(posted to enochian-l by Aaron Leitch)
These anaysis will focus on the english of the Calls for the most part, but will draw in the Angelic when necessary to prove a point. Later on I will also add my versions of the "essential" translations to the mix as well.
I will simply quote the Call in full, and offer my analysis along the way. Mainly this will be outside of the wording of the Call itself, though in a few cases I have added words in parenthesis within the Call to highlight my take on it's interpretation. That said, I begin with Call One.
To begin with, I have come to understand that Call One (and perhaps all the Calls) is spoken by "The Mage"- meaning the person performing the Ceremony- although a good bit of the Call is built of quotes from Iad Balt Himself. I have also come to understand that the Call is being addressed to all of the Angels (or Archons)- most specifically the Zodiacal Signs. It's subject, however, seems to be the Sun for the most part, and the Moon secondarily. All of this will be fully explained below:
"I reign over you," sayeth the God of Justice, "In power exalted above the firmaments of wrath; in whose hands the Sun is as a sword, and the Moon as a firey arrow."
-This is pretty straight-forward. The Mage starts right off with quotes from Iad Balt- who establishes Himself as the Ruler- to whom even the Sun and Moon are but weapons or tools for His use. My idea is that this (and most of the rest of the Call) is a recital of what Iad Balt said to the Archons long ago (at their Creation). The Mage is simply repeating it to remind the Archons, and to show that he knows these words of the Creator (thereby proving that he is speaking under the authority of Iad Balt).
"Which measureth your garments in the midst of My vestures, and trussed you together as the palms of my hands."
-However, here is the Key to the Call as I have seen it. The word "which" above has generally been seen as refering to Iad Balt. However I feel this the structure of the wording indicates that the "which" in question is separate from Iad Balt. I offer that it is in fact meant to refer to the Sun and Moon, and most specifically the Sun. The Sun and Moon are the rulers of the Heavens, and They are the ones who most directly mark out what we know as the Signs of the Zodiac. Iad Balt's "vestures" would be the entirety of the Heavens, and the "garments" of the Archons in question would be the spheres of the Zodiac (and possibly the Planets as well). I also note that the reference to the Sun (and Moon) trussing the Archons together "as the palms of My hands" seems to infer the fact that the Sun is what marks out the belt of the Zodiac itself; forming what might otherwise be unrelated groupings of stars into one line- much like you might interlace your fingers.
"Whoes seats I garnished with the fire of gathering, and (thereby) beautified your garments with admiration."
-Here we see an explanation of why the Sun and Moon glow. The "Fire of Gathering" itself almost seems to indicate the Power which the Sun and Moon have over the Stars- to "gather" them into specific Signs, etc- such as the marking out of the belt of the Zodiac discussed above. Then, we see another mention of the "garments" which are the Signs themselves; and these are "beautified" by the efforts (or effects) of the Sun and Moon. I have added the "(thereby)" above to make my interpretation of the wording clearer.
"To whom I made a Law to govern the Holy Ones, and delievered you a Rod (along) with the Ark of Knowledge."
-I believe that the "Holy Ones" is a reference to the Archons/Angels in general. It would appear that Iad Balt created the Law, and gave it to the Sun and Moon to administer as Rulers of the Heavens. Then, Iad Balt mentions that He has delievered the Archons themselves a "Rod with the Ark of Knowledge". The Angelic word "erm" is given as "with" in the Call- however I have a hunch that it should actually be "along with" if we are to understand the wording here. It seems to me that the "Arc of Knowledge" is probably related to the Law, and the Rod represents the ruling power which the Archons enjoy by following that Law.
"Moreover, you lifted up your voices and swore obedience and faith to Him that Liveth, and Triumpeth, whose beginning is not, nor end cannot be."
-This is also often considered as refering to Iad Balt, though again it's wording makes that hard to accept. Why would Iad Balt refer to Himself in the third person in such a manner. Of course, there is always the "royal we" explanation, but that doesn't fit the nature of the rest of the Calls. Iad Balt doesn't ever seem to refer to Himself in the third person, if my interpretations are correct. In fact, my impression is that the above simply continues the references to the Sun. The finishing line seems to confirm:
"Which shineth as a flame in the midst of your palace, and reigneth amongst you as the balace of righteousness and truth."
-I see here an indication of the Sun shinging in the Heavens (the Palace of the Archons), and- again- a statement of the rulership of the Sun over all the Archons.
"Move, therefore, and show yourselves! Open the Mysteries of your creation! Be friendly unto me, for I am a servant of the same God as thou art! A true worshipper of the Highest!"
The long quote from Iad Balt (which I have come to refer to as the "Hymn of the Sun and Moon") being over, the Mage begins to speak for himself for the first time. Having proven that he knows the Hymn of the Sun and Moon, and thus speaks with the authority of Iad Balt, he then appeals to the Archons to be allies, and to hold converse with him.
So ends my take on the First Call.