On this episode of Arcane Answers, the hosts delve into the fascinating and frightening world of demons, demonic possession, and familiars. The episode traces the evolution of these beliefs from the 16th and 17th centuries to the present day.

In the early modern period, demonology was considered a serious academic field, combining theology and medicine. Symptoms of possession, such as convulsions, uttering blasphemies, and speaking in unknown languages, were believed to be a true invasion of a person’s will. The hosts note that the symptoms exhibited by a “demoniac” were shaped by their religion; for instance, a Catholic would react to the Eucharist, while a Protestant would react to the Bible. This era’s cases of possession were often linked to accusations of witchcraft and the subsequent witch trials.

The podcast then explores the modern view, where many of the same symptoms are now explained by psychology and medicine, with conditions like dissociative identity disorder, psychosis, schizophrenia, and epilepsy replacing demonic possession as the diagnosis. However, the hosts point out that the belief in demonic possession has not completely disappeared. They discuss contemporary figures like Bob Larson, an American exorcist who claims to have performed thousands of exorcisms and believes that addiction is proof of possession.

The episode also covers a variety of European and Eastern demons. These include:

Krampus: A half-goat, half-demon figure from Germanic folklore, Krampus is said to swat, threaten, or kidnap misbehaving children during the Christmas season.

ALP: A shapeshifting demon of nightmares from the Germanic region. It is said to sit on a sleeping person’s chest, causing suffocation, paralysis, and horrible nightmares.

Ala: A class of destructive demons from Slavic countries, often depicted as a dragon, snake, or a “dark void in the wind”. They are believed to cause hailstorms that destroy crops and to try to eat the sun or moon during eclipses due to their insatiable hunger.

Rakshasas: A powerful race of demons from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. They are described as monstrous beings with fangs and claws who can shapeshift and are known for their magical abilities.

Nine-Tailed Fox: A fox demon prevalent in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese traditions. This demon is known for taking the form of imperial concubines and causing the downfall of empires. The hosts mention a specific tale where a nine-tailed fox’s spirit was sealed in a stone that reportedly cracked in 2022.

Join the hosts as they explore these figures and more, from ancient lore to modern-day beliefs.