The invocation of angels through the Great Seal and the Enochian System, a linguistic and operational framework that purports to be the primordial language of the angels.
Origins and Historical Context
The Enochian system emerged in the late sixteenth century, during the height of the Renaissance, a period of intense intellectual, mystical, and scientific exploration in Europe. John Dee, mathematician, astronomer, occultist, and adviser to Queen Elizabeth I, and his collaborator Edward Kelley, a medium and possibly adventurer, claimed to have received the language and its teachings from angelic entities in a series of "visions" and "flaming calls" between 1581 and 1587. Kelley, in particular, was the primary receptor of the communications, with Dee acting as scribe and interpreter, transcribing the complex vocabularies and grammars that, according to them, constituted the celestial tongue.
The hermetic context of the era, with the recovery and study of texts such as the Corpus Hermeticum, Lurianic Kabbalah, and alchemical traditions, provided fertile ground for the acceptance and interpretation of such revelations. The biblical figure of Enoch himself, who "walked with God and was no more, because God took him" (Genesis 5:24), and who was believed to have been elevated to the heavens and introduced to divine mysteries, served as the eponym for this angelic language, conferring upon it a biblical and esoteric pedigree.
Linguistic Structure and Characteristics
The Enochian system manifests itself in several interconnected components: the language itself, a unique alphabet, a set of 49 "Aethyrs" (or Aethyrs) that represent planes of existence, and a body of "Angelic Calls" or "Confer" (Enochian Keys), which are invocations in Enochian designed to open portals to these realms and contact the beings that inhabit them.
The Enochian language presents a distinct vocabulary, with words that have no obvious parallels in terrestrial languages. The grammatical structure, as documented in Dee's diaries, is complex, with rules for verbs, nouns, and syntax. The Enochian alphabet, often called "Primitive Runes" or "Angelic Letters," is a system of angular and visually striking writing, with each letter associated with astrological and elemental correspondences. These correspondences are crucial to ceremonial practice, as they activate the inherent power of each symbol within the astral and material planes.
The 49 Aethyrs, in particular, form a cosmic map, a hierarchical structure of planes of existence, from the most subtle and spiritual to the densest and most material. Each Aethyr is governed by an angelic "Prince" and is associated with a specific set of angels and energies. The movement through the Aethyrs is facilitated by the Enochian Keys.
Enochian Practice and Its Developments
The primary application of the Enochian system lies in the 49 Keys. Each Key is an invocation in the Enochian language, designed to open a specific portal in one of the Aethyrs, allowing communication with the angels that govern it. The recitation of these keys, accompanied by appropriate rituals, including the use of the Great Seal (a magical tablet with the correspondences of the Aethyrs and the angels), forms the basis of the Enochian Opera.
John Dee used the Enochian system in his magical and spiritual operations, seeking divine knowledge and discernment. Over the centuries, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its successors adopted and adapted the Enochian system, integrating it into their training curricula and ritual practices. The Golden Dawn, in particular, assigned the Enochian letters to specific paths on the Tree of Life (in Sephiroth such as Kether, Chokmah, Binah, Tiphareth, Yesod, and Malkuth) and expanded the vocabulary and correspondences, creating a framework for spiritual exploration and personal development.
The importance of Enochian lies not only in its linguistic structure or its invocations, but in its promise of direct access to the celestial realms and to the archetypal knowledge they contain. The practice requires rigorous discipline, diligent study, and an open mind to the transcendent nature of reality.
Conclusion
The Enochian system of Dee and Kelley represents one of the most fascinating and challenging traditions of Western magic. Its angelic language, its cosmic planes, and its invocations offer a path to the exploration of the divine and the occult. For the serious student of Hermeticism and ceremonial magic, the study and practice of Enochian can reveal new dimensions of consciousness and the universe, connecting the practitioner with echoes of celestial wisdom that transcends time and space.
The practice requires an understanding of the correspondences with the 49 Aethyrs and the associated divine names (such as YHVH, ADNI, AHIH, AGLA, ARARITA, Elohim Gibor, Shaddai El Chai), as well as the use of the Great Seal and the rituals of Banishment (such as the LBRP) and Invocation.
For those seeking to enter this domain, the recommendation is to begin with the studies of John Dee and the later adaptations of the Golden Dawn, focusing on theoretical understanding before practice, always with due caution and under the guidance of an experienced master.