An overview of the watchtowers
From Conjurer esoteric wiki
The watchtowers of the Enochian system are probably the most known part of the entire system, along with the 30 aethyrs. In fact the aethyrs and the watchtowers belong to the same set of tables, which forms this binary system. Due to this duality, there are also inherit problems afflicting both systems, as will be detailed in this article.
Contents |
History
The watchtowers were communicated through an entity known as Ave, during a period of a single week; starting with the vision of the watchtowers in the morning of June 20:th, 1584, the communication included the four watchtowers, the four seals and some basic information on how to extract the hierarchies along with their intended use.
It is quite evident that Dee was never really pleased with the lettering of the watchtowers. In several reproductions of the tablets, there are conflicts and alternate lettering, This issue is also evident in the material of the 91 parts of the earth, where some governors have alternate names. On top of this confusion, another set of watchtowers was communicated to Kelley at April 18:th, 1587; alternating the lettering slightly, and rearranging the order or the watchtowers completely. These later tablets are commonly known as the Tabula recensa.
The vision of the watchtowers
There appeared to him [E.K.] four very fair castles, standing in the four parts of the
world; out of which he heard the sound of a trumpet. Then seemed out of every castle a
cloth to be thrown on the ground, of more then the breadth of a table-cloth.
Out of that in the east, the cloth seemed to bed red, which was cast.
Out of that in the south, the cloth seemed white.
Out of that in the west, the cloth seemed green, with great knobs on it.
Out of the north, spread, or thrown out from the gate under foot, the cloth seem-
ed to be very black.
Out of every gate then issued one trumpeter, whose trumpets were of strange form,
wreathed, and growing bigger and bigger toward the end.
After the trumpeter followed three ensign bearers.
After them six ancient men, with white beards and staves in their hands.
Then followed a comely man, with very much apparel on his back, his robe having a long
train.
After him came five men, carrying up his train.
Then followed one great cross, and about that four lesser crosses.
These crosses had on them, each of them ten, like men, their faces distinctly appearing on
the four parts of the cross, all over.
After the crosses followed 16 white creatures.
And after them, an infinite number seemed to issue, and to spread themselves orderly in a
compass, almost before the four aforesaid castles.
Brief overview
On June 25:th a set of four tables were delivered by Ave to Dee and Kelley, the so called original watchtowers. Dee and Kelley was first instructed to create a grid of twelve columns and thirteen rows. When that was completed, Ave dictated row by row of letters; starting with the Oro Ibah Aozpi table first; followed by the Mor Dial Hctga table. The third table given was the Oip Teaa Pdoce, followed by the Mph Arsl Gaiol table. Each watchtower consists of 156 squares and is divided into five major sections - the cross and the four sub quadrants.
The cross
Then followed one great cross, and about that four lesser crosses.
Each watchtower is divided into four smaller parts, separated by a cross formed in the centre of the table. This cross is formed by the two columns in the centre and the central row of the table. The columns were referred to as the Linea Patri and the Linea Filii, while the central row was referred to as the Linea Spiritus Sancti. This central cross holds a small central hierarchy that seem to rule and command the four sub quadrants.
The sub quadrants
Then followed one great cross, and about that four lesser crosses.
Surrounding the central cross are four sub quadrants, which in their turn holds certain virtues and a vast hierarchy of spirits. Within each sub quadrant there is yet another cross formed, which yet again is confirmed by the vision. These sub quadrants were all given virtues according to their placement in the watchtowers, which will be detailed below.
A closer look
The trumpeters
Out of every gate then issued one trumpeter, whose trumpets were of strange form,
wreathed, and growing bigger and bigger toward the end.
Ave did not present any information about this entity to Dee and Kelley and the only surviving comment about this entity is taken from a communication on July the 2:nd, 1584:
Dee: Secondly of the trumpeter, what is betokened.
Ave: It hath no relation to these tables
However it should be noted that communications and magical workings during recents years have expanded the knowledge of the trumpeters. This material is presented in advanced watchtower theories.
The ensign bearers
After the trumpeter followed three ensign bearers.
These ensign bearers are found in the Linea Spiritus Sancti; reading it left to right, produces three names of increasing length. The first name is of three letters, the second of four letters and the third of five letters. The ensigns, in total twelve, represents the way a higher force is introduced into the watchtowers. The ensigns acts as a bonding layer between higher forces and the hierarchies of the watchtowers; allowing force from above to be channelled through the ensigns into the watchtowers. During ritual, the ensigns are used to awake the hierarchy and prepare the table for use.
The seniors
After them six ancient men, with white beards and staves in their hands.
The seniors, twenty-four in total, are extracted from the Linea Spiritus Sancti, the Linea Patri and the Linea Filii. Special rules applies to the first and the fourth senior of every watchtower; producing two forms of names. These two seniors are extracted from the Linea Spiritus Sancti. The first form invokes the committer force of the senior, while the latter invokes the Extremis judiciis force of the senior. The second and the sixth senior are extracted from the Linea Patri and the third and fifth senior are extracted from the Linea Filii. The first and the fourth senior seems to be special in some way, since the names of these seniors controls the flow of force throughout the tablet, along with the king. It also hints at the idea that the seniors and the king are dual in nature; perhaps even part of a higher hierarchy, responsible for channelling higher forces properly into the tablets, much like the twelve banners. The four other seniors may be paired and attached unto the first and fourth senior; the second and the third paired with the first senior, and the fifth and sixth senior paired with the fourth senior. However, it should be remembered that Ave used the oro ibah aozpi table to demonstrate the special rules of the king and the seniors, and that these rules may therefore apply only to that table. Dee did not however, take this into account which becomes obvious in Sloane 3191, where Dee lists two different names for these entities, for all tables.
The kings
Then followed a comely man, with very much apparel on his back, his robe having a long train.
The kings; four in total are extracted in a clock-wise spiral fashion. Like the first and fourth senior, the king can manifest two forces, depending on the method of the extraction. The first form, making use of the first seven letters of the spiral invokes the committer force, while the second form, produced from the first six and the eighth letter, invokes the Extremis judiciis force. Once again, the example given by Ave may only be applied to the oro ibah aozpi tablet. As with the seniors, these entities may hold a dual nature.
The four sub quadrants
Every watchtower has four sub quadrants; the first located at the top-left corner, the second at the top-right corner, the third at the lower-left corner, the fourth at the lower-right corner. Each sub quadrant contains a cross, with two entities, one ruling angel and one commanding angel. Below the horizontal bar of each cross are sixteen squares of letters, which hold four serving angels and sixteen wicked angels. Above the horizontal bar of the cross, there are four squares of letters, producing five entities.
The four lesser crosses
Then followed one great cross, and about that four lesser crosses. These crosses had on them, each of them ten, like men, their faces distinctly appearing on the four parts of the cross, all over.
The crosses make up the truly functional part of the watchtowers. Each sub quadrant has a special purpose and has many different entities to work with. The sub quadrants are the same throughout all four watchtowers. The first sub quadrant is the one at the top-left, the second is the one at the top-right. The third is the sub quadrant in the lower-left and the the fourth is the one at the lower-right.
Sources
True & Faithful Relation of What Passed for Many Years Between Dr. John Dee and Some Spirits - Casaubon, Meric - Kessinger
