For many people in neo-Pagan spiritual traditions, working with angels is often seen as somewhat taboo; in recent years, however, the practice has certainly increased. Many modern day Witches often shy away from the angelic realms because of their associations with Christianity. It’s understandable, and if you feel uncomfortable with the idea of working with angels for that reason, then that is perfectly fine! I felt this way once, but have come to see the angels in another light, one that has opened new doors on my spiritual path.
I decided to explore the idea of angels after watching a woman on television where who called herself an “angel therapist”; she worked with angels to do “angel readings” and as lightworking helpers when she did Reiki. I felt something within stir almost immediately and I decided to start looking into this more. I began exploring some of the more non-denominational expressions of the angels, especially books by Doreen Virtue. While I don’t always agree with her ideas, they have helped to create gateways for me to explore the angelic worlds myself and form many of my own thoughts and ideas which I look forward to sharing with you all; hopefully my experiences will open some paths for others.
I want introduce you to some of the major players on the angel stage. These are the Archangels, the “big names” that many of you may have heard in the past, especially if you grew up Catholic. Most people know of what I like to call “The Big Four”, Archangels Michael, Raphael, Gabriel and Uriel. You might be surprised to know that there are in fact 15 Archangels that we know of but possibly untold numbers of them in existence.
Below you will find these 15 listed with common pronunciations of their names, the traditional/historical meaning of their name, and a brief description of their work and what qualities they can help bring to your life. This is only introductory information about them as their stories and histories are vast.
Ariel (AHR-ee-el) – “Lioness of God” – She helps with physical world needs such as money, shelter and material desires. She can also help us in work we do to heal the environment and animals.
Azrael (oz-rye-EL) – “Whom God Helps” – He helps departed souls to cross the veil and helps heal the grief stricken left behind. Because of Azrael’s work with the dead, he is often seen as the “angel of death” in the Hebrew traditions.
Chamuel (SHAM-you-el) – “He Who Sees God” – He can help to alleviate tension, stress and anxiety while promoting both global and personal peace.
Gabriel (GAB-ree-el) – “Messenger of God” – He helps those who fill roles such as teacher, writer or journalist, any messenger type position. Gabriel is also known for helping parents with raising their children as well as answering prayers for conception and adoption. Different traditions perceive Gabriel as male and some as female. There are some in the new age traditions who see Gabriel as androgynous.
Haniel (Hawn-ee-EL) – “Glory of God” – She can be helpful to women who have difficulty during their monthly cycles. She can also be called on to help with clairvoyance and its development.
Jeremiel (Jair-ah-MY-el) – “Mercy of God” – He deals with helping us get through difficult emotional times and helps us to evaluate and take stock of our lives, especially when we need to forgive others and create positive change in our lives.
Jophiel (JO-fee-el) – “Beauty of God” – When we need help with healing negative and chaotic times, Jophiel can aid us. She brings beauty and organization into our lives and can lift the energy in negative situations.
Metatron (MET-uh-tron) – The meaning of his name is widely debated but believed to be either “the Angel of Presence” or “He Who Occupies the Throne Next to the Divine”.
Metatron is the angelic ascended spirit of the prophet Enoch. Metatron heals those with learning disabilities and helps to resolve and heal issues developed during childhood. He is often seen as a patron of Indigo Children.
Michael (me-KAI-el) – “He Who is Like God” – He helps to release us from fear and doubt and clears negative energy from our lives. He is seen by many as the chief archangel of protection, and for this reason he is often seen as one of the most powerful and heroic of all the angels. Calling on him at difficult times can bring great courage.
Raguel (Rag-WELL) – “Friend of God” – He grants harmony to friendships and heals misunderstandings. He is seen as an overseer of all angels charged with ensuring harmony between them.
Raphael (Raf-EYE-el) – “He Who Heals” – He helps both the healing process and the guidance of healers. Raphael is considered by many to be a patron to travelers, though his main work resides in the area of healing.
Raziel (RAH-zee-el) – “Secrets of God” – He can help to heal spiritual and physical blocks as well as being able to help with interpreting our dreams or past life memories. In the Kabbalah Raziel is said to be the embodiment of Divine wisdom.
Sandalphon (SAN-dul-fon) – Sandalphon is another prophet who ascended to become an archangel, in this case it is the prophet Elijah. He has many different areas of interest including healing from anger and aggressive behavior. He is also known for being a helper to musicians, especially when music is used for the purpose of healing. He is seen by some as the twin brother of Metatron.
Uriel (YUR-ee-el) – “God is Light” – Uriel is an angel connected to wisdom and philosophy, especially when dealing with insight and new ideas. He is often associated with the “seraphim”, those angels who are closest to the Divine.
