a. My interest in him as a historical character of fascination goes all the way back to my earliest Paganism student days, when my occult-geek teacher and best friend was very interested in him. It also has a lot to do with his role as a character in the Aegypt series by his and my beloved John Crowley (no relation, one presumes.;) It's worth noting that the work of Aleister Crowley wouldn't have been possible without Dee's work either.) He just never stops being interesting. And since he was Britain's premier practitioner of Practical Angelology, I was frankly appalled that he'd never appeared in a GO fic before! b. Insatiable curiosity. c. Insatiable curiosity. d. Writing him was much easier than researching him. Researching him involves reading a lot of his magical diaries--written in a sort of Elizabethan occultist shorthand! There's a sort of wry, bemused quality that comes through even then. e. "At any rate, I have come to believe that our Creator would not have put this complicated Glory into such systems and processes, and given us the desire to understand it all, were there not ways for a righteous petitioner to know. And I have devoted my life to collecting and understanding the works of all those who had glimpses and insights, and I do believe a pathway has been laid for us to ask…”
“Well, I would certainly never discourage prayer…” Aziraphale said, a bit woodenly.
“Yes, that’s what I mean – but a more scientific and properly focused prayer, using methods I think I’ve—“
“Beware,” Aziraphale said wearily, unable to keep a certain tone from creeping automatically into his voice.
“Risky, yes, but we would never know the New World were it not for brave sailors and wise mapmakers—“
“Yes, your friend Mercator did wonderful work with the—“ Aziraphale flailed
“I’m making an analogy.” John sighed, obviously thinking that for all his learning, his fellow bibliophile could be rather dense.
“I’m trying to change the subject!” Aziraphale snapped.
“And I won’t have it changed!” John shouted. “This is important to me.”
Aziraphale crossed his fingers behind his back in the last-ditch hope that John wasn’t going to say what he knew perfectly well John was going to say.
“I seek to ask my questions more directly,” John finally did say. “I have learned of a book, from the Ethiopians, on what little is known of the lost language before Babel. I believe it is possible to make sure I contact only the messengers of God and not less wholesome spirits.”
Aziraphale closed his eyes and prayed for strength. For all his learning, his fellow bibliophile could be awfully dense. “You want to talk with angels.”
“It sounds preposterous, I know…even blasphemous. But—“
“Well, I don’t suppose it’s impossible…” Aziraphale sighed."
That's my Dee - book-brilliant and reality-challenged. Prone to wander off in what he thinks is the right direction, yet is so flawlessly, utterly wrong--and yet, ineffably, sneaks up on the right answer through the back door.
f. Oh, who knows? I thought I was done. But I've been wrong before.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2007-09-11 03:05 am (UTC)a. My interest in him as a historical character of fascination goes all the way back to my earliest Paganism student days, when my occult-geek teacher and best friend was very interested in him. It also has a lot to do with his role as a character in the Aegypt series by his and my beloved John Crowley (no relation, one presumes.;) It's worth noting that the work of Aleister Crowley wouldn't have been possible without Dee's work either.) He just never stops being interesting. And since he was Britain's premier practitioner of Practical Angelology, I was frankly appalled that he'd never appeared in a GO fic before!
b. Insatiable curiosity.
c. Insatiable curiosity.
d. Writing him was much easier than researching him. Researching him involves reading a lot of his magical diaries--written in a sort of Elizabethan occultist shorthand! There's a sort of wry, bemused quality that comes through even then.
e. "At any rate, I have come to believe that our Creator would not have put this complicated Glory into such systems and processes, and given us the desire to understand it all, were there not ways for a righteous petitioner to know. And I have devoted my life to collecting and understanding the works of all those who had glimpses and insights, and I do believe a pathway has been laid for us to ask…”
“Well, I would certainly never discourage prayer…” Aziraphale said, a bit woodenly.
“Yes, that’s what I mean – but a more scientific and properly focused prayer, using methods I think I’ve—“
“Beware,” Aziraphale said wearily, unable to keep a certain tone from creeping automatically into his voice.
“Risky, yes, but we would never know the New World were it not for brave sailors and wise mapmakers—“
“Yes, your friend Mercator did wonderful work with the—“ Aziraphale flailed
“I’m making an analogy.” John sighed, obviously thinking that for all his learning, his fellow bibliophile could be rather dense.
“I’m trying to change the subject!” Aziraphale snapped.
“And I won’t have it changed!” John shouted. “This is important to me.”
Aziraphale crossed his fingers behind his back in the last-ditch hope that John wasn’t going to say what he knew perfectly well John was going to say.
“I seek to ask my questions more directly,” John finally did say. “I have learned of a book, from the Ethiopians, on what little is known of the lost language before Babel. I believe it is possible to make sure I contact only the messengers of God and not less wholesome spirits.”
Aziraphale closed his eyes and prayed for strength. For all his learning, his fellow bibliophile could be awfully dense. “You want to talk with angels.”
“It sounds preposterous, I know…even blasphemous. But—“
“Well, I don’t suppose it’s impossible…” Aziraphale sighed."
That's my Dee - book-brilliant and reality-challenged. Prone to wander off in what he thinks is the right direction, yet is so flawlessly, utterly wrong--and yet, ineffably, sneaks up on the right answer through the back door.
f. Oh, who knows? I thought I was done. But I've been wrong before.