Editing Enochian (section)

== History ==
[[File:John Dee Ashmolean.jpg|thumb|[[John Dee]] (pictured) recorded the Enochian corpus in his journals with the assistance of [[Edward Kelley]] as his scryer and collaborator.]]
According to Tobias Churton in his text ''The Golden Builders'',{{sfnp|Churton|2002}} the concept of an Angelic or [[antediluvian]] language was common during Dee's time. If one could speak the language of angels, it was believed one could directly interact with them.

=== Seeking contact and reported visions ===
In 1581, Dee mentioned in his personal journals that God had sent "good angels" to communicate directly with prophets. In 1582, Dee teamed up with the [[Clairvoyance|seer]] [[Edward Kelley]], although Dee had used several other seers previously.{{sfnp|Harkness|1999|p=16-17}} With Kelley's help as a [[scryer]], Dee set out to establish lasting contact with the angels. Their work resulted, among other things, in the reception of Angelical, now more commonly known as Enochian.{{sfnp|Leitch|2010b}}

The reception started on March 26, 1583, when Kelley reported visions in the crystal of a 21-lettered alphabet. A few days later, Kelley started receiving what became the book ''Liber Loagaeth'' ("Book [of] Speech from God"). The book consists of 49 great letter tables, or squares made of 49 by 49 letters. (However, each table has a front and a back side, making 98 tables of 49×49 letters altogether.){{efn|This book is now in the British Library, MS Sloane 3189.}} Dee and Kelley said the angels never translated the texts in this book.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

=== Receiving the ''Angelic Keys'' ===
About a year later, at the court of King [[Stephen Báthory]] in [[Kraków]], where both alchemists stayed for some time, another set of texts was reportedly received through Kelley.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}} These texts comprise 48 poetic verses with English translations, which in Dee's manuscripts are called {{lang|la|Claves Angelicae}}, or ''Angelic Keys''. Dee was apparently intending to use these ''Keys'' to open the "Gates of Understanding"{{sfnp|Dee|1659|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=iikdAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA77 77]}} represented by the magic squares in ''Liber Loagaeth'':

{{Blockquote|I am therefore to instruct and inform you, according to your Doctrine delivered, which is contained in 49 Tables. In 49 voices, or callings: which are the Natural Keys to open those, not 49 but 48 (for one is not to be opened) Gates of Understanding, whereby you shall have knowledge to move every Gate...<ref>The angel Nalvage, cited in {{harvp|Dee|1992|p=77}}.</ref>|The angel Nalvage}}

{{Blockquote|But you shall understand that these 19 Calls are the Calls, or entrances into the knowledge of the mystical Tables.  Every Table containing one whole leaf, whereunto you need no other circumstances.<ref>The angel Illemese, cited in {{harvp|Dee|1992|p=199}}.</ref>|The angel Illemese}}