…because they are Judeo-Christian. And a Pagan told me so.
Oh, I just wish I’d known before I bought the books 
Anyway, away from my own little space here on my blog I write a weekly newsletter. One week I chose to write about angels and the encounters people had with these celestial beings.
The response was quite amazing. I had people e-mailing me with their own personal stories. Life changing situations which they strongly believe were influenced by an angel.
AND then I got an un-subscription with the following note:
“As a Pagan I do not believe in angels and have unsubscribed from your newsletter. Angels are Judeo-Christian and not Pagan”
This happened a while back but I remembered about it yesterday when I was sorting through my bookshelf. And *tsk tsk* there were my angel books. My angel cards are in the conservatory *ahem*
I quite like angels. Not that I’ve ever seen one mind you (well, at least I don’t think I have).
If you look at the word ‘angel’ you’ll find it comes from the Greek word angelos which simply means messenger. Angels were first described in the Bible without wings and simply as men but then later on they sprouted wings and other differentiating features. It’s interesting in mythology, beings with wings have been around since, well, the days of the gods and goddesses.
Going way back in time to ancient Sumeria, the Cradle of Civilisation, you’ll find carved stone images of humans with wings. Some 5000 years ago this civilisation had a religion based on many gods, goddesses and spirits and they included the notion that everyone had their own personal ‘ghost’. This ghost is most likely the predecessor to today’s idea of guardian angels. Back in 3000 BCE altars were set up in homes to honour the personal ‘ghosts’.
Semitic tribes conquered Sumeria and began to organise the ‘angels’ into some kind of hierarchy. An idea we still see in the mainstream religions.
It’s not just Sumeria that had winged messengers – they’re all over the world. Just think of Hermes, that Greek messenger of the gods.
Personally I don’t have any trouble with believing angels exist (the hierarchy thing though doesn’t sit well with me). I guess my beliefs are similar to those ancient, and dare I say Pagan, Sumerians.
What’s your opinion? Can Paganism embrace angels or is it a case of never the twain shall meet?
Wow. You know, I've been hearing a whole lot lately about what Pagans should and should not do and be from within the Pagan community and, quite frankly, it bums me out. It reminds me of what I call The God Wars–the battle over space in the downtown of my little hometown between the First Baptist and First Methodist churches. Part of what draws me to the concept of Paganism is the acknowledgment of the sacred from across cultures, so I think that angels (or winged messengers or whathaveyou) clearly can be part of a Pagan belief system. So there.
.-= Heather ´s last blog ..PlantingTomatoes While The Sun Shines =-.
Thanks for sharing, Heather. I agree completely
im an eclectic pagan and i believe in angels…
Given a thought presented in a Mind-Body-Spirit magazine earlier this year that all religions and beliefs could stem from a single, probably *pagan* (loose term here) origin – and that tree/land/water spirits (but especially land spirits – also called Fairies) have wings, then it's not such a big leap to connect the angels to these spirits.
I think that it is a shame that some people do try to define what people can and can't think – and even PEBBLE, the group endeavouring to represent all pagans, can't accurately pin down what a pagan is, who does your unsubscriber think they are?
But – as I think we can all learn from everything – it has at least provided you with an opportunity to think about what you believe in.
Thanks for your insight and comments, Frog – wondeful as ever
I have to admit when I read the unsubscriber's comment to being a little shocked (that's probably why it stuck in my mind) because I couldn't understand why the topic of angels would be offensive. It definitely did give me some food for thought (and a blog post)!
Can Pagans believe in Angels, what a question to ask anyone! I have been pagan now 18 years and well my feeling is the eclectism that most pagans are allows for belief in anything including Angels, isn't that what we strive for is finding our unique path to spirituality? Of course there are those that believe and I am sure you too have encountered them the "Witchyer than Thou" crowd who believe that anything not written by Gardner/Buckland/Whoever you like to add here is as blasphemous as the Apocrypah is to many Christians but who is anyone to tell you what to believe and not to believe? It's your Nirvana not theirs, who at the end of the day is right, could be any one of us could be all of us!
Anyway my view on Angels is that they are two types of creature
1) Spiritual beings much as described so well by Frog
2) Normal humans who help us in some way
Just my 2p on the matter,hope it made some sense
.-= A Gothic Gentleman´s last blog ..About Me And This Blog =-.
I am very much with you, Gothic Gentleman. I enjoy the freedom of paganism and not being pinned into one set way of thinking on my beliefs. I really don't like being told what to believe – I like to make it up as I go along
I very much enjoy reading about angelic encounters – they seem to trascend beliefs.
When Pagans are studying Angels, its usually referred to as Enochian Magick. It has been a hot topic in Magickal studies for a very long time. Enochian Magick is also considered one of the most intense and powerful studies that a magkical practicioner can practice. The Judeo-Christian tradtions did adopt belief in angels but the angelic forces are much older than Christian practice.
Some books on the topics by Pagan Magickal Practioners include:
The Enochian World of Aliester Crowley: Enochian Sex Magick by Aleister Crowly
Enochian Vision Magick by Lon Milo Duquette
John Dee's Five Books of Mystery: Original Sourcebook of Enochian Magick
.-= Maggi´s last blog ..The Struggle of Daily Practice =-.
Aleister Crowley taught, within the religious, mystical and philosophical system of Thelema, to attain “The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel”. The Holy Guardian Angel is a representation of one’s truest divine nature. For Crowley, connecting with one’s Holy Guardian Angel was the most important goal of an adept for in doing so one become fully aware of one’s “true will”.
“It should never be forgotten for a single moment that the central and essential core of the magician is the attainment of the knowledge and conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. Once he has achieved this he must of course be left entirely in the hands of that angel, who can be invariably and inevitably relied upon to lead him to the further great step-crossing of the abyss and the attainment of the grade of Master of the Temple.” (Magick Without Tears, Chap 83)
Hi Lyn, Surely we take and accept what sits well within us? Your heart is Pagan and that is what counts, but you are still a free spirit and if your embrace 'angels' (or a rose by any other name) then I can see no wrong in that. If they exist to Judeo-Christians, then they must 'exist', and are free for the taking. I am also totally all for your 'making it up as you go along' Lyn, after all, Paganism didn't just 'appear' as is, surely it was edited and modified as time went by, -so you incorporate what you want, why quash creativity? If something works for you then it works, and that is all there is to it, and it then becomes part of the practice for you. You tell me what 'following' is exactly the same as its root beginning. Do Mormons practice polygamy, part of the original doctrines? Jehovah Witness's have had several changes to their doctrines over time….and so it goes on. I dont think life is about sticking to the rules so much as having that core of goodness in your heart and manifesting it in whatever way comes to you. Your newsletters are superb and if you want to share spiritual information whether it fits into the 'Pagan' model or not then I think you should. Most of us are not narrow minded.Blessings x
Angels are fine if they are good with you!
As a Neo-Pagan I have always called my quarters with the four archangels, who I have loved since childhood, and shall continue to do so. I also invoke ancestral spirits. tut tut. Nevertheless my divination and magic work so it cant be doing any harm.
I was brought up Christian but could not stomach the 'Us or Damnation' approach, It is so obviously man made, and used for controlling the people. That does not however mean the belief system was of itself all bad.
Neo Paganism is surely about freedom, and reverence for the earth and its creatures, seen and unseen. We don't even have that Wiccan Rede thing to worry about.
Look at the history of any religion. There is always someone there to manipulate the faithful and tell them what they can and can't do.
So we don't want to emulate that do we!!
I was looking for answers about angels for a chat I'm doing on my web site….and here I find so many people who believe as I do. I wasn't sure if, as a pagan I was supposed to believe…yet when I picture my guide, who is always with me, she has wings.
Like many others here, I also believe if it feels right, then it's right for you. Lyn, thank you for having this blog up…Maggi, you taught me something new and I will research Enochian Magick. Gothic Gentleman…you are sooo right…I love your term, the "witchyer than thou" crowd. First time I've heard that but I can relate. I also believe that Angels are as Frog described them, but I also believe they can be normal human beings who sometimes do wonderful things for others. Blessings!