I won’t be talking about angels in a traditional sense, but more as a universal phenomenon. In every culture there have been perceived to be governing spirits if not absolute sovereigns of the world. Guiding intelligences that seem to preside over every aspect of the universe, and I do mean universe. In later Greek reckoning the planetary influences were said to be the doing of angelic beings they called Archons, but there have been many thoughts regarding these minor manifestations of divinity. Whether they had independent divinity or whether they were in fact avatars of the otherwise infinite god itself. Even the four primary faiths that have a “traditional” view of angels (Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Islam, and Christianity) have some sects that even refute the concept of angels at all. Either seeing anything evident in a sphere under heaven as just a lost soul or an evil, deceitful being.
What’s Zoroastrianism? Zoroaster was the head of a reformation movement among the Magi, and though much changed the successor of the Magi as a faith, it still exists. They are called Parsee. They are mystics who do still keep many of the old teachings of the Magi.
In the oldest reckoning, the Powers of the Air (much confused in this day and age) were not seen as strictly benign or malignant. That arose later with the ancient empires and the idea of nations beyond the tribe. The earliest observation of that kind were seen as an off behaving or feeling human. Even the term ‘angel’ comes from the Greek word ‘angelos’ meaning messenger, and schism or no, all angels are known more by their role than any concept of ego. Ego originally referring to a concept more like soul than aberrant delusion.
In Chinese lore the emperor of heaven, who was represented by the earthly emperor, was seen to be served by many spirit functionaries. Even Oni which we now liken to demons and who had seemingly similar odious traits. They all were united under heaven, and it was considered a divine mandate to the terrestrial emperor to make sure that earth was in harmony with heaven. An almost theocratic concept other than the idea of the spiritual having a privileged place in that culture didn’t exist. It was just seen as a part of life. A similar view was held in the middle east, even among the Hindu people, that even the “demons” were just creatures living along side humans in the divine order as antagonistic to humans as they may seem. The behaviour of angels is likewise seemingly very diverse, and they sought influence as much if not more than any demonic force.
Your thoughts are welcome. Be well friends.
Travis Saunders
Dragon Intuitive
~science,mysticism,spirituality~Angels