Angel books, angel jewelry, angel newsletters, and even specialized angel stores. How do we perceive angels? As a statistical indication of increasing interest, a 1992 Gallup Youth poll (Jordan 2) found that 76% of American teenagers believed in angels, up from 64% in 1978. Clearly we are in the midst of a national phenomenon, a steadily rising interest in celestial beings that is not just meaningful to the New Age movement. The appeal of angels is easy to understand.
In an age of chaos and uncertainty, it is extremely comforting to believe in the existence of spiritual beings whose main duties consist of the protection and encouragement of human beings. Angels are the traditional mediators between God and humanity, often defined by their duty of message-bearer, although this is only one of many of their activities. Belief in angels seems to be intertwined in the need for humanity’s spiritual search as it was for me. From actual angel encounters to ancient myths, and every form of religious practice, angels have been recipients of prayer as well as guests at celebrations and rituals.
Angels are indeed holy and bright. They bring us light and laughter, as well as assisting our finite minds to arrive at a better understanding of divinity, infinity, and the wonders of the unseen universe. Fairies, elementals, nature spirits, and devas are part of the same energy stream as angels (Taylor 87). There is an evolution of energy such as plants and minerals to incarnate into angels, archangels and other higher ranks of heavenly hosts (Taylor 90). Three main categories make up the angelic realms with three sub-divisions each. Only a few groups of angels will be mentioned.
The angels who are said to be closest to the divine energy are called Heavenly Counselors (Taylor 115). Their subdivisions consist of Seraphim, the most highly evolved angels who work to keep the right balance between planets, stars, and other heavenly bodies by working with sound or music. It is said that they sit on the right hand of God. An important group of angels are the Virtues. They are the listeners who respond to prayers and requests for healing by directing just the right amount of divine energy into specific areas or to particular individuals praying, or being prayed for.
Another group of assistants, and by far the most popular to us are the Archangels. They deal with all aspects of humankind such as helping those with a blessed sixth sense to use their gift and interpret their work in light and love, which is everything an angel is made up of. Archangels can even be invoked to bring blessing, safety, and protection into our daily lives, and to assist us in getting a greater clarity about our life’s purposes. My personal angel that oversees those born under a certain day is named Uriel.
His name means “the light and fire of the divine” (Taylor 19). He is the guardian of the east, dawn, morning, and spring and is known as “regent of the sun”. His element is fire and his color is yellow. Uriel blesses our minds and inspires the worlds of science, economics, politics, and medical research. He also urges us toward social equality and helps us to find our direction in life. I believe he and my other guardian angels have helped me to achieve equality and truly inspired my thoughts on life and what I wanted to do with it when I was lost and confused.
All I had to do was ask, and guidance eventually came to me in various ways. How comforting it is to know that every human has a heavenly host waiting for us to utter words of requesting assistance so that we may ask and we shall receive! An important part of angelic history is the angel who once presided in heaven who we recognize as Lucifer. He is commonly known as the fallen angel who, in our traditional myths, was expelled from the hierarchy because he wanted too much power. He is often thought of as being seductive and evil, yet strangely enough, his name means “light”.
When I was a child, Lucifer was explained to me as a governor of the heavens before he was tossed out of heaven. He loved him self so much, that as soon as the Lord left his seat, Lucifer would attempt to sit down on the throne. The archangel Michael then rose to him, and after a vicious battle succeeded in driving him out of heaven. Lucifer was then cast down into the dark dwelling reserved just for him for all eternity. The angels who joined his rebellion were also expelled from heaven and became the legions of demons, forever serving Lucifer and fighting to darken our souls.
To keep evil forces at bay, working with angels is a blessing that every human being must take advantage of. They are the link between the human spirit and the heavenly world. Feeling the presence of an angel is the first step to inviting them into our lives to help and guide the confusing crossroads humans must face in life. Knowing that an angel is near you can sometimes be identified as a chill or tingle throughout the body, a pleasant fragrance, a brush of an angels delicate wings in the hair or on the shoulder, or simply a sudden feeling of great happiness.
Invocations to your angels is also a way for them to understand and listen to what it is you are in need of. Keep in mind however, that requests are only granted if it is for the good and benefit of all concerned in the matter. An invocation gains power when it is spoken aloud with as much confidence as possible. It is a call for inspiration, and is even more powerful when naming the name of the angel you choose to be your inspirer. Speak aloud with great confidence, and talk to your angel every day to strengthen the bond between you.
I guarantee that when you talk to your angel, you will feel their presence and the peace and happiness they instill throughout you. This is their divine way of communication to humans, by using feeling, emotion, and touch. Keep an open mind and invite your angels to be a part of you in every endeavor, you may experience a radical change in your outlook on life and create a sounder environment for yourself. Angels were created especially for humans, so listen to their guiding advice and life will surely change for the better, as did mine. God bless the invention of angels!