QUOTE(Imperial Arts @ Jan 21 2007, 07:27 PM)
As for claims of spiritual progress from Enochian magick, I can only guess that such are made as an excuse for an otherwise fruitless effort. Dee's records appear to indicate that his spirituality was frequently debased by the spirits, who told him to cease worshiping Jesus (his deity), encouraged marital infidelity, and in general seemed to have confused him more than exalted him. if there were anything that mght be considered spiritual in Dee's records, it is his devotional prayers and other work done more or less in spite of what the spirits revealed and offered to perform, which were entirely material works with what would have been observable effects.
Yet consider the contents of Liber 418. From that I would say it is fairly clear that certain aspects of the system do constitute an initiatory process, specifically the work of the aethyrs. Even the Schuellers (who are otherwise despicable) have an interesting section on this in their first book, which given the paucity of work on the subject isn't bad provided that you ignore everything they have to say about magick in general (No, I am not summoning an Enochian spirit to improve my appreciation of classical music!!).
I also find it questionable as to whether being instructed to change his religious practice could be taken as evidence that the work was of no spiritual benefit to Dee. That seems to assume that the C16th mode of pious christianity that he espoused is right on the button, which is not true for many. How many of us have been bashed by one spirit or another and essentially told, "No! Don't do that! Do this!" It is no different as far as I can see.