THE ARCHANGEL MEDITATION

A KABBALISTIC MEDITATION

From Rabbi David A, Cooper's

Book on Jewish Kabbalah

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"God is a Verb"

Riverhead Books, New York 1997

Author's Note:  Dr.  Rabbi David A. Cooper, studied Kabbalah in Jerusalem's Old City for more than eight years.  He is the author of five books on mystical aspects of religion ranging from Judaism, Buddhism and Sufism, (a mystical form of Islam).  He directs the Heart of Stillness Hermitage, a Kabbalistic education and meditation center near Boulder, Colorado.

Archangel Meditation

"Each evening, traditional Jewish bedtime prayers include the following invocation: “May Michael be at my right, Gabriel at my left, Uriel in front of me, Raphael behind me, and above my head, the Shekhina, the Divine Presence. (Holy Spirit)

When we call upon angels to be with us, we tape into an infinite resource of good will. It is as if we plug into the magnetic core of the earth to keep ourselves centered. Archangels represent the God-center of the universe; they draw nourishment from Its infinite supply. The only impediments to connecting with this energy are doubt and cynicism. If we can recognize these as they arise in our minds and find appropriate cubby holes in which to keep them in reserve for the times when they are useful, we can instantly benefit from the feeling of angelic presence."

The Meditation

1. Try to find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for twenty to thirty minutes, such as in bed at night, when falling asleep. Close your eyes, relax your body and breathe normally. Allow your attention to focus on the experience of your body and the movements of your chest and stomach around your breath. ( I set Yoga style in a my dark living room)

2. Let your self imagine that you can feel a presence along the right side of your body and the right side of your face. It can feel like a subtle pressure, a tingling, a vibration, heat, coolness, or some other sensation. If you cannot feel anything, simply think that something is next to you, almost touching you on the right side.

3. Give the experience on the right side the name of Michael. The archangel Michael is often viewed as the messenger of God. Whatever this many mean to you, pretend that the messenger of God is totally present on your right side. Be with this experience for a while.

4. When you are ready, let yourself imagine another presence on your left side. Feel the pressure, just like on your right. This is the archangel Gabriel, which is known to represent the strength of God. You can experience both sides simultaneously. The messenger of God on your right, the strength of God on your left. Stay with this experience for a while.

5. Allow yourself to sense something behind you, anywhere along the back side, particularly supporting you as you are sitting or lying down. Imagine this part of what is holding you up. This is Archangel Raphael, generally known as the healing power of God. Now you can do all three simultaneously: Michael, the messenger on the right; Gabriel, the strength, on the left side; Raphael, the healer, supporting you from behind.

6. Next, with your eyes still closed, imagine alight is shining ahead of your, in front of your face. Allow it to be as bright as you can. This is archangel Uriel, the light of God. Now you are surrounded on four sides; a messenger, strength, healing and light.

7. Finally, imagine a huge benevolent could of light hovering above your body. This is the Shekhina, the feminine presence of God. Allow the light of the Shekhina (Holy Spirit) to slowly descend, surround you with love, enveloping you with tender protection, cradling you in the softest, most peaceful state of mind you have ever experienced. Surrounded by angels, you are also in the arms of infinite kindness, absolute security, and safety.

8. If you are in bed, this is a wonderful way to drift off to sleep. If you are sitting, stay as long as you wish in this state of mind. When you are ready to end the meditation, however, do not get up too abruptly. It is much better if you able to reverse the process slowly allowing the Shekhina to rise up again to hover over your head. Then let go of the angels one by one, making sure they do not go too far away but give you freedom of movement. Even though you let go of the meditative state, you will probably feel a residual of this experience once you begin moving around. "

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