Worlds of Angels

I am inspired to begin blogging again following a hiatus. This inspiration comes third hand. First from Rabbi Joey Wolf, a respected colleague in MACG, who recommended I read some of Rabbi Lawrence Kushner's books on mystical judaism (The River of Light, Surely God is in This Place, and most recently An Introduction to Jewish Mysticism). Kushner is the second link in my inspiration. While I seldom note the footnotes in a book, I was attracted to references in Kushner's volume on Jewish mysticism to Adin Steinsaltz' The Thirteen Petalled Rose. Third time is the charm as I found this little book packed with intriguing ideas and inspiring connections to my own journey and interests. So, I want to spend the next few weeks unpacking and reflecting on this gem of a book. I hope this will also inspire you in some fourth hand way to discover some of the insight and joy I have found in my one to one with Steinsaltz through this little book.

I say one to one self consciously because I have entered into relationship with the thoughts and ideas of this book. I have questioned and been questioned. I have felt moved, wondered, pondered, sighed, been lifted up. I have written in the margins, underlined and copied quotes into my journal. I even used a long piece in a recent sermon. Something continues to attract me powerfully, intellectually and mystically. So here I go! Blogs away!

I cannot adequately summarize each chapter or idea, so I want to pick the low hanging fruit for each reflection. I trust if what I write intrigues, you will feel invited to pick up the book for yourself!

I begin with "Worlds," the first chapter. He lays out four worlds, from highest to lowest: "emanation," "creation," "formation," and "action," the world in which we ordinarily live. Each world has within it subdivisions. For example, the world of action includes the physical world of more or less mechanical processes and the world of spiritual action. Thus material and spiritual are held together, if in tension. I will reflect on the higher worlds in later blogs. Today I want to concentrate on the world of action and the world directly above it, the world of formation. Key to the relationship of these worlds are the angels.

"The world of formation may be said to be, in its essence, a world of feeling. It is a world whose main substance, or type of experience, is emotion of one kind or another, and in which such emotions are the elements that determine its patterns. The living beings in it are conscious manifestations of particular impulses--impulses to perform one or another act or respond in one or another way--or of the power to carry through an incentive, to realize, to fulfill the tendency of an inclination or an inspiration. The living creatures of the world of formation, the beings who function in the world of action, are called, in a general way, 'angels.'
(pp 7-8)

Angels, as I am coming to understand it from Steinsaltz, then function in the world of formation--the "before" of actions in the world, the premeditations, the inclinations, the impulses, the multitudes of possibilities, the swirls of feelings which give rise to any given action in the world of action. The angels of formation are above and below one another in terms of their power, and are various in their purpose and direction. One angel may be an inclination to love. Another an inclination to fear. While each angel is unique and manifests a specific emotion or gradation of emotion, angels group together in "camps" and "mansions" to exert influence in the world of action. Steinsaltz writes:
"The essence of an angel, therefore, is defined by the limits of a particular emotion, in terms of itself, just as personality and inwardness define the self of each person in our world. an angel, however, is not merely a fragment of existence doing nothing more than just manifesting an emotion; it is a whole and intergral being, conscious of itself and its surroundings and able to act and create and do things within the framework of the world of formation. The nature of the angel is to be, to a degree, as its name in Hebrew signifies, a messenger, to constitute a permanent contact between our world of action and the higher worlds." (p 9)

This helps me see some of the Bible stories in new light! Jacob wrestling with the angel, among other things, is his wrestling with his fear of meeting his brother Esau, whom he has betrayed. It is wrestling with the angel of this emotional reunion. It is wrestling for a blessing in the turmoil of recoverying his self. All the elements of a trans-world experience are present: it is night (is he in dreamland?), he is at a crossroads (literally ready to cross the river to the other side), he is in turmoil spiritually and emotionally, a place God can gain access to him, what Marcus Borg calls, a "thin place".

This helps me understand why angels so often say, "Fear Not!" Because the angels manifesting fear are strong, the angels bringing love, faith, hope need to exert themselve! I think also of the angels in the Christmas story. First a single messenger to the shepherds, then a "heavenly host" (a whole "camp" indeed a "mansion" of angels) manifesting peace and goodwill for all!

Next week I will continue to reflect on the worlds. May the angels of curiosity and joy inspire you!

Peace,

P Moe 1-30-06