The alchemist Paracelsus once proposed that he had created a false human being through his science.Called a homunculus, this creature stood no more than 12 inches tall and does the work usually associated with a golem. However, after a short time,the homunculus was known to turn on it’s creater and run away. The recipe consisted of a bag of bones, sperm, skin fragments and hair from any animalyou wanted it to be a hybrid of. This was to be laid in the ground surrounded by horse manure for forty days, at which point the embryo would form. Thissupposed beast relied upon the theories of spontaneous generation.
Usually the term homunculus brings to mind the name of Paracelsus who proposed a spiritual homunculus. However, Paracelsus’ proposal was limited in scope to an alchemical operation. The term of homunculus possesses a broader definition; it may be either a spiritual or physical entity. The physical homunculus is deliberately created by occult or magical means combining both human and spiritual efforts. The physical homunculus usually has a human form created through sexual intercourse between a human and a spiritual entity. The type of creation always involves Kundalini Shakti which is always at the root of human (Kundalini) energy.
It is uncertain whether angels, demons, and spirits possess physical bodies, spiritual bodies, or spiritual bodies that appear to be physical. Such confusion exists because of the tremendous influence which spirit exert over human preceptors. The examples are that Biblical angels were believe to have bodies of flesh and blood; Egyptian haunting ghost-precursors to the European vampires-were though to be physical; and the medieval as well as the current incubi and succubi were thought to be physical by those with whom the made love with.
There existed a strong belief in elves, dwarfs, pixies, and fairies by country people until recent centuries, many believed they were physical. Many theorized fairies as physical or human-like beings, possibly being or coming from an indigenous human race. Extending such theorization further back in time it could include the legend of the fallen angels who married the daughters of men teaching then husbandry and the art of warfare (see Book of Enoch). This coincides with the theory that humankind developed increased intelligence either through mating or evolution. Even today tales exist of this indigenous race existing in northwestern Europe before migrating to the United Kingdom.
Evidence of this indigenous is extremely shakily at best. The Devil’s presence at the witch’s Sabbat is a prime example. The witch’s testimonies taken during their European trials at the inquisition were at least questionable (see Malleus Maleficarum). The eyewitness accounts recorded within the transcripts even if extracted by threats or torture render it impossible to verify the Devil, or Horned God, was impersonated by a physical man or a spirit impersonating a physical man. Not only one must consider the possibility of threats and torture but the mental state of the various witches on trial. Many it would seem might have confessed under duress, but some may have truly believed they met with the Devil, had sexual intercourse with him, and served him. Also, they may have sought to impress this upon their inquisitors knowing they had no friends with the Church or the passive congregation surrounding them.
Even legendary vampires fall within this category of uncertainty of being completely spiritual, completely physical, or a combination of both. Originally the vampire was thought to be a physical fiend only later in lore was it spiritualized. Still in myth the vampire is held to be an animated corpse able to discard his materialism at will to turn into a vapor, a corpse casting no reflection.
Another example in this category of uncertainty of spiritual or physical is the changeling, the fairy child for the human child. Usually this happens so the fairy child is nurtured by the human mother. The changeling is practically identical to the human stolen child who is taken to a fairyland except it can be detected by key features such as laughing knowingly, giving sly looks, having a malicious temperament, speaker in a deeper than normal voice, having a voracious appetite, and greater than human strength.
The changeling is the nice term for homunculus, the amalgam of a human child and a spirit child. Such amalgamation would be the product of sexual intercourse between a human and a spirit many do not believe this is possible and those who do never speak of it as a loving sexual union. However, fairies have sexual relations with human beings and even marry them. Children and even entire generations descending from such unions are said to have been born of a human man and a fairy woman. Such events are surrounded by the legend of the “wicked fairy godmother,” symbolic of Lilith, the mother of demons.
This is another example between classical and Western thought. Anyone born of a supernatural deity and a human being in classical Greece was usually as a hero, Hercules, for example, born of Zeus and Alcmene according to one legend. However, what is worth noting is the honor given to Hercules and his feats. By contrast Christianity tends to shun any sexual relationship between human and supernatural. At one time it was thought incubi children were produced though a demonic version of the Virgin Birth, resulting in a round of name calling. One example was a Father Ludovico Sinistrari called “that damnable heresiarch Martin Luther” a well-known example of a devil-begotten man. Luther seemed no more charitable since he said that all odd-looking children should be destroyed at birth, for they were clearly the offspring of demons. It should not be forgotten that incubi is a another name for lilim, children of Lilith. A.G.H.
Source:
Tyson, Donald. Sexual Alchemy: Magical Intercourse with Spirits. St. Paul, MN. Llewellyn Publications. 2000. pp. 79-83