An angel is a celestial being that acts as an intermediary between heaven and earth. Angelic beings are usually benevolent in nature, considered to manifest the qualities of goodness, purity, and selflessness. Angels are referenced in many different religions from all over the world, although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition. In Christianity, Judaism and Islam, they often act as messengers from God or as emanations of a supreme divine being or source, sent to do the tasks of that being, and to assist mankind in some way. Other roles in religious traditions include acting as warrior or guard; the concept of a "guardian angel" is popular in modern Western culture.
Traditions vary as to whether angels have free will or are merely extensions of the supreme being's will. While the appearance of angels also varies, many views of angels give them a human shape. Early Christians adopted Jewish ideas of angels. In the early stage, the Christian concept of an angel shifted between the angel as a messenger of God and a manifestation of God himself. Later came identification of individual angelic messengers: (Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, and Uriel). Then, in the space of little more than two centuries (from the third to the fifth) the image of angels took on definite characteristics both in theology and in art.
Islam is clear on the nature of angels in that they are messengers of God (Allah in Arabic). They have no free will, and can only do that which God orders them to do. Angels mentioned in the Quran include Gabriel (Jibril), Michael (Mikail), Israfil, Haroot, Maroot, and the Angel of Death, Azrael.
Angels can take on different forms. Prophet Muhammad, the last Prophet of Islam, speaking of the magnitude of Angel Gabriel has said that his wings spanned from the Eastern to the Western horizon. At the same time, it is well known in Islamic tradition that angels used to take on human form.
A 2002 study based on interviews with 350 people, mainly in the UK, who said they have had an experience of an angel, describes several types of such experiences: visions, sometimes with multiple witnesses present; auditions, e.g. to convey a warning; a sense of being touched, pushed, or lifted, typically to avert a dangerous situation; and pleasant fragrance, generally in the context of somebody's death. In the visual experiences, the angels described appear in various forms, either the "classical" one (human countenance with wings), in the form of extraordinarily beautiful or radiant human beings, or as beings of light.
Angels, Guardian Angels, Spirit Guides, and Divine Messengers. Many major religions around the world make reference to these Divine beings of light and love. Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition, the warm, loving and protective nature of these celestial beings evoke feelings of peace and comfort to those who believe. They often act as messengers from God/Source sent to be of assistance to humankind, but it is also believed that angels can act according to their own free will in order to assist someone in need on the earth plane.
Angels can come to assist you with or without being called upon. If you wish to call upon an angel for assistance or guidance, perhaps all you need to do is believe in them, and they will be there. Many believers and even non-believers have had encounters with these spiritual beings. Some believers say that we all have at least one guardian angel assigned to us. There may be several angels around us, watching us, guiding us, protecting and loving us, and embracing us within their infinite and angelic light.
Angels may reside in a dimension that is parallel to our own, or in a plane of existance that lies beyond the earthly realm. Many people who have had near death experiences where their soul has momentarily ascended have reported moment encounters with these radiant angelic beings urging them to return to the physical body. The Angelic energy of an angel can surround us in spiritual form during times of trouble or dispair, bathing us in their warming and celestial light and love.
It's true that sometimes all we need to do is believe that they are there, call upon them, and allow ourselves to feel and become aware of their divine presence. You must learn to trust them, and to know that they are always there for you when you need them. If you are going through a troublesome time or experiencing a painful situation, you can simply ask for their help and they will listen with patience and understanding. Angels not only bring to us the healing energies of light and loving-kindness, but they guide us through our weakest and darkest moments, transforming our fear into courage, giving us hope and inner peace.
Angels can exist and manifest themselves in many unique ways. We can communicate with them and they can communicate with us at any time for any reason.
Many of us who frequently see the 11:11 or reccuring number patterns on digital clocks and in other places, know that these light beings are there at that very moment. They are reminding us of their presence and silently assuring us that we are always connected to them, and to this infinite source of love and light they bring with them.
When you notice the same sequence of numbers repeating on a regular basis it can be considered a synchronicity. It's as if you always happen to look at just the right time. When you see the 11:11 there may be an angel nearby trying to communicate with you. It's as if the magnificent angelic vibration is attuned to the repeating number sequence. For example, whenever you look and see a number synchronicity like 333, 444, or 1111 on a clock or elsewhere, you may get a strange but pleasant feeling inside. It's as if the angel always decides to manifest itself at that percise moment in time so that you will recognize a pattern; eventually you will understand that the number synchronicity is simply an open invitation for angelic communication.
Your angel may even be a loved once who has passed onto to another realm, returning to remind you that they will always be with you no matter what. The seemingly invisible and mysterious presence of these angels can often be experiences as an "inner guidance" or even as an "intuitive knowing", keeping us safe and even warning us of danger.
Next time you notice a number synchronicity like 11:11 on a clock, stop and take a moment of silence to feel the angelic presence of your angels. They might just have a special message for you. Angels remind us that we are never alone.
Do you have a guardian angel or spirit guide who watches over you during times of trouble? Can you feel it's warm and loving presence surrounding you with peace and protection? Whenever you pass through a moment of pain or confusion you can always call your angel or spirit guide to you for comfort and guidance. Your angelic beings may have unusual ways of letting you know that they have heard your call, and are with you at that moment.
When you ask for help you must trust that your silent or verbal request for assistance will be heard. Simply close your eyes and listen to the sound of the universal creator or GOD source speaking to you through it's celestial messengers. The words will come from within you. This is the way the spirit realm can communicate with us. You will have a sense of knowing that these internal thoughts have come from outside of yourself, and then suddenly you will know that they are there. A sense of peace and well being will follow. If the message is urgent enough, you may even feel your angels presence physically through a feeling of warmth or a tingeling sensation in your body, a ringing in your ears or even a flash of light out of the corner of your eye. It can be quite uplifting and inspirational!
Try asking your angel or spirit guide a question and try to understand how it communicates with you. It can be subtle, but once you learn to distinguish the angelic communication from your own mental chatter you will be pleasantly suprised at how easy it really is to get in contact with them when you need to. Once you become aware of this spiritual and intuitive form of communciation you will soon discover other unique ways which they try to get your attention.
Sometimes angels or spirit guides can offer further guidance concerning an issue through synchroncity. Synchronicities are meaningful coincidences that usually occur after you have inquired about a situation, person or event, and are usually related or connected in some way. Synchronicities can help you to clarify an issue that has been weighing on your mind recently that day or earlier that week. Synchronicity can also help you to verify the inner guidance and advice that you received during an earlier attempt to communicate with your angel guides. This special type of confirmation will usually be acompanied by thoughts or physical sensations that can give you a "Deja vu" type of feeling. Once you become aware of these random and meaninful coincidences you can thank your angel guides for their caring and loving assistance.
Our angels are always with us in some way or another. An inspirational moment, feelings of happeniness and warm hearted laughter, a sense of peace and serenity, even a sweet gesture of kindness from a loved one or stranger can remind us that the beautiful and spiritual nature of the angels are reflected in all things that brings us joy. When in times of trouble, take comfort in knowing that your angel is nearby watching, waiting, and wanting to communicate with you. All you have to do is have faith and be aware.
Angels in Different Cultures and Religions
The role of God's messengers on earth and the main difference between the Islamic and Christian/Jewish views on angels
Links & Resources About Angels
Links to websites with information and inspiration related to angels, angelic and celestial beings, and cosmic messengers.
The Seven Archangelic Energies
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