How do you define an Angel? Most people would say that they are winged messengers sent directly from God, but have these divine beings always been Angels, almost like a separate race, or are they in fact spiritually evolved humans that once lived among us? Furthermore, can we become Angels ourselves? Although we generally think of Angels as gentle beings, I'm sure that many can be quite “kick-ass” and help us to be strong and fight if necessary, but mostly I believe they are there to gently aid and heal us. It is said that there is a distinct structure in the Angelic realms, a hierarchy of different ranks all placed to carry out certain jobs - we all need different kinds of help at different times and in different situations, surely then it makes sense that Angels should be varied in their abilities?
What about Demons? Are they the spirits of people who have passed but still bear some sort of grudge or bitterness and therefore lash out? Are they fallen Angels who now do the Devils bidding? Or are they something else entirely – a negative entity from another dimension perhaps, something that has never been human and feeds off peoples fear and anger? There is another theory that such things are in fact inner Demons and more psychological than paranormal - could Demons actually be the manifestations of a troubled mind? It all comes down to faith and belief, but I find it interesting how most people have a clear idea of what they believe Angels to be, but not so much Demons. I wonder if perhaps we actually take away some of a so-called Demon's power if we do not really believe in its existence?
Many cultures and religions have various talismans believed to ward off evil spirits/Demons, but Christianity seems more reliant on divine guidance – God watching over you and keeping you safe. Despite all this, if you offer an open invitation who knows who or what will accept it and walk through the door you have just opened! Often people are searching for guidance during times of stress such as illness or grief, but this vulnerability of emotion can make them easy targets for negative entities who feed on such feelings. The safest way to find spiritual guidance is not, for example, through an Ouija Board, but by simply asking for help, like offering up a simple prayer perhaps. It is even thought that an Angel will give you evidence of their presence, a calling card if you like, often in the form of a white feather.
Many believe that we all have our own personal Guardian Angel, watching over us and guiding us through the stormy waters of life, but just how much assistance and influence do such guides have, and do we also have a negative force trying to guide us along an opposing path, like some sort of personal Demon? For me this conjures up cartoon images of a person with a tiny Angel sat on one shoulder and a tiny Devil sat on the other, each exerting a pull in two completely different directions. I wonder how close to the truth this really is - certainly we all have positive and negative influences in our minds, but is this otherworldly/spiritual or psychological and simply part of our complex human make-up? I believe this to be an important point, because the concept of either Spiritual or Demonic influence almost takes away our ability to think for ourselves, suggesting that we are not responsible for our own actions, and that is a scary thought indeed.
Wherever we believe guidance to come from, we must ultimately make our own decisions in life using our own inner moral compass (free will) and therefore be responsible for our own actions. This is what enables us to grow as both Human and Spiritual beings.
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