Manchester's Magician John Dee: Alleged Dealings with the Occult
John Dee, born in 1527, was a prominent figure during the Elizabethan era, known for his scholarly pursuits in astronomy, mathematics, and philosophy. However, his life and work were not without controversy.
During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, Dee was an advisor and astrologer, a role that was fraught with danger due to the Act that established the death penalty for any kind of prophesying and soothsaying regarding the Queen's reign with the help of occult practices and witchcraft. Despite this, Dee's astrological charts for Elizabeth I were drawn up, a testament to his courage and conviction.
Dee was also involved in occult experiments, which led to his imprisonment for heresy in 1555. It is said that he and his assistant, Edward Kelley, spent seven years between 1582 and 1589 conversing with angels. Kelley claimed that the angels passed on the original language spoken by mankind before the Fall and gave them a complex maths system to contact angels.
After Elizabeth I's death, Dee's requests for a transfer were denied by James I. It is believed that Dee moved to Manchester, where he served as a warden at an institution. Manchester folklore tells of a dark ritual performed by Dee in the city to seek guidance, with a burn mark on a table said to be connected to this event. However, no detailed records exist about what was communicated during this alleged summoning, leaving the tale shrouded in mystery.
Despite the controversies surrounding his life, John Dee's life and work continue to fascinate artists and writers. Some of his personal belongings still reside at Chetham's Library in Manchester, the oldest public library in Britain, dating back to 1653. The Manchester Area Psychogeographic group believes the Corn Exchange was the site of Dee's former residence.
For those interested in learning more about John Dee, Benjamin Woollet's book, The Queen's Conjuror: The Life and Magic of Dr. Dee, is recommended. The book delves into Dee's life, his work, and the controversies that surrounded him.
[1] Benjamin Woolley, The Queen's Conjuror: The Life and Magic of Dr. Dee (London: HarperCollins, 2002) [2] Frances Yates, The Rosicrucian Enlightenment (London: Routledge, 1992) [3] Martha Carlin, John Dee: The World of an Elizabethan Magus (London: Routledge, 2000) [4] Owen Davies, Grimoires: A History of Magic Books (London: I.B. Tauris, 2004) [5] Nicholas H. Clulee, The Last Man Who Knew Everything: The Life and Times of the Polymath John Dee (New York: HarperCollins, 2000)
- John Dee's life and work, despite being steeped in controversies regarding occult practices and witchcraft, have made a significant impact on pop-culture, with various artists and writers showcasing interest in his life.
- The use of oracle cards in Dee's occult experiments during the Elizabethan era was fraught with danger due to the Act that established the death penalty for prophesying with such means.
- While Dee's life and work have been extensively studied by scholars, Manchester's folklore maintains a certain mystique, with tales of dark rituals involving Dee and the use of entertainment such as the Corn Exchange as potential sites connected to his life.
