Enochian magick
From Free Encyclopedia of Thelema
Enochian magick is a system of ceremonial magick based on the evocation and commanding of various spirits. It is based on the 16th century writings of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley, who claimed that their information was delivered to them directly by an angel. They created the Enochian alphabet, and the table of correspondences that goes with it. It claims to embrace secrets contained within the apocryphal Book of Enoch.
Enochian magick is a hierarchical system of angel magick centered on the evocation of angelic beings whose names are constructed from several tables of letters using consistent rules of formation.
Enochian magick refers to a large number of letter tables, of which five are the most important. These tables include the Watchtowers, a set of four 12x13 letter tables often referred to the four classical elements, and the Tablet of Union, a 4x5 letter table that is referred to the element of [[aether|spirit]. Together these five tablets can be assembled into a supertable.
Additionally, Enochian magick uses a series of 19 Enochian calls written in the Enochian language for the invocation of the various angelic forces and beings represented within the tablets. The exact use and attribution of each call is somewhat obscure, but most magickal groups have some systematic approach to them.
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History
Origins
Dee and Kelly claim they received these instructions from an angel and wrote them down. This account is taken at face value by most occultists. However, some of them have pointed out remarkable similarities to earlier grimoiric texts such as the Heptameron known to Dee. Doubts surrounding Kelly in particular have led many non-occultists to the assumption the whole system was originally a fraud devised by Kelly in order to receive more financial support from Dee. The system claims to relate to secrets contained within the apocryphal Book of Enoch.
Rediscovery
It is not quite clear how much of Enochian magick was put to use by Dee and Kelly. However, rediscovery of Enochian magick by the Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn has sparked remarkable publicity for it in modern occultism. Aleister Crowley, who worked with, and wrote about, Enochian magick extensively, has contributed much to its comparatively widespread use today.
Enochian magick today
Compared to other theories of magic, Enochian magick is strikingly more complex and difficult to understand. This has allowed numerous interpretations to arise, some of which have solidified into schools of thought with individual bodies of interpretative literature. Almost all schools agree, however, in that Enochian magick is a particularly powerful and dangerous form of magic.
Some practitioners hold that Enochian magick is inherently destructive to the magician. In particular, its use is forbidden for members of the Builders of the Adytum and Servants of the Light.
See also: Choronzon
See Also
References
- Wikipedia (2005). Enochian magick. Retrieved Aug. 24, 2005.
