HIERARCHY OR CHOIRSIn the ancient Western world, particulary medieval Europe, it was believed that angels were arranged in hierarchical order. Perhaps because the angels were believed to continually sing praises of God, the levels of the angelic hierarchy came to be referred to as choirs. In the sixth-century theologian Dionysius the Areopagite - and an outline by Thomas Aquinas was formed and arranged into the nine choirs, which are grouped into the three hierarchies (perhaps reflecting the Trinity) In decending order of closeness to God.
The Nine Orders of AngelsAccording to Dionysus each name of the choir indicates its divine nature. The name Seraphim means both "those that burn" and "those that warm." The seraphim are in continous revolution around God, thus the heat they emit is like lightning. The highest order, the six-winged ones, surround the throne of God, singing ceaselessly,they are angels of love, light, and fire. The name Cherubim means "fullness of knowledge" or effusion of wisdom." This choir has the power to know and contemplate God, and the capacity to understand and communicate divine knowledge. The guardians of the fixed stars, keepers of celestial records, bestowers of knowledge. In the Talmud cherubim are equated with the order of wheels, also called ophanim. Chief rulers are Ophaniel, Rikbiel, Zophiel, and, before his fall, Satan. The term Thrones, or the "many eyed ones," is and indication of their close prozimity to the throne of God. This is the order closest to God and they receive directly from him divine perfection and awareness. Bring God's justice to us. They are sometimes called wheels and in the Jewish Kabbalah,CHARIOTS or the MERKABAH. The occult book, the Zohar, ranks wheels above seraphim, but other sources place them as cherubim, the whole thing being confused. The ruling prince is Oriphiel or Zabkiel or Zaphiel. The holy Dominions have the power to elevate themselves and are liberated from all earthly desires and yearnings. It is their job to regulate the duties of the angels. Regulate angelic duties. Through them is manifested the Majesty of God. They hold an orb or sceptre as an emblem of authority, and in Hebraic lore, the chief of this order is named Hashmal or Zadkiel. The name of the Virtues indicate a firm and steadfast courage in all angelic activities. Known as the "brilliant" or "shining ones," the virtues are assoicated with acts of heroism. Work miracles on earth. They are bestowers of grace and valor. The Powers are on the same level as the dominions and virtues and possess the power and intelligeane that is subordinate only to God. They keep the universe in balance. Camael is believed to be "chief" of this choir. Stop the efforts of demons to overthrow the world, or else they preside over demons,or perhaps (according to St. Paul) they are themselves evil. Ertosi, Sammael, or Camael (depending on source)is chief of the Powers. The Principalities are the legions of angels who protect religions. They provide strength to the tribes of Earth to pursue and endure their faith. Among those considerend "chief" of the principalities are Nisrock, origanally and Assyrian deity considered in occult writings to be the chief chef to the Demon Princes of Hell; and Anael, one of the seven angels of creation. Protectors of religion. Nisroc, in Milton, is "of principalities the prime," and others, according to various sources,are named Requel, Anael, and Cerviel. The Archangels are "messenger which carry Divine Decrees." They carry God's messages to human and are ultimatels in command of God's armies of angels who constantly battle the Son of Darkness, with Michael at the helm. While Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are generally agreed to be three of the seven archangels, the idenity of the other four is subject to debate. Possible candidates are Urile, Raguel, Zadkile,Saraqael, Remile, Anael, Orifiel, Uzziel,, Raziel, and Metatron. The Koran only recognizes four and actually names only two, Djibril (Gabriel) and Michael. Guardians of people and all physical things. The order of Angels is closest to human kind. It is the job of this order to act as guardians and messangers, and at its helm is placed Michael, prince of the Jewish people, who leads all the angels in their post and guardians of nations. In fact, according to Dionysius, God established the boundaried of the nations according to the number of angels. Guardians of people and all physical things. ANGELS FOR THE DAYS OF THE WEEKThe angels who have authority over the seven days of the week-in much the same fashion as there are angels presiding over the planets, hours of the day, and months of the year. The angels give their particular day their special attention and in legend can be invoked to assist a person in some endeavor or need. The angels and their days are reported in The Magus (1801) by Francis Barrett: SUNDAY MICHAEL, whose name means "who is as God," is the angel who rules Sunday, the day associated with the Sun. In astrology the Sun is said to rule the sign of Leo, which indicates they share certain characteristics. Leo is the sign of the king, the central personality of a country and the person responsible for overseeing the kingdom, coordinations its activities, and administering justice. Such a description aptly fits Michael, who in postbiblical Jewish, Christian, and Islamic writings ranks as the greatest of all angels. He also administers justice as the angel of the Last Judgement, and the "weigher of souls." In addition, Michael is chief of archangels and chief in the order of virtues.
MONDAY The angel and archangel for Monday, which is assoicated with the Moon, is GABRIEL, whos name means "God is my Strength." In astrology the Moon is assoicates with women and childbirth; is also represents the principle of creativity in the sense of giving birth to ideas. Thus the corelation between the Moon and Gabriel is fitting since Gabriel, the cheif ambassador to humanity, announced the conception of Christ to the Virgin Mary, and Muhammad claimed that Gavrile dictated the Koran to him (thus giving brith to a new religion).
TUESDAY SAMMAEL is the ruler of Tuesday, the day assoicated with Mars. In astrology Mars is assoicated with agression, conflict, and emotional passion, as well as with physical skills. Sammael (whose name is and amalgram of sam, "poision," and el. "angel") is an angel of death, the prince of demons, and a magician in rabbinac literature. In the Saying of Rabbi Eliezer he is charged with being the one, who in the guise of a serpent, tempted Eve, suduced her, and became the father of Cain. In the Zohar Sammael is the dark angel whoe wrestled with Jacob at Peniel. In Longfellow's The Golden Legend Judas Iscariot explains to the rabbi why the dogs howl at night: "In the Rabbinical book it sayeth - The dog howl with with icy breath, - Great Sammael, the Angel of Death, - Takes through the town his flight."
WEDNESDAY PAPHAEL, "the Shinning one who heals," rules Wednesday, assoicated with Mercury. Traits assoicated with the planet Mercury (as with the Roman god) include travel and communications. According to Sophy Burnham (A Book Of Angels), Raphale is especially concerned with pilgrims--not only travelers but those on pilgrimages to communicate with God. He is protrayed with staff and sandals, a water gourd, and a wallet strapped over his shoulder. In the book of Tobit, Raphael acts as companion and guide to Tobit's son, tobism revealing himself oly at the end as a servant of the four subprinces of the infernal empire.
THURSDAY SACHIEL, whose name means "covering of God," is frequently described as the ruler of Thursday, the day assoicated with Jupiter. He is a presiding spirit of the planet Jupiter and an angel of the order of cherbim. He is invoked from the south (also the west.) In the lore of witchcraft and black magic he is described as a servant of the four subprinces of the infernal empire.
FRIDAY ANAEL, cheif of the order of principalities and one of the seven angels of Creation, is ruler of Friday. He thus exercises dominon over the planet Venus, and as ruler of the planet of love he is concerned with himan sexuality. (In Longfellow's The Golden Legend, Anael is referred to at the angel of "the Star of Love.")
SATURDAY CASSIEL is one of the rulers of the planet Saturn, assoicated with Saturday. He is known as the angle of solitudes and tears, perhaps reflecting a saturnine temperament given to moroseness and sullenness. He is also sometimes called the angel of temperance, and the planet Saturn is strongly assoicated with the social order. It is an embodiment of the principle of stability, and the oppsite of upheaval. Cassiel is one of the princes of the order of powers. In Francis Barrett's The Magus he is pictured as a bearded jinn riding a dragon.
ANGELS FOR THE DAYS OF THE WEEK
ANGELS FOR THE MONTHS OF THE YEAR / ZODIACThose angels who have rulership or governorship over each day of week, each hour of the day, and even the signs of the zodiac. As recorded in the occult work Dictionnaire Infernal (1825-1826) by Collin De Plancy, the designated angels are as follows: ZODIAC The tradition that there are ruling angels who watch over or govern the twelve signs of the zodiac. They are often to be considered synonymous with the various angels of the months of the year. Specifically, the angels of the zodiac are as follows: (from Davidson, A dictionary of Angels)
ANGELS OF THE SEASONSSpring
Governing Angel: Spugliguel (head of the sign of spring: Summer
Governing Angel: Tubiel (head of the sing of summer); Autumn
Governing Angel: Torquaret (head of the sign of autumn) Winter
Governing Angel: Attarib (head of the sign of winter)
A more traditional schema is to assoicate each of the principal archangels with each a season: SEVEN HEAVENSFrom this conception of the universe arose the idea of seven "levels of reality," corresponding to the seven celestial spheres. The ordinary level of humanity's experinece was referred to as the "sublunar" realm, meaning that it is the level below the sphere of the moon. Another popular number was nine, which seems to have been derived by considering the Earth itself as well as the sphere composed of the fixed stars as constituting distinct levels. Given this view of reality, it was natural that the angels should be regarded as being arranged in a hierarchy of levels, hense Dionysius's schema of nine choirs of angels. In ancient Neoplatonism the various levels of reality were regraded as having been sequentially "emanated" by the formless Godhead from the freal of the fixed stars to the physical plane. The Gnostics introduced an interesting twist on the basic idea by asserting that the physical world was created by mistake and is a prison from which we should attempt to escape. Trapping human spirits in this world, the evil creator established archons (evil archangels) at each of the seven levels to prevent humans from escaping. Traditionally, the seven heavens are as follows: FIRST HEAVEN (SHAMAYIN) The lowest heaven, Shamayin borders the Earth ad is ruled by Gabriel. It contains clouds, the winds, the Upper Waters, and is home to the two hundred astronomer-angels whoe preside over the stars.
SECOND HEAVEN (RAQUIA)
THIRD HEAVEN (SAGUN OR SHEHQUIN)
FOURTH HEAVEN (ZEBHUL OR MACHANON)
FIFTH HEAVEN (NACHON OR MA'ON)
SIXTH HEAVEN (ZEBUL OR MAKHON)
SEVEN HEAVEN (ARABOTH)
Element of fire The autumn season He wears color red Known as St. Michael The lord of the way Guardian of holy places Direction to invoke: south Ruler of the fourth heaven Often equated with the Holy Ghost Rules south quarter of the earth Often equated with the Holy Ghost The master of the energy of balance The slayer of the dragon of evil intentions Inspired Joan of Arc to help the king of France Midday angel clad in armor, with shield and weapon Astrological signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius Colors-Deep greens, vivid blues, golden and rose red Hebrew Mikha'el means "Who is God?" His name is a battle cry. Represents the right, creative, that which should be done Captain of the heavenly host, leader of the archangels, viceroy of heaven Fights first Satan and his demons, all the enemies of God's own people Known as an angel who cleanes persons, groups, or localities of discord and evil Invoked as a champion against all adversity and when you need courage and a strong defender; success Michael is the archangel of protection and balance. This being works to bring patience and protection against any psychic inbalances or dangers. Michael helps us to tear down the old and build the new. Michael is the highest ranking of all the angels who interact with humans in Jewish and Christian writings and most secular literature. According to Islamic beliefs, Michael is outranked by Gabriel, the angel who delivered the Koran to Muhammed. Element of water The winter season The potency of God Favorite day: Monday Presides over paradise Invoked towards the west Love is his great force factor Rules west quarter of the earth The colors of emerald and sea green Hebrew gebher means "man and el," or God Annunciation, resurrection, mercy, truth Bringer of good news and maker of changes Gabriel means man of God or strength of God Colors assoicated with Tans, browns, dark greens Astrological signs of Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces Associated with a trumpet, symbolising the voice of God Usually portrayed as carrying a lily, olive branch, or torch Associated with-Late afternoon; peaceful vibration Fluidlike activity, water Importabt figure in Muslim religion: the guardian angel of the prophet Mohammed Gabriel is the archangel of hope, illumination, and love. He guards the sacred places of the world and the sacred waters of life. He provides intuitive teaching and illumination of spiritual duties. This includes awakening within us a greater understanding of dreams. Element of Air Leader of powers The spring season Time of day: the dawn Rules east quarter of the earth The color blue (or blue and gold) He carries a golden vial of balm Colors-Soft greens and all tints of blue Guardian and treasurer of creative talents Astrological signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius Intellect, curiosity, and instruction in the sciences Symbol: a sword or an arrow that has been well sharpened
Hebrew Rapha' [to heal] and 'el [God]: God has healed Raphael means God heals or divine healer. Raphael is the healing archangel. This being works to stimulate energies for life and success. Raphael awakens a sense of creativity and beauty which stimulates higher mental faculties. Raphael is the keeper of the Holy Grail. [Collect, Feast of St. Raphael, October 24th, Tridentine Roman Missal] Hebrew: fire of God Leader of the seraphim Shown with a scroll as his symbol The angel of interpretation and salvation Associated with the arts, with music in particular Angel of prophecy who inspires and conveys ideas to writers and teachers The alchemist imparting transforming ideas for the realization of goals {especially those discouraged and weak} One of the leading angels in noncanonical lore, and ranked variously as a seraph, cherub, regent of the sun, flame of God, angel of the presence. Presided over Tartarus (Hades), archangel of salvation. Uriel is often referred to as the Great Archangel of the Earth. One contemporary account describes the archangel thus: "He (or she) is the keeper of the mysteries which are deep within the planet, underground and in the hidden depths of the living world." [Archangel Uriel, Patron of Ecology] The summer season Angel of the night Element of earth Rules North quarter of the earth Seed is in the earth and all is dark Helps us contemplate the future The color white and all earth tones Winter colors: black, brown, gray Astrological signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn Auriel is the archangel of alchemy and vision. This being is known as the tallest of the archangels awith eyes that can see across eternity. Auriel oversees the work of all nature spirits and works to assist humanity by awakening to them and working in harmony with them. Working with Auriel will open you to the fairy kingdoms.
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