Last week we began our discussion about our team of light by talking about spirit guides. This week we will continue that conversation by exploring the angelic realm, the different categories of angels, how they are both similar and different from spirit guides, and how they can help us. Most of us probably have our own definition of what an angel is from whatever particular spiritual upbringing we had or didn’t have. Perhaps we haven’t even given much thought to angels and how they can help enhance our physical experience or assist us in remembering our true nature as an infinite soul.

From my work with the angelic realm as well as what I have learned from the experiences of others, here’s what I believe. An angel is a celestial, nonphysical being who is an egoless messenger from God. They are different from spirit guides in that they have never incarnated on earth, so they never had an ego. They do, however, have different energies that seem to me like individual personalities depending on their specialty. Their main purpose is to bring us messages from our Creator. They are similar to our spirit guides because they too provide guidance to help us evolve and grow on our spiritual journey as a soul. Yet unlike spirit guides who are still on their own evolutionary journey, angels are extraordinary beings of pure light and love born to assist in the journey of all souls.

Some of us perceive angels to have wings because in the early paintings of angels, artists may have mistaken the light around them for wings. Angels, therefore, may come to us with wings so that we will recognize them as an angelic being and not a spirit guide or a deceased loved one. There are many kinds of angels which we will discuss. Some angels come and go throughout our lives depending on what we are going through. However, our guardian angels are with us from birth through physical death, much like our personal spirit guide. [1]

Many people ask the question, “Why should I talk to angels when I can just speak directly to God?” The answer is that we can and should talk to God every day and listen for his answers to our prayers. The angels tell us, however, that when we are afraid or upset, and in most need of assistance and guidance, our vibrations may be too low to feel God’s pure love or to hear the messages he is trying to send us. The vibration of the spirit world, in general, is far higher than here on the earth plane and I don’t think we can even fathom how high and sublime our Creators vibration is. So even when we are calm, it is still a challenge to directly hear God’s answers to our prayers, though it is most definitely possible. I believe that, in terms of our soul’s journey here on Earth, God created some choirs of angels to remain closer to the earth plane. They are able to shift their vibration to meet ours so it will be easier to feel and hear them when we are fearful or stressed. Angels also help us lift our vibration in general which in turn assists us in being unafraid and peaceful, even in times of distress and fear. This allows us to experience what it feels like to maintain to a clearer connection to God at all times. We do not pray to the angels but we can ask them for assistance. We pray to God and the angels help us hear God’s answers to our prayers.

Angelology, which is the section of systematic theology that focuses on the study of angels, explains that there are nine “choirs” or branches of angels. It’s important to note that, in the spirit world or heaven, there is no hierarchy that denotes that no one soul is better or more loved by our creator. In the angelic realm, the same is true. No level or choir of angels is better or should be more revered than others. There is an equality and a nonjudgmental order that resonates within all spaces within the spirit world and the angelic realm. We, including God’s angels, are all essential and acutely important and necessary to the sustainment and harmony in the land of peace and love we call heaven, as well as here on the earth plane.

So, here are the nine choirs of angels.

The First Triad

• Seraphim: the highest order and the ones closest to God (pure light)

• Cherubim: usually portrayed as chubby children with wings (pure love)

• Thrones: Along with Seraphim and Cherubim, Thrones resides in the highest realms of heaven. They are the bridge between the spiritual and physical (represents God’s fairness and justice)

The Second Triad

• Dominions: The highest in the second triad, they oversee or manage all the other angels, according to God’s will.

• Virtues: They govern the order of the physical universe….the sun, moon, stars and all the planets.

• Powers: These powerful angels purify the universe from lower energies

The Third Triad

• Principalities: The next three groups of angels are closest to the earth. Principalities watch over the planet, including nations and cities. Their purpose is to ensure God’s will of peace on earth.

• Archangels: This group oversees humankind. Each angel in this choir has a specialty representing an aspect of God.

• Guardian angels: As we discussed before each person is assigned his or her own guardian angel who is with them throughout their life.

Many people beginning to explore the angelic realm ask the question, how do we know the angels actually exist and what the names of the archangels are. For those among us who have extraordinarily strong gifts of spirit, like clairvoyance, clear seeing, clairaudience, clear hearing, and clear sentience, clear sensing or feeling, and claircognizance, clear knowing, they can see and hear the angels more clearly. We learn from these gifted human souls more details about the angels, what their names are, and their purpose in our lives. Like all teachings in spirituality, however, there has to be a certain amount of faith to believe something is indeed true.

Truth for me, is when you hear something or read it, it resonates to a place deep inside of you. It feels as if you always knew it to be true, but you are now just remembering it. We need to trust that feeling. The more we work with the angelic realm and ask for guidance, protection, and help the more we will experience the angels for ourselves. Just like our spirit guides, the angels must respect and honor our free will. They want to help us, but we must first ask them for assistance. This is so important to remember. Let us start each day praising and thanking God and then asking the angels to be with us, guide us, talk to us, and help us to be the love that we are. As you learn more about the individual archangels you can call on them specifically according to their specialty.

Archangel means “chief messenger of God.” They oversee the guardian angels and along with them they are most intimately connected to human beings. Each archangel has a specialty. You might think of them as different facets of the face of God. God created the archangels long before there was organized religion. They belong to God and are available and accessible to all people regardless of whether they have a religion or not. They are available to us even if we don’t believe in God. However, as stated previously, we must call upon the angels in order for them to assist us. Most sacred religious texts refer to the angels and most traditions and faith reference about seven archangels, although I believe there are many more. Those seven are as follows along with a very brief description of their specialty.

• Michael: protection, helping us remember our life purpose, is powerfully concerned about truth, justice, and integrity

• Raphael: Helps in healing spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically

• Gabriel: Helps with communication and assists writers, teachers, and journalists

• Jophiel: Helps in the beautification of our thoughts, emotions, homes, and workplaces

• Ariel: Helps protect the earth, its natural resources, ecosystems, and wildlife

• Chamuel: Helps to bring peace to the Earth and protects the world from fear and negative energies

To bring this discussion to a close, I’d like to reiterate something important. Nothing we have discussed about spirit guides and angels can be proven from a physical perspective. We cannot reveal concrete evidence or absolute facts regarding the existence of either of them. My telling you about experiences I have had cannot give you complete confidence that what I am saying is the truth. Each of us must enter the temple of our soul’s light, ask for the presence of our team of light to be revealed to us. In doing so, we may truly feel the energy of spirit fill us and lift us up beyond our physical limitations so we may see and hear them for ourselves. We will experience firsthand the tremendous love and affection our celestial team has for us. The words they speak and the guidance they offer will help us to know that they are real. Following their advice, brings greater light and purpose to our lives. It can elevate our minds and hearts to a transcendent sacred space. That ethereal place is filled with unconditional love, and a state of consciousness where we can be truly transformed by the Divine truth of our omnipotent, almighty Creator.

[1] Some people believe spirit guides and guardian angels are one in the same. From my experience this is not the case.