Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 1)

CHAPTER IX Of Silence and Secrecy : AND OF The Barbarous names of Evocation It is found by expérience (confirming the statement of Zoro- aster) that the most potent conjurations are those in an ancient and perhaps forgotten language, or even those couched in a corrupt and possibly always meaningless jargon. Of these there are several main types. The “preliminary invocation” in the “Goetia” consists principally of corruptions of Greek and Egyptian names. For example, we find “Osorronnophris” for “Asor Un-Nefer”.1 The conjurations given by Dr. Dee (vide Equinox I, VIII) are an a language called Angelic, or Enochian. Its source has hnherto baffled research, but it is a language and not a jargon, for it possesses a structure of its own, and there are traces or grammar and syntax. However this may be, it works. Even the beginner finds that “things happen” when he uses it: and this is an advantage or disadvantage ! —shared by no other type of language. The rest need skill. This needs Prudence! The Egyptian Invocations are much purer, but their meaning has not been sufficiently studied by persons magically competent. We possess a number of Invocations in Greek of every degree of excellence ; in Latin but few, and those of inferioi quality. It will be noticed that in every case the conjurations are very sonorous, I.. See appendix 4, Liber Samekh; this is an édition of this Invoca¬ tion, with an elaborate Rubric, translation, scholia, and instruction. 68 —