Basic instructions

The main advantage of the Elyonim veTachtonim system is its flexibility: it can work in a variety of medial, cultural, and linguistic circumstances. However, its adaptability is also the main challenge, and it is up to the prospective user to acknowledge all the specificities of the analyzed materials. With that being said, there are several general guidelines to be followed.

• Get thoroughly acquainted with the sources through multiple readings and re-readings and learning about their interpretative contexts. What are the historical, geographical, and social circumstances behind their creation? What are the typical genres? What is their reception history? And so on.
• Feel free to read the sources casually. Highlight the passages speaking about the SEs, make notes on the margins, and acknowledge the literary surroundings of the specific fragments. This creates your internal network of associations which will make all the subsequent steps more natural.
• Read the literature produced by those, who already waded the sources (or at least claim to have done so). There are numerous dictionaries, encyclopedias, and bestiaries out there and they can prove helpful in finding the passages you might have initially missed.
• When populating the database simplicity and circularity are the keys. Start with just pasting the sources and some basic annotation, usually the class and type of entity are enough. Be ready to reconsider and reannotate each unit in subsequent revisions: thus you will know your sources better and produce a more cohesive annotation.
• Treat your endeavor as a case of work in progress. While it might seem frustrating to keep such a project perpetually open, this allows you to update and improve it anytime you want in the future. 
• Do it only if you enjoy doing it. Otherwise, pass your inventory to someone else who might wish to continue developing it.

Eventually, you will encounter more specific problems that require more custom-tailored solutions. While each corpus of sources demands an individual approach you might want to have a look at the specific papers, chapters, and lectures gathered in the Legacy section that address particular challenges such as the essence of the supernatural entity, literary genres, and the like. While not necessarily solving the concrete issues you experience, these may still provide some inspiration.