So, i've begun working the enochian system - well, analyzing anyway. My general approach to most systems of magick is to root out as much symbolism and interpret as much of the gross material.

At the moment i'm analyzing the tablet of Air. I have a question that I couldn't seem to find an answer to when I searched - some of the letters are supposed to be written backwards. Does anyone happen to know why that is? What it indicates, what it changes on the tablet, etc.

I have also been doing a little work with the Essences mentioned on another thread. I find them rather interesting. using them, you can turn a word into a sentance that, so far, seems to correspond to the gross symbolism. When I begin working with the astral aspect of the magick, i will have more research.

Of particular interest, I thought, as a matter of cross referencing (I find often that accurate 'theory' will generally parallel some other system which is apparently unrelated) and a note of interest, I analyzed the Necronomiconic name of Marduk, ZISI and his power word, MASHINANNA. Here's the rundown of what I came up with (because I find it interesting given my experience with ZISI so far.

I followed a link from the thread here discussing the essences of the enochian letters. I believe it was the first one posted. I used my own objective obsevation of that authors correspondences boiled down to more basic primal elements.

(Name) - (Essences of respective letters)
(sentence theory)

ZISI - Division, Energy, Gather, Energy (extremely paraphrased, these are archetypical forces of the mechanical universe [angels being, by my reckoning, the intelligences of the operation of existence as a divine machine] tht is fluid ideas more than nouns/verbs)
I tend to write them out in first person, sort of like the word explaining itself as an entity - "I seperate that energy which gathers energy."
For those who don't know, ZISI's function is to bring about peace. reconciles enemies and resolves arguments. On this line of theory, one might interpret the essence of Zisi's function as being the matter of removing from a situation the energetic component which feeds the conflict. Once removed, the 'sterile' energy of the conflict must be spent, and peace resumes.

His power word:
MASHINANNA - Knowledge, Origin, Gather, Breath, Energy, self, origin, Self, Self, origin.
I took the power word, being a kind of command, and created a sentence along this structure which I felt sounded strongest in the second person (You, vs. I) It sounds like an identification. Pronouncing the name afterwards it might be something like saying "You do these sorts of things, Zisi. By all these holy names, come on out."
"Your knowledge is of the origin of the gathering of breath(life), the growth of the Self, the origin of the Self, and the internalization of the origin."
It's a stretch, but my own mind percieves very subtle connections between things, partially because of my paradigmal root that all things are reflected in one another. It seems to me to further elucidate how Zisi's magick effects a situation.
the "origin of the gathering of breath" seems to me to sound like that magnetic principle, which in consciousness may be likened to emotion, empathy, psychological magnetism or gravity; "the growth of the self" here energy is taken as growth, energy being the quality which enables growth by this line of reckoning, identifying that Zisi's power also deals with self growth; "the origin of the self" essentially connection to God; "the internalization of the origin" recognizing the inner 'god' that manifests through us.
All of these knowledges identified with Zisi are those which, if you give it a little thought, facilitate peace and mutual understanding. Empathize, know yourself, and know your god.

Of course, it was just a little cross-referencing excercise. The parallels between the Angels and the Names of Marduk have been pointed out before, so i found it interesting to come across even subtle parallels using a theoretical model. Stuff is neat.

Peace