Perceived as the mildest and kindest of the archangels is Raphael, whose name means “God has healed”.  Though he is the ruler of all of the angels of healing, he actually has brought assistance in a great many other areas.  He brought Noah a book of medicine after the flood; in the Testament of Solomon, he subdued demons that were interfering with the building of Solomon’s great temple.

The most significant story of Raphael recounts how he accompanied young Tobias from Nineveh to Medina to help him find his new wife, Sarah.  But Sarah was possessed by a demon that had killed each man she had ever married.  Raphael cast out this demon, healed Sarah, and brought Tobias and Sarah together in a happy marriage.  Later, Raphael showed Tobias how to heal his father’s blindness, using parts of a fish they had caught on their journey.

Let’s consider all the ways that Raphael can bring assistance.  He is the guardian angel of travel.  He helps people on their journeys to find love.  He helps you to find the right healing ointments.  He drives the demons out of love (in other words, he helps diminish obsession, jealousy, possessiveness, and control).  Raphael helps the blind to heal both physical and emotional vision problems – issues that cloud your viewpoint and which prevent a clear perspective.  He helps you on your journeys when you have to go long distances, not only geographically, but when you are facing any challenge and need a guide along your path.

Raphael might be a little harder to find than Michael and Gabriel, in terms of statuary and art, but take a look for him because he is great to have around.  Of course, you don’t need statues or pictures of angels to be able to beckon them.  But a visual stimulus does help to remind you of their love, their presence, and their support.  Raphael is often depicted with a fish and/or staff.  He is sometimes shown with a young man or a boy, representing Tobias (or Tobiah, depending upon which Biblical translation you read).  He is also frequently pictured near a river, because that’s where he helped Tobias cross the river and catch the healing fish.

Because he did not make his identity as an angel known until much later in their journey, Raphael is often shown without wings during his travels with Tobias.  In this way, he also guards and protects the charitable and those who care anonymously for the needy.  Whenever you meet a stranger, always look for the angel hiding there!

Whenever you need strength in your life, you can call Michael and his legions.  Even in situations where you are looking for inner strength to pursue a goal or overcome a temptation, Michael will be there for you.

It is amazing how available, how inspiring, and how reliable the angels are.  As long as you make a clear commitment to your purpose, they will not falter in their support.  Michael is also the archangel of autumn, harvest, and seeing things through to their natural conclusion.  He will help bring you perseverance and follow through.

Perhaps the biggest reason we know about angels already is because they have always played a role in the lives of our spiritual teachers and prophets.  Many references in the Bible point to their activities as messengers between those above and those on earth.  Some references identify them as warriors, some as healers.

The overriding purposes of all angels, no matter which position they hold, are service and assistance – to lift up the good and diminish the harmful, to increase the light, and to dispel the darkness.  Seek to create a personal relationship with angels the same way you would have a personal relationship with Uncle Jim, Dad, or Grandma in spirit.

There is a great deal of different information about angels.  Some books say there are four archangels; many say there are seven, nine, or even twelve.  But most books agree that angels are an order of beings separate unto themselves.  They don’t belong to the physical kingdom.  They have a very high frequency and a very pure energy.  And the thing that defines them most is the service that they bring to our lives.  For angels, this is their predominant purpose – service to God and service to humanity.  All you need to do to work with the angels is to realize that you are free to ask for the help they bring.

You can have a relationship with one of the major angels, even though you may be asking yourself, “Why would Gabriel be talking to me, when there are a million other people who want to talk to Gabriel?”  Well, that is the nature of the angelic realm.  There are legions and legions of angels, and we can have a personal relationship with the archangels and all their legions.  The only thing you need to decide is the angel you wish to call and why you are calling him.  If you are clear about the type of help that you need, it is easy to know which angel should assist you.

Over the next four issues I will highlight the four major archangels.  Between them, they could probably cover just about anything you’d need from the angelic realm.

Gabriel, whose name means “Man of God” or “God is my strength,” is the angel most often depicted in historical art with feminine or androgynous features.  He interpreted Daniel’s dreams in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament he foretold the coming of John the Baptist and made the Annunciation to Mary.

As the messenger angel, Gabriel is often shown holding or blowing a trumpet.  Sometimes he is holding a bell, a scroll, a quill, a parchment, or a book.  If you are in any kind of communication field, if you work with computers, if you are a writer, a teacher, a therapist, a clairvoyant, or a speaker, then Gabriel is your angel.

Gabriel is one of my favourite angels because he is the most connected to those who seek inspiration (and information) from the unseen.  The angel of night and winter, he is a dream interpreter, a prophet, a message bearer.  Gabriel is the messenger of messengers and the patron of those who wish to learn to communicate with spirit.