The Book of Dzyon
Description
Leather bound manuscript, 18” x 11½” (medium folio), slightly damaged with some foxing and occasionally irregularly sized pages. No title or author is given on the cover but a frontispiece identifies it as Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon. The manuscript contains text in archaic English and an unknown set of symbols as well as marginal notes in what appears to be Greek.
Text
Casting againe into ye Shew Stone, ye Angel spake, saying unto me much of what passed in long-sunk Atlantis and is spoke of by Cehuti. In those days ye Nephilim walked ye land and payed obeyance to one such as Glune, crowned in laurels and fearful to behold and served by great beasts whose bodies were like a flower with ye head of a serpent. Another angel revered as ye father of this race was Dowlot, who wove ye fibers of creation and undoes them at God’s command, and his mark is ye crystal rod he carries which bearest three sides and is yet round. Ye might of these men was great and they knew much of magic…
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When ye song is played again under winter sky ye one [the Black Bird of the Anemoi] will come to ye learned practicioner. Ye bird subsisteth upon carrion flesh and must be appeased before it will labor at your behalf. Ye hunger of such a one can be slaked with ye body of a single child but it is a cruel servant and will oft clamour for more. Be not hesitant to fulfill such whims as it may carry ye unwary summoner aloft if displeased. When it flies with belly-full it can be of great aid to ye subtle magician and can travel many leagues without tiring.
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[Be wary! The one who slumbers is a spirit of the greatest darkness. Call not upon him for the price he demands far exceeds the rewards he grants. Lest ye wish to arouse such a one who dwells in sea-dark chambers and whose very tread maketh the rocks tremble, practice such rites as these at your own peril. Pay heed to one who has suffered much from what he hath seen because his grasp exceedeth his wisdom. My dreams are grave troubled still, years on from such folly, and I fear gravely His eye remaineth upon me still.]
Notes
The monks at Sacra di San Michele are able to help us understand that The Book of Dyzon was written by John Dee, English astrologer and magician in the 16th century.
The books claims that it is about communicating with an angel, but has not connection to Christianity or Judaism. It appears to recollections of communication with an devil or demon. It describes several spells. The last portion, lost in a fire, discusses a rite to contact 'The Dreaming God'.
The Greek comments give a clear grave warning about the dangers of attempting this rite. Not all of the commentary is actually Greek. It is unknown to the monk.
Experiences with Ancient Text
Victor reads the books with the assistance of the monks at Sacra di San Michele.