How do I work with archangels?

[Gurublue]

Im a beginner occultist but one thing i do not understand is how do I work with or build a stronger relationship with Archangels? Ive invoked archangels Michael and Gabriel using Almadel technique with some ceremonial magicians I know, but what I do not know is how to build a relationship or work with them outside of ritual. Like on a normal everyday basis. Am I even expected to do that? If so, how do I go about doing it as a ceremonial magician would. Thanks!

 

[PracticingGeomancer]

Here are some suggestions from my personal experience; I don't know if they will be up your alley, as I appreciate very straightforward techniques that don't rely much on paraphenalia. Let me explain a bit more before we get into the practical suggestions: I believe tools such as candles, incense, elemental and planetary symbols (stones, crystals, herbs, etc) can help me get in "the zone", but in the end everything that's really needed is me, my attention, my will and my intention. Relying less and less on tools puts the focus on what really matters. That works for me, but your mileage will vary.

Here are two books I recommend:

• Archangels of Magick by Damon Brand from the Gallery of Magick. This is a whole grimoire with different techniques on how to work with archangels, from sigils and talismans, a banishing ritual, divination, invocation and evocation. It's extremely easy to start working with it, requires no tools except what you were born with.
• Archangel Pathworkings by Jareth Tempest. This is volume 2 on a series of pathworking books that use the Archangel Raziel to help making contact with other spirits (book 1: the 72 Angels of the Shem HaMephorash, vol 2: Archangels, vol 3: the 72 Demons of the Goetia). I have worked with volumes 1 and 2 in this series, but not the 3rd yet (although I've worked with the spirits from the Goetia earlier in multiple ways). The premise is similar in all 3 books: use Raziel's power as a facilitator to contact other spirits (this comes up in Archangels of Magick as well, but with a sigil instead of pathworking IIRC); but while the first 2 books in the series read more like a menu of different powers, the 3rd books gets into a more open-ended approach, where the author suggests to possibly do the pathworking just to "meet" the entity, and establish a relationship that's more than "today I need X from you". I haven't explored this approach yet but it sounds very interesting; and I plan to try it out.

I would suggest both books as they approach Archangels in very different ways; and between the two you'll have plenty of techniques at your disposal to get to know and work with the Archangels. I have used Raziel as a guide to contact other spirits (I usually do the pathworking, but the sigil from Archangels of Magick have worked well for me too); Raziel isn't limited to Angels and Archangels, I've used Raziel's powers to contact local spirits when giving offerings.

As you want to work with Archangels outside of rituals (I guess you mean without asking for anything directly), you could do the approach from Jareth Tempest's 3rd book with Archangels, or other techniques from the Gallery of Magick book I suggested above. If you do daily banishing you could do a banishing ritual that includes the Archangels, such as the LBRP or the Circle of Power (from Archangels of Magick).

My approach is usually a bit more chaos-magicky than strictly cerimonal-magicky, so the suggestions above might not be up your alley, but they might give you some interesting points to explore further.

A closing word about the books I suggested above: they don't get much into background details, history, etc. They barely cite any sources; as they're both very practice oriented. Both books have worked for me before.

 

[beardedeldridge]

Only time for a short answer from me on this:

First - Almadel…good on you for working thru that wax kerfuffle (inside joke between me and myself)

But onto your answer. The short answer is figure out what you want their assistance with and then you keep invoking them over time and keep asking for their assistance…rinse and repeat…build from there.

They are a unique lot. You aren’t going to have an archangel following you around throughout the day. But another maybe provided that you can work with more directly.

But as your life gets reshuffled and that’s how it worked for me (Archangels don’t work in the most direct way but usually in the most complete way) you find their fingerprints in more and more parts of your life.

For a more immediate and practical approach, you can bring some of their energy into your everyday life by use of pentacles/altars/etc…

Hope that helps.

-Eld