A Brief History of the concept of AngelWicca. Many people think that the Angels are a Christian belief. This couldn't be farther from the truth. Angels are a gift given to us by the Goddess and the God for us to use in our daily lives. Not just only for those of a certain religion.
Angels have been around since the beginning of time. Supernatural winged creatures have been found in the ancient Mesopotamia and Sumeria. The Assyrians had their "kabiru" (the source of the word cherubim), winged beasts possesing features both animal and human. The role of the angel as protector can perhaps be traced to these ancestors, which acted as guards in Babylon and Sumeria.
The Greeks had "Hermes", the winged messenger. Hermes is often credited as being the source of the Archangel Michael. (Many of the Greek gods were molded into angels by the church in an attempt to covert the pagans.) The Greeks also had "daimones", spirits who came in both good and evil forms, the good ones being protectors. Diamones evolved into "demons" in Christianity, and in the process lost their good-natured bretheren.
The concept of AngelWicca is as ancient as the world
The Aryans who came to India and Persia around 2500 B.C. believed in "devas", meaning "shining ones". Perhaps it was from this that the angels inherited their characteristics-the ability to shine, or radiate light. The "el" suffix so common in many of the angels' names is understood in several languages to mean "shining" or "radiant."
The devas made their way into the Veda, a collection of early sacred Hindu writings. They were closely aligned with the elements of nature, earth, air, fire, and water. (Starting to sound familiar?)
Zoroaster's brand of angels took hold, and was handed down to Judaism, Christianity, and finally Islam.
Devas also found their way into Zoroastrianism. It was through this religion that the devas evolved into angels. They represented the concepts of wisdom, truth, immortality, deserved good luck, piety, salvation, and obedience. Each angel acts as the guardian of something-fire, for example.
Zoroaster's brand of angels took hold, and was handed down to Judaism, Christianity, and finally Islam. Islam's "malaika" (again, "messengers") are androgynous beings made of light who act as guardians of humans.
So you see, angels do not belong solely to one religion and therefore can be invoked, no matter what religion you happen to be.
AngelWicca
How Do I Call The Angels In To My Circle?
Many have their own ways of calling in the deities and elements into their circles. The Angels have their own elements, qualities and energies to be called upon as well. The best way to call an Angel in is to study them and find out their qualities to best incorporate them with the other elements you may call.
I call Archangel Michael in the North. This is the direction of Earth. Michael is the protection Archangel, patron of policemen and bringer of the gift of patience. Angel of careers, achievements, ambitions, motivation, and life tasks. He is the great prince charged to defend the people. Michael is the spirit of the planet Mercury, Governor of the North and the element of Earth. He is ruler over Sunday and Thursday. He is the alchemy of motivation, activation and achievement. Michael's candle colors are orange, white and gold. Invoke Michael in the North for motivation and empowerment in your work. Call on him to protect you from day to day.
In the East I call Archangel Uriel. He is the Archangel of salvation. The ruler over magick, devotion, alchemy, sudden changes, astrology, universal cosmic consciousness, divine order, distribution of power and universal flow. Uriel rules over Monday and Wednesday, the planet Uranus, and is the alchemy of universal order. He is the Governor of the East and the element of Air. Uriel's candle colors are violet, white and indigo. Invoke Uriel to help you with the Winds of Change.
The ruler over magick, devotion, alchemy, sudden changes, astrology, universal cosmic consciousness, divine order, distribution of power and universal flow.
In the South I call Archangel Raphael. Raphael is charged to heal the earth. He is the regent of the sun, Chief of the order of virtues and overseer of the evening winds. Angel of prayer, love, joy, light, science, and knowledge. Above all, he is the angel of healing. Raphael rules over Mercury, Wednesday and Saturday. He is the governor of the South and the element of Fire.Raphael's candle colors are yellow, white and gray. Invoke Raphael for healing of your body and soul.
In the West I call Archangel Gabriel. Gabriel is the angel of the moon who brings man the gift of hope. He is the spirit of truth and the prince of justice. He is the alchemy of psychism, intuition, and receptivity. Gabriel is the Governor of the West and the element of Water. Ruler of Monday, psychic gifts, intuition, visions, magick, clairvoyance, scrying, astral travel, herbal medicine, the cycles of women, and female aspects of men. Gabriel's candle colors are silver, white and blue. Invoke Gabriel in the west for stronger powers of intuition and psychic gifts.
Continue calling in any other deities or elements as normal. By calling in the angels as well as the other elements, you will have more energy and power than you could ever imagine helping you in your work.
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How Do I Set My Altar?
This is a personal choice. I use white candles, or the specific candle colors for the angels that I am invoking. I put a statue of an angel or two on the altar as a point of focus. I also have my candles for the Goddess and God as well as other ritual items. I use angel food cake as cakes in the "cakes and wine" ceremony. 🙂
