First the Angels Came
I have always believed in angels. Maybe it’s a by-product of growing up Catholic. Maybe I remember them from the soul realm. Either way, I have always known I had at least a guardian angel. Although angels are not assigned a gender, I sensed this angel as a female energy, standing behind me. One day, I read that if you ask an angel their name, they will oblige, so I made the request that my guardian angel reveal her name to me. I immediately heard the name Joan. I admit, I was a bit disappointed as I was hoping for a regal name, maybe something I could barely pronounce. I looked up the name and read that it means God is gracious or God’s gracious gift. I also read that though it is more popular as a female name, it could also be a male name. Suddenly Joan seemed like the perfect name for my guardian angel. As we have built our relationship over the years, I can now see her. She is a great white light that stands behind me, guiding and protecting me. She has beautiful strong wings that she will wrap around me when I need support or encouragement. She has been a loving and guiding force in my life, and I truly consider her my best friend.
Early in my Reiki journey, I would sense energies other than Joan around me during self-practice. I had learned about Reiki Guides, so I knew these entities were there to assist in my healing and expansion of my skills. I became aware of an entity that would regularly appear at my feet and my intuition told me it was another angel. This energy felt masculine. Joan had proved to me an angel will reveal its name when asked, so I decided to use this method again. Instantly I heard Gabriel. “Yeah right!” I thought. I was very familiar with the angel Gabriel, and I could not believe an angel of his stature would be at my feet during Reiki. I was not worthy of a visit from such an angel. I wrote it off as my imagination working overtime.
He Made His Name Known
A few days later I was walking by my bookshelf where my Reiki books and tarot cards are stored. I noticed something in the back: a box of cards that had fallen over. As I reached to pick it up, I was stunned. The name on the box said Archangel Gabriel Oracle Cards. I had no recollection of owning this deck. I was sure it was just a coincidence and didn’t mean anything. Though part of me wondered if this truly could be a sign that Gabriel was my angel’s name. I told Joan I would need more than that to convince me that Angel Gabriel was with me.
A couple of weeks passed and I had all but forgotten about that strange coincidence. It was a beautiful Saturday morning and I was busy setting up my table at a holistic festival in Texas, where I would be offering Reiki for the next two days. I always love these festivals. The energy is so high and the people are open to all the possibilities of the spirit realm. It takes me days to ground after an event like this and I love the continuous feeling of the energy flowing through me. This day felt magical before it even began. After my area was set, I began to walk through the festival to see what other offerings would be available that day. Suddenly I heard a man calling out to me.
“Good morning. Can I offer you a reading?” I turned to see a man with a kind face intently gazing up at me. The festival had yet to start and I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to sit again, so I agreed. As I sat in front of him, I was instantly drawn into his blue eyes. They looked like clear blue crystals and ethereal in some way. He held my hand and said he could feel my energy as I walked by and was inspired to call out to me. Through the reading, he told me I would be given gifts that would allow me to help many people. He told me that I was able to manifest exactly what I wanted and I would know happiness. He ended by telling me I had angels around me. It was quite a beautiful reading that left me feeling happy and energetic. I thanked him and gave him my money. Then I realized I didn’t even know his name.
“I’m sorry, but I never got your name.” He laughed and pointed my attention to a 6-foot banner that was standing up behind him - GABRIEL.
The was the final confirmation I needed to prove that Angel Gabriel was indeed with me. If he could manifest a 6-foot sign with his name on it, he could certainly do Reiki with me.
I wanted to know more about him. I already knew that in Christian tradition he appeared to Mary and Zechariah to announce the births of Jesus and John the Baptist. After some research, I discovered he is also revered in Judaism and Islam. Typically, he is referred to as the Messenger or Strength of God, as he brings good messages. He is associated with the Power Symbol in Reiki, which has been the symbol I’ve used the most since I began to practice. In addition, he is the angel who assists with communication and learning your soul’s purpose. It made perfect sense. Suddenly the message from the