#covenants

The terms “Pact” or sometimes “Demonic Pact” are often used casually in online spaces or social media; but they are rarely understood in practice and real application. They are sometimes treated as aesthetic, fantastical, or performative ideas rather than serious, structured agreements. The tradition of the entity is not required to be demonic. Covenants may be entered by any tradition and those frameworks and entities will follow rules and structures that are endemic to them. 

A Pact is more accurately called a Covenant, and that is the term used here for consistency.

A Covenant is:

“A formal, disciplined, mutually binding agreement with rules, responsibilities, and consequences.”

It is never casual, experimental, or intended to serve personal ego. Covenants involve careful alignment, intention, and structure. They may be short-term or long-term, but they always require discipline and responsibility.

There are core elements to real covenants when they are being observed as a real practice. 

Aligned Goals: Both parties share a clear, mutually agreed-upon objective.

Responsibility and Discipline: Covenants often require lifestyle adjustments, rituals, or adherence to specific practices. They are not casual or whimsical for the sole purpose of aesthetics.

Reciprocity: Both parties actively monitor progress, intent, and fulfillment of obligations.

Consequences: There are real outcomes if the terms are not respected. These may be spiritual, practical, or symbolic, depending on the tradition.

Both short-term or “transactional” covenants exist as well as long-term or lifelong covenants. Many individuals regularly enter short-term or “transactional” pacts with beings, particularly the demonic. Some examples:

Short-Term / Transactional: A practitioner might enter a Covenant with Duke Bune or Lord Mammon to achieve a specific goal, like financial growth. This requires following their guidance, honouring agreed-upon offerings, and closing the Covenant once objectives are met.

Long-Term / Lifelong: A Covenant with a Patron may involve ongoing commitments to personal growth, abstinence, or lifestyle changes. These are serious, often lifelong agreements with spiritual oversight and accountability.

There are several key principles that function within covenants. 

Covenants are consensual and deliberate, not coercive or manipulative.

They are structured and monitored, not convenient narratives.

Real Covenants require preparation, education, and understanding of the deity or entity involved.

Using the term casually or as a tool for emotional leverage is a misrepresentation.

There are many “red flags” I notice when I engage with individuals who speak about covenants. To list a few Red Flags:

Claims of a Pact without structure, training, or oversight.

Using a deity’s name to justify manipulation, coercion, or drama.

Relationships or interactions that prioritize emotional leverage over alignment or mutual goals.

Rapid formation of a Covenant without experience, mentorship, or disciplined practice.

A real Pact/Covenant is structured, disciplined, and reciprocal. It is not about ego, convenience, or storytelling. Discernment is key: the label alone does not make it legitimate. Language means nothing if you do not understand what you are doing or what you are speaking of. 

I hope this has cleared up both confusion and provided a holistic crash-course on covenants for the uninitiated. And, for those that believe themselves initiated into these practises, I hope it has been a relieving refresher on some terms that are abused and misrepresented.

I can give you a rundown! There are also often temple preparation classes available in your ward or online!

(Warning for chunky post because there’s a lot to cover)

When you get your endowment, you start by calling the temple and setting up your appointment, so that they know you’re coming for your own ordinance and not a proxy. You usually go with an endowed family member or friend, so they can help guide you through the temple.

Once you arrive at the temple, somebody will be waiting for you to meet with the Matron, Matron’s assistant, Patriarch, Patriarch’s assistant, or some other member of the temple presidency. They check in with you, answer questions, and show a video that helps you know more about what happens in the ceremony. The video is pretty much the same as what you might learn about in a temple preparation class (or this tumblr post, lol).

The actual ordinance begins with you putting on your garments for the first time. This is done in the dressing room. When you get your endowment, make sure you have brought your garments (different styles, fabric types, sizes, etc. are available through church distribution sites), a white dress with long sleeves and a long skirt or a white suit if you’re a man, white shoes, a slip for your dress (optional), white socks/stockings, and a packet that holds your ceremonial robes. Again, these can be obtained from a church distribution site, and is usually bought for you by an already endowed family member or friend.

The garments are mostly unisex- each pair comes in two pieces, a boxers-style bottom and a cropped-sleeve top (styles vary). For women, you can wear your bra over or under the garments, but most choose to wear it over. You change into your garments in a dressing room, and put on your white suit or dress, socks and shoes, and take your packet of robes with you (without putting them on).

Once you are changed, your guide will take you to the Initiatory booths. Booths are usually the size of a large closet, and are divided into four sections by white curtains. The first section is a waiting area. The second is where you receive an introduction to the initiatory as well as your symbolic washing. The third section blesses you (in SUPER cool ways btw) and symbolically anoints you with oil. The fourth and final section instructs and teaches you about the importance of the garment. This last booth is also where you will receive a new name if it’s your own endowment. If you are a man, you receive your blessings from a man, and if you are a woman, your initiatory blessings are given by a woman. The blessings are nearly identical between men and women, with only minor changes (mostly in how you’re addressed- sister vs brother). The names are based on what day it is, so if you forget your new name in the future you can talk to a temple presidency member and they can look it up for you.

After receiving your new name, you move on to the chapel and wait to be let into the endowment room. Some temples may move you directly into the endowment room. Once everyone is seated, a film begins on a screen or projection at the front of the room. The film has narration, still pictures, voice acting, and captions to tell the story of the creation, the fall of Adam and Eve, covenants, and the process by which we may return to God’s presence. If you need language assistance, translators are available.

The film lasts about an hour and a half. During it, you receive instruction and vow to keep the covenants of obedience, sacrifice, chastity, the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the law of consecration. These are explained in the film before you covenant to keep them. You also dress in sacred ceremonial robes and learn more about how to return to God’s presence.

When the film is almost done, there is a break during which the prayer circle happens. During the prayer circle, individuals and couples stand and unite in prayer for those names that have been submitted to the temple for special blessings. The names remain anonymous, and are taken from the prayer rolls that can be found throughout the temple and through the church Tools app.

After the prayer, the film continues, instructing you on the next part of the ceremony, which happens at the veil. Temple workers help you perform the ceremony, usually with a card that has written instructions on what to do and say. When this is complete, you pass through the veil and enter the Celestial room. You can stay in this beautiful room as long as you want, and when you are done, you return to the dressing room, change back into your street clothes, and leave.

Please know that the initiatory and endowment ceremonies are nothing to fear and be anxious of- people like to talk about how complicated and overwhelming it can be, but if you focus on your feelings rather than trying to understand, memorize, or learn everything in one go, you will find more power, love, and awe in the endowment than anything else. Enjoy your first time, and look forward to learning and understanding it little by little as you return again and again. You won’t understand everything, but you will feel the power that comes from God’s abundant blessings.

Because I don't think enough Christians actually know what they're getting into.

A covenant is a mutual agreement between God and a person, that you will do certain acts and in return will receive specific blessings. There are various covenants throughout the Bible, which Christians agree to as they convert to Christianity.

The Adamic Covenant — Established by God and Adam (and re-established by Christ). God makes humans his cocreators with God and his representatives on the earth, and in exchange for this duty and power, humans choose to not decide for ourselves what is good and bad.

The Noahic Covenant — Established by God and Noah, and continued through Abraham, Jacob, the Israelites under Moses, the Israelites under Joshua, etc., down to Jesus. God promises not to surrender the world to chaos (the flood), and we surrender our old, sinful lives and return out of the floodwaters without the old, dead sins.

The Abrahamic Covenant — Established by God and Abraham. God promises that humans who enter the Abrahamic Covenant will be counted as the children of Abraham and be blessed and will take blessings to other people. In return, humans are circumcised (of heart), meaning we recognize the harm we can do with our extra blessings, we are committed to following God's laws, and that we have a duty to raise our children as Christians.

The Mosaic Covenant — Established between God and the Israelites under Moses. God promises he will dwell with his people and bless them and, in return, we follow a series of commandments. These are common law commandments, as explained by Paul, meaning that we aren't meant to follow the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law.

The Davidic Covenant — Established between God and David. God promises that Jesus will be the ruler of heaven and earth as an eternal king. In return, humans recognize no other king than Jesus and that we recognize the land of Israel as the true and proper home of Israel.

The New Covenant. Established between God and the world through Jesus. God promises to forgive all sins without needing any more sacrifices, that the Holy Spirit will be with us, and that we'll have support to follow God's commands. In return, humans promise to develop a personal relationship with Christ, remember Jesus's sacrifice, and learn God's commandments so well that they are written on our hearts and not just on paper.

Maldraxxi: jocks

Night Fae: theatre kids (literally)