Enochian Magick & The Tarot

Enochian Magick and Dark Matter

Dee's system of Angelic Magic does not have an association with the Tree of Life, despite valiant attempts by the Golden Dawn. However, there are connections to the Tarot, which are more fruitful to explore.

The magical powers of the Tarot are found in the Enochian magic system. The tables below show that the combination of tarot and enochian gives the magician a huge range of magical powers at his disposal. Tarot connects The Book of Thoth, Liber AL and Liber 418. Verses from Liber AL is liberally quoted in the other books; there are references to the Major Arcana in every Aethyr of Liber 418, while Crowley quotes whole paragraphs from Liber AL in the Book of Thoth. Casual study does not elicit a pattern, but here is one method of making sense of it all. All the information presented is freely available in various books: here is the solution to the jigsaw puzzle.

Enochian and the Aethyrs

Very little is known about the 30 Aethyrs, except that there is a hierarchy and that each Aethyr should be visited in serial order, starting with 30 TEX, the lowest, and culminating with 1 LIL at the highest spiritual level. Contained within the writings of Dee, there are specific warnings about accessing ZAX, containing the infamous Choronzon. Crowley's preparation and battle with Choronzon is a classic in magickal literature. Using Table 1 changes the hierarchical perception.

Enochian Governors

The 91 Enochian Governors rule the 30 Aethyrs. Each Aethyr has three Governors, except for TEX which has four. Many Enochian books list the Governors along with the regions of the earth, and the number of Ministers and Angelic Governors. All the names of the Governors are derived from the Squares within the four Enochian Watchtowers. The actual names vary slightly due to transcription errors, and this is an area of controversy among academics. Using the system outlined below, these problems are avoided. In essence, the above is pretty much all that is known about the Aethyrs and Governors. Aleister Crowley is credited with being the first Magician to access and record his experiences of visiting the Aethyrs. So how else could he have analysed the Aethyrs before he visited them? The answer is easy. I have no proof that Crowley used it, but the solution is simple and elegant. Each Watchtower contains exactly 22 Governors. It is not hard to make an association with the 22 Hebrew letters and the Major Arcana, but writers on the subject gloss over this aspect. Table 1 shows the result of tabulating the Governors of each Watchtower, the associated Aethyrs and the Major Arcana. Meditation on this Mandala has a powerful unifying effect on the consciousness. Relationships develop between the Tarot, the Aethyrs and the Governors within one's own awareness spontaneously. Surprisingly, all the information required to develop the system is implicit within this diagram. Each Tarot Atu can also be considered to have four aspects related to the four Governors and their corresponding aethyrs.

Notes

The Tarot order below follows the Book of Thoth, but one can experiment and transpose the Emperor and Star. ZAX does not appear on the diagram as the Governors, Lexarph, Tabitom and Comanon are not part of the Watchtowers. They are, however, associated with the Roots of the Powers of the Aces.

Table 1: Tarot and the Aethyrs
Tarot	Gov	Aethyr	Gov	Aethyr	Gov	Aethyr	Gov	Aethyr
Fool	1	1 LIL	16	6 MAZ	43	15 OXO	66	22 LIN
Magus	2		17		44		67	23 TOR
Priestess	3		18		45		68
Empress	4	2 ARN	19	7 DEO	46	16 LEA	69
Emperor	5		20		47		70	24 NIA
Hierophant	6		21		48		71
Lovers	7	3 ZOM	22	8 ZID	49	17 TAN	72
Chariot	8		23		50		73	25 VTI
Lust	9		24		51		74
Hermit	10	4 PAZ	25	9 ZIP	52	18 ZEN	75
Fortune	11		26		53		76	26 DES
Justice	12		27		54		77
Hanged Man	13	5 LIT	33	11 IKH	55	19 POP	78
Death	14		34	12 LOE	56		79	27 ZAA
Art	15		35		57		80
Devil	31	11 IKH	36		58	20 KHR	81
Tower	32	11 IKH	37	13 ZIM	59		82	28 BAG
Star	65	22 LIN	38		60		83
Moon	88	30 TEX	39		61	21 ASP	84
Sun	89		40	14 VTA	62		85	29 RII
Aeon	90		41		63		86
Universe	91		42		64	22 LIN	87

Powers of the Tarot and the Governors

The Powers of the Major Arcana are found in column 32 of Liber 777. One can skry the powers of the Governors, but it would take time. There is a quicker method. The Aurum Solis have helpfully tabulated the powers of the Governors in Dennings and Phillips' Mysteria Magica Volume 3. In Chapter 23 they list the powers of all the Governors bar No. 28-30 and 67-87. Governors 28-30 rule ZAX. The others omitted are claimed to be part of the powers of the Sigil Dei Amaeth, but this is a blind. Inspection of Table 1 shows these to be the Governors in the Earth Watchtower. To list the powers of these Governors would be to reveal that they are actually based upon Column 32 of Liber 777! Tables 2-4 list the powers of the Governors in serial order according to the Watchtowers, while Table 5 lists the powers of the Tarot and the Governors of the Earth Watchtower. I have included the extra columns 31bis and 32bis. Inspection of these tables shows the relationships of the powers of the Major Arcana in each Watchtower.

Dennings and Phillips: Water Watchtower

Fool 1: Understanding, courage, joy of spirit. Fool for love, or a publication of love

Magus 2: Works of integration. Ambiguity and deception

High Priestess 3: Inspire followers of the Work, charm away opposition, win allies. An Initiatrix

Empress 4: Consecration, magickal links, new enterprises to influence others. Friendship, success and romance

Emperor 5: Astrology. Hope, love, yearning

Hierophant 6: Astral travel, bilocation. Unmanifest love

Lovers 7: Forming artificial elements. Works to aid others. An arranged marriage

Chariot 8: Controlling Dweller at the Threshold. Responsibilities, mature attitudes. Faith, hope, obedience. Protective relationship

Lust 9: Understanding human needs, telepathy. Passion, ecstasy

Hermit 10: Protection. Nurturing children. Wandering alone, solitude

Fortune 11: Works of thaumaturgy. Works to produce 'signs' or 'evidence'. Carefree love and pleasure

Justice 12: Fellowship. Gain from natural forces (agriculture) that takes time - this relates to harvest, usually in October and Libra. A woman satisfied

Hanged Man 13: Grail consecration. Martyrdom and loss

Death 14: Emotional experience, developing the imagination. Sexuality. Relationship between sex and death

Art 15: Nullifying a force. For contentment and stillness. Negation of form. The transformations to each partner in a marriage

Devil 31: Equilibrium out of unrest. Transubstantiation, consecrating talismans. Obsession and temptation. Ecstasy

Tower 32: Transformation, change of circumstance. Renunciation of love. Arguments

Star 65: Necromancy. Domination after conquest. Arguments. Paternal relationships

Moon 88: Success in commerce. Divination, recovery of stolen property. Deception, falsehood

Sun 89: Fraternal association. Peace of mind. Circulating earthly benefits. Pleasure, shamelessness, vanity

Aeon 90: Performing actions anonymously. Actions as an act of love

Universe 91: The Great Work. Compassion. Protection during the night. Patience and perseverance

Dennings and Phillips: Fire Watchtower

Fool 16: Works of fulfilment and equilibrium. New sowing, transcending time. Beginning of the Great Work. The Holy Fool. The descent of the Holy Spirit when there is balance

Magus 17: To rule indirectly, to show the way, to teach, to heal, to nourish, protect, foster. Unconscious will. Process of continuous creation

High Priestess 18: Entrance to other worlds. Command wonders. Oracles. Highest initiation. Link between Atziluth and Briatic worlds

Empress 19: Healing disease or injury. Strengthen the Nephesh. Inaugurating a new enterprise. The Holy Graal. Love unites will

Emperor 20: Resurrection, regeneration. Clairvoyance, visions and dreams

Hierophant 21: Solving problems. Occult research. Holy Guardian Angel. Uniting Above and Below

Lovers 22: Breaking a Magickal Link. Independence of environment or associates. Following intuition or inner voice

Chariot 23: Transmutation, fulfilling wishes or ambitions. Light in the darkness. The burden of the Holy Grail

Lust 24: Spear consecration. Understanding. Will of the New Age

Hermit 25: Aiding friends. Divine seed of all things. Inspiration and wisdom from silence

Fortune 26: To achieve at whatever cost. Continual change - find the still centre

Justice 27: Influence public opinion, propaganda. Equilibrium, balance, Karmic law. Dance of Life

Hanged Man 33: Levitation, teleportation. Passing barriers and obstacles. Redemption through sacrifice. Annihilation of self in the beloved

Death 34: Increasing philosophical capacity. End of a cycle. Transformation

Art 35: Works done during adverse tides. Success in diplomacy. Transmutation through union of opposites

Devil 36: Red work. For renown and dominion. Doing your Will

Tower 37: Mirror magick. Sex magick. Psychological perception. Understanding the astral. Escape from trapped feelings

Star 38: Malediction, cursing, destruction. Creative wisdom radiating upon the organised person

Moon 39: Counselling, interpretation, keys to lost knowledge; means to progress. Dark night of the soul

Sun 40: Leadership in social affairs (politics), defending a lawsuit or reputation. Lord of the new Aeon. Spiritual freedom

Aeon 41: Love charms. Increase in personal attractiveness or popularity. Acts involving worship

Universe 42: Consecrating new buildings, banishing spirits from a location. Completion of the Great Work

Dennings and Phillips: Air Watchtower

Fool 43: Establishing unity. Divine madness, transcending reason

Magus 44: To meet spiritual challenge. To rule enemies through discord or fear. Mind used to direct the will. Meditation, concentration

High Priestess 45: Abundance, honour, riches, health. The idea behind the form. Possibility

Empress 46: Bilocation. Truth and knowledge. Works of evocation. Passive balance. Feminine viewpoint

Emperor 47: Magical use of the creative arts

Hierophant 48: Conversing with Higher Beings. Acuteness of intellect. Inspiration, teaching, organisation and discipline

Lovers 49: Blessings. Devotion to tradition. Analysis followed by synthesis

Chariot 50: Leadership in high projects. Magickal direction of human affairs. Adherence to dogma or tradition

Lust 51: Understanding living creatures and nature. Energy independent of reason

Hermit 52: Partnerships. Inspiring others to do work. Creative contemplation

Fortune 53: Funerary and death rites. Amusement, fun

Justice 54: Wise counsel. Balanced thinking

Hanged Man 55: Practical wisdom. Austere works. Torment, reversal

Death 56: Inspired thought, mystical understanding. Stress becomes intolerable - need for change

Art 57: Music, rhythm, colour, harmony. Scientific thinking

Devil 58: Reforming influence upon the earth. Creative action, without thought for the result

Tower 59: White Work. New skills or power. Destruction of plans

Star 60: Victory in thought, deed, legal matters. Sword consecration. Ambition. Thought ruled by masculine fiery power. Stubbornness
Moon 61: Skrying. Conversing with elementals. Waters of Vision. Illusion or madness

Sun 62: Establishing well grounded plans. Visions of truth. Honesty, freedom

Aeon 63: Establish/maintain peace, inward or outward. Avoid bad luck and enemies' weapons. Final decision or judgement

Universe 64: Invisibility. Abstract calculations (astrology, mathematics). Long, continued meditation

Liber 777 (32): Earth Watchtower

Fool 66: Divination. Foolish actions, for gain or loss

Magus 67: Miracles of healing, gift of tongues, Knowledge of sciences. Manipulation, communications, wheeling and dealing

High Priestess 68: The White Tincture, clairvoyance, divination by dreams. Fluctuation and change. Problems with timing events

Empress 69: Love-philtres. Seeing the big picture

Emperor 70: Astrology. Unexpected help, renewal

Hierophant 71: The secret of physical strength. Endurance, work. Help from superiors

Lovers 72: Bilocation, prophecy. Indecision, instability, superficiality

Chariot 73: Power of casting Enchantments. Victory, success. Chain of command

Lust 74: Power of Training Wild Beasts. Courage, strength, magical power

Hermit 75: Invisibility, Parthenogenesis, Initiation(?). A virgin. Retirement from current events

Fortune 76: Power of acquiring Political and other Ascendancy. Change of fortune

Justice 77: Works of Justice and Equilibrium. Lawsuits, treaties. Look before action

Hanged Man 78: The Great Work, Talismans, Crystal-gazing. Suspension, death, suffering

Death 79: Necromancy. Time, age, unexpected change, death

Art 80: Transmutations. Success after complex manoeuvres

Devil 81: The Witches Sabbath, so called, the Evil Eye. Unscrupulous ambition, strength

Tower 82: Works of Wrath and Vengeance. Danger, death

Star 83: Consecrations. War, authority. Swift, impermanent action. Overconfidence

Moon 84: Bewitchments, casting Illusions. Threshold of significant change

Sun 85: The Red Tincture, Power of Acquiring Wealth. Glory, riches. Enlightened civilization

Aeon 86: Evocation, Pyromancy. Learn from the past and prepare for the future

Universe 87: Works of Malediction and Death. Work accomplished, and reward thereof. The end of the matter

32 bis: Alchemy, Geomancy, Making of Pentacles

31 bis: Invisibility, Transformation, Vision of Genius

Unifying the Spiritual Powers of Tarot and Enochian

The Enochian System of Magick, the Spiritual and Magickal Pinnacle of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, has three main areas: the 30 Aethyrs, the 91 Governors and the 4 Watchtowers. Most reference books show the Aethyrs and Governors in sequential order, as given by John Dee, skating over the fact that there are exactly 22 Governors in each Watchtower (leaving two squares over that are added together to produce a 92^nd Governor, who is considered to be evil). There have also been attempts to use other occult models such as the Tree of Life (Pat Zalewski), or the Gupta-Vidya model (Schueler). They have some use, but there are also problems with them. The Keys to understanding the Powers of the Tarot are scattered amongst various publications:

Book of Thoth

Aleister Crowley's classic book of Tarot. Crowley attempted to unify his whole system of Thelemic Magick for the New Aeon.

Liber 418

Liber 418 documents the visions Aleister Crowley had when skrying the 30 Aethyrs. Crowley was apparently the first to visit each Aethyr in turn, and Liber 418 is still the classic reference to the system. It is noticeable that there are a number of Tarot references in each Aethyr, but there is no apparent order. Crowley also cites various Aethyrs in his Book of Thoth, so it is clear that he at least infers some correspondence between the two. The Book of Thoth can also be considered to be a commentary on the Book of the Law, or Liber AL, which is also extensively quoted in Liber 418. We thus have a triangular framework, but the historical order is:

Book of the Law
Liber 418
Book of Thoth.

The study of Liber 418 and Book of Thoth is most illuminating if Table 1 is used for reference. While it is easy to cherry pick, the correspondences are fascinating. For example, the Vision of the Arrow can be linked to the rulership of Atu Art to the Aethyr LIT.

Liber 231

Liber 231 is a mysterious collection of Sigils that relate to the spiritual powers of the Major Arcana. There are two sets of Genii: "The House of Mercury", and the "Prison of Shells". Crowley's Book of Thoth can be considered to be a commentary on the House of Mercury. The Prison of Shells are explored in Kenneth Grant's Nightside of Eden, and in Linda Falorio's Shadow Tarot. Kenneth Grant's book conveys an impression of evil, but Linda Falorio has succeeded in revealing the powers of the Qlippoth as being healing and empowering. Both Grant and Falorio use and elaborate on the powers of Column 32.

Tarot of Ceremonial Magick

Created by Lon Milo DuQuette, the Tarot of Ceremonial Magick incorporates the 'Zodiacal, Enochian, Ceremonial, Goetic, Tattvic and Elemental components' on each Tarot card. Rather than give a divinatory meaning for each Major Arcana, DuQuette gives four interpretations corresponding to the four elements, and some of these relate to, or are direct quotes from Liber AL.

Elemental Dignities

A system for analysing the power and energy of Tarot cards using the elemental attributions to see which cards are stronger or weaker, active or passive. Thus, Fire and Water are enemies, as are Air and Earth. All other combinations are friendly. Each element has other characteristics which can be used to gain subtlety in interpretation. See Jess Karlin's essay on the subject.

Using the System

The Key is to use the first part of the Tarot reading described in The Golden Dawn and in the Book of Thoth, but with some modifications. (Positional Spreads are not recommended since all the cards are needed). An appropriate ceremony is conducted after the purpose of the reading is ascertained. Select a Significator.

Tower

Watchtower Spread positions

The first part of the Reading is to cut the Tarot into four piles, representing the four elements/Watchtowers. The piles are turned over and spread out. The cards are interpreted according the counting rules in The Book of Thoth, and the rules of Elemental Dignities. If a Significator has been selected, it should be studied. The numbers of Major cards in each pile should be noted (use a copy of Table 1.), and it should be easy to spot any triple combinations that could indicate the influence of an Aethyr. The positions of the Major cards are noted and can be interpretated according to DuQuette, or Dennings and Phillips, along with Elemental Dignities. Combinations of cards are very important. For example, if the Lovers, Chariot and Strength appear in the Air pile, it can be an indication that the influence of TAN is strong, the nature of which depends on the interaction of other cards using the counting system. A possible remedy could be an astral visit to TAN, or an invocation of one of the Governors of TAN to petition change, or a visit to one of the countries ruled by the Governors of TAN. If the Devil card was influencing strongly, it could be that some kind of black magick was involved; conversely, the influence of the Hanged Man could suggest that some kind of Talisman is necessary. The combinations and possibilities are endless. The Tarot could be used to suggest not only an Aethyr to visit, but what to expect, or even an indication of any kind of work to be done on that Aethyr. Skrying into an Aethyr can be facillitated by placing the relevant Major Cards before the appropriate Watchtower and performing a ritual.

Tablet of Union

Tablet of Union
Ace	Knight	Queen	King	Princess	Element
E	X	A	R	P	Air
H	K	O	M	A	Water
N	A	N	T	A	Earth
B	I	T	O	M	Fire

The appearance of a particular set of Court Cards in one of the Watchtower piles could indicate the influence of one of the Governors of ZAX since the above names are the basis of them: LEXARP - Air, COMANAN - Water, TABITOM - Fire. ZAX is the glue that holds the Watchtowers together.

Tattvic Tides and Planetary Hours

Other methods are to synchronise the evocation of an Aethyr according to the Tattvic Tides or the Planetary Hours, using the astrological associations of each Tarot card. Liber 777 can be used to reference any signposts seen in the vision, or build up new correspondences. Note that Crowley was advised to re-enter VTA during night time, suggesting the influence of Saturn/The Universe. Governors connected with the Fool, Hanged Man, Aeon and Universe will have a very strong elemental bias, and would have a stronger affinity with the Tattvas.

Goetia

The Goetic spirits are associated with the Minor Arcana, but it should not take a lot of imagination to incorporate a ritual where the astrological attributions of a Governor or Atu is taken into consideration.

Summary

The Tarot simultaneously unifies and defines the intricate nature of the multidimensional aspects to the Enochian system that can be used to gain greater insight into a Tarot reading, whatever the subject. The Tarot can be used to safely explore the nature of the vast regions of the Aethyrs.