Paperback
-
PICK UP IN STORECheck Availability at Nearby Stores
Available within 2 business hours
Related collections and offers
Overview
Greenaway covers the entire angelic realm. Included here are:
- Encounters with angels
- Angels in the modern world
- Angelic herbs and plants
- How to work with angels
- Angels, animals, and heaven
- Angels in the Afterlife
This is for anyone who is interested in angels, who wants a little supernatural help, and/or who wants a glimpse of the vast array of other worldly forces and beings that inhabit the universe.
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781571747556 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 09/01/2016 |
| Series: | Plain & Simple Series |
| Pages: | 160 |
| Sales rank: | 993,152 |
| Product dimensions: | 5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.60(d) |
About the Author
Read an Excerpt
Angels
Plain & Simple
By Beleta Greenaway
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
Copyright © 2016 Beleta GreenawayAll rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-61283-367-5
CHAPTER 1
Encounters with Angels
In the middle of the 1950s, when I was about eleven years old, my sandy-haired stepbrother Robert was then just a toddler. Robert became seriously ill, and I can remember clearly one of his little ears being bright red and sticking out like a trumpet. The doctor was called immediately. Within a few hours, Robert was rushed to Frenchay Neurological Hospital in Bristol, England, with a critical brain tumor. Surgery was scheduled for the next day, but the surgeons feared he only had a 10 percent chance of recovery. My mother, a simple country girl who came from a large family, was inconsolable.
At sunrise the following morning, she was lying in bed after a restless night's sleep. On the quilt a few feet away from her, a small image began to appear. It was a beautiful angel, about ten inches high, gently rocking a baby's crib which had an iridescent glow over it. Staring straight at my mother, the angel wrapped her wings around the crib in a protective gesture, her gaze never leaving my mother's face. Gradually after four or five minutes, the apparition faded, leaving my mother soothed and reassured. After a difficult surgery and a long recuperation, Robert did recover, and from that day forward my mother fervently believed in angels.
I have often had dreams that come true and I pay great attention to them, especially the dreams that occur from five to seven o'clock in the morning. This seems to be a time when our angels and spiritual guides like to converse with us, perhaps because we are just coming out of sleep and are in the right state of consciousness. It is a well-known fact that practitioners of Wicca keep a dream diary, which they call "The Book of Shadows." In this, they record their dreams and premonitions, dating them carefully. I have found with dream information that you may be given a dream that will occur in a few days' time, but also in the same dream, something that might happen that is two or three years in the future. This is why it is so important to write these dreams down and date them as soon as you can, and to note down as much detail as you can remember. One particular morning, I had a vivid and very disturbing dream.
An Angel of Death
In the dream, my spiritual guide appeared and took me into a special room where I waited nervously for someone very important to come; even my guide seemed to be on edge.
Suddenly I became aware of a very tall and overpowering being, staring right through me. He was dressed in a black frock coat with a snowy white cravat at his throat. His gaze was unrelenting; he seemed to have locked minds with me. Nonetheless, I was struck by how beautiful he was. He had thick dark hair, a long thin face, and liquid brown eyes; his arms were folded firmly over his chest. I knew instinctively that he was one of the Angels of Death and my next alarmed thought was, "Well this is it Beleta, it looks like you are going to die, girl, and he's here to take you home."
His eyes held great compassion and deep love, telling me not to worry, as it was someone else who was going to pass over soon. I heard his thoughts in my head as he asked me to help him with an important project concerning this person in the near future. He said I would need to be in contact with many people and he asked if I would mind doing this for him. I nodded my head in complete awe and wondered why he had come to asked me of all people, when there were far better folk out there in the world than little ole' me!
And then he smiled and I was dazzled. He informed me that if it were my time to go back into the spirit realms, his arms would have been wide open to welcome me. We both giggled, and I marveled at the discovery that angels have a great sense of humor–even the Angel of Death!
I awoke with a start and wondered if I had really been communicating with an Angel of Death, or was my mother right when she often remarked to me as a little girl, "Child, you've really got far too much imagination!" If the dream was correct, then what exactly did the angel want me to do and, worst still, who was going to die?
Through extensive reading and doing angelic research, I had believed Metatron to be the prime Angel of Death, but this dream told me otherwise. There were numerous angels who were in service for this particular task. Many, for instance, would be needed when there were world disasters or war.
A few days later my doorbell rang and two of my clients, Alan and Shirley, who were husband and wife, asked if they could come in as they had some important news. I ushered them into the lounge and they immediately told me they had been to see one of my friends, Irena, who was a well-known and loved spiritual healer in the area. Their appointment with her had been scheduled for ten o'clock that morning, but they could not understand why she had not answered the doorbell. A next-door neighbor came out and told them that Irena had had a brain hemorrhage while driving her car the previous evening, and that she had died.
After my clients had gone, I sat in total shock. Irena had no close family in the area. Her son was away, and no one knew that she had died! As Irena and I moved in the same social circles, I sat by my phone and had the dreadful task of informing everyone (even her recently divorced ex-husband) with the sad news. After many telephone calls, I felt exhausted with the grief and tears of her friends and clients, to whom I was passing this sad news. Then I remembered the angel telling me I would have to contact many people for him. This sad atmosphere prevailed for some weeks afterward because Irena's clients, who understandably couldn't locate her, contacted me to ask for her telephone number.
When it came to the funeral, the crematorium was full, and I realized how this wonderful person had touched the lives of so many others and how she had given help and love to each and every one of them. It was only then I knew how special she was to the spirit world too, especially the angel who had come to tell me of her death.
Through this experience I know every little kindness we give to others is noted. From it, we gain unconditional love and thanks from the angelic realms. I also become aware of the prior knowledge that these beings have of our deaths, and the deaths of every creature. It would seem that we can't hide anything from them.
Dream Work
Angels will cheer you up if you are at your wits' end and they will connect with you, especially in dreams, and they will encourage you toward dream work. Our days are far too busy to find time for total peace and relaxation. Noise pollution is a major factor in stopping us from connecting to the Divine source. Our ancestors did not have this problem so much, since life was much simpler before cars, telephones, and televisions. Most of us live in a busy society and we are often ruled by the clock, so sometimes we forget to take the time to connect with our inner selves.
Only in sleep can we be our true selves and cast off the burdens of everyday life. Many people claim they never dream or they cannot remember their dreams, but we all dream and everything is embedded deeply in our subconscious. Our brain is like a sophisticated computer and we have to find the magic key to unlock all of the information that dwells within.
I remember clearly as a child wanting to go to bed early so that I could connect with these wonderful Beings and be reassured everything was okay. I loved art, and sometimes a creative angel would show me interesting color blends and patterns while I was asleep. I have always kept a "dream diary," and I have been amazed at how accurate some of the dreams are.
If you want to connect with the angelic vibration or your spiritual guide while you sleep, say a prayer beforehand for guidance and premonition in dream sleep. It is not rocket science, but it needs a little patience until you get it right. There will be times when you will be successful and others when nothing much happens. I am still not sure whether the angels have times when they will not link with us, or whether it is our own inability to reach them.
Islands in the Sky
One very vivid dream I had a few years ago has always stayed with me. Again I was taken to the spirit world and was asked by my spiritual guide to look up into the sky. There suspended high above us, was the most beautiful island in verdant shades of green, cream, and orange. Waterfalls tumbled down and rainbows enveloped the whole island. From this dream I was taught about the beauty of the spirit world and how unlike our planet it is. Angels tend to the perfection of this spirit realm, and they are constantly inventing new things to delight us for when we return home.
Last year I was browsing a fantasy art sight on the Internet and one of the artists had painted a beautiful island in the sky. Perhaps he had also been shown the vision of islands in the sky by his angel in dream sleep.
Meditation
To meditate and connect with an angel is a magical experience and with a little practice we can all achieve this connection. Never think they are too grand to come to you, as we are very precious to them. You are as important as the Queen, the President, the Pope, or any pop idol or movie star that is up on a pedestal.
Preparation
The first thing to do is to go to bed an hour earlier than usual; you don't want to be so worn out that you fall asleep the moment that your head hits the pillow. Before you go to bed, be sure to switch off your telephone, television, and radio; get rid of any other interruption that you think could occur. Get cats, dogs, and children out of the way if possible. If you have a noisy road outside, wear some comfortable earplugs. If your home is normally chaotic, then you might have to seek solace elsewhere, perhaps a quiet park or garden. If you really need help and cannot get the knack of meditation, then see a hynotherapist and ask for assistance in the process. Anyway, for the moment we will assume you are tucked up in bed and absolutely quiet with the curtains closed and no distractions!
Your Meditation
Get comfortable and lie on your back, with a pillow under your knees. If you have some beautiful soft music, then you can play this to help you relax. Remember though, at some point the music might stop and interrupt the flow, so put it on replay. Close your eyes and breath deeply for about two minutes. Concentrate on the sound of your breathing and start to bring air through your nose, drawing the breaths from your lower stomach into your chest fully and slowly. Repeat this over and over again. You will find that you will naturally lengthen the breathing pattern and get into your own rhythm. Let your mind wander, and just get used to what you are doing. You can remain in this state for about 20 minutes or longer if you want.
Focus on your third eye. (This is the place just above the bridge on your nose, in between your eyebrows.) As you continue to breathe deeply, visualize the area of the third eye as a dark television screen, spread across your forehead area. Gaze out of this as far as you can. This will take practice and patience. Sometimes it may take you two or three attempts before you get it right. Ask your angel to connect with you. You might say something simple such as, "Angel, can we have a chat?"
In your mind, focus on a beautiful carved wooden door and approach it. Knock on the door and wait for it to open. As you continue your breathing, deepen it. You will see a golden light appear as the door opens a little. Push it open and step into the light. Have a good look around. You are in the most fabulous garden, with flowers that you have never seen before and colors that are more vivid and brilliant than any you have seen on earth. There are exotic birds and creatures, playing and darting around in the verdant grasses; waterfalls and lakes shimmering in the light. Slowly walk down the path to the lake and sit on a bench. The water lilies are huge and iridescent, the air fragrant, and multi-colored dragonflies zip across the surface of the water. Feel the breeze gently lift your hair from the nape of your neck.
When you feel ready and relaxed, invite your angel to join you on the bench.
CHAPTER 2Angels in the Modern World
There are many contemporary ways by which we have come to know about angels on a day to day basis. If you are just starting out on the "angel path" and want to learn more, I suggest beginning with angel cards, angelic websites, and exploring angelic correspondences, such as through astrology. And of course, all around you is artwork depicting angels–in paintings, in churches, and in statuary. Become attuned to the angelic realm, and you will be more conscious of the angels in your life.
Angel Cards
Today there are many beautifully illustrated decks of angel cards that you can find online or in bookstores. They usually consist of forty to fifty cards depicting colorful illustrations of an angel on each one and a small saying or affirmation. I use these at the end of my readings for clients who are spiritual and who love angels. You can shuffle the deck and pick one card to help and guide you for your day ahead, and usually these picks are very accurate. Angel cards can also be used in altar-work where you select an angel card for the problem in hand. Place the card on the altar alongside crystals, flowers, and so on; this will give your prayer much more atmosphere and devotion. If you want to connect with a particular angel in dream work, you can place one of the cards under your pillow at night, or you might prefer to use one in your meditation.
Angelic Websites
There are numerous websites that are dedicated to angels, and a wealth of information is out there for those who care to look. The websites connected to angel art are wonderful and all totally unique. When I have time, I like to look at the pictures. Today's artists seem to have a better understanding of the angel frequency and their esoteric grace. Some of the old style painters from centuries past did not exactly do these wonderful beings justice; so some of them are in fact downright clichéd! I find this particularly so with some of the paintings of Cherubs.
Angels of the Zodiac
Some of the most important angels can be linked to the signs of the zodiac. These angels are from the Book of Hours, a devotional book made popular in the Middle Ages. This list will give you a starting point to see which angelic characteristics relate to your astrological sun sign.
The Angel of the North
This gargantuan structure of an angel is located in the North of England, at the head of the Team Valley, near Gateshead. It took five months to construct and it was completed in February, 1998; it is the largest angel construction known in the world today. This imposing sculpture is by renowned artist, Anthony Gormley OBE. Many of his other creations can be seen in Australia, the United States, Japan, Norway, and Ireland.
The grassy hilltop that it stands upon represents a megalithic mound, and for 200 years since the 1720s, the ground beneath was mined for coal. Anthony Gormley remarked that the men of the north toiled beneath the surface in the darkness for so many years, so by creating his angel in the light, this was a celebration of their hard work and industry. The site was carefully chosen for the maximum impact. The angel stands 65 feet (20 meters) high, about the same as a five-story building, and the wingspan is 175 feet (54 meters) wide. This is nearly the same width as the wingspan of a large Boeing airplane. Each wing is reported to weigh almost 50 tons and the body perhaps 100 tons. The whole construction is of Cor-Ten steel and it has been made to last for a hundred years. Special ingredients were added to the steel to make it an interesting rusty copper color, and it can withstand squalls and gales of up to 100 miles an hour.
More than 90,000 people a day drive by this angel–33 million people a year. They marvel at its austerity and grandeur. Mysteriously, the angel has no facial features. Many have said that as the light and weather changes, they can perceive changes of expression on the angel's face, so this is truly a living sculpture. The artist remarked that he wanted to create a feeling of alertness and space from his creation, as a focus for our hopes and fears. The angel is catalyst for gatherings on New Year's Eve, pre-wedding ceremonies, and also eclipses. It seems that this congregational site represents a link between the sky and the earth, to connect us with the unknown and the known, and to remind us of our own mortality.
Many have criticized the sculpture, especially the media, as being stark and ugly and the vast amount of money spent on it wasteful, especially since the bulk of the cash was from the English National Lottery. Others love its simplicity and think it beautiful. I believe in this secular era it has been brought in to being to remind us angels are here to stay, and perhaps because of it, a new consciousness will come into the world.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Angels by Beleta Greenaway. Copyright © 2016 Beleta Greenaway. Excerpted by permission of Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Who Are These Beings? 1
1 Encounters with Angels 9
2 Angels in the Modern World 19
3 Angels in the Spiritual World 25
4 Angels in Religion 45
5 Daily Angels 65
6 Modern Angels 73
7 The Angelic Garden 115
8 Angelic Connections 123
9 Angels in the Afterlife 133
Conclusion 139