Egregore

It only exists as long as people believe in it.

Here's a suitable topic for Hallowe'en.

In occult and esoteric thought systems, many suppose that there can exist such a thing as a egregore. This is a — thing — that exists on the spiritual or astral plane as long as, and only as long as, people believe in it. It is composed of their thoughts and beliefs about it.

Albeit it is inert, inanimate, the body of ideas it's composed of can become sufficiently complex as to give it the appearance of life. You can ask it questions, and it will answer.

This may be easier for us to understand now than it would have been a few years ago, since cyberspace has become infested with life-like AI personae.

All the ancient, heathen gods were egregores. Today, Gaia is an egregore.

The handiest place you may find an egregore — at home — is in the bogeyman, wherever that may be. The bogeyman is always an egregore.

For Nicholas Prosper, Clementine was an egregore. He believed the cosmos had appointed him as her guardian, and that when he died — He intended suicide to cap off his killing spree. — he would be transported into her presence, to stay with her forever.

The myths and legends that grow up around historical figures can be egregores. This affects, for example, the different things people believe about Jesus that have nothing to do with the historical person. Same with Mary.

I don't know what to make of the Marian apparitions at Fatima. I am skeptical. The messages she purportedly gave these peasant children are so arcane that no one can possibly understand them without being practically a Roman Catholic religious fanatic. If the Mother of God meant to speak to humanity, I don't think She would have used such language as that.

Far and away, the most prominent egregore of our time has been MAGA. The White House itself publishes images that liken Trump to Jesus. And he has certainly set forth bogeymen enough for his followers to hate and fear.

The magic is: once you stop believing in it, poof! It's gone.

Related: The Bogeyman