This time of the year is truly a beautiful time, with all the holidays that are celebrated, the joy of the season and a new year starting. If a loved one has passed away though and you are grieving, missing their physical presence, then the holidays don’t feel as merry and bright. There is an angel you can call on who helps those of us who are still here and those who have passed. It is Archangel Azrael, the angel of transition.
Archangel Azrael helps people move from physical to nonphysical – life to death. As a person starts nearing physical death, Azrael can help them in a number of ways. It can start before the person passes, with things like helping them come to terms with their physical mortality or calming any fears about passing. When the actual time comes, helping the soul leave the physical body, then cross over into the light/heaven when they are ready. Once they are on the other side, Archangel Azrael continues to guide them as they reacclimate to nonphysical.
In doing some research, I found that Archangel Azrael is known in some religions as the angel of death. It makes sense, given their appearance around the time of people’s death. What I want to dispel though is any fear and misconceptions about that designation. The angel of death has been portrayed through the generations as scary and ominous. Given fears about our own mortality, plus the lack of healthy conversations about it, it’s not surprising this angel has been transformed into a scary being. However, my experience has never been of a being who feels like the grim reaper or someone who is scary. It has been the exact opposite – calming, loving and comforting.
Archangel Azrael also helps people who are grieving the passing of a loved one. Dealing with your loved one no longer being physically here is an emotional journey, a journey that is different for everyone. Archangel Azrael can help you move through grief, whatever that looks and feels like for you. That help can come in many different forms. It can be:
- messages and guidance you receive directly from Azrael
- messages that come through someone else, like a friend or even a stranger
- messages and guidance in a dream
- a person showing up when you need a shoulder to cry or lean on
- “coincidences” that bring you some relief from your grief or let you know that your loved one is around you
- insights that come to you to help you reconcile your loved one’s passing, like how they passed or if they’re alright now
- facilitating a connection between you and your loved one so you can pick up on them in some way
These are only some of the ways. The possibilities are endless as to how Archangel Azrael can guide and assist you!
As I was preparing to write this, I was listening to a podcast where Archangel Azrael was unexpectedly brought up. When the podcaster said “transitions”, I suddenly got a message within that Archangel Azrael does more than just transition people between life and death. Transition is anything where one thing ends and another begins – a job, a relationship, moving, a career change, etc. It was a big a-ha moment for me because up until that point, I only associated Archangel Azrael with the transition between physical and nonphysical. This new information has opened up the possibilities of how to work with this angel in a more everyday way, which I am excited to explore!
You may have noticed that up till now, I have not referred to Archangel Azrael as he or she. I first became aware of Azrael in a simple list of archangel names and what each angel is known for. As I have worked with Archangel Azrael, this angel feels female to me. When I looked up Archangel Azrael online, I found everyone referring to her as a male. This is not the first time this has happened for me with angels. From what I understand, angels are neither female nor male, it’s us who give them that designation because that is how we tend to think. So, if you connect with Azrael, or any angel, and they appear of feel different to you than how I or others describe them, don’t think that you are wrong or are confusing something. Go with what you get!
Ways to work with Archangel Azrael
You can call on and work with Archangel Azrael for yourself, people that you know or even those you don’t know directly. If you’re not sure what kind of help to ask for, keep it simple by asking for the highest and greatest good of all involved. Archangel Azrael knows exactly what that is and will do it.
When I hear that someone is nearing the end of their life, I ask Archangel Azrael to watch over them, making sure they are pain-free and at peace as much as possible. You can keep it general like that or, if you know the person and their circumstances, you can ask Azrael to help in more specific ways. And even though our focus is usually on the person who is passing, their loved ones are also going through a lot. I ask Archangel Azrael to watch over and help them as well.
After a person has passed, you can ask Archangel Azrael to help them cross over to the other side/heaven, if they haven’t already. If you’re wondering whether or not they crossed into the light, ask Azrael. She will get the answer to you in a way that you can easily receive it. If they haven’t gone back into the light, work with her to cross them over. Yes, you can do that! Talk to the person and encourage them to go back home into the light/heaven. They can hear you. You’ll have both sides of the veil, covered, working with Azrael like a loving tag team!
You can ask Archangel Azrael to comfort the family and friends of someone who passed, helping them to move through their grief. I’ve seen the comfort it brings to family and friends to know their loved one has crossed to the other side, so I also ask Archangel Azrael to let them know when it has happened. If there is anything left unresolved, ask her to help the family and friends heal it or make peace with it so they don’t carry that baggage forward with them.
When I see a funeral procession on the road, a burial at a cemetery or people gathering at a funeral home, I call on Archangel Azrael. When I am talking to someone and find out their family member or friend passed away or someone’s passing is in the news, like President Carter, I call on Azrael. It doesn’t matter that I don’t know them personally. I know there is someone who may need help crossing over and there are people still here that are hurting inside. I know there is a beautiful, loving angel who knows exactly how to help all of them. All I have to do is ask.
It may not seem like much to simply ask Archangel Azrael to help. However, I have learned to not underestimate the power of an intention, a thought or a prayer based in love and compassion. Sometimes it’s the only thing we can do because of location or circumstances. It’s something though. Something more powerful than we can pick up with our 5 senses. Something that happens on another level. Something that is helping people make their way back home to the light or move through grief. Something that can also make you feel better. Something that shows how we are all connected, how we are all one.
