Enochian chess

Enochian chess is a four-player chess variant, similar to Chaturaji, associated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. The name comes from the Enochian system of magic of Dr. John Dee (magus and astrologer to Queen Elizabeth I), which was later adapted by Victorian members of the Golden Dawn into "a complete system of training and initiation." Enochian Chess was originally taught to candidates only after having reached the grade of Adeptus Minor, and requires of the student a reasonable grounding in the Outer Order knowledge of the Golden Dawn.

Enochian or 'Rosicrucian' Chess provides a complete method of self-initiation into the Western mystery tradition. The boards are "flashing tablets"; the pieces are moveable images of Egyptian gods and goddesses. The playing of Enochian Chess constitutes the Great Work and is intended to help the practitioner "ground the Limitless Light". The adept seeks to balance their personality and inner poise, allowing the magician to "direct the forces of nature". This complete-in-itself system of magic incorporates the entire outer order knowledge of Samuel Mathers' Golden Dawn.

Enochian Chess has active properties - it purports to change the world - not just to describe it or fatalistically predict. The operation of Enochian Chess is experienced by the Questioner directly as well as through a medium or interpreter.

It is played on any one of four boards, Earth, Air, Fire or Water, each board representing a Qabalistic world (Assiah, Yetzirah, Briah or Atziluth). The four sides each have five pieces (Egyptian Gods and Goddesses, King, Queen, Knight, Bishop or Ship, and Rook) and four pawns (the Canopic Gods, Sons of Horus). The four players are in two teams similar to bridge, with the Questioner controlling the first moving side, and placing the Ptah piece (a marker or catalyst in the game) on the square representing the question of the divination.

Dice are thrown to select a piece to move, using a formula drawn from Tetragrammaton YHVH and the Enochian Watchtowers. The game ends with success (a Yes or favourable answer) or a loss (no, or unfavourable reading) through double-checkmate or a check while the King is on the Ptah square. Each move tells of events or information relevant to the question.

The game is available either in software or traditional board format.

External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/solarguard/pagan/divination/enoch/enochianchess.html Solarguard Enochian Chess] Playing the game as a game.
* [http://www.geocities.com/solarguard/pagan/divination/enoch/enochiandivin.html Solarguard Enochian divination] Enochian divination correspondences.
* [http://www.chessvariants.com/historic.dir/enochian.html ChessVariants.com article on Enochian Chess]
* [http://enochianchess.com/page2.html Enochian Chess sets, software]