Many believe in a hierarchical system of angels, messengers, celestial powers or emanations. Most theologies believe that higher beings are able and willing to serve by intercession for the Divine Plan. They help to combat the dark consciousness that abounds with less evolved humans as well as assist the evolution of those trying to tune into truth in its many forms.
As God personified himself in the soul of every human being, so to fulfill His purpose in creation He personified in many divine forms His Multifaceted personality as the Creator, through which to govern the universal structure. Joining the ranks of these God-Manifested angels and deities are the souls of liberated human beings who when freed choose not to dissolve their natures in the infinite, but to remain in the higher realms of creation to work for the upliftment of still evolving souls.” Paramahansa Yogananda from The Bhagavad-Gita Gita- Royal science of God Realization
With the extremist development of a masculine monotheism in Christianity and other major religions the love and ancient respect given to the diverse expressions of Angelic beings has been greatly diminished. Though Biblical, Zoroastrian, Islamic and Kabalistic texts refer extensively to angels. As have many recognized saints of all faiths also exclaimed great joy in being given advice and help from angels who have visited them.
An in depth pan-religious study and research on these beings of light seems to have been shunned down the ages. This is partly due to an exaggerated recognition and disdain for the so called Pagan traditions that also revered higher invisible beings. Coupling this institutional theological disdain for open discussion that could have developed a conflict via spiritual or differing comparisons. The cultural lack of sympathy with the feminine matriarchal angelic paradigm could have also weakened the male dominated religious authorities. Though references to Angels or Devas of the Lord or Divine Mother are referred to commonly in all major religions and are an inspiring and unifying link between them all. Many religionists have preferred to not see the obvious and harmonizing similarities between the faiths, and the ignoring of Angels and how they have historically interwoven their aid in the world’s scriptures is but another example of narrowly exaggerating religious differences. Of course Angelic beings do not usually have wings but this identifying symbol has been associated with their ability to travel at the speed of thought.
Some Hindus call the Devas, Angels or Demi- Gods that are celestial beings with supernatural powers and Divine attunement.
In Zoroastrianism there are different angel-like animals. For example, each person has one guardian angel, called Fravashi. They patronize human beings and other creatures, and also manifest God’s energy. Also, the Amesha Spentas have often been regarded as angels (they don't convey messages), but are rather emanations of Ahura Mazda ("Wise Lord", God); they appear in an abstract fashion in the religious thought of Zarathustra and then later (during the Achaemenid period of Zoroastrianism) became personalized, associated with an aspect of the divine creation (fire, plants, water, magic, being happy...).
Once the doctrine of monotheism was formally expressed in Hebrew thought the love and reverence for angles lessened as the ridiculous concept of a jealous god took hold and any expression of love and appreciation for his higher servants was interpreted as a slight and lack of respect, in the period immediately before and during the Exile (Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Isaiah 43:10), we find angels prominent in the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel, as a prophet of the Exile, may have been influenced by the hierarchy of supernatural beings in the Babylonian religion, and perhaps even by the angelology of Zoroastrianism. It is important to understand that even Satan is permitted by God in order to add contrast and courage to the human race. And thus the role of all beings to help the god in others is merely an extension of a hierarchy of lower and higher beings assisting each other to the journey back to our source.
Copyright www.astrogems.com |
ANG22
