The horror of January 6; the horror of the plot that set it in motion and was planned for months; the horror learning that a sitting president and his allies plotted it; the horror of subsequent lies about “voter fraud” that are upsetting proven ways of counting votes fairly; the horror of seeking to do away with women’s having right over their own bodies; the horror of the Ukrainian War; the horror of Climate Change: All speak to a need for Allies, Ancestors and Angels to implement Wisdom in the fact of all this Folly and Horror. All speak to the need for an awakened 7th chakra.
Part of awakening th 7th chakra as we have seen, is to address the Allies and the Ancestors who journey with us in developing and implementing a healthy 7th chakra. In doing so, they assist us in combatting the dangerous and shadow side of power and masculinity. Now let us consider the third group, the angels or spirits that accompany us on the journey as well.
Following are some teachings about angels that British biologist Rupert Sheldrake and myself came to in our dialogs on The Physics of Angels. When speaking ofAngels in the twenty-first century, it is important to recognize that what is happening today is not merely a revival of interest in angels.
The new cosmology raises new questions and greatly increases the scope for angelic action in the universe. We have today a great need to understand the role of consciousness beyond the human realms. These challenges require a revisioning of angelology, a new phase in our understanding of and relationship with the angelic realms.
We need to take stock of what we can learn from our tradition about angels. In our book on angels we dialogued about the teachings of Dionysius the Areopagite, Hildegard of Bingen, and St.Thomas Aquinas about angels. Some of the lessons we derived from these dialogues are the following:
- Angels are very numerous; they exist in astronomical numbers.
- There are many other kinds of consciousness in the cosmos besides human consciousness.
- Angels have been present from the origin of the universe.
- They exist in a hierarchic order of nested levels within levels.
- They are the governing intelligences of nature.
- They have a special relationship to light, fire, flames, and photons. There are astonishing parallels between Aquinas and Einstein with regard to the nature of angels and of photons; in their locomotion and mode of movement, their agelessness, and their being massless.
- They are musical in nature and work in harmonious relationship with one another.
- The majority are friendly but not all. Christ has power over the angels.
To be continued
Adapted from Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake, The Physics of Angels, pp. 185f.
Also see Matthew Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 107ff.
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: “All Beings Celebrate Creation” created by St. Hildegard of Bingen and found in her Scivias book.
Queries for Contemplation
What teachings about angels here strike you as most important? As most useful? As most interesting for our times?
Recommended Reading
The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science & Spirit Meet
By Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake
When was the last time a scientist and a theologian discussed angels together? What are angels? Many people believe in angels, but few can define these enigmatic spirits. Now visionary theologian Matthew Fox and acclaimed biologist Rupert Sheldrake—pioneers in modern religious thinking and scientific theory—launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient concept of the angel and restore dignity, meaning, and joy to our time-honored belief in these heavenly beings.
21 thoughts on “Folly and Horror vs the 7th Chakra and Angels”
Matthew, You ask today questions concerning the allies that we need to give us the Wisdom to know what to do in the situation that we find ourselves in today. That is why you ask us in our Queries for Contemplation: “What teachings about angels here strike you as most important?” I think you answered this for me in your statement that we need, “Allies, Ancestors and Angels to implement Wisdom in the fact of all this Folly and Horror.” However, today our focus is on Angels. We need to take stock of what we can learn from our tradition about angels. Matthew in your book on angels you dialogued about the teachings of Dionysius the Areopagite, Hildegard of Bingen, and St. Thomas Aquinas about angels. Some of the lessons you derived from these dialogues are the following:
Angels are very numerous; they exist in astronomical numbers.
There are many other kinds of consciousness in the cosmos besides human consciousness.
Angels have been present from the origin of the universe.
They exist in a hierarchic order of nested levels within levels.
They are the governing intelligences of nature.
They have a special relationship to light, fire, flames, and photons. There are astonishing parallels between Aquinas and Einstein with regard to the nature of angels and of photons; in their locomotion and mode of movement, their agelessness, and their being massless.
They are musical in nature and work in harmonious relationship with one another.
The majority are friendly but not all. Christ has power over the angels.
“So, how are they most useful?” In terms of their stirring our intuitions so that we can sense and feel in our insides what to do.
“As most interesting for our times?” What is interesting to me is, when your book is compared with all the books on angel stories and personal experiences with angels–we find that all of these “proofs” are anecdotal and only prove something to the person who had the experience. Your book however shows and contrasts both medieval scholastic angelology which provides a biblical and theological basis for belief in angels, but also hints from science of what angels might be, in relationship to photons–they are Beings of Light that are massless and can travel anywhere in a flash!
Thank you matthew for your explanation and revealing insight into the existance of Angels. Can you suggest some books that would be useful to read to explain these thoughts and beliefs in a more simp!e ad coherent way for me and others like me please.
Maura, there are many books on angels out–Books by Doreen Virtue, or Irish mystic, Lorna Byrne, Sophy Burnham’s BOOK OF ANGELS, but I feel the best is Matthew’s book on THE PHYSICS OF ANGELS. I know it might sound complex, but it really is a fairly easy read and far more informative than other books I have read, but I know that Matthew is very impressed with the books by Lorna Byrne…
I continue to wonder if ‘angel’ is a word that is somehow synchronous with ‘serendipity’ considering that an experience of serendipity can leave a human person feel ‘guided’ and ‘spoken to’. This is a very positive experience.
I wonder if the dark side of ‘angels’, known biblically as fallen angels like Lucifer, are devils and can be understood as active agents on our path. ‘The devil made me do it’ is a colloquial phrase to describe temptation as when Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil.
Please explain the statement: “Angels exist in a hierarchical order of nested levels within levels.”
I too found this statement a show stopper. If the Godhead, the Trinity is a community of three in one acting in concert, why would angels be hierarchical? Sarah’s circle as contrasted with Jacob’s ladder also makes me think of angels acting in community for the common good.
Lois, What “Angels exist in a hierarchical order of nested levels within levels” refers to the orders or “choirs” of angels of which there are nine: Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Powers, Virtues, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels–each order or “choir” is a different kind of angel (See: Colossians 1:16). Seraphim, Cherubim, Archangels and Angels are also mentioned in the Bible. The nine choirs form a hierarchy of levels with Seraphim at one end and angels at the other. And so there are a number of heavenly beings. “Nested Hierarchies” also play an important role in the philosophy of Arthur Koestler and Ken Wilber…
Wow! So much to contemplate. Must get the angels book.
Barbara, It will definitely be worth your while !!!
Thank you once again for the reminders of the higher order of invisible hosts that serve the earth, particularly in offsetting the ofttimes heaviness of own my despair, whose causes can be multiple and troubling. Seems it is somewhat fallacious to think higher truth is something that will take us where we want to go. Do X, and Y will follow; adopt a different world view and a better world will result. That may be true individually, but realistically Matthew there seems to be little evidence that history can be constructively controlled, particularly, (relatively speaking) by a handful of the faithful. Collectively, humanity’s destructive power has increased exponentially, to the point where a single madman (or virus) could end it summarily. Truth doesn’t accommodate itself to souls, so much as souls must accommodate themselves to it. And the lot of humanity is blind, deaf or resistant to same in some way. Where, pray tell, have u ever seen collective embracing/awakening to perennial truth that en masse? Seems the appropriate reason for truth in changing our outlook is not to create a better world or save the one we have. It is to see things more clearly as they are. All other considerations are secondary. Angels or no angels. In contrast to that outlook, as a hopeful corrective, I appreciate your own more hopeful one.
Exactly where my own mind went when reading this DM. If there are Others who accompany humanity (and since there is no evidence either way, the possibility must be considered), they must surely do so as an aid to the individual soul’s progress toward enlightenment; because, as you note, there is little to indicate they have had any influence on the affairs of Earth—nor that any known nation’s leader has been influenced to peaceful existence, conservation of vital natural resources, the good of All, or a rejection of weapons of mass destruction as a means to their ends.
I suppose it’s theoretically possible that the dedication of enough individuals to Good actually *would* change the world; in the meantime, . . . things are not getting better. There seem to be no more than a handful of reliable teachers, like Matthew, whose message is apparently not as sexy as prosperity gospel!
I feel a sense of wonder… that captures my interest and curiosity… regarding what Mathew has spoken of regarding Angels. His book, as highlighted in today’s DM, and further referenced by Richard’s comment, has inspired me to purchase this book, “The Physics of Angels”… especially in the format that it has been written. I agree with Richard, that almost any book regarding Angels, has been written from a personal experience encountered… which most people have difficulty really relating to.
The part that interests me the most, and that I sense is the most beneficial, is the different levels of consciousness… other than human… and how we humans might engage and interact in relationship with this different level of consciousness… with the Angels of Light… and how we may intuitively do so.
What frightens me a little… is the so called fallen Angels… whom have disguised themselves as Angels of Light… and not knowing how to spiritually discern the difference, and the harm this could cause one’s soul… as one could so very easily fall prey to their deceptions, temptations and cunning lies.
Jeanette, Thank you for picking up a copy of Matthew’s book, THE PHYSICS OF ANGELS. I know that it will shed new light, from medieval scholastic angelology, and from contemporary physics–and what we know about light and photons. But I want to speak aa bit about what “frightens you a little” the so-called “Fallen Angels.” Gwen McGrenere also mentioned fallen angels in her comment. Revelation 12:3-4, 7-9 speaks of a primordial war in heaven between the archangel Michael and his angels and the Dragon (which we find out later is Satan) and his angels. Satan and his angels lose this war and are cast down to the earth where they do Satan’s bidding on unwary humans. So theologians believe that the whole idea of good and evil angels came from the influence of Zoroastrianism which was the religion of Persia when the Jews where under Persian rule. Zarathustra or Zoroaster was the prophet of Zoroastrianism and taught that there was a good god, Ahura Mazda and an evil god, Angra Mainyu–and each had their own angels. He also taught of an end of the world battle between good and evil, where those who followed Aura Mazda went to paradise, while those who followed Angra Mainyu went to Hell. Sound familiar ???
Thank you Matthew for reminding us that the mystics in history also experienced and reflected on spirit beings, Angels, and other dimensions besides our earthly dimensions. In modern times science is also exploring quantum dimensions and consciousness in deeper ways that coincide or confirm the experiences and teachings of the mystics, especially in the areas of the interconnectedness of our multiverse and evolving Cosmos. On YouTube the famous quantum physicist David Bohm (author of “Wholeness and the Implicate Order”, 1995) has several good teachings and interviews with spiritual leaders and mystics such as Krishnamurti and the Dalai Lamar about non-duality. Another increasingly spiritual trend the last few decades has been the growth of channelers/mediums that share the spiritual messages and teachings from their spirit guides. The most recent channeler that I have been reading is Pamela Kribbe, Ph.D., from the Netherlands (“The Christ Within”, 2014). Her website (jeshua.net) is very informative and personal because she shares about how she was introduced to channeling and left her academic career. She also has interesting spiritual messages about “lightworkers.” I was introduced to the teachings of the afterlife and other spiritual dimensions through the books of Michael Newton, Ph.D. psychologist (“Journey of Souls” and “Destiny of Souls”). Two good websites that have gathered research on our spiritual
multimensions and experiences of the afterlife are eternea.org and noetic.org
🔥❤️🙏
How are we to invoke the power of the ‘good’ angels?
I love this. I feel I walk among the light beings all the time. There is no doubt in my mind that they are working for and among us.
Thank you for getting our imaginations and minds to stir with your daily readings.
Meg
We can use any terms, words, language we like, but ultimately the truth lay in the practice of Divine Presence. This surrender and submission is called by many names, but it is essentially a discipline of emptying. Only the empty vessel can be filled. }:- a.m.
Cynthia Bourgeault and others of the Wisdom School speak of imaginal realms. Spirit guides and tarot cards seem to be becoming new tools for some Christians. My cousin and her husband are mediums in Cassadaga, the Spiritualist community in Florida. They are very sincere and consider it a religion, even though the movement was founded in the 19th century by two sisters, who later admitted that it was a hoax. It seems to me that these ideas are very personal and very individual and very meaningful. However, the level of detail claimed, as that angels are hierarchical, really does not impress me. And it just seems to me that God is enough, but as humans we always need more. I am a pragmatist–whatever works for you to become more loving, compassionate, generous, and all the other virtues of deep faith, then believe in that and follow your heart. I have a friend who has a whole host of guardian angels that she relies on, and she is one of the sweetest people you could ever know.
Sue, I totally agree with you that, “it just seems to me that God is enough”–you are totally right, but there is a difference between what we need and what we want, as you point out when you write “but as humans we always need more.” We do always need more–more knowledge more wisdom, more loving. Maybe if you read Matthew’s book THE PHYSICS OF ANGELS you can see that the “more” that he and Rupert Sheldrake have to share is fascinating.
The book Quantum Theology by Diarmuid O’Murchu. Is excellent in explaining the interface between science and religion, especially the 12 principles of quantum theology in appendix 1.
Barbara, O’Murchu has even actually written endorsements for Matthew’s book, SINS OF THE SPIRIT, BLESSINGS OF THE FLESH…