Cross-Cultural Practices in Entity Creation: Tulpas, Golems, Poppets, Servitors, and Egregores

A grounded guide to understanding how different cultures approach the art of creating thoughtforms and magical entities.

Creating entities, whether through thought, ritual, or physical materials, has fascinated cultures for centuries. From Tibetan Buddhist Tulpas to Jewish Golems, European Poppets, modern Chaos Magick Servitors, and even the collective entities known as Egregores, the core idea is the same: focusing human intention to manifest something with purpose.

In this article, we’ll explore these practices, dive into their similarities and differences, and consider how they shape our understanding of creativity and belief.

Tulpas: Thoughtforms and Spiritual Companions

Let’s start with Tulpas. The term "Tulpa" might seem new to some, but it has deep roots in Tibetan Buddhism. Traditionally, it’s tied to the Yidam practice, where practitioners visualize a deity with such clarity and devotion that the deity becomes real in their minds. 

Theosophists in the 19th century, a spiritual movement blending Eastern and Western mysticism, popularized the idea of Tulpas in the West. They reimagined Tulpas as autonomous thoughtforms, emphasizing their power as an extension of the human mind.

How Tulpas Are Created 

Tibetan monks use meditation to focus intensely on the image of their Yidam. The Western interpretation adapted this, encouraging detailed visualization of the entity’s appearance, personality, and behavior. 

Here’s the basic process:

1. Intentional Visualization: Picture every aspect of the Tulpa, from its looks to how it sounds or moves.

2. Regular Meditation: Through daily sessions, you strengthen its presence in your mind.

3. Interaction: You imagine conversing with the Tulpa, treating it as independent.

Modern Tulpamancy

Today, Tulpamancy is alive and well, especially online. Communities discuss creating Tulpas as companions. Unlike the mystical or spiritual goals of Tibetan Buddhists, many see Tulpas as therapeutic tools, helping with loneliness or stress.

The line between spirituality and psychology blurs here. Are Tulpas a trick of the brain, or are they something more? Personally, I think it depends on your belief system. Either way, they show the incredible power of focused thought.

Golems: Protectors from Clay

Now let’s talk about Golems, one of the most famous creations in Jewish folklore. The Golem comes from the Hebrew word golem, meaning “unformed” or “shapeless.” 

It’s essentially a creature made from clay or mud and brought to life through divine words or rituals.

The most iconic Golem story is from 16th-century Prague. Rabbi Judah Loew allegedly created a Golem to protect the Jewish community from persecution. 

He inscribed the Hebrew word emet (truth) on its forehead to animate it. Erasing the first letter changed it to meet (death), deactivating the creature.

How Golems Are Created

1. Shape the Clay: Form the Golem’s body from earth, symbolizing humanity’s connection to nature.

2. Rituals and Words: Use sacred texts or the Tetragrammaton, the ineffable name of God, to breathe life into it.

3. Assign a Purpose: Golems are often tasked with protecting or serving their creator.

Ethical Challenges

Golems raise big moral questions: What happens when humans try to “play God”? In most stories, Golems are loyal but lack intelligence or free will, leading to unintended chaos.

To me, Golems are a reminder of both our creative potential and the responsibilities that come with it. They’re fascinating precursors to today’s debates about AI and robotics.

Poppets: Magical Substitutes

If you’ve ever seen a movie where someone sticks pins into a doll, you’ve encountered a (dramatically misrepresented) version of poppet magic. Poppets are small, human-shaped figures used in European folk magic. Unlike Golems, which are protectors, poppets are vessels for spellwork, often representing specific individuals.

How Poppets Are Made

1. Choose Materials: Cloth, wax, wood, or even vegetables like potatoes can serve as the base.

2. Personalize It: Add items that connect the poppet to its target, like hair, nails, or even just a name written on paper.

3. Enchant It: Use rituals or chants to charge the poppet with intent, whether for healing, protection, or something else.

Symbolic Magic

Poppets work on the principle of sympathetic magic—the idea that like affects like. By acting on the poppet, you symbolically affect the person it represents.

Modern Poppet Use

Today, poppets are used for a range of purposes, often in healing or protective spells. For instance, a poppet stuffed with calming herbs like lavender might be enchanted to help someone sleep better.

What I love about poppets is how personal they are. They’re like little bundles of intention, crafted with care to focus your energy.

Servitors: Customized Energy Constructs

Servitors are a creation of Chaos Magick, a modern tradition that focuses on blending psychology and mysticism. Unlike Tulpas, which can become companions, or Golems, which are physical, Servitors are purely energetic constructs. 

Think of them as task-specific thoughtforms you program like a mental app.

How Servitors Are Created

1. Define Its Role: Decide exactly what you want the servitor to do. Be specific—vagueness leads to inefficiency.

2. Anchor It: Create a sigil or physical object to serve as the servitor’s "home base."

3. Empower It: Use meditation or ritual to imbue it with energy and purpose.

4. Give It Boundaries: Unlike Tulpas, servitors are not meant to develop autonomy. Clearly define when and how they’ll dissolve.

Practical Uses 

Servitors can help with anything from focus to creative inspiration. Some people even create servitors to act as energetic “guard dogs” for psychic protection.

What’s cool about servitors is their practicality. They’re all about taking control of your intentions and focusing them on specific outcomes.

Egregores

An Egregore is a collective thoughtform created and sustained by a group of people. Unlike Tulpas or Servitors, which are often individual creations, an Egregore represents the shared energy and intent of a community.

Origins and History 

The concept of Egregores has roots in Western occultism and mysticism. The term comes from the Greek egrégoroi, meaning "watchers," and was first associated with angelic beings in ancient texts. 

Over time, it evolved to describe collective entities in mystical and magical contexts.

Modern occult traditions like Theosophy and Chaos Magick expanded on the idea, linking Egregores to group consciousness. 

Think of an Egregore as the "soul" of a group, shaped by the collective thoughts, emotions, and actions of its members.

Examples of Egregores

1. Religious Entities: Many deities or saints in religions can be seen as Egregores, shaped by the devotion of their followers.

2. Corporate and Cultural Identities: Brands like Apple or political movements can develop Egregore-like qualities, influencing and being influenced by their communities.

3. Magical Practices: In magical orders or covens, Egregores are often intentionally created to guide or protect the group.

How Egregores Are Created

Egregores emerge when a group focuses its collective energy on a shared idea or purpose. While they often arise organically, they can also be created intentionally through rituals or conscious agreement.

1. Shared Intention: The group aligns on a purpose or goal, channeling their thoughts and emotions toward a specific outcome.

2. Symbolism: Symbols, rituals, or names often anchor the Egregore, giving it form and identity.

3. Sustained Focus: The more attention and energy the group provides, the stronger the Egregore becomes.

Over time, an Egregore can take on a life of its own, influencing the group that created it.

Comparing Egregores to Other Entities

Egregores stand out from Tulpas, Golems, Poppets, and Servitors in significant ways. Let’s break it down:

Egregores in Modern Contexts

Egregores are fascinating because they’re everywhere once you start looking. Think of fandoms, political movements, or even the culture of a workplace. These are all examples of collective energy shaping a shared identity.

For instance, a company’s brand can act like an Egregore, influencing how employees and customers feel. 

The company’s logo, mission statement, and rituals (like meetings or events) feed its "presence," making it more than just a business—it becomes a force.

In magical practices, some groups intentionally create Egregores to guide their rituals or act as protectors. These entities are often represented by symbols or invoked during ceremonies, tying the group together through shared purpose.

Comparing Egregores to Servitors and Tulpas

Egregores and Servitors share some similarities, as both can be created intentionally and linked to symbols. However, Egregores are collective, while Servitors are personal tools. 

Tulpas, on the other hand, can gain autonomy like Egregores but are individual companions rather than group constructs.

What sets Egregores apart is their ability to grow beyond the control of their creators. A fandom, for example, can influence its members in ways the original group never intended, taking on a life of its own.

Ethical Considerations for Egregores

Because Egregores influence groups and can shape collective behavior, they come with unique ethical challenges:

1. Group Responsibility: Everyone involved shares responsibility for the Egregore’s actions and energy.

2. Unintended Consequences: Egregores can evolve in unexpected ways, sometimes becoming destructive or manipulative.

3. Maintenance: If neglected, an Egregore can weaken—or worse, become a negative influence on the group.

Approach Egregores with clear intentions and an awareness of their potential impact, both positive and negative.

Whether it’s a Tulpa, Golem, Poppet, Servitor, or Egregore, these practices reveal how deeply human creativity is tied to our desire for connection and control. Each entity reflects the culture and context that created it, yet they all share a reliance on focus, intention, and belief.

Egregores, in particular, show the power of collective thought. They remind us that our shared beliefs can shape more than just our minds—they can create forces that influence our lives and societies.

So whether you’re exploring these practices as a spiritual seeker, an occult enthusiast, or simply out of curiosity, remember: the power lies in your intent. What will you choose to create?