ANGELS AND ANGELOLOGY

An immortal being who lives in the spirit world and serves as an intermediary between God and humanity. The word "angel" is derived from the Greek angelos and the Latin angelus, which mean "messenger." In religion angels belong to the class of beings known as demons; they may be either friendly or hostile to humankind. In art angels are depicted with wings and halos.

Angelology was developed in ancient Persia, and was absorbed into Judaism and Christianity. According to the Babylonian Talmud, all beings are led and protected by angels, who connect the earth to God.

The ancient Hebrews applied the term malakh (angel) to anyone who carried God's message in the world, including people. In Genesis 18 three men, or angels, appear to Abraham to predict the birth of Isaac. Later angels became spirit beings, serving God in heaven and coming to earth upon his instructions. Some angels evolved into guardian angels, such as Michael, the guardian of Israel.

The legions of angels are ranked in hierarchies. The highest in Judaism and Christianity are the seven archangels, each of whom is assigned to one of the seven spheres of heaven: Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, Uriel, Jophiel, Zadkiel, and Samael (Satan). When Lucifer was cast out of heaven by God, his angels fell with him. Theodore of Mopsuetia, an early Christian father, said these angels were not demons, but men who submitted to Lucifer and became his instruments, spreading vice, heresy, lies, profane learning, and all manner of ills throughout the world.

Lesser-ranked angels are the cherubim, seraphim, and various virtues, among many others. Catholics and some Protestants believe every person has a guardian angel. 

In the mystical Jewish Kabbalah, an archangel is assigned to each emanation on the Tree of Life: Metatron for Kether, Ratziel for Chokmah, Tzaphiel for Binah, Tzadqiel for Chesed, Khameal for Geburah, Raphael for Tipareth, Haniel for Netzach, Michael for Hod, Gabriel for Yesod, and Sandalphon for Malkuth. The ancient Hebrews believed Metatron also served as a heavenly scribe, recording the good deeds of Israel.

Islam has four archangels, Azrael, Israfil, Gabriel, and Michael.

The Gnostics, who were influenced by Persian traditions, emphasized angelic hierarchies as well, and believed that angels lived in a world of mystical light between the mundane world and the Transcendent Causeless Cause.

Until about the eighteenth century, angels played roles in everyday life. Magicians conjured angelic and demonic spirits to effect their spells and do their bidding. Visions of angels were often reported as portents. Wizards, wise women, and witches credited angels with effecting cures. Angels were blamed for plagues, and were believed to intercede in the affairs of humankind. The Age of Enlightenment, with its emphasis on science and intellectual thought, relegated angels to the realm of poetry and romantic fancy.

The eighteenth-century Swedish mystic Emanuel Swedenborg claimed to commune with angels in his mystical trances. He said all angels once lived as men and women. As angels they are forms of affection and thought, the recipients of love and wisdom. The Lord appears as the sun above them.

Occultist and philosopher Rudolf Steiner conceived of a complex society of angels and spirits, the result of his own vIsionary experiences. Angels, in his unique system, exist on the first level of consciousness above humankind; above them, in ascending order of levels, are Archangels, Archai (Original Forces), Exusiai (Revelations or Powers), Dynameis (Mights), Kyriotetes (Dominions), Thrones, Cherubim, and Seraphim. Beyond the Seraphim is the Godhead. Each level of being has higher and broader responsibilities in terms of spiritual evolution, beginning with archangels, some of whom are responsible for leading races or nations.

In 1924 Geoffrey Hodson, a clairvoyant and Theosophist, was contacted by an angel named Bethelda, who transmitted to him ideas and information that Hodson turned into five books, the best known of which is The Brotherhood of Angels and Men (1927). Hodson envisioned humankind and angels as two branches in the family of God, who need to work more closely together for the spiritual benefit of humans.

According to Hodson the angelic host is arranged in divisions: Angels of Power, who teach humankind how to release spiritual energy; Angels of Healing; Guardian Angels of the Home, who protect the hearth against danger, disease, and ill fortune; Building Angels, who perfect and inspire in the worlds of thought, feeling, and flesh; Angels of Nature, the elemental spirits; Angels of Music; and Angels of Beauty and Art. Hodson prescribed rituals of invocation and prayer that would bring humans closer to angels.

People continue to experience angelic visions today, as they have throughout history. Often the appearance of a brilliant, loving being of light is interpreted within the context of the individual's religious beliefs. According to research of near-death experiences, the most common element is the appearance of an angelic being to guide the dying across the threshold of death. Communication is done by telepathy. On rare occasions the angel may be visible to people who are near the dying one.

In New Age occult and religious beliefs, angels have made a comeback in popularity. They are portrayed in karmic aspects of astrology, channeled, meditated upon, and said to exist in spirit realms. Angelic forces are invoked in magic rituals in various magical systems and witchcraft. The popular view holds that angels are benevolent beings and are different from demons, who are malevolent beings. See Demon; Encounter phenomena; Nature spirits; Near-death experience (NDE).

Written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley in "Harper's Encyclopedia of Mystical & Paranormal Experience", HarperCollins Publishers, New York, USA, 1991, excerpts pp.20-21. Digitized, adapted and illustrated to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.