An Enochian Cast of Characters
43
Illemese: An angel of the Heptarchia and a Son of the Sons of Light. Dee sometimes abbreviated Illemese’s name to “Il,” but that should not be confused with the Heptarchic angel named El (or L), who never spoke directly with Dee. Illemese, like Nalvage, seemed to be under the authority of Gabriel. (Also see Mapsama.) When Nalvage’s time as teacher had expired, Gabriel assigned Illemese to complete the lessons. It was thus Illemese who revealed the names of the thirty Aethyrs and the Angelical Call(s)22 that open them. He was also the angel who introduced Dee and Kelley to Mother Galvah (who went by the name Wisdom at the time).
Ave: An angel of the Heptarchia, a Son of the Sons of Light. This angel had more to do with the “Enochian” aspect of Dee’s magick than any other. It was Ave who revealed the system of Gebofal (the forty-nine-day ceremony for opening the tables of Loagaeth). Most of the instruction was contained within a “Prayer of Enoch,” which outlined exactly how Enoch had gone about opening the holy book and how Dee was to do it as well. (Further instruction would be given by the angel Mapsama.) Ave was also the angel who revealed the Great Table of the Earth and its system.
Semiel (“Name of God”): This angel appears in only one place in Dee’s journals, and his name does not appear elsewhere in the Enochian system. He was called by Michael to reveal the outer circumference of the Seal of the True God, 23 which contains a forty-lettered name of God. Michael told Dee that Semiel alone knew the mysteries that were about to be revealed. It was Semiel, then, who called in forty childlike angels who revealed the forty characters in the circumference of the seal.
Mapsama: Mapsama’s name means Dic Illis (“Say Unto Them”). He is one of the rare angels who appears in Dee’s journals but does not appear elsewhere in the Enochian system. (Also see Nalvage.) Mapsama was active during the transmission of the forty-eight Angelical Calls and gave Dee and Kelley further instruction on the nature of the calls and how to use them for Gebofal. He is under the authority of Gabriel, the