THE
WATCHERS
(Also Known as Grigori)
Watcher Angels according to
The Book of Jubilees, are the sons of God sent from heaven to instruct the children of men; they fell after they descended
to earth and cohabitated with the daughters of men -- for which act they were condemned and became fallen angels. But not
all Watcher angels descended; those that remain are the holy Watchers and they reside in the 5th Heaven. The evil Watchers
dwell in the 3rd Heaven or in Hell.
The mysterious eighth order
of angels, the gentle Grigori were created by God to be Earthly shepherds of the first humans. The Grigori were both physically
and spiritually gigantic, at least by the standards of the people who later wrote about them. They served early humanity as
vast reservoirs of information concerning the finer points of civilization, and their selflessness was beyond compare. They
were also called the Watchers, as it was their job to observe humanity, lending a helping hand when necessary but not interfering
in the course of human development.
As has been implied before,
angels -- though filled with God's divine grace -- are eminently corruptible in the corporeal world (physical plane) and,
perhaps more importantly, when in the presence of humans. The Grigori, designed as the type of angels farthest from divine,
proved to be so much more corruptible that it wasn't long before their enormous zest for physical life, proved to be their
undoing, from a spirititual perspective. They took husbands and wives among the humans and led greatly debauched lives, neglecting
their heavenly duties.
Legends tell us that the children
the Grigori begot were hideous, misshapen monsters, now known in demonic circles as the Nephalim, and that a group of angels
were quickly dispatched to destroy the half-breeds, after which the Grigori were damned to Earth for the remainder of their
long lives.
This is mostly true. The Grigori,
both for the sin of lust and for neglecting their duties, were banned from Heavenly society, doomed to spend the remainder
of their days roaming the Earth. The Seraphim Council believes that even speaking the name of the Grigori disturbs the Symphony
-- they refer to them as the Watchers, since that was their original duty. What few angels know, even today, is that besides
their more famous gigantic spawn, the malevolent Nephalim, the Grigori did successfully engender half-breed children, part-angel
and part-human. Angels are strictly forbidden to associate with the Children of the Grigori or, God forbid, any actual remaining
Grigori they might run across in the course of a mission.
Amaros - Taught men the resolving of enchantments.
Araqiel (Arakiel) - Taught men the signs of the earth.
Azazel - Taught men to make knives, swords and shield; to devise ornaments, coloring tinctures for the beautifying of
women, etc.
Baraqijal (Baraqel) - Taught men astrology.
Ezequeel (Ezekeel) - Taught men the knowledge of the clouds.
Gadreel - Introduced weapons of war to mortals.
Kokabel (Kawkabel) - Taught the science of the constellation.
Penemue - Instructed mankind in writing "and thereby, many sinned from eternity to eternity and until this day. For
man was not created for such a purpose." Penemue also taught the children the "bitter and sweet, and the secrets of wisdom.
Sariel - Taught men the course of the moon.
Semjaza - Taught men enchantments, roots cutting, etc.
Shamshiel - Taught
men the sign of the sun.
The Watchers and the Watchtowers
Know the history of the Watchers
and Watchtowers and why they are called upon in circle. If you don't know their purpose, why call?
Early History
They are considered an old race
who have gone past the need for physical bodies. Some claim they are light. There are legends that say they came from the
stars. They are the ones known as the Watchers. It is claimed that each of the four Watchers reigns over one of the four directions
of the circle.
There were star cults in Mesopotamia
around 3000 bce. One of the beliefs of these cults was that there were four major stars, each ruling over one of the four
cardinal points. These stars where known as "Lords" or "Watchers."
The Watcher of the East was
the star Aldebaran.This star marked the time of the Vernal Equinox. The Watcher of the South was Regulus, marking the time
of the Summer Solstice. Marking the Autumnal Equinox was Antares, Watcher of the West. The North Watcher was the marker of
Winter Solstice, Foralhaut.
Actual towers, called Ziggurats
(cosmic mountains) were built as a form of worship. Each tower bore the symbols of the Watchers. During ritual celebrations
the symbols were traced in the air with torch flames or wands, and the Watchers names were called.
The Watchers were thought of
as gods that guarded the heavens and earth. Lunar and Solar cults eventually replaced the Star cults.
The Watchers became the gods
of the four winds to the Greeks. The Christians took them over as "guardian angels."
The Hebrews taught that all
angels, known to them as Watchers, were ruled by four "higher" angels. They became the "Archangels" to the Cabalists.
John Dee 1527-1608 and Edward Kelly 1555-1597 and Enochian Magic
It is said Edward Kelly was
a seer and alchemist, and John Dee was a sage. Kelly "received messages" from a group of beings of the spirit who claimed
they were the same who had instructed Enoch. As Kelly received these messages, Dee wrote them down. His writings now compose
the magickal system known as Enochian Magic. It is a system of angel magic influenced by Judeo-Christian beliefs.
The doctrine of Enoch is mathematical.
According to Dee and Kelly, there are 49 tables of large number and letter squares. There are 48 Gates of Understanding, one
gate can not be opened. The 49 tables has 49 rows by 49 columns. The directions of the angels, known as the Enochian Keys,
were extracted from these charts.
There are 48 "Calls" or "Keys"
that open the gates of these "astral residences." These are symbolically represented by a large letter square. It is divided
into four parts by a large cross, called "The Black Cross" by Dee. These four
quadrants are called the Watchtowers. You are able to access 12 astral cities through each Watchtower. The Watchers are the
angels who live in these astral cities. In order for the angels to leave their cities and enter human consciousness the gates
to the Watchtowers must be opened. Each city is represented in the table by a set of letters in numerical and geometric pattern.
The four Watchtowers guard the
4 extremities of the universe. These Watchtowers are said to have been formed at the time Adam and Eve were expelled from
the Garden of Eden.
The Watchtowers contain all
human knowledge and command the elemental spirits. They are said to also have the power of the transformation of things. They
hold the secrets to all of mankind.
Modern Use of the Watchtowers
The Modern use of Watchtower
Elementals is said to be derived from the works of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelly.
It is also said that Aleister
Crowley introduced Gerald Gardner to the Elementals (see below), who then wrote them into his own work.
Many Wicca systems have their
own versions of the Watchtowers and Watchers. Some see the Watchers as demi-gods, spiritual teachers, cosmic intelligence
or beings composed of light. In some eclectic solitary systems, they may not be used at all.
The Watchers are known as Lords,
Elemental Rulers or Guardians of the Elements, Earth, Air, Fire and Water. These Elements are said to be populated by Elementals,
a type of spiritual creature. The Gnomes populate the Element of Earth and are seen as "Little People" or green light. They
are the givers of stability and material gain. They also protect circles cast outdoors. Sylphs are of the Air and are seen
as fairies or white light. They hold the keys to knowledge, dreams and wishes, and are protectors of magickal applications.
The salamanders inhabit the Element of Fire and may be seen as dragons or lizards. They are protectors of the home or business.
Undines, the Elementals of Water, may be "merpeople", sirens, or pink light. Undines are protectors of the gates of death
and karma.
It is taught in some systems
of magick that there are two sets of portals in a magick circle. Picture a circle within a circle. The inner circle contains
Portals of the Elementals at the East, South, West and North. The outer circle contains the Portals of the Watchers, also
known as Astral Portals. The corridor between the circles is known as "The World Between the Worlds." Some are taught that
this dimension must exist for ritual and/or magickal energies to flow between the Worlds. The Elemental Portals represent
the point of access to the Elemental Plane which exists between the Physical and Non-Physical, or Astral, Dimensions. The
Elemental Rulers guard the Portals between this World and the Astral.
Some consider it a circle within
a square, with the Watchtowers at the outer corners.
The Watchers are said to guard
the direct access to the Astral Plane. Each Watcher has its own Watchtower. It is taught they have the power to cancel your
magick.
GreyWing does not agree with
the above teaching. She does not use the Watchers, nor does she think they are necessary, but that is her opinion. She does
call on the powers of the Directions. If a spell has not worked she feels it is not right to say "The Watchers were against
my working." It is more likely that you were unsure of what you were doing, and your subconscious overrode your intended outcome.
The mind is a powerful thing, conscious and subconscious.
There are magickal gestures to announce that a magickal
rite will be performed. Such a gesture is the drawing in the air of a Pentagram. These gestures, along with tools and clothing
such as robes, are to get you into the proper frame of mind for magickal work, a signal to let your subconscious mind that
something special is about to happen.
The Watchers may be called upon
to guard the Circle and witness the ritual to be performed. Every time you perform a spell you are sending out strong vibrations
to the entire universe. No matter how good your intentions are, you may be at risk when you work a spell. For this reason
some witches call upon the Watchers for protection. If in your self-initiation ritual you called on a Watcher to be with you,
he/she will always watch and aid you in future magickal endeavors, if you so choose. They may also assist in a Wiccan's spiritual
growth, but that too, in GreyWing's opinion, is actually in your own hands. If you are not ready, your mind will drift, letting
you know the time is not right for you.
Every time you perform a spell
you use the essences of the four elements, earth, air, fire and water. For example, candle magick uses Fire and Air.
It is important to know what
each element means when you call on them. What do you mean by Air? You have to know which manifestation of Air you need for
your working. This needs to be decided before you begin your circle so that the aspect of the element you wish to call is
correct for what you are doing.
Will you choose the Watchers
or not? It is for you to decide.
"the Fathers of the beginning,...the
Mothers, the Spirits who were before the first spirit..." (Aradia-Gospel of the Witches)
