The Enochian System: Dee & Edward Kelley's Angelic Language
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BY NICOLE LAU
The Enochian System is one of the most complex and powerful magical systems in Western esotericism, revealed to John Dee and Edward Kelley through angelic communications between 1581 and 1589. Named after the biblical patriarch Enoch who "walked with God," this system includes a complete angelic alphabet, a functional language with grammar and syntax, nineteen invocations called the Calls or Keys, and an elaborate structure of tablets containing divine and angelic names. The Enochian System provides a comprehensive method for contacting angels, accessing spiritual knowledge, and working with elemental and planetary forces. Despite—or perhaps because of—its complexity, Enochian magic has become central to modern ceremonial magic, practiced by the Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley, and countless contemporary magicians seeking direct communication with angelic realms.
The Angelic Alphabet and Language
The Enochian Alphabet
Twenty-one letters: The Enochian alphabet consists of 21 letters, each with its own name, pronunciation, and symbolic meaning. The angels revealed these letters to Kelley, who drew them as Dee recorded.
Letter names: Each letter has an angelic name—Un, Pa, Veh, Ged, Graph, Tal, Gon, Na-hath, Ur, Mals, Ger, Drux, Pal, Med, Don, Ceph, Van, Fam, Gisg, Or, and Gisa.
Visual form: The letters have a distinctive appearance, somewhat resembling Hebrew or Greek but unique. They're written right to left, like Hebrew.
Magical use: The letters themselves have power. They're used in talismans, sigils, and as components of the larger Enochian system.
The Enochian Language
A functional language: Enochian is not just an alphabet but a complete language with vocabulary, grammar, and syntax. Thousands of words were revealed during the angelic sessions.
Structure: The language has consistent grammatical patterns, verb conjugations, and sentence structure. Linguists have analyzed it and found it remarkably coherent.
Pronunciation: The angels provided specific pronunciation for words and letters. Correct pronunciation is considered essential for the magic to work.
The debate: Scholars debate whether Enochian is a genuine language (perhaps from Kelley's unconscious or a spiritual source) or a constructed language. Its consistency and complexity suggest either remarkable creativity or genuine inspiration.
The Angelic Communications
The method: Kelley would gaze into a crystal or "shew-stone" while Dee asked questions. Angels would appear to Kelley and communicate, sometimes showing letters or symbols, sometimes speaking.
Backward revelation: Curiously, the Enochian texts were often revealed backward—letter by letter from right to left—to prevent premature activation of their power.
The angels: Various angels communicated, including Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and others. Each had specific roles and knowledge to impart.
The Nineteen Calls or Keys
What Are the Calls?
Invocations: The Calls (also called Keys) are nineteen invocations in the Enochian language used to open spiritual gates and invoke angelic powers.
Structure: Each Call is a complete prayer or invocation, praising God and calling upon specific angelic forces. They range from a few lines to several paragraphs.
The first Call: The first Call is general, invoking the power of God and opening the way for angelic communication. It begins: "Ol sonf vorsg, goho Iad Balt..." (I reign over you, says the God of Justice...)
Calls 2-18: These correspond to the four Watchtowers and their subdivisions, invoking specific elemental and directional powers.
The nineteenth Call: The final Call invokes the thirty Aethyrs or Aires—spiritual realms or dimensions that can be explored through visionary work.
Using the Calls
Preparation: The magician must be properly prepared—purified, focused, and protected. The Calls invoke real power and should not be used casually.
Pronunciation: Correct pronunciation in Enochian is essential. Many practitioners spend years learning to pronounce the language properly.
Intention: The magician must have clear intention about what they're invoking and why. The Calls open specific spiritual gates.
Results: Practitioners report various results—visions, spiritual experiences, synchronicities, or tangible changes in circumstances. The power is considered real and potentially dangerous.
The Great Table and Watchtowers
The Great Table
The structure: The Great Table is a large grid of letters revealed by the angels, divided into four quadrants called Watchtowers, plus a central cross called the Black Cross or Tablet of Union.
Divine names: The letters form divine names, angelic names, and words of power. These are extracted and used in invocations.
The key: The Great Table is the key to the entire Enochian system. Understanding its structure unlocks the angelic hierarchy and magical operations.
The Four Watchtowers
Elemental correspondence: Each Watchtower corresponds to one of the four elements and cardinal directions:
Air Watchtower (East): Yellow, associated with intellect, communication, and the mental realm. Invoked for knowledge and clarity.
Water Watchtower (West): Blue, associated with emotions, intuition, and the astral realm. Invoked for psychic abilities and emotional healing.
Earth Watchtower (North): Black, associated with materiality, stability, and manifestation. Invoked for practical results and grounding.
Fire Watchtower (South): Red, associated with will, passion, and transformation. Invoked for energy and change.
The Angelic Hierarchy
Multiple levels: Each Watchtower contains a complex hierarchy of angels, from the highest divine names down to servient angels.
The Great Kings: Four Great Kings rule the Watchtowers—powerful angelic beings governing elemental forces.
The Seniors: Below the Kings are the Seniors or Elders—six for each Watchtower, governing subdivisions.
The Kerubic angels: Four Kerubic angels for each Watchtower, associated with the four sub-elements.
Servient angels: Numerous lesser angels who can be invoked for specific purposes.
The Tablet of Union
The Black Cross: The central cross dividing the four Watchtowers contains divine names that unite the elements.
Function: The Tablet of Union is invoked first to balance and harmonize the elemental forces before working with individual Watchtowers.
The names: EXARP (Air), HCOMA (Water), NANTA (Earth), BITOM (Fire)—these divine names govern the elements.
The Thirty Aethyrs
What Are the Aethyrs?
Spiritual realms: The Aethyrs (or Aires) are thirty spiritual dimensions or levels of reality, numbered from 30 (outermost) to 1 (innermost, closest to the divine).
Visionary exploration: The magician can "travel" through the Aethyrs in vision, experiencing each realm and receiving teachings from the angels who dwell there.
Progressive initiation: Working through the Aethyrs from 30 to 1 is a path of spiritual initiation, each level bringing deeper understanding and transformation.
Exploring the Aethyrs
The method: The nineteenth Call is modified with the name of the specific Aethyr being invoked. The magician then enters a visionary state to explore that realm.
The experience: Each Aethyr has its own character, inhabitants, and teachings. Practitioners report vivid visions, encounters with angels, and profound insights.
The danger: The inner Aethyrs (especially 10-1) are considered extremely powerful and potentially dangerous. They should only be approached by experienced practitioners.
Crowley's work: Aleister Crowley's The Vision and the Voice records his exploration of all thirty Aethyrs, providing a detailed map for later practitioners.
The Constant Unification Perspective
The Enochian System demonstrates universal patterns in magical and mystical practice:
- Enochian language = Sacred languages: The concept of a divine language for spiritual work appears across traditions—Hebrew in Kabbalah, Sanskrit in Hinduism, glossolalia in Christianity
- Watchtowers = Directional guardians: The four elemental Watchtowers parallel the four directions with their guardians in Native American, Tibetan, and other traditions
- Aethyrs = Spiritual planes: The thirty Aethyrs mirror the concept of multiple spiritual dimensions in Kabbalah's sephiroth, Hindu lokas, or Buddhist realms
- Angelic hierarchy = Spiritual beings: The structured hierarchy of angels parallels devas, spirits, or any tradition's intermediary beings between human and divine
Practical Enochian Magic
Basic Practice
Study first: Enochian magic is complex and powerful. Thorough study of the system is essential before attempting practice.
Learn the language: At minimum, learn to pronounce the Calls correctly. Many practitioners study the language more deeply.
Start simple: Begin with the first Call and the Tablet of Union. Don't rush into invoking specific Watchtowers or exploring Aethyrs.
Keep records: Document all workings, visions, and results. Patterns and teachings emerge over time.
The Equipment
The Holy Table: A table inscribed with specific symbols, used as the foundation for the magical work.
The Sigillum Dei Aemeth: A complex wax seal placed on the Holy Table, containing divine names and angelic signatures.
The Ring and Lamen: Protective talismans worn by the magician during operations.
The shew-stone: A crystal or black mirror used for scrying and receiving visions.
A Basic Enochian Ritual
1. Preparation: Purify yourself and the space. Set up the Holy Table with the Sigillum and shew-stone. Wear the Ring and Lamen.
2. Opening: Perform a general opening (such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram) to clear and protect the space.
3. Invoke the Tablet of Union: Recite the first Call, invoking the divine names of the Tablet of Union to balance the elements.
4. Specific invocation: If working with a particular Watchtower, recite the appropriate Call (2-18) to invoke that elemental force.
5. Scrying or meditation: Gaze into the shew-stone or enter a meditative state, remaining open to visions, messages, or insights.
6. Closing: Thank the angels, close the gates opened by the Calls, and perform a closing banishing.
7. Record: Immediately write down all experiences, visions, and insights.
Warnings and Cautions
Real power: Practitioners consistently report that Enochian magic produces real, tangible results. This is not a game or role-playing.
Psychological effects: The system can produce intense psychological and spiritual experiences. Those with mental health vulnerabilities should be cautious.
Proper preparation: The angels themselves warned Dee that improper use could be dangerous. Thorough preparation and protection are essential.
Respect required: Approach the system with respect and seriousness. The angels are not servants but powerful spiritual beings.
Modern Practice and Influence
The Golden Dawn
Integration: The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn integrated Enochian magic into their system, making it central to their advanced teachings.
Systematization: The Golden Dawn organized and systematized Dee's material, creating a coherent curriculum for learning Enochian magic.
Influence: Through the Golden Dawn, Enochian magic spread throughout modern ceremonial magic.
Aleister Crowley
Extensive practice: Crowley practiced Enochian magic intensively, particularly his exploration of the thirty Aethyrs.
The Vision and the Voice: His record of traveling through all thirty Aethyrs became a classic text, providing detailed descriptions of each realm.
Thelemic integration: Crowley integrated Enochian magic into his Thelemic system, seeing it as compatible with his philosophy.
Contemporary Practice
Widespread use: Enochian magic is practiced by ceremonial magicians worldwide, with numerous books, courses, and groups dedicated to it.
Variations: Different schools have developed variations—Golden Dawn style, Crowley's approach, and modern innovations.
Ongoing exploration: Practitioners continue to explore the system, discovering new insights and applications.
Conclusion
The Enochian System stands as one of the most sophisticated and powerful magical systems in Western esotericism. Whether the angelic language and teachings came from genuine spiritual beings, Kelley's unconscious genius, or some other source, they produced a coherent and effective system for contacting angelic realms and working with spiritual forces.
The complexity of the system—with its unique language, elaborate tablets, hierarchies of angels, and multiple dimensions—reflects the Renaissance ideal of comprehensive knowledge. Dee sought nothing less than direct communication with divine intelligence and access to the secrets of creation.
For modern practitioners, Enochian magic offers a proven method for angelic communication and spiritual exploration. Its continued popularity over four centuries testifies to its power and effectiveness. Yet it demands respect, study, and proper preparation. The gates it opens are real, and what lies beyond requires courage, wisdom, and spiritual maturity to navigate.
In our next article, we explore Éliphas Lévi, the 19th-century magician who revived Western occultism and created the synthesis of magic, Kabbalah, and Tarot that became foundational to modern ceremonial magic.
This article continues our exploration of Renaissance and Enlightenment mystical masters in the Western Esotericism Masters series.
As you deepen your understanding of the angelic language and its celestial mechanics, you might feel called to anchor those otherworldly frequencies into your daily spiritual practice—consider surrounding yourself with the protective presence of an archangel michael tapestry to invoke divine guardianship, or explore the subtle art of communicating with higher realms through the tarot journaling prompts 100 questions for self discovery to translate mystical whispers into personal revelation. For a more structured approach to bridging the conscious and unconscious mind, the jung and the archetype tarot astrology and the bridge of the unconscious offers profound insights into the symbolic languages that echo across spiritual traditions, including the Enochian system, inviting you to weave these ancient threads into your own ever-expanding tapestry of wisdom.
