servitors

Servitors are autonomous constructs within contemporary occult and esoteric practice, conceived as artificial beings formed from mental energy to perform tasks for a practitioner. They are typically described as thoughtforms endowed with purpose and a degree of independent activity, sustained by focused intention rather than by ongoing physical action.

In modern magick, servitors are usually created by explicitly defining a task, naming and formulating a symbol or image to carry the intention, charging it with energy through meditation or ritual, and releasing it to operate. They may require occasional maintenance and a plan for dissolution when the objective is complete.

Servitors differ from egregores, which are typically collective entities arising from a group's shared will, while a servitor is usually aimed at a single objective for a single practitioner. Some traditions emphasize releasing or dissolving a servitor after its job is done to avoid lingering influence.

Critics view servitors as non-scientific constructs, while supporters see them as tools for focusing will, goal-setting, and habit formation. Ethical considerations include respect for autonomy, potential psychological effects, and the importance of clear purpose and a defined endpoint. In practice, experiences with servitors vary widely, and there is no consensus on their efficacy or mechanisms.