Approaching Angels

See? Not cuddly. (Via Fanpop)

There’s a lot of conflicting information out there about how to appropriately address angels. A lot of this confusion has come from the co-opting of angels by various new age and “magikal” groups. On the surface, this is not a bad thing. It is clear that even people who reject God still believe in his messengers, and that should reinforce our belief in them. However, the problem lies in the sloppy, haphazard way that the new age movement approaches spiritual contact.

The new age method takes the mentality of “if it’s powerful, I should stick my face in it.” It is not a method known for discernment, and this arises mostly out of a misunderstanding of the purpose of the spiritual plane. Most people drawn to this style of metaphysical exploration are there not to find out what they can do to help the universe, but to see what the universe can do for them. Grasping at anything that seems powerful, such people open themselves up to attack from demons. It is in this case that having an “open mind” can lead to serious complications.

The spiritual plane is not a toy. It is not a vacation destination. And if you approach communication with spiritual beings, you’re doing it wrong. You should wait for them to contact you, and then, through constant prayer and patience, determine whether the messenger is good or evil before you choose to listen to them.

I understand that power is attractive. Lord knows that as a younger woman, I let myself get swayed by powerful persons. I did not yet know the difference between excitement and nagging fear. But when you find yourself in communication, and there is a gnawing in the pit of your stomach, that is not excitement. And you need to knock it off before you get yourself in trouble.

Now, I will freely state that talking to angels is something we should all strive for. We should pray to our angels to watch over us when we are driving on icy roads. We should ask them for guidance. And we should talk to them, remembering that they are always by our side. But we should never, ever, ever try to control them. That is both arrogant and foolish. Angels are not cute and cuddly. They are fearsome warriors of God, and they are way more powerful than we will ever be. Trying to control an angel is like trying to lasso a tornado and tie it to a tidal wave.

Now, another thing we have to discuss is angelic names. As you’ve probably heard, names and their meanings have power. And, on top of that, an angel’s name usually reflects their job. So, if you know for a fact you are talking to an angel, and you know their name, by all means, use it. If you are unsure, and that spirit may be a demon, don’t even think about it.

Never, ever, ask an angel their name, or give them one yourself. They will tell you if you need to know. But naming an angel yourself is like walking up to your priest and telling him that you’re going to call him “Mr. Snugglefluff” from now on. It’s demeaning and disrespectful. If you need to call them something and they haven’t given you their name, call them Friend (or Sir).

I hope this clears some things up. As always, if you have questions, my door is always open, though my mind and heart are cautious.

Safe travels on the Destined Path for you and your heavenly allies!

-E. G. Norton