Succubus

Succubus / Incubus
Demonic spirits of seduction, shadow, and energy exchange

Definition:
A Succubus (plural: Succubi) is a female spirit or demon from Western mythology and demonology who appears in dreams or at night to seduce men, often believed to drain their life force or vitality. The male counterpart is the Incubus (plural: Incubi). The terms originate from Latin: succubare ("to lie beneath") and incubare ("to lie upon"), referencing their sexual connotation.

Historically, both entities were linked to the Church’s view of sinful sexual desires, and served as explanations for nocturnal emissions, sleep paralysis, or sexual dreams.

🜁 Basic Terminology

Gender	Name	Origin & Meaning
Female	Succubus	Latin succubare – "to lie beneath"
Male	Incubus	Latin incubare – "to lie upon"

They often appear as dream-invading spirits who engage in sexual acts with humans, feed on sexual energy, and manipulate emotional or physical states.

🜂 Alternative Terms & Related Figures

Female (Succubus-like Entities):

Lilith – Often seen as the "mother of succubi" in Jewish mysticism
Empusa – Shape-shifting seductress in Greek mythology (linked to Hekate)
Lamia – Child-devouring and seducing demoness in Greco-Roman lore
Naamah – Sister or daughter of Lilith in Kabbalistic texts
Qarinah – Arabic night spirit believed to visit sleeping men
Yuki-Onna – "Snow woman" spirit in Japanese folklore, often appearing to lonely men
Strigoița – Female vampire-like entity in Romanian folklore
Dearg-Due – Irish vampiress who seduces and kills through erotic charm

Male (Incubus-like Entities):

Incubus – Classic male demon in Western demonology
Asmodeus – Lust demon associated with male sexual temptation
Samael – Partner of Lilith in mystical traditions, sometimes incubus-like
Qarin – Male shadow-being in Islamic belief
Popobawa – Tanzanian night demon known for assaulting victims in sleep
Vetala – Indian undead spirits, vampiric and shape-shifting
Drekavac – Slavic child-spirit or death spirit with haunting, eerie behavior

🜃 Types & Characteristics

Type	Description
Classic Succubus/Incubus	Night demons engaging in sexual dreams or sleep visitations
Astral Succubus	Energetic being appearing in trance, lucid dreaming, or astral projection
Energy Parasite	Feeds on sexual or emotional energy; can attach to auras
Magically Created	Summoned or bound through rituals in occult practices
Archetypal Shadow Aspect	Psychological symbol for repressed desire, guilt, power, or shame
Divine or Goddess Form	Seen as an expression of dark feminine energy, especially in modern witchcraft or Goddess spirituality

🜄 Modern & Pop Culture Terminology

Term	Usage
Dreamwalker	Enters dreams to seduce or manipulate, often used in fantasy fiction
Night Hag	Folkloric female spirit causing nightmares or sleep paralysis
Sexual Vampire / Psychic Vampire	Drains sexual or life force energy (can be metaphorical or occult concept)
Dark Muse	Feminine archetype inspiring creativity through obsession or desire
Dark Siren	Alluring, often dangerous female force with enchanting sexuality

🜄 Symbolic & Spiritual Interpretations

Psycho-spiritual archetype: Succubi often reflect unconscious desires, unresolved sexual trauma, or the repressed aspects of the feminine/masculine psyche.
Shadow integration: In Jungian terms, the succubus or incubus can symbolize a shadow figure whose confrontation leads to personal transformation.
Energetic interaction: In occult or tantric frameworks, these beings are sometimes perceived as entities encountered during deep spiritual work, especially where sexuality, power, and autonomy intersect.
Empowerment narrative: Some modern witches and feminists reinterpret the succubus as a symbol of liberated sexuality and female sovereignty—no longer a demon, but a figure of unapologetic erotic wisdom.

Related Terms:
Lilith, Incubus, Astral Entities, Shadow Work, Dark Feminine, Erotic Archetypes, Nightmares, Sexual Energy

Esowiki - Spiritual Terms Simply Explained