ANGELS
I have never met any Angels per se, but I certainly believe in higher forms of intelligences that help us along the way, and especially in times of crisis. I was once helped by an angel, genii or higher intelligence during a time of crisis in my life.
I had been living in rural Vermont at the time. It was mid-winter and I began to experience feelings of extreme anxiety. I had no idea what was causing these feelings. I just began to feel anxious and depressed. Some nights, I would also have panic attacks. The panic attacks were like intense feelings of fear that caused my heart to race. I would get up in the middle of the night and my bed would be covered in sweat. These feelings may have been related to a crisis period, I had earlier in my life, but I was not sure. I only knew that I was having a hard time coping and keeping my sanity. I felt like I was constantly walking on eggshells. My nerves were on edge; I had constant feelings of fear and dread, especially at night. I spoke with my spiritual mentor about my dilemma. He gave me a yoga mantra to help with my feelings of anxiety. I used the mantra for several weeks and it did help, but my symptoms remained. I remember some nights staying awake and chanting the mantra for two to three hours, before I could get some sleep.
My condition worsened. I was just barely functioning and felt very distracted at work. I was getting very little sleep and sometimes would have multiple panic attacks. I would sweat profusely and quite often, be up most of the night. This state of affairs went on for a couple of months! I went to see a physician who prescribed some valium. This only made me feel drowsy. One night after having another panic attack; I was sitting on the sofa and thought to myself, I don't know how much more of this I can take.' I was afraid of the toll this was taking on my body, as well as my mind. I looked upward and asked God what was happening to me! I started to pray out loud for divine intervention. All of a sudden, I heard this voice come from within. The voice was a real presence and felt like a friend. He began talking with me and telling me there was nothing to fear. He said that he would be with me from now on and would help me through my crisis. There was no name associated with my helper, but he was certainly there, and not just a voice inside my head, though I am sure a psychiatrist might beg to differ. I considered him a higher intelligence or angel or genii, that had come to help me. And I was very grateful because I slowly began to recover. I began to feel calm again. Although I still had a few more rough nights, my friend was there for me and helped me through them. I really don't know where he came from. If he was part of my higher self or a product of my imagination or an angel; I really do not know, nor do I think it really matters. What matters is that I did receive help after praying to the divine and it helped me to overcome my crisis.
I think we all have access to divine help and intervention. I think it may take many forms from angelic beings and heavenly guides to our own intuition. It may also come to us in the forms of books, friends, ministers, counselors, etc. I think the main thing is to be open to it. This reminds me of the old joke about the man who was caught in a flood.
A man had been stranded on the top of his house during a disastrous flood. The water was growing higher and higher. He prayed to God for help. Later, someone in a boat came by and offered to take him to safety. But he refused, saying that God would take care of him. The waters continued to rise, getting dangerously close to the rooftop where the man was struggling to hold on. A helicopter flew over to the man and offered to help him to higher ground. But again, the man refused, stating that God would take care of him. The helicopter flew away. Suddenly, there was a surge of water that wiped the man off the roof and he consequently drowned. Afterwards, the man spoke with God in heaven after his death. He asked God why he did not save him. God answered and said, "I sent you a boat to take you to safety. I even sent you a helicopter to take you to higher ground, but you didn't listen!"