Ancient and Mystic Alphabets

	Ogham (Old Irish Ogam) was an alphabet used primarily to represent Gaelic languages that was probably often written in wood in early times. The main flowering of the use of "classical" Ogham in stone seems to be 5th–6th century AD. Monumental Ogham inscriptions are found in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, and the Isle of Man, mainly employed as territorial markers and memorials. The more ancient examples are standing stones, script being carved into the edge (droim or faobhar) of the stone, which forms a stemline against which individual characters are cut. Text is read beginning from the bottom left-hand side of a stone, continuing upward, across the top and down the right-hand side in the case of long inscriptions. Inscriptions written on stemlines cut into the face of the stone, instead of along its edge, are known as "scholastic", and are of a later date (post 7th century). Notes were also commonly written in Ogham in manuscripts down to the sixteenth century. Some people have theorized that Ogham could also be used as a secret language, because of its structure: the fingers of one hand, using the nose or shin or any other "straight" edge as a stemline could be used to secretly signal individual Ogham letters, which, it is asserted, could be readily read by an Ogham practitioner. There doesn't appear to be any evidence to support the theory.
	Theban Script The Theban alphabet first appeared in print in Henry Cornelius Agrippa's Third book of Occult Philosophy in 1531. It was origianally accredited to the legendary magus Honorius of Thebes, and is sometimes referred to as the "runes of Honorius" even though it is not a runic alphabet. However, it is believed that the Theban alphabet actually originated as a Latin cipher before the 11th-century. The origin of the letterforms is obscure, but all the evidence is consistent with an origin as an early alchemical cipher alphabet influenced by Avestan.  Others say that the alphabet first appeared in the book entitled, "The Magus" by Honorius II (Pope from 1216 to 1227) Users of this magickal alphabet often include a stylized character at the end of a writing. This character is translated as the Greek Alpha and Omega. While it may look like an ancient alphabet, it was unknown before 1531. It is mostly used as a substitute for Anglo-Saxon runes, or for making charms and amulets. Theban was introduced to Wicca by its founder, Gerald Gardner.
	Angelic This alphabet is derived from Hebrew and dates back to the 12th century. It was said to be used by magicians for encrypting their 'books of shadows' or grimoires. A specimen was given in the Francis Barrett book 'The Magus'.
	Avestan The Avestan alphabet was created in the 3rd century CE for writing the hymns of Zarathustra (a.k.a Zoroaster) called the Avesta. Avestan is an extinct Indo-Iranian language related to Old Persian and Sanskrit. Many of the letters are derived from the old Pahlavi alphabet of Persia, which itself was derived from the Aramaic alphabet. The Avestan alphabet was replaced by the Arabic alphabet after Persia converted to Islam during the 7th century CE. The alphabet is written from right to left, in the same way as Syriac, Arabic and Hebrew.
	Enochian Enochian is also refered to as Angelic Script and is used in ceremonial magick when working with Angelic beings, particularly in the calls used to summon them. Legend has it that the magicians Edward Kelly and Dr. John Dee were given this language by an angel. Enochian script is properly written from right to left.
	Passing of the River The name of this script is derived from the account in Genesis of the four rivers --- Pison, Euphrates, Gihon, and Hiddekel --- which flowed through the Garden of Eden.  This script embodies a potent magic. Traditionally it is a primitive form of liturgical Hebrew, and its letters of living entities.  Properly used, these letters are said to create a vortex of energy, whirling from the mental level, through the astral and etheric levels, into the physical.
	Malachim Another alphabet which purports to be a version of the script used by angels.

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