong and you suck at this game. This is co-consciousness.

Imagine how distracting it would be for people around you to tell you what to do, or to scream at each other or at you, even if they have good intentions. It wouldn’t be easy to focus on your game, would it?

Then sometimes, something happens in the game that prompts you to hand off the controller to someone else so they can play and you get a break. This is (some types of) switching. This can be good.

Other times, someone rips the controller out of your hand or fights you for it. This is (other types of) switching. And sometimes, six other players hook up their controllers, but there’s only one character to play as. So all of you have your controllers, but you’re all trying to play the same character. This is cofronting.

Imagine how difficult that would be. Imagine how hard it would be to try and play a game while someone is trying to take the controller from you, or while six other people are trying to play too.

There are also times that nobody is playing, or you can’t decide who should play. What’s happening to the character in the game? What are they doing if no one is playing? This is dissociation. The character is doing nothing. They’re stuck.

This is the best metaphor I have come up with for being a system. It’s something a lot of people get because they’ve played games before.

plural culture is being a relatively small system then going on school break and experiencing massive system growth and getting very involved with plural communities and mostly shifting to thinking in we/us and being scared to slip up at school when you go back

.

Plural culture is this image I made please don't ask about the quality

(If you can't read it it says "Weird stuff happening in the outer world")

.

@funnier-as-a-system

Yeah I love manipulating my friends for my own gain, the gain is called "hanging out", obtained via such cruel tactics as "showing interest in stuff they like" and "being generally complimentary and charming"

This is literally so system coded

Splitting much??? 👀👀👀

@funnier-as-a-system

plural lawyer call that a justice system

Reminder that your plurality is valid <3

DID/OSD are valid

Endogenics are valid

Tulpas are valid

Mixed origin systems are valid

Unknown origins are valid

ALL plurality is real and valid

actually you know what . appreciation post bc as a traumagenic system who splits involuntarily, frequently, and with a lot of less developed alters, i look up tulpamancy and willogenic practices and it helps US !!! it helps those nondeveloped headmates to feel more like people!!! so!!!!! thank you for that!!!

NO SYSCOURSE ON THIS POST ILL KILLLL YOUUUU

I LOVE ENDO SYSTEMS !! i love endo systems who chose their plurality i love endo systems who didn't i love nondisordered endo systems i love disordered endo systems i love transgender endo systems i love cisgender endo systems i love endo systems i love you

YOUR HATE ISN’T PUNK

There are no punk values in your exclusionism,

There are no punk values in demeaning the lived experiences of others,

There are no punk values in making people earn their right to exist,

There are no punk values in punching down the people who live adjacent lives to you,

There are no punk values in a strict idea of systemhood and enforcing conformity to it,

There are no punk values in upholding an abusive and biased psychiatric system,

Dissect your views, uphold your community, kill that fucking cop in your head.

THERE IS NO CHANGE FOR A BETTER FUTURE IF WE CANNIBALIZE ONE ANOTHER TO UPHOLD ARBITRARY IDEALS OF WHAT A “REAL” SYSTEM IS.

love being a traumagenic endo system, like yeah I needed a friend and caretaker to help me through my trauma so bad because others dismissed it and I couldn’t get out much and didn’t get the socialisation I needed so I became plural but in the Tulpa way not a DID way.

Sure love when people say we endo systems are DID/disorder fakers

even when we never claim to have the disorder in the first place…

Even when we use the term “endo” “willogenic” or whatever to specifically say that we aren’t claiming to have DID or any sort of disorder…

sure do love when other systems say we are ruining the community by existing and that it’s our fault not the fault of the people who hate on systems and call us fake, weird, and delusional...

sure do love people saying we’re fetishising disability and mental health when tulpas- for us especially, help with our mental health issues and again, we aren’t trying to be any more disordered than we are. We don’t want DID, we are happy as we are, which isn’t DID.

Hi!

We have a few questions for you!

First, is it possible/normal for tuplas to start responding verbally almost immediately? My tuplas Jax & Jasmine were accidentally created when I was 12, and from what I can tell they started talking almost immediately, but were pretty undefined as people.

Second: Do you have any tips for learning to co-front and how we can learn to switch who's fronting? We have a final goal of functioning multiplicity with mutually beneficial fronting to help with daily life, but aren't sure how to start.

All three of us are interested or curious about learning to co-front/switch fronts & I, the host am mainly the one curious about our first question.

-💜🔗 (we'll probably be back so here's our signoff)

Yo! I'm gonna combine these two asks into a singular one since it's way easier. I'm gonna answer things bottom-up since the second one gives more context 👍

So there's a lotta crossover between paragenic systems and tulpas, which makes a lotta sense because it's really similar in the how you're starting with a non-autonomous concept of a person that then gains autonomy & awareness for themselves. Especially with unintentional tulpas, there's really a thin line between em. From what we know, most paragenic systems call their members paratives: "a member of a system that was originally a para. The development of a para into a parative is unique to neuronarrative plurals, immersive daydreaming plurals, or systems that have Maladaptive Daydreaming Disorder." Which means that it's kinda up to you what you feel like; if it seems like your system members used to be paras and then turned into full system members, then you might like paragenic more; but if ya feel like tulpamancy terms and concepts fit wirh you better, then go ahead and use that one! Labels are just things ya use to describe yourselves, is all.

And here's the secret part: you can still use tulpamancy techniques if you're of another origin! A lot of it is writtwn for previously-singlets that don't have any dissociation problems, so you gotta know yourself best when you go into looking into this stuff with a dissociative disorder, but it's still super useful for a lot of people. Fronting/switching/possession guides are the reason I'm able to front at all, plus maybe our non-tulpas too 👍 What helped me a ton when I was first starting was trying partial possession first- the first part of the body I ever controlled was the voice, actually!

For your last question, it's not super unusual for different tulpas to hit different points of development/awareness/personhood at different times. For some people the awareness comes first and then the emotions and then the mindvoice communication, but for others it can be in a buncha different arrangements. My guess with amateur-knowledge on MaDD is: the fact that you daydreamed with your proto-headmates primed them to be able to respond with their mindvoice way easier, while they were still developing a sense of self behind it.

Lots of fronting/possession guides to use:

- Possession Explained

- Possession via Dissociation

- DJFlix on Possession (this one is based in visualization and colors; good for ppl with vivid imaginations)

- Possession: By a Tulpa for Tulpas (hell yeah tulpa made resources)

- Parallel Processing and Switching

- Malfael's guide to switching (in-depth, awesome)

- So you wanna switch? Do you, really? Might be able to help with that. (Written by a DID system)

- Controlled switching (a few short intentional switching methods)

- Sophieinwonderland's ghost switching method (short)

I actually have afew questions, I hope you don't mind!

1)I just recently saw your post about Sophie and "tulpa" and other variants of the word being harmful. I was wondering if you could give me some other terms for tulpa/tulpamancy/tulpagenic/tulpamancer/etc, especially using the terms "Willow/willowgenic"!

2) I've felt less valid as a system because I have Aphantasia and I can't hear my headmates. We speak through opinions and emotions because that's the only way we can. Do you have any ways I can work on communication with my Dudes?

3) Lastly, I've been super confident lately! But when my male/masculine presenting Dudes are near front, their dysphoric emotions probect onto me. I was wondering if this was normal and if it had a name!

That's about all I have, if any of my questions step out of your boundaries/comfort zone I'm so so so sorry!

Have a lovely timezone!!! <3/p

we don’t mind, that’s what we’re here for :)

1) here are some other terms you can use besides “tulpamancy:”

parogenic/parogen

paro/paromancy/paromancer (this is what we use!)

thoughtform

willogenic/willomate/willomancy/willomancer (though we have seen issues with this term, as some paros (tulpas) were never willed into existence and function more like walk-ins)

2) communicating through emotions and opinions is totally fine - these are definitely valid ways of communicating, especially if it works well for your system.

we know aphantasia may complicate things, but we do have a post on establishing contact with headmates. you can check it out here. your system may benefit most from spending time working on external communication, and we have a section in that post on how to do just that.

3) we’re not sure if the phenomenon of experiencing another headmate’s dysphoria has a name, but we can definitely say that it is very common for headmates to feel the emotions of other members, especially if they’re blended or cofronting together. i know i get species dysphoria and sometimes our resident human alter will feel that dysphoria when we’re cofronting together, even if he still identifies as a human. our gender dysphoria and euphoria are all over the place, and it’s very normal in our system for us to feel each other’s emotions when we’re fronting together.

we hope this helps to answer some of your questions. thanks for reaching out :)

🐢 kip and 👻 ghost

"Changing a term isn't that hard"

Problem 1 - A divided community

Any attempt at making a new term would be met with resistance. Not from everyone, but by most. It's likely that those who use other terms would move away from the tulpa community. So instead of actually getting tulpamancers to change their term, you would be just be making a new community outside of it.

But maybe you can manage to stick around in tulpa spaces, get other people to as well, and somehow slowly change the language from the inside. But what is that language?

Problem 2 - Finding a word for everyone

Thoughtform is a bad term because its connotations are too spiritual. There is also an active spiritual thoughtform community out there right now that this will be stepping on the toes of, smashing together two largely disconnected communities.

Many feel parogenic is too broad. And willogenic presents the practice as just "willing" a headmate into existence. Both also would result in the tulpa community losing its identity, becoming yet another xeno-origin and being assimilated completely into the endogenic community.

Senpia is just never going to happen.

None of the alternatives are going to be universally-agreed upon. And having the community divided amongst multiple terms exacerbates the first problem.

Problem 3 - Domain shifts

Anti-tulpas like pointing to the shift from "natural multiplicity" to "endogenic" as an example of how you can change terms. For those that are unaware, "natural multiples" were basically the precursors for endogenic systems. Many argued that the term was ableist because it suggested systems formed from trauma were "unnatural." Which is a silly and bad faith way of framing it, since the opposite of nature is usually environmental in this context, as in the nature vs nurture debate.

But regardless, the websites that existed at the time didn't include the terms in their domain names. They could change their terms without ever worrying about this. Furthermore... most of these communities were already dying as the plural community migrated to Tumblr. The whole internet landscape was morphing in the early 2010s.

Problem 3.1 - r/tulpas

On Reddit, changing a subreddit name is literally impossible. The only possible way to accomplish this would be to have the mods delete r/tulpas and create a completely new subreddit. At which point, a huge number of subscribers are instantly lost.

As is a ton of history on the subreddit, and even some guides that never got posted anywhere else.

Problem 3.2 - Tulpa.info

While it may technically possible to change the domain, that instantly breaks every link to every single tulpamancy guide on the website in an instant.

The whole thing becomes a huge mess. Perhaps they could setup redirects, but that would require paying for the old domain as well as the new one, driving up server costs.

Problem 4 - Visibility

Any new community terms will lose the visibility of identifying as tulpas. For people who are experiencing sentient imaginary friends and looking for a community, this transitionary period will make it way more difficult to find a community to support their needs.

It also makes it more difficult for the tulpamancy community to expand and bring in new members.

Problem 5 - Academic Research

Tulpamancy is currently the primary form of endogenic plurality being researched, including an fMRI study. All other research into endogenic plurality has mostly been surveys. Finding people to take part in FMRI studies is difficult. Not everyone has a lifestyle where they can just fly off to California for a brain scan.

If research continues, there are multiple ways this could hamper it going forward.

Mixing with the thoughtform community could mean a larger spiritual influence in the community, reinforcing the idea that endogenic plurality is only valid if it's spiritual. There are plenty of studies into spiritual possession happening, and it's imperative that we match that with research into plurals with psychological origins.

Losing our identity by assimilating into the larger endogenic community through -genic labels like parogenic and willogenic will end research into tulpamancy as a phenomenon of its own.

And dividing the community means fewer people are going to be found who can take part in these studies.

A term isn't just a term

It's our identity. It's our community. It's our connection to each other. It's our websites and the resources they host. It's our ability to be seen. It's our connection to the academic research into our community and ongoing advancement in the field.

There is no genuine "pro-tulpa, anti-tulpa terminology" side. Changing the terminology as a whole would divide and devastate the tulpamancy community.

If you're fighting against tulpa terminology, you're fighting against the tulpamancy community.

Here’s some positivity for parogenic/paromancy systems!

On this blog we love, respect, and cherish parogenic systems! To those who are shifting away from tulpa language, have always identified with parogenic/paromancy, or are just now finding the right label for themselves and their system, this one’s for you!

Here’s to the paromancers!

To those who have spent hours researching, meditating, building a wonderland, focusing on their thoughtforms and paros, and manifesting their existences! To those who didn’t have to try at all, whose parogenic headmates walked into their life and settled in for good! To those who are honing their paromancy craft, who create guides, art, and other paro-focused content on their own or with the help of their thoughtforms! Paromancers, we see you, we love you, and we are honored to share the plural community with you!

Here’s to the paros, thoughtforms, and parogens!

To those who became sentient almost immediately! To those whose existence feels faint, who have to focus hard to hold on to their form, or who struggle to remain in reality! To those who love to collaborate with their hosts in building a wonderland and forging their own identities! To those who think for themselves, who are feisty, brave, reserved, cheerful, or anxious! Paros, thoughtforms, know that you are real! You belong in this world, you deserve to express yourself and take up space, and we’re rooting for you in all that you do!

Here’s to the paromancy systems!

To those who work together to better understand each other! To those who feel lost and confused, but feel better when they’re together! To those who bond together and build positive, long lasting relationships! To those who may not fully understand how their system works, but who wouldn’t change it for the world! To those who dare to be themselves, or spread awareness about paromancy and plurality! To those who support and uplift their system members, and their fellow systems in the plural community! Your system is beautiful! Your plurality is complex, unique, and worth celebrating!

We hope all parogenic systems and headmates can find peace, joy, and comfort in each other and themselves, today and every day! Know that the plural community would not be the same without you. We love you and we so appreciate your presence here! Please keep your chin up, look after each other, and remember that you are wanted, loved, and cherished just the way you are. Thanks a bunch for reading, and have a great day!

This is a topic that can get very confusing for those starting out. There are lots of interchanging terminology, beliefs, and constructs that not everyone sees fit to agree on. This can often create misunderstandings and propagate the misuse of certian energies making navigation for newcomers more than just problematic. In this blog, I will attempt to systematize some of the complexities enough to deliver a more organized path for beginners to follow and build upon.

Keep in mind, however, that while there are some definite rules to thoughtforms there is also a well of UPG around this topic. The knowledge surrounding thoughtforms changes quite considerably with the beliefs of the individuals that practice it. So take from this blog what you will.

The Basics

So I bet some of you are asking, what exactly is a thoughtform? Well, that’s a being created from our beliefs and thoughts. They are made up of energy and can be utilized in magickal workings. Now there is some confusion among some members of the community here. Sometimes the term is not seen as the umbrella term it really is and instead becomes a varying type all on its own. However, to fully understand where this name fits we need only break it down in its simple meaning. "A being formed by the power of thought." This clearly describes a variety of different beings, not just a singular one, hence why it's more traditionally used as an umbrella term.

⚜️ Creation ⚜️

A thoughtform’s creation will ultimately depend on the witch but essentially most agree it starts with finding a purpose. From there you can build it up starting with a name. A name binds the thing into existence so this is most often agreed upon to be a very important step. From this most people use that name to create a sigil. Others make a symbol on their own and bind it to the name afterward. Either way, it’s often seen as an essential step in the process. A sigil gives the thoughtform a physical foundation to draw energy from and affect the real world. Some witches in turn will then place that sigil on a vessel for their thoughtform to connect to, while others draw it in the air with energy.

Finally comes the fun part, designing. You can skip this process altogether but many enjoy deciding how this being is going to look. This is also a great opportunity to build more symbolism around it. Tie its appearance to its purpose and allow this to strengthen it. Once that’s done it’s time to begin the actual ritual. Now, many like to write out everything on a petition and/or draw a picture of the being. In my experience, this isn’t really needed but it helps quite a bit if you’re doing a more complex being (this will be discussed later in another section). It’s also good to decide on the finer details. Not just what you want your thoughtform to do, but what type it is, and what it’s not allowed to do as well.

Once the written portion has been completed (and drawing if you choose to use that), set it up in a place of power. Most people use their altar but you can also create a sacred space specially for this part. The ritual itself will essentially involve you going into meditative gnosis and forming the energy with your mind. (Visualization helps with this. Some people choose to picture a light forming into the being or a large cosmic egg. But that too is based on a user's preference.) This part takes focus so make sure there aren’t any distractions nearby. Once you’re finished greet your thoughtform and continue with any other magick you wish.

As for how long this is going to take, nobody can truly say. We each are different and how our energy works will ultimately decide how long things will take. However, in my own experience, I would say that most thoughtform creations vary based on complexity. The simpler the being the shorter amount of time it will need. For longer amounts of time, you may need to visit your uncreated thoughtform once a day. giving it energy each time to ensure its continued gestation.

⚜️ Feeding ⚜️

Think of your thoughtform as a computer. It’s programmed to function a certain way by the user and to keep it going you need to give it a battery or plug it into a port. In short, it needs something to draw energy from to work properly. How you feed your thoughtform will depend on its type, but for most people, they set their thoughtform's ability to feed during its creation process. Either going to it regularly to meditatively give it energy, to offerings, or even to preprogrammed sustainability, a thoughtform needs something to ensure its success.

⚜️ Setting A Time Limit ⚜️

Certain thoughtforms will need a time limit of some sort. This is usually predetermined by the creator and set during the creation process or a kill switch is kept in place for whenever the practitioner deems it necessary. (Like burning or tearing up the paper vessel or petition with the thoughtforms sigil). Now depending on who you ask, What thoughtforms should get a time limit will inevitably change. Some believe that all thoughtforms need a limit and thus rarely venture past the simple variety. While others believe that there are many more varieties that don’t need such a limit. I will cover this in further detail in later sections.

⚜️ Involuntary Creation ⚜️

This can happen sometimes, especially if there are lots of emotions around a certain belief. Things can manifest against our will and they can be both negative or positive depending on what energy was used to create them.

Servitors

Also called simple thoughtforms and simple servitors, they are the most common form of thoughtform and by far the easiest to create. They have no sentience to speak of and are driven only to complete their task. The purpose for their creation. It is everything to a servitor which is why many believe it’s the type of thoughtform that MUST have an end after that task is finished. To allow a servitor to exist without a purpose would be like a living hell to such a creature. It would be cruel and compared to torture some believe.

Now let’s say you did decide to let it remain. What exactly would happen? Well, there’s a variety of things really. One, if left unfed the servitor could simply vanish one day, but it would be a slow death. However, if you’re unlucky enough, it may just evolve sentience. When this sort of thing happens in such a situation the servitor is often already driven to madness and will become something akin to a parasite. Recklessly feeding off their creator to sustain themselves. This can cause exhaustion, dizziness, clumsiness, and in some more severe cases illness to the practitioner. And those who suffer from other forms of mental illness like depression and anxiety have often reported their symptoms getting worse. The best course of action for these sorts of beings is to extinguish them completely. They have no hope of being reasoned with.

Now let’s say you do feed your servitor, but you never give it a purpose. Then what happens? Well, they can still go mad as the life without a purpose is demeaning and arduous for such a creature. This is why some people like to give them new purposes. The problem is, a simple servitor isn’t made to properly sustain things like this. It would be like uploading a new program onto an older computer that isn’t equipped to properly run it. So while it may work for a little while, it will never be up to par like it was before, and eventually, you’ll have to accept that. You’ll be forced to get a newer model anyway. Problem is, that even these beings can still grow in sentience. And while they may not be as crazed as the ones mentioned before, because they’re not in a state of starvation, they may still express the dislike of such an existence. Some people report that once sentient, some servitors have simply run away or completely withdrew in their own depressive state. Ultimately wasting away because they wouldn’t eat. This is why it’s generally agreed upon that a simple servitor works its best when a time limit is in place.

Sentient Servitors

Also called complex servitors or complex thoughtforms, consider these beings a step up from your average servitors. Most often they are created with sentience or at the very least created with the intent to obtain sentience by growing into it as they do their job and experience the world around them. This type seems to have become more popular in recent years and has garnered its own subcategories in turn. These generally tend to be something concerning their purpose and will vary by practitioner. Some of the most popular is a familiar, home guardians, or personal protectors.

For the most part these beings are created without the intent to destroy them. This is because what they are needed for what generally takes regular upkeep as well as a mind that can analyze and learn just like we do so it can grow alongside you and learn different ways to cope with its overall objective. But that isn’t to say people don’t exist that give them time limits. However, that can bring up more controversy depending on who you talk to because now you’re destroying something that may not actually want to be destroyed. Something that wants to continue on and experience existence. When a thoughtform reaches this stage and they realize you may want to destroy them, they often start looking for a way out. A way to feed without the help of the witch. That way they can simply go off on their own. In lots of cases, a witch may gift their thoughtform with this ability so that when their task is done they can go ahead and make the way out.

Poltergeists

Now some of you may be surprised to see this category on this list but it really is a thoughtform. Looking into how some paranormal experts define these entities reveals that they are entities created from the negative energy accumulated in a certain place or around a certain individual, and that’s exactly what a thoughtform is. A poltergeist is always an involuntary creation, however, and is almost always negative as well. It’s known for throwing objects and making strange noises. Hence why their name means “noisy ghost” in German.

Egregores

These thoughtforms are created by a group of individuals instead of just a single person. They can be voluntary or involuntary, sentient or otherwise, it all depends on the conditions for their creation. For instance, some covens create an egregore for their personal group typically of the non-sentient variety, while other individual people may believe in something so much that the beings form involuntarily from that belief. Many use this way of thinking to explain how deity came to be. Declaring that all gods and goddesses as we know them are simply egregores believed into existence. Not everyone agrees with this sentiment, however, nor does everyone utilize the egregore label exactly the same.

While some say egregores can be both sentient and non-sentient, others have strong beliefs that the egregore can only be non-sentient and that once it grows to sentience it will become something else entirely. The former seems to be the most popular way of looking at it on our modern age though, so you're bound to find that this way of utilizing the egregore to be more prevalent in the ways of information.

Godforms

Also known as God Heads, this is probably the most confusing of all the types of thoughtforms simply because there are so many varying beliefs around it. More traditionally, godforms are statues or pictures portraying the image of a particular god. Through ritual, the god embodies these pieces and they become an extent of that deity. Some believers even associate people as being a part of that godform, and during those sacred ceremonies, the chosen individual becomes a direct speaker for the god they are channeling. However, in more modern times, the term has taken a considerable divergence into thoughtform territory.

It is believed by some that the godform is a type of deity, either created to be a god from the beginning or grown into one by an egregore. In more recent years, however, a godform is often depicted as being a more personalized entity. An individual's own personal god if you will. In this instance, they are created using a specific part of the practitioner's energy. Usually some part of a magical circuit like the elements, or the 8 circuits of consiousness. This entity in turn becomes heavily connected to the individual and will affect whatever cuircut or energy center they were made from. Let's say you made a god that draws from your fire energy. Therefore, your fire energy will grow and everything it affects will also grow. This entices the person to continue giving the god energy, through meditations, offerings, even an altar. It's given praises and prayers as well, just like any other deity.

Tulpa

The tulpa is often confused in our modern times as being nothing more than a servitor, but that understanding couldn't be more false. Traditionally Tulpa's are a concept from Buddhist nirmāṇakāya. It was a translated in Tibetan as sprul-pa and was the practice of creating an autonomous entity made from the individual's mind. It was manifested by a Buddha to teach and guide those who hadn't yet attained nirvana. Some have likened it to seem much like a ghost or apparition, walking between the physical and metaphysical realms. They were said to obey their master for the most part but were entirely sentient with their own thoughts and emotions.

Today, tulpamancers, often equate a tulpa to something kind of like an imaginary friend, but one that can actually manifest things. Tulpas are said to have the ability to use their creator's body, or even dwell inside of it completely. They can even operate it on their own should their creator allow it. Many, state that the tulpa often helps them out during difficult situations. They are created with the qualities that the user doesn't have so that they can take over in times when those qualities are needed. As for life span, that will definitely depend on the individual. Like regular thoughtforms, some say that the user ultimately decides if they want their tulpa to remain or vanish after they themselves have learned to obtain whatever qualities they had placed in their tulpa. Others say that the tulpa stays with you for life. Whatever the case, this thoughtform is definitely the most unique of the bunch.

Conclusion

Thoughtforms are an interestingly diverse form of magick. And while they are very prevalent within the chaos magick community, many magickal practitioners from all pathways come to utilize them within their crafts. As stated above, there are many unique beliefs surrounding them, and finding out what way is best for you can seem somewhat daunting. The best thing to do is take it slow, and practice, practice, practice. Thoughtforms are one of those things you learn best by doing. Just remember that what works for someone else may not work entirely for you. Go at your own pace, and find your own rhythm. Best of luck!

Further Reading

• Types of Ghosts (Poltergeists)

• Servitors (Chaos Magick)

• Thoughtforms

• Psychonaut Field Manual: Egregores

• Psychonaut Field Manual: Godforms

• Tulpa’s