Angels

Image by Bronwen Hall

I have been seeing and receiving a lot of information about angels in the past few days, so began to look at my thoughts and beliefs on the subject. Personally, I feel that angels reside within each of our souls and spirits. That they are all around protecting, guiding but also judging.

I have now found out that it is common belief that there are actually nine levels or hierarchies of angels. These apparently being:-

1. Seraphim - the highest order and those closest to God, the ones that circle God's throne with love and devotion.

2. Cherub - these are the holders of all knowledge and wisdom, and we would be blinded with their brilliance

3. Thrones - are the counselors with the task of divine judgement

4. Dominions - look after all the small details as well as all other angel; they are the caretakers of the heavens

5. Virtues - preside over the elements of the world and look after nature

6. Powers - are responsible for the cosmic order and watch over the human race as a whole

7. Principalities - are minders of nations

8. Archangels - are the chief messengers of the heavens and have the task of overseeing the big picture of humankind and the environment

9. Guardians - are our individual protectors and guides

Now whether you believe in God, Allah, Buddha or just a higher power is not for me to judge. I find it somewhat reassuring that something more is looking out for our wellbeing. Yet, I also feel that these powers or spirits work with or through every single one of us in order to improve the world and teach you the lessons that we need to learn.

Even those you might look upon as fallen angels still have lessons that they can teach, and as such should be encouraged and not judged as that is not up to us to do.

In this regard, it is possible that every one of us is someone's angel. So today I ask you, who has been your angel, your protector, your guide, your teacher? Also who have you been or could be an angel for?

Angels

Power of making a decision

Nearly 18 months ago I made a decision that i was going to have my own photography business specialising in portraits and events as that is what I love doing. At the time I was teaching and while I enjoyed it - it was a job rather than a passion. Now today that goal is a reality!

How - through hard work, effort made meeting new people and taking new risks but mainly because I had decided that it was going to happen. The how is really not that important, it was going to happen!! What I have discovered along the way - is that I have become a better person because of this journey that is not over because I have achieved this goal. It is just another beginning of a leg in the journey.

So many people have helped me achieve this goal - some without even realising it. I am extremely grateful for the encouragement and belief that others gave me. It seems that once that decision had been made, things just fell into place, opportunities opened up from all around, help came if and when I needed it. I also worked hard to make things progress as fast as possible. It appeared that the universe was conspiring to help me along - it was and is amazing.

I am also glad that I had the opportunity to make a public declaration of my decision. I stood up in front of a group of friends and announced that I was going to do this thing. And they held me accountable to get it happening - when I would see them they would ask how things were going. That made me feel an urgency, it stopped me from procrastinating along the way as they were always very excited for me to hear of the progress that was being made.

These are the things that I have found that I need to make my goals and dreams, reality: belief that it is possible, gratitude in advance for what is unfolding around me, the willingness to stick to it and work hard, a trusted group of cheerleaders that also believe in me. And the most important thing is that you have to make that first and definite decision that it's going to be. That total clarity of the end result even if you have no idea how you can make it happen, it's going to happen regardless.

These are the first pictures I took in my studio - I still love saying that - MY STUDIO - how cool is that. They are of my daughter, my best and favourite model. They are and always will be special.

Power of making a decision