A divine embodiment or godform refers to the visualized appearance of the deity assumed in theurgical, tantric, and other mystical practices. This process of ritual embodiment is aimed at transforming the practitioner, aligning them with divine powers for spiritual ascent or transformation. The concept is found across diverse traditions, including Western esotericism, Eastern spirituality, and mysticism, where it serves as a method for achieving personal enlightenment, union with the divine, or other spiritual goals.
In Western esotericism, divine embodiment is most commonly associated with theurgy, particularly in the works of Neoplatonists like Iamblichus, where the practitioner assumes a divine form through ritual or meditation to transcend the material world and reach higher spiritual realms. This concept was influenced by ancient Greek practices of invoking gods and embodying divine forces, seen in both the public cults and private rituals. The idea was later adapted and expanded in Hermeticism, particularly through the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, where practitioners would visualize themselves as deities to channel spiritual power.
