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By Emmanuel Williams

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What is an angel? I’ve been captivated by the thought, idea, and message of angels.

Right now I’m thinking it’s those who have passed away but still have a message useful to the living.

Using that definition, history is littered with angels. Full of angels. 

Lincoln’s enduring message is one of pressing toward the freedom promised in the American experiment. The same message lingers after the passing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and late Congressman and national hero John Lewis.

My father is no longer with us, but his legacy of 30 years of homelessness after divorcing my mother who left him and fled the state after bearing him the 5 children took with her leaves a lingering message of just how far, and how long, one can fall from grace, possibly mourning the good life who could have had, decade after decade. 

The legend of Lucifer, fallen angel and ruler of hell and its demons, once enjoyed the grace of God, the story may include that he led the choir of angels in heaven until he coveted the Father’s power, attempted to coax him out of it, and was banished to serve the lake of fire. Now and then appearing on earth to tempt us when we are weak toward the same doubt of God’s power through deception, and at times destruction.

The enduring message of Lucifer is to prepare for challenges to your strength, to protect yourself when you feel yourself becoming weak with desperation, doubt, and loss. To train yourself in self control so that when you are most vulnerable, fallen angels cannot lead you to your doom.

And if you have been deceived, to turn from the deception once you are aware, holding fast to your shield of truth.

There may be angels dwelling in heaven, but no valid record exists of them aside from Abrahamic scriptures –

Wait, strike that – reverse it.

I did some Gemini digging on the subject and it turns out there are other faiths with intermediaries in their teachings, but the more common and intriguing form of the angel across faiths, is the guardian spirit.

From Zoroastrianism, come the Fravashi. “Every person is believed to have a fravashi that acts as a spiritual guide and protector throughout their life.”

“…In Japanese Shinto, the concept of Kami covers everything from major sun goddesses to the spirits of ancestors and nature.

While not strictly “angels,” certain kami act as personal guardians or messengers for the greater deities.

Tennyo: These are celestial maidens in Japanese Buddhism/Shinto lore, often depicted with wings or flowing robes, very similar to the classical Western image of an angel.”

“…Before Christianity dominated the Mediterranean, the Greeks and Romans had their own intermediaries:

Daimones: These were spirits (neither strictly good nor evil originally) that acted as “inner voices” or guiding spirits for individuals. Socrates famously claimed to have a daimonion that warned him against making mistakes.

Genius: In Roman belief, the genius was a protective spirit assigned to every person at birth—the direct precursor to the “guardian angel.””

Clearly our paths need correcting and protecting every now and then.

These faiths knew something like Lucifer was a common occurrence. That people simply make bad decisions, is humanity’s oldest, closest, and equally most apparent flaw.

But in this day and age we can choose our own guardians. When we have the time to prepare and train our own self control. This is when we gather our guardians, ancestors, historical figures, and lessons from everyday wise men.

You may prefer a man’s wisdom or a woman’s. Someone who has been where you are and has survived. 

But maybe you weren’t looking for answers, yet what you are listening to rings so true you know you’ll need the wisdom later.

I would posit that these are times we are led by angels. Preparing us for the day we meet the devil. 

It would behoove us to remain open, available, for words from the angels walking among us, the messages of the past, and the lessons of cautionary tales from our own lives.

For when fallen angels will arise, will you have an angel of your own?

Adieu.

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