The Council of Angels
The Council of Angels in the inner sanctuary
The angels and archangels are heavenly or other-worldly spirit beings from the divine sphere and generally stand for what is good and just. They are attested in many places in the Bible and play an important role in the unfolding of the canonical narratives. Many people believe in the existence of angels, but only a few are granted the privilege of being in contact with them. Angels appear in visions and are thus entities of inner reality, but no less real for that reason for some people.
A gateway to the inner world is the inner sanctuary, which in the Old Celtic Church we call the Holy Hermitage. In this inner place we meet our spiritual teachers, the great angels and the Holy Bride of the Presence of God (Shechina). The outer sanctuary is formed by Jesus Christ, the Holy Scriptures and the spiritual community.
The four great archangels (Raphael, Gabriel, Michael and Uriel) represent the specific paths to Christ consciousness and the four cardinal directions (east, west, south and north). Raphael personifies the path of knowledge, Gabriel stands for the path of devotion, Michael personifies the path of power and Uriel the path of work. The archangel Metatron-Sandalfon stands for the path in which the four previous paths consisting of knowledge, devotion, power and work are combined and interwoven. The four spiritual paths are comparable to the terms Jnana Yoga (knowledge, philosophy), Bhakti Yoga (loving devotion to God), Raja Yoga (meditation) and Karma Yoga (action without attachment, selfless service) from Indian Sanskrit.
The three great archangels Michael, Raphael and Gabriel in the apse of the church in the north, east and south are directly associated with the seven spiritual offices from ostiary to priest. With Michael are associated the offices of exorcist and deacon, with Gabriel the offices of lector and subdeacon, and with Raphael the offices of doorkeeper, acolyte and priest. The respective archangels are involved in conferring the blessing of ordination on the candidates.
There is also a group of seven archangels, which were composed differently according to religion or time. The eighth-century text (Codex 174, Cologne Cathedral Library), entitled Nomina archangelorum ("The Names of the Archangels"), explains the situations in which each archangel should be remembered: "If it thunders, think of Gabriel, then the thunder will not harm you; if you raise your hands and think of Michael, you will have a happy day; if you are in battle against enemies, think of Uriel, then you will be victorious; when one takes bread and drink, let him think of Raphael, then he will always have abundance; let him remember Raguel when he is on the road; Barachiel, when he stands before a mighty judge, then he will be able to explain everything; and the remembrance of Pantasaron brings great joy with all when at a banquet. "
Another example is the Irish prayer to the archangels for each day of the week, preserved in two 15th century manuscripts. Gabriel, invoked against evil and harm, is assigned to Sunday; Michael, compared to Jesus, to Monday; Raphael, to help with work, to Tuesday; Uriel, powerful against wounding, danger and rough winds, to Wednesday; Sariel, to help against the waves of the sea and sickness, to Thursday; Rumiel, a blessing, to Friday; and Panchiel, to protect against strangers, to Saturday.
Another list from the Middle Ages contains the seven archangels Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, Uriel, Barachiel, Sealtiel and Jehudiel together. More recent groups of seven are described on the internet and in popular literature.
One way to get in touch with one or more of the great archangels is to invite them to the Sacred Hermitage. In doing so, we can address questions to the archangel and ask for advice or a transmission of light.
Instructions
Attunement
Before inviting the angels to the council, you should be aware of your questions and intentions for this council, and which archangel you would like to invite for it. You can also invite all four angels of the directions and other angels. Once you have clarified your intention, you can begin the actual practice.
Path to the Sacred Hermitage
Now go on the path to the sacred hermitage. In your inner imagination you go into the forest on a path past old oaks and beeches until you arrive at the clearing of your inner hermitage. Before you enter the clearing, take off your shoes, for this is a sacred place. Notice whether it is day or night and whether the sun or the moon and stars are shining. To the east is the hermitage chapel and in the middle is an old oak tree. If you feel like it, you can say a Caim prayer of protection to give the hermitage an other-worldly veil to shield you from the mundane world.
Imagine that a light shines in your heart space like an inner sun and successively fills your whole body and head with light. Your whole body is filled with light and shines in the light.
The Council of Angels
Now, in your own words or in the words that follow, invite one of the great angels or the great archangels of the cardinal points into your circle in the hermitage, while you yourself stand in the northwest.
"I invoke in the south the Archangel Michael of the Red Flame of the path of power. Enter and be welcomed."
Imagine the luminous Archangel Michael entering the clearing from the south and joining you in the circle.
"I invoke in the west the Archangel Gabriel of the Blue Water from the path of devotion. Enter and be welcomed."
Imagine the luminous Archangel Gabriel entering the clearing from the west and joining you in the circle.
"I invoke in the north the Archangel Uriel of the fertile dark earth from the path of work. Enter and be welcomed."
Imagine the luminous Archangel Uriel entering the clearing from the north and joining you in the circle.
"I call in the east the Archangel Raphael in his golden mantle from the path of knowledge. Enter and be welcomed."
Imagine the luminous Archangel Raphael entering the clearing from the east and joining you in the circle.
If you feel like it, you can invite other angels into the council and also your spiritual teacher and a representative of the Shechina, like Mary Magdalene. You thank the angels and others present for coming and can now listen to what they have to say to you and ask them questions. You may not be able to visualise the angels or hear voices, but still feel their presence. Ask the angels, teachers and shechina to transmit light so that your body and mind can shine even brighter and your indwelling Christ consciousness can emerge, enabling you to find the answers to your questions. Imagine that the light of the archangel fills you completely with heavenly light. Imagine that the archangel's light body mixes with your light body and the spiritual, fiery power passes over to you. Afterwards the light bodies separate again and the blessing and the light transmission remain.
When the Council is over, bid farewell to those present, first Shechina, then your spiritual teacher and finally the great angels present.
"I give thanks in the East to Archangel Raphael in his golden mantle from the path of knowledge. Greetings and farewells."
"I give thanks in the north to Archangel Uriel of the fertile dark earth from the path of work. Hail and farewell."
"I give thanks in the west to Archangel Gabriel of the blue waters from the path of devotion. Hail and farewell."
"I give thanks in the south to Archangel Michael of the red flame from the path of power. Hail and farewell."
Way back from the Sacred Hermitage
You can meditate alone a little longer on messages from the angels, your teacher and the Holy Shechinah before leaving your Sacred Hermitage. Resolve your Caim Protection Prayer and go back the way you came and arrive back in the outer reality.
