Difference between revisions of "Kabbalistic angel"

 
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[[File:Chart of the Angels Names.jpg|300px|thumb|Chart showing the names of the 72 Kabbalistic Angels in Hebrew and English.]]
[[File:Angel Poster.jpg|400px|thumb|Examples of the nine choirs of angels]]
The '''Kabbalistic angels''', also known as the '''Angels of the Shem HaMephorash''', are 72 celestial spirits whose names are derived from the [[Shem HaMephorash|72-fold name of the Hebrew god]] as found in the Book of Exodus.
The '''Kabbalistic angels''', also known as the '''Angels of the Shem HaMephorash''', are 72 celestial spirits whose names are derived from the [[Shem HaMephorash|72-fold name of the Hebrew god]] as found in the Book of Exodus.


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==The 72 names==
==The 72 names==
[[File:Chart of the Angels Names.jpg|300px|thumb|Chart showing the names of the 72 Kabbalistic Angels in Hebrew and English.]]
All the letters comprising the 72-fold name (and thus the names of the 72 Angels) are derived from the Book of Exodus, chapter 14, verses 19 - 21. Each of the three verses contains exactly 72 letters, and when one letter is taken from each verse in the kabbalistic pattern, they form 72 three-letter names that are unique to each Angel.
All the letters comprising the 72-fold name (and thus the names of the 72 Angels) are derived from the Book of Exodus, chapter 14, verses 19 - 21. Each of the three verses contains exactly 72 letters, and when one letter is taken from each verse in the kabbalistic pattern, they form 72 three-letter names that are unique to each Angel.
The verses tell the story of the Angel of God, who protected the fleeing Israelites from the army of the Pharaoh. It was Moses who spoke the 72-fold name aloud and caused God to part the Red Sea.
The verses tell the story of the Angel of God, who protected the fleeing Israelites from the army of the Pharaoh. It was Moses who spoke the 72-fold name aloud and caused [[Yahweh|God]] to part the Red Sea.


===Exodus verse===
===Exodus verse===
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The ruling dates of the angels were originally derived from the 10 day periods ruled over by the 36 [[Egyptian decans]]. By splitting each week in the [[Egyptian calendar]] in half, the 360 day year was divided into 72 sections, with one angel ruling over each five day period. Because the Egyptian calendar consisted of 36 weeks of 10 days each, there were five days left over. These five days originally had their own decan, #37 (Shetwy, the Two Tortoises), who was responsible for ruling over the Epagomenal days.
The ruling dates of the angels were originally derived from the 10 day periods ruled over by the 36 [[Egyptian decans]]. By splitting each week in the [[Egyptian calendar]] in half, the 360 day year was divided into 72 sections, with one angel ruling over each five day period. Because the Egyptian calendar consisted of 36 weeks of 10 days each, there were five days left over. These five days originally had their own decan, #37 (Shetwy, the Two Tortoises), who was responsible for ruling over the Epagomenal days.


When the Greek scholars incorporated the Egyptian system into their own, they grouped the decanal gods with the spirits of the air. Later Christian scholars interpreted these in two different ways: either as angels or ''daimons'' (incorrectly conflating the Greek term for a minor god as a [[demon]]). Eventually, by the Medieval Period, the textual mistranslations and conflations were forgotten and the entire system was interpreted with a [[Christianity|Christian]] worldview by European [[occultist]]s attempting to reconcile Kabbalistic mystic texts with [[astrology]] and alchemy.
When the Greek scholars incorporated the Egyptian system into their own, they grouped the decanal gods with the spirits of the air. Later Christian scholars interpreted these in two different ways: either as angels or ''daimons'' (incorrectly conflating the Greek term for a minor god as a [[demon]]). Eventually, by the Medieval Period, the textual mistranslations and conflations were forgotten and the entire system was interpreted with a [[Christianity|Christian]] worldview by European [[occultist]]s attempting to reconcile Kabbalistic mystic texts with [[astrology]] and [[alchemy]].


This explains why, in the older texts showing the astrological correspondences of the Kabbalistic angels, there are five days missing from the calendar. Modern authors, ignorant of the ancient history of these entities, often adjust the dates the angels rule over to cover the entire [[Gregorian calendar]], despite the system pre-dating the creation of the Gregorian calendar by thousands of years.
This explains why, in the older texts showing the astrological correspondences of the Kabbalistic angels, there are five days missing from the calendar. Modern authors, ignorant of the ancient history of these entities, often adjust the dates the angels rule over to cover the entire [[Gregorian calendar]], despite the system pre-dating the creation of the Gregorian calendar by thousands of years.