Dictionary term
Incubus
Direct answer
Incubus is a folklore and demonology figure, usually male, believed to sexually assault or oppress sleepers.
Incubus is a sexual night-demon figure in folklore, often linked with sleep fear.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Curses & Spiritual Warfare
- Also appears in
- Curses & Spiritual Warfare
- Aliases
- None listed
- Last updated
- 2026-07-15
Quick reference
- Use when
- Use Incubus when explaining folklore, sleep paralysis interpretations, demonology history, sexual fear, and safety-aware support.
- Do not use it for
- Do not diagnose incubus encounters or ask users to investigate nocturnal spirits.
- Reference category
- Curses & Spiritual Warfare
- Related terms
- Spiritual Warfare, Curse, Discernment, Prayer of Protection
The story behind Incubus
Medieval and early modern demonology used incubus language to explain sexual night experiences and feared assaults.
Incubus in spiritual tradition
Spiritually, Incubus asks how nighttime fear and sexual shame can be brought into safety and care.
The Great Almanac frames Incubus with educational restraint. Mystical or symbolic language may be meaningful, but it should not be exaggerated into certainty, panic, or permission to ignore ordinary responsibility.
Incubus in the Bible
Incubus is not a named biblical category. Christian care should avoid fear, shame, and speculative sexual-spirit claims.
Why Incubus matters
Incubus matters because the figure often overlaps with sleep paralysis, sexual trauma fears, and medieval demonology.
Example in a reading: A page can say a sensed presence during sleep paralysis has been interpreted as incubus in some cultures, but medical explanations matter.
Interpretive caution: Do not diagnose incubus encounters or ask users to investigate nocturnal spirits.
How Incubus is used in a reading
Use Incubus when explaining folklore, sleep paralysis interpretations, demonology history, sexual fear, and safety-aware support.
Where interpretation stops
Information on Incubus is presented strictly for educational, historical, and devotional purposes. Complex or sensitive spiritual topics are approached with absolute calm and balance, avoiding any ritual instructions, superstitions, or exaggerated claims. If you are experiencing distress, anxiety, or safety concerns related to these themes, we warmly encourage seeking support from trusted local pastoral, clinical, or counseling resources to ensure your well-being.
Safety note
Sources and editorial method
This concise reference separates established definitions from historical, symbolic, or interpretive claims. Entries without external references are presented as editorial summaries rather than primary-source scholarship.
The page starts with a direct definition, then separates use, example, caution, spiritual meaning, and historical context. For astrology, occult, demonology, curse, and spiritual warfare terms, the editorial rule is to explain the term without making fear-based, fatalistic, medical, legal, financial, or ritual-instruction claims.
Personalized next step
See how Incubus connects to your own birth chart, numerology, spiritual timing, and personal almanac.
Cast your natal chartRelated terms
These related entries help place Incubus inside a wider reference cluster instead of leaving it as a standalone keyword.
