Michaelmas and Angelic Pilgrimage

‍As we approach Michaelmas on Sunday, September 29th, we are invited to reflect on the presence of angels in our lives. On the day, perhaps go to evensong, a 45-min service of beautiful choral music at cathedrals and chapels, or go on a pilgrimage to one of the 816 churches in England dedicated to Michael and All Angels. For more info, scroll to the end, or listen to this sung prayer to Michael.

While many may view angels through the lens of faith, history, or even scepticism, they have a deep tradition. Angels have long been associated with guidance, protection, the pursuit of higher purpose, appearing in dreams and psychedelic experiences, and making announcements.

"Despite the prevalence of secular materialist education, surveys show that most people, certainly in the United States, about 70% of the population, believe in angels. In Britain, a much more godless and secular country, it's about 30% but that's still many millions of people, and many people claim to have experienced angels of beings that have helped them in moments of difficulty. Some people feel they're guided by their guardian angels. Some people see angels." Rupert Sheldrake.

All this is especially true of Archangel Michael, who is said to rule over the heavenly host of angels and is revered in Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Michaelmas, traditionally celebrated as the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, marks a moment to honour the angels who bridge the gap between the divine and human realms. Archangel Michael, known as the protector and warrior, stands as a symbol of courage, strength, and the vanquishing of evil. His feast day aligns with the autumn equinox, a time of balance and transition, inviting us to consider the balance in our own lives and the unseen forces that guide us.

Archangel Michael’s spear or sword is often seen not just as a weapon, but as a ray of light symbolising divine clarity, insight and straightness of direction. This light pierces the elemental forces that shape our world. The dragon or serpent, frequently depicted in Michael’s imagery, can be understood not as a malevolent entity but as a representation of raw, untamed forces of nature—particularly water.

In the Miracle of Chonae, where Michael redirects a flooding river to protect a church, the dragon symbolises the powerful, unpredictable and non-straight nature of water. Michael’s intervention can be seen as guiding rather than defeating, suggesting a harmonious interaction between light (order) and water (chaos). Of course, chaos encourages diversity, adaptability, and creativity in nature, and is therefore not negative. This imagery invites us to reflect on Michael’s role as a mediator, balancing celestial light with earthly elements, emphasising the interplay of forces that maintain the world’s equilibrium rather than a simplistic battle of good versus evil.

‍Angels in the thoughts of some great minds

The concept of angels is not confined to religious texts alone. Great thinkers across history have contemplated the nature of angels and their interaction with humanity. Hildegard von Bingen, a 12th-century mystic, visionary, and healer, described angels as luminous beings that communicate God's will and embody divine love. Her visions of angelic choirs highlighted the interconnectedness of all creation, suggesting that angels are not distant entities but intimately involved in the world around us (scroll down).

Thomas Aquinas, of the 13th century, and one of the most influential theologians of the Middle Ages, delved deeply into the nature of angels in his seminal work, Summa Theologica. He described angels as pure intellect, unencumbered by physical bodies, who serve as messengers between God and humans. Aquinas' work emphasized that angels act as intermediaries, helping guide human reason and understanding towards divine truths.

Similarly, Dionysius the Areopagite, a seventh century Syrian monk, wrote in the Neoplatonic tradition about the hierarchies of angels. His book ‘The Celestial Names’ is like a textbook of angels and framed a lot of subsequent Western thought on the subject. He described angels as beings of light that reflect divine order and wisdom. His writings introduced the idea of angelic hierarchies, where each rank of angels has a specific role, from the seraphim closest to God, to the angels who are most directly involved with human affairs.

Angelic hierarchies‍

Rupert Sheldrake, in a recent talk on angels, describes angelic hierarchies as follows:

Hildegard, Dionysus and Aquinas took the view that there were nine hierarchies or levels of angels:

The top hierarchy has the Cherubim, Seraphim and Thrones. The Thrones are the angels of Divine Presence, the conscious beings that are open and filled with the presence of God.

The Seraphim are the beings that are filled with the fire and light of divine love.

The Cherubim are the intelligences, the transhuman intelligences, that are filled with divine knowledge, a bit like cosmic archetypes through which the divine will and mind permeates the universe.

Then there's the next level of dominions, virtues and powers. And these angels work at a more than human and more than worldly realm. Some writers associated them with the stars and the planets. And in the ancient world, the stars and the planets were all thought to be living, conscious beings. And some of these theorists thought that the angels were the minds or spirits associated with each of the heavenly bodies, the stars and the planets. Plato thought that the stars and the planets were gods. In fact, he called them visible gods.

And when we come to the Earth, then there are three levels of angels: principalities, archangels and angels.

The principalities are angels that govern large areas of the Earth, like continents.

The Archangels govern whole peoples and whole collective realms; the Archangel of the Jewish people is Michael, for example, also the Archangel of Germany. So the idea is that there are these Archangels that have wide remits, and then there's individual angels which guard different species of plants and animals.

And then there are individual guardian angels for each person. So the angels that most people talk about, angels that help them, or angels in Angel calendars or cards, are mainly guardian angels.

The physics of angels

Rupert Sheldrake and Matthew Fox, in their book The Physics of Angels, explore how modern science and ancient wisdom intersect in the realm of angels. They argue that angels can be understood not just as religious symbols, but as expressions of consciousness and intelligence that transcend the human realm. This idea resonates with their broader discussion of how spiritual forces, including angels, interact with the physical world in ways that science is only beginning to explore; for example, studies that look at how consciousness may extend beyond the physical brain and how memory may work throughout nature and the cosmos.

In their dialogue, Sheldrake and Fox suggest that angels might be seen as patterns of energy or fields of influence, much like how physicists describe forces that shape the cosmos. This interpretation offers a bridge for those who are sceptical about angels in the traditional sense, providing a way to think about these beings as symbolic of the unseen forces that shape our lives and experiences.

Lorna Byrne and the everyday presence of angels

For those who already believe in angels, Lorna Byrne's Angels in my Hair provides a deeply personal and modern account of encountering these beings. Byrne describes seeing angels throughout her life, including frequent encounters with Archangel Michael. She recounts Michael as a figure of strength and reassurance, who guides and protects those in need. One poignant quote from Byrne:

Michael helps us to stand tall, to stand up for ourselves and for others. He encourages us to be strong and to take action when it is needed.
Lorna Byrne, Angels in my Hair

One story that captures his character is when she sees him standing beside a man going through a difficult time. She writes how Michael's presence was reassuring and strong, not just in a warrior-like sense but with deep compassion and understanding. Byrne emphasises that while Archangel Michael is known as the protector and leader of angels, his true strength lies in his love and guidance, helping people overcome their fears with a calming presence rather than force.

Once, the theologian Matthew Fox was at an event in Grace Cathedral San Francisco with Lorna Byrne and had this conversation:

Matthew: Can you see any angels here in the cathedral?
Lorna: Yes, it's full of angels.
Matthew: What are they doing?
Lorna: Well, they're looking rather depressed.
Matthew: Why?
Lorna: Well, because they're unemployed. You know, the angels want to help us, but they can only help us if we ask them, and no one asks them anymore.

Byrne’s experiences remind us that belief in angels is not just a historical or theological concept but a living, breathing part of many people's lives today. Her writings communicate her closeness to the angelic realm, suggesting that these beings are always near, ready to offer guidance and support, especially when we are most in need.

Michaelmas pilgrimage: sacred sites and journeys

For those drawn to the idea of connecting with the divine through the physical act of pilgrimage, Britain offers numerous sites associated with Archangel Michael.

One of the most famous is St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, a tidal island that has been a site of pilgrimage since at least the 8th century. According to legend, fishermen in the 5th century witnessed a vision of Archangel Michael at the mount, leading to the construction of a church at the summit, later an abbey which was referenced in the Domesday Book as a pilgrimage destination during the medieval era, providing Michael’s protection to pilgrims.

Read about St Michael's Way pilgrimage.

Another significant location is Glastonbury Tor, often associated with ancient myth and spiritual quests, and which has a tower dedicated to Michael at its summit. In addition, no fewer than 816 churches in England are dedicated to St Michael and All Angels, and are often in high places, such as hill promontories, as a guardian over the land.

Read about two pilgrimage routes at Glastonbury: Glastonbury Water Way and Glastonbury Way Day Pilgrimage.

The Tor is believed by some to be connected to the ley line, or "Michael line," that runs through Britain all the way from St Michael’s Mount to the Suffolk coast, as described in The Sun and the Serpent by Miller and Broadhurst. The Michael Line  is a notable alignment of sacred sites running across southern England, believed to follow a straight ley line connecting places dedicated to St. Michael. This line also intersects other key sites like Roche, Brent Tor, Burrowbridge Mump.

While the concept of ley lines—a network of alignments connecting ancient landmarks—has inspired much debate, these locations undeniably share historical and cultural significance, often featuring stunning landscapes and ancient architecture that have drawn pilgrims throughout history. For those exploring beyond the Michael Line, other notable Michael pilgrimage sites include the ruined chapel of St Michael atop Skirrid holy mountain in Wales, and the two St Michael’s cathedrals in Coventry.

Visiting these sites on Michaelmas, or at any time of the year, offers a tangible connection to the rich tradition of angelic presence in Britain. As pilgrims walk these ancient paths, they are invited to reflect on the unseen forces that guide them and feel the courage needed to face their personal battles.

Go and listen to angelic music at Michaelmas

All the cathedrals in Britain will be celebrating the feast of Michaelmas, and many will be holding special evensong services sung by the full choir on the afternoon or evening of Sunday, September 29. Details can be found on the website choralevensong.org, where you can search for evensong services in any part of Britain and Ireland. If you cannot go in person, this website also has links to livestreams of the services from several cathedrals in Britain and Ireland. And there is also this sung prayer to Michael.

Guy and Rupert will be celebrating Michaelmas on Sunday 29 Sep at a village church in Somerset, St Michael and all Angels, Dinder, near Wells, where they'll have a special festival evensong at 6pm sung by the chamber choir of Wells Cathedral, with a local woodland walk at 4pm beforehand.
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Angels are musical beings, often portrayed holding musical instruments or singing, and they don't come in teams or squads, but choirs. There are choirs of angels. This means the individual angels, with their sound, their song, are weaving together in an ever changing harmony with different melodies and rhythms. Music involves different voices fitting together to give something greater than themselves. And this is the image of the angels.

Bringing your own beliefs

At the British Pilgrimage Trust, we welcome pilgrims of all beliefs and none. Whether you see angels as literal beings, symbolic guides, or simply as a comforting presence, Michaelmas is an opportunity to explore the mystery and wonder of the angelic realm. It’s a time to honour the courage and protection represented by Archangel Michael and to consider how these qualities manifest in our own lives.

As you journey on your pilgrimage, whether to a sacred site or within your own heart, may the spirit of Michaelmas inspire you to seek balance, embrace courage, and remain open to the unseen wonders of the world around you.  

Pilgrimage routes to explore

Michael & Michael Pilgrims’ Way, Cornwall

Archangels Way, Dartmoor

St Michael's Way Pilgrimage, Cornwall