The Invitation to the Seniors

This next text is also taken from John Dee’s Tabula Bonorum Angelorum Invocationes. Not having an English translation to hand, I translated it from the original Latin myself! The text is a conjuration for use when invoking the Enochian Seniors.

For those whose only familiarity with Enochian Magic is through the Golden Dawn or Crowley, the following points should be noted.

Whereas the GD gives the name of the King as e.g. Bataivah, in Dee’s original works the same name is spelt with either of the last two letters but not both. Hence “Bataivah” (Golden Dawn) = “Bataiva or Bataivh” (Dee). Dee’s text actually uses both forms together. This “either but not both” approach is also why some of the names of the Seniors are given with alternative spellings, as shall be seen below.

Also, the quarters to which the Kings (and hence the Seniors) correspond differs between the Golden Dawn and that set down by Dee. This can best be summarised by means of a Table:

* sic

Hence, the North and South attributions are flipped by the GD in relation to those given by Dee.

On to the Invitation to the Seniors itself. The conjuration is the same for each of the four quarters, with only the names of the King and the Seniors themselves changing each time. I present a table of the Kings with their respective Seniors, according to Dee’s attributions.

The Names of the Twenty Four Seniors *

* (of whom mention is made in the Apocalypse of St John the Divine), collected from the Lines of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit: the duty of those Good Angels being to bestow judgement and the knowledge of human affairs upon Men.

Abioro, or Habioro
Aaoxaif
Htmorda
Haozpi, or Ahaozpi
Hipotga
Autotar

Aidrom, or Laidrom
Aczinor
Lzinopo
Lhctga, or Alhctga
Lhiansa
Acmlicu

Srahpm, siue Lsrahpm
Saiinov
Laoaxrp
Lgaiol, siue Slgaiol
Ligdisa
Soaixnt

Aetpio, or AAetpio
Adoeoet
Alndood
Apdoce, or Aapdoce
Arinnap
Anodoin

Using the above data it is now possible to make use of John Dee’s conjuration. The Invitation to the Seniors of the East is given: it may be converted to the Invitation of the Seniors of the South, West by interpolating the above names in place of the words in bold. Incidentally, do not under any circumstances mix up Dee’s and the Golden Dawn’s attributions, as the divine names refer specifically to the same tablets from which the corresponding Seniors are drawn.

The Invitation to the Six Eastern Seniors

Oh you six Eastern Seniors, very powerful and faithful Ministers of our omnipotent God: in the name of the same God, One and Three –

I (John Dee), the most humble and faithful servant of the same Omnipotent God do cheerfully, seriously and confidently require from you all by your peculiarly predominant Divine Name, and the Angelic Name BATAIVA or BATAIVH, jointly and severally, oh you (I say)

ABIORO, or HABIORO,

AAOXAIF,

HTMORDA,

HAOZPI, or AHAOZPI,

HIPOTGA and

AVTOTAR,

And I ask that hereafter and at whatever time I shall have willed during the remaining part of the course of my entire life, either all of you or those of you which I will have nominated (having been called, invoked or required by me the aforesaid John Dee through the same Mystic and Divine Name BATAIVA or BATAIVH) , shall determine to come forthwith and without delay, to me, the aforesaid John Dee, visibly, affably and peacefully besides, being favourable unto me –

THAT you shall determine to perfect and complete all and whichever of my petitions, CONCERNING THE KNOWLEDGE AND JUDGEMENT OF HUMAN AFFAIRS, and your other concerns assigned to you by God and pertinent to your Office or Ministry (whether all of you, one or many), which have been done and which are to be done: quickly, well, simply, fully, perfectly and most importantly: just as through your own Virtues and Powers as through the intention of your Officers and Ministers which have been given and conferred on you by Almighty God. AMEN.

Through the Holy Name of God, BATAIVA or BATAIVH.