HOW DO POPULAR ANGELS
SUPPORT THE WORLD OF THE OCCULT?
It would be virtually impossible to provide even the briefest survey of the
manner in which the popular angels promote the world of the occult. In Angel Wisdom
we find the encouragement to use mantras and mandalas; shamanistic vision quests and
contacting one’s power animal (a spirit guide who appears in the form of an animal);
manipulation of chakras, psychic healing, etc. In Angelic Messenger Cards, we find
people guided to accept contacting the dead In Creating With the Angels we find
dream work: "Dream time is spirit time and offers a great opportunity to play with
the angels. . . .Allow the angels to help you interpret your dreams." In The
Angels Within Us, we find angels taking people deep into altered states of
consciousness in order to establish contact with them. The angels also support New Age
Medicine and occult holistic health practices.
The books of theosophist and spiritist Geoffrey Hodson are also popular in angel
circles. In 1924, Hodson was contacted by an "angel" calling itself
"Bethelda" who gave him material for half a dozen books, including the popular The
Brotherhood of Angels and Men and The Kingdom of the Gods. In his Clairvoyant
Investigations (1984) he writes, "I have myself confirmed that these
superphysical domains contain innumerable nonphysical beings, such as angels and nature
spirits. . ." Of course, the teachings of these "angels" encourage
theosophical occultism, not biblical truth.
The popular "angels" also encourage the practice of necromancy or
contacting the dead for divination, as well as various forms of occult magic. In one case
where the angels assume a function similar to the demons contacted in magic ritual we are
told, "you can also use this technique to avoid people you fear and loathe. When you
use this [magic] satchel, repeat the affirmation, ‘There is no such personality in
the universe.’ Then put the name of the person who owns that personality in the
satchel."
The popular angels often encourage the development of practices like automatic
writing, dictation or speaking in order to get their messages published and in
circulation. For example, Karen Goldman, author of Angel Voices and The Angel
Book believes that "the angels are directing and guiding her writing." (Angel
Voices, back cover flap) She used the "Sedona Method RELEASE Technique" from
the Sedona Institute in Arizona to contact her "inner angel" which now guides
her writing. Sally Sharp author of 100 Ways to Attract the Angels was led into
automatic writing by her angels.
Meredith L. Young-Sowers writes, "For well over a decade, I’ve been
taught by an angelic presence that describes himself/herself simply as Mentor, meaning
‘teacher.’"—many of Mentor’s verbatim teachings are given in her
books.
Rosemary Ellen
Guiley, author of Angels of Mercy and many books on the
occult and mystical, such as The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft, and Harper’s
Encyclopedia of Mystical and Paranormal Experiences recalls that her life has been
directed by unseen presences which she interprets as angels who have guided her
specifically into this area:
"For many years, I have felt the presence of guiding beings in
my life. . . .My initial intuitive sense was that these helping beings were
‘angels,’ and that is what I have always called them. . . .My strongest sense of
the presence of angels concerns my work as a writer. . . .I feel that angels facilitate my
work in numerous ways. . . .I am assisted and influenced by angels. I am grateful for
their help, and I acknowledge them daily in my meditation. I sense a small group of angels
who are around me all the time, connected to my personal and professional lives. They are
joined by other angels who come and go depending on circumstances. . . .When I began work
on Angels of Mercy the angels came out in force. It seemed I had a small army
looking over my shoulder to weigh in with their various influences. . . .In addition to my
writing, I lecture a great deal, and I feel the guiding presence of a ‘speaking
angel’. . . .I sense his presence. He is a facilitator who helps me organize and
deliver talks."
The name of her "speaking angel" is "Plato" and he does in
fact speak through her—just like many prominent spiritual leaders today including Ram
Dass, the late William Branham, and others. For example, "As I began my talk, I felt
a distinct shift in my consciousness, as though part of me were displaced to one side. In
addition, I could feel the weight of an invisible presence on my shoulders, as though a
being perched there. . . .I talked for two hours without looking at a single note, and got
rave comments from the audience. ‘You don’t know it, but you’re a born
teacher!’. . . .As time has gone on, I have been increasingly aware of this shift in
consciousness when I deliver a talk. Occasionally, someone who is clairvoyant will come up
to me afterward and ask me if I know I have an angel or a being standing off to one side
of me. ‘Yes,’ I say, ‘that’s my speaking angel!’"
What all this means is that a good deal—and perhaps a majority of the
popular angel literature—is actually from the "angels" themselves.
In fact, what field of the occult is not infiltrated by fallen angels?
Astrology and other forms of divination, ceremonial magic, mediumism and
seances,
witchcraft and Satanism, psychic development, shamanism—all are literally overrun
with fallen angels and their deceptions. As the Harper’s Encyclopedia of Mystical
and Paranormal Experience observes, "In New Age occult and religious beliefs,
angels have made a comeback in popularity. They are portrayed in karmic aspects of
astrology, channeled, meditated upon, and said to exist in spirit realms. Angelic forces
are invoked in magic rituals and various magical systems and witchcraft. The popular view
holds that angels are benevolent beings and are different from demons. . . ."
Indeed, this is the primary goal of the demons who imitate angels—to
confuse people as to their sphere of operation. If people can be convinced that the realm
of the occult is actually the realm of angelic manifestations, they will be much more
wiling to experiment. Thus, large numbers of people who contact angels today are slowly
but surely being led directly into the realms of the occult.
The "angels" specifically hope to reach the children. For example, the
author of The Circle of Angels was taken over by a spirit who announced through her
automatic writing, "I am the archangel Michael and together we will save the
children." The end result was the series of Little Angel Books which attempts
to help children personally call upon angels through occult meditation.
What about popular angels and the modern channeling phenomenon?
Channeling spirit-guides is now a multi-billion dollar U.S. industry. But
channeling angels is no different than channeling spirit-guides. In both cases one is
possessed by a control spirit just as if one were a medium. This similarity is also proven
by the fact that the messages and phenomena found in angel channeling and in mediumism are
essentially the same. Yet most promoters of angel channeling claim that there is a
distinction in terms of the entity that is being channeled. Spiritist Meredith L.
Young-Sowers, author of a divinatory game called Angelic Messenger Cards, claims
that, "Talking to angels is the natural extension of the channeling phenomenon
of the late 1970s and ’80s. . . ." But whether one terms it channeling angels,
spirit-guides, or discarnates, it is essentially the same thing—possession by a
spirit in order to accomplish the spirit’s purposes.
Consider the ease at which channeled spirits and angels are linked in the
literature, "We all have spiritual guides, angels who take us to higher levels
of consciousness and knowledge. . . .Our guides may take on physical presence in a dream,
during meditation, or in the form of a spiritual advisor or teacher whom we may
unexpectedly encounter. . . .[personal meditation] I am open to my spiritual guides, and I
greet then with excitement, respect, wonder, and love."
Consider an illustration. Catholic Roseann Cervelli claims to have been
channeling angels for over a decade from her home in Martinsville, New Jersey: some
of her channeled revelations were published in Voices of Love. How did this begin?
After being raised a Catholic and developing a "strong sense of spirituality,"
she studied the trance revelations of medium Edgar Cayce, the methods of psychic healing
and pursued "Christ consciousness." Eventually she received the laying on of
hands from a Catholic priest who became her spiritual mentor. When he laid his hands upon
her she experienced a kind of psychic opening: "After that, for the next year or so,
I studied with the priest and other like-minded people. I would have a kind of mystical
experience. I would be pulled into a oneness and meditative state. . . .These were my
first experiences with the spiritual energies—very loving and very embracing."
Eventually she met a medium who channeled a spirit named "Matthew."
After taking the occult advice of Matthew, Cervelli progressed to a form of psychic
revelation where she would receive energy coming through her head. Automatic writing then
developed which finally produced Voices of Love. After "Matthew," she met
another spirit named "Elliott" and finally a new entity who introduced itself
saying, "My name is John, and I have come to teach you about self-love." When
‘Matthew," "Elliott" and "John" decided to leave, they told
Roseann that she would now be indwelt by a group of angels—and she has been
channeling "angels" ever since.
Now really, how could she possibly tell the difference? Especially when the
revelations were the same?
Among the standard messages the "angels" want to give people is to
inform them that, "we are not separate from God. We are God. . . .Not only is
God inside of us, but he is us." Obviously, no godly angels are going to
encourage people to adopt pantheistic beliefs which undermine the very essence of the
Christian faith.
Why would popular angels be interested in supporting the environmental movement?
Environmental radicalism has now become a national concern, the result of
overzealous activists and politicians whose sometimes misguided ways have done
considerably more harm to the environment than good.
But one also finds a deep concern with the environment in most spiritist
writings, including among Native Americans, UFO contactees, New Age channeling and in
modern angel revelations. The spirits interest in this case, however, is the promotion of
pantheism and nature worship—not a cleaner environment.
Environmental revelations from the "angels" teach the sacred
importance of the environment and how people must be more concerned with the earth as
their spiritual Parent. People must learn to view the earth as divine and realize that
worship of the creation is crucial to a renewed spirituality. Of course, all this reflects
an increasing return to pagan nature worship (where the earth itself is divinized into a
goddess), and to animism, where trees, plants, rocks, etc., are believed to contain living
spirits. (That even Vice-President Al Gore’s book on the environment encourages a
pagan approach is merely a unfortunate symptom of the times.)
The angels who speak through one angel channeler emphasize, "The larger
level of healing we speak of involves healing the relationship between your spirit and the
spirit of the Earth. . . .Planet Earth has a life purpose, as you do,. . . .Your desire to
seek a deeper exchange with Nature encourages her spirit and further balances all levels
of life,. . . ."
The popular angels also endorse the pantheistic Gaia concept, "Your
spirit’s purpose is to facilitate cooperation between you and Gaia, the Earth,. . .
.As you awaken your love as a planetary being. . . .it will ultimately be the means of
healing Earth."
Examples of the animism can be seen in the following angelic revelations,
"Trees have guardian spirits, and we can learn many things from sitting quietly near
a tree and communicating with its energy." And, "The Water Spirits are the
guardian angels of natural sources of water. . . .All Water Spirits can teach us about our
inner feelings. In learning to connect with them, we can gain many benefits."
The spiritistic Findhorn community in Scotland with its worship of nature
spirits (devas) and angels is one example of how the angels’ emphasis on
environmentalism leads to direct contact with demons under the guise of harmony with
Mother Earth. In return for their prayers, and for worship to the spirits inside trees,
plants and rivers, the angels promise people physical, emotional and spiritual
healing—and that the earth itself will supposedly evolve into perfection.
What examples illustrate how the popular angels distort the Bible?
Perhaps the most consistent characteristic of the popular angels approach to
religion, besides inspiring false religion, is their distortion and twisting of the Bible.
Obviously, if these were godly angels,—especially angels who actually took part in
the giving of the Law of God, and who respect and honor Him,—they could not possibly
distort His Word. (Demons, of course, would.) For example, in The Angels Within Us,
Scripture is universally misinterpreted to support the occult in violation of
universal biblical prohibitions against the occult (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). Thus, the
angel’s interpretation of Matthew 5:14 is twisted to teach pantheism and that we are
"the creative power of the universe"; 2 Chronicles 20:17 is a "coded
message" that "describes what happens when you take on the energy of [the]
angel"; Psalm 91:11 is reinterpreted to encourage spiritism; John 15:1-11 is
distorted to mean that we are to abide within the God-self within us, the occult "I
AM Presence."
In offering these teachings, the angels actually direct their contacts to read
these scriptures in the Bible—and then they proceed to misinterpret
them to their listeners.
As angel channeler and New Age leader John Randolph Price comments, "The
angels are extremely practical in showing us our false beliefs"—which happens to
include traditional Christian interpretation of biblical passages. For example, concerning
the greatest commandment given by Jesus to love God above all else (Matthew 22:38), we are
told it really means this: "Start with the first and greatest commandment, which is
to love the Lord Self with every particle of feeling you have. . . ."
What is most ironic is that the scriptures are actually twisted by these
so-called "angels" to deceive people into accepting their own demonization! For
example, consider how three popular scriptures are interpreted: "If we are totally
sincere and willing to surrender the lessor in exchange for the greater, the Holy Self
will gently ease the old personality out and will replace that lower energy with Itself.
. . .an entirely new wine skin must be made ready for the new inpouring. Paul said,
‘I die daily’ (1 Corinthians 15:31)—and this is what we must do to secure
the final victory. Remember, ‘unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of
God’ (John 3:3). And ‘whoever loses his life for [the sake of the Christ within]
will find it’ (Matthew 16:25)." In the end, to "accept Christ" is to
accept the "angel" inside and to allow it to possess you.
Now who would possibly inspire a teaching like this?
Of course, most people assume that since these beings are allegedly angels, they
would naturally quote Scripture—isn’t this what we expect of angels? Further,
"Could an angel possibly be associated with Satan?" Of course not; who would
ever expect such a thing?
Yet consider the following revelations from the angels and then look up the
Scripture provided to prove to yourself that these beings could not possibly be holy
angels: "You may think that there is only one truth; yet we, your angels, suggest
that all of you have your own truth, your own interpretation of divine law. No one way is
right or wrong. . . ." (cf., John 14:6; 1 John 2:21); "[It is wrong] to feel
that only one way is the authentic path to God." (cf., John 10:1-12; Acts 4:12; 1
Timothy 2:5-6); "Love. . .is ‘the capacity to allow all other living things to
grow into their fullest expression of self." (cf., 1 Corinthians 13:3-8); "In
Truth I am the Spirit of God. . .for God is all, and all is God." (cf., Ezekiel
28:2-4)
Now consider the following personal meditation provided by the angels which they
wish people to assimilate into their consciousness. Ask yourself if such a statement could
possibly come from a godly angel: "All that God is, I AM. . . .I AM divine purity. .
. .I AM perfect love,. . .I AM the peace that goes beyond understanding,. . . .I AM
omnipotent. . . .I AM perfect judgment. . . .I AM the only supply,. . .the I AM THAT I AM.
. .for I AM the joy of the world."
[Additional information can be found in our Resource Center—a VHS videotape
on "Angels," available for a gift of $39 and The Facts on Angels,
available for $5. Or you may call The John Ankerberg Show, 1-800-805-3030.]
|
