| Angel Lore | |
The Choirs that surround the Devine Core
- 1. Seraphim
- 2. Cherubim
- 3. Thrones (Ophanim or Galgallin)
- 4. Dominations
- 5. Virtues
- 6. Powers
- 7. Principalities
- 8. Archangels - Michael, Gabrial, Rapha-el, Uri-el
- 9: Angels - the one closest to humankind
Angels and their function (from occult, mystic and alchemical lore)
- Af - Anger
- Achaiah - Patience
- Akriel - Barrenness
- Ausiel - Aquarius
- Arael - Birds
- Armisael - Womb
- Barakiel - Chance
- Bardiel - Hail
- Butator - Calculations
- Dara - Rivers
- Eiseth Zenunim - Prostitution
- Gabriel - Dreams
- Gagiel - Fish
- Israfel - Music
- Javan - Greece
- Kasdaye - Abortion
- Laila - Conception
- Leliel - Night
- Liwet - Inventions
- Lucifer - Dawn
- Manna - Food
- Matriel - Rain
- Mehabiah - Morals
- Michael - Insomnia
- Mumiah - Health
- Och - Alchemy
- Parasiel - Treasure
- Phanuel - Hope
- Poteh - Forgetfulness
- Priapus - Lust
- Rahab - Pride
- Ramiel - Thunder
- Rampel - Mountains
- Rashiel - Earthquakes
- Sachluph - Plants
- Sahaquiel - Sky
- Sandalphon - Embryo
- Shakziel - Water Insects
- Shalgiel - Snow
- Shamsiel - Day
- Shateiel - Silence
- Sofiel - Vegetables
- Tabris - Free Will
- Teiaiel - Future
- Uriel - Poetry
- Yroul - Fear
- Zaa'fdial - Showers
- Zad-kiel - Memory
- Zarobi - Precipices
- Zeruel - Strength
- Zethar - Immortality
- Zulphas - Forests
History
Christian
European Christianity consigned the formerly devine Horae to Fairyland, the earthly paradise distinguished from the celestial one. The place was called locus voluptatis terrestis, the Terrestrial Place of Pleasure, or pratum felecitatus, the Paradise of Joy.
Hindu
Hindu angels, apsaras, were heavenly nymphs and created primarily for lovemaking. They had no menstruation, pregnancy, birth or nursing. They were mothers, however. Each child appeared miraculously on its mother's knee at the age of five. Apsaras could copulate endlessly with gods without any emission of fluids or loss of energy. They were dispensers of joy and sensual delight on a devine scale.
Greek
Greeks angels are called Horae or angelos meaning "courier".
Jewish
The Hebrew term for angel is mal'akh, meaning "a messenger". The Talmud speaks of every Jew being assigned eleven thousand guardian angels at birth.
Jewish heavens
First (lowest) - Clouds, winds, the 'Upper Waters' (symbolic of the gateway to the Imaginal World), two hundred Angels of the stars, storehouses of snow, ice and dew with their guardian Angels.
Second - Dark and full of sinners awaiting Judgment.
Third - Eden, with three hundred Angels of Light, and Gehenna or Hell.
Fourth - Chariots of Sun, Moon and Stars, and great Winds.
Fifth - Falen Angels languish in silence and despare.
Sixth - Seven Kerubim with hosts of radiant Angels who control the influences of stars, along with the Angels of Time, the seas, rivers, crops and the souls of mankind.
Seventh (highest) - Ineffable Light, Archangels, Kerubim, Seraphim and Ophanim.
Moslem
Moslems rejected the Horis (heavenly "whores") and insisted the angels are without carnal desires. Yet the Koran teaches that after death every hero will receive beautiful girls as heavenly companions.
Moslem heavens (as envisioned by Jili)
First - The moon and the Holy Spirit. Adam dwells here in a silvery - white light.
Second - Mercury. Here angels of the arts and crafts reside bathed in a grey luminousness.
Third - Venus. Created from the imagination. The locale of the World of Similitudes, the subtle forms of all earthly things, the source of dreams and visions. The prophet Joseph lives here in yellow light.
Fourth - Sun. Created from the light of the heart. Israfil presides over the host of prophets in a golden glow.
Fifth - Mars. The death-Angel Azreal is here, blood-red with the Light of Judgment.
Sixth - Jupiter. Lorded over by Michael in a blue Light of Spiritual Power (himma). Here reside the Angels of mercy and blessing, shaped as animals, birds and men.
Seventh - Saturn. Created from the substance of the First Intelligence. Consists of a Black Light.
Persian
Persians called angels Houris or Peris (fairies) or angaros meaning "courier". A quardian angel was a personal Shakti who watched over a man and took him into her ecstatic embrace at the moment of death.
Viking
Vikings called angels Valkyries.
References