Uriel, Oriel, Nuriel, Uryan, Jeremiel, Suriel, Auriel, Vretil, Puruel, Phanuel, Jehoel, Phanuel, Ramiel; these are the principal names by which this archangel is known. אוּרִיאֵ “God is my light” or “Fire of God”. He is accepted as an archangel by some Christian traditions, namely Coptic, Orthodox and Anglican.

Also, according to rabbinic tradition, he is one of the seven archangels, referring to Uriel as the light of the stars or angel of light. The earliest books of the Bible do not mention the names of angels, supposedly such names come from the Babylonian tradition according to Rabbi Ben Lakish (230-270).

The name of Uriel appears in apocryphal books such as the book of Enoch, being Uriel the archangel who intercedes for mankind, in the book of Enoch seven archangels are named: Uriel, Raphael, Raguel, Michael, Sariel, Gabriel, Remiel…

In other texts such as the Apocalypse of Ezra, he is mentioned as the archangel who gives him answers and instructs him. He is also mentioned in the Testament of Solomon.

According to Jewish traditions, Uriel was considered the angel of poetry and of Sunday. He is credited with wrestling with Jacob in Genesis and is also supposed to have been the angel who guided Abraham and marked the houses of the Jews in Egypt so that they would be spared from the plagues according to the Exodus.

According to esoteric tradition, he corresponds to the earth element, the northern direction, autumn, dryness and solidity; his day according to occult tradition is the Sabbath. He is considered the archangel of providence, provision and abundance. He rules over the following zodiac signs: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; he is the archangel most prone to these signs.

To empower the energies of the archangel Uriel in our lives it is important to use his seal or pentacle together with a consecrated orange candle.

The seal or talisman can be used to call him at any time or next to the candle when asking for his help.

It is possible to ask for help, among other things, to:

• That we do not lack sustenance.
• Abundance.
• Vitality.
• Order and create our own life.
• Bring light into our life.
• Granting zest for life.
• Protection from adversity.
• Knowledge.
• Eliminate ignorance and stubbornness.
• Keeping our feet on the ground and centred.

The archangel Uriel is associated with the earth element, therefore he rules the signs of that element, namely: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn; although anyone, regardless of their sign, can ask him for help.

In the article on archangels I explain that according to different beliefs, some consider the existence of 3, 4, 7 or 10 archangels. Usually four archangels are considered for the four elements and seven archangels in total according to many cosmogonies. If we consider seven archangels, the main signs ruled by the archangel Uriel would be Capricorn and Aquarius, and this is recorded in numerous hermetic writings, with Capricorn being the main earth sign.

Patience, confidence and perseverance are typical qualities of the fire element, together with prudence. They tend to be very resilient, vital, disciplined, realistic, down-to-earth and order-loving people. So we can enhance all these qualities with the help of the archangel Uriel.

People in whom the earth element predominates can have problems of short-sightedness, stubbornness, square-headedness and sometimes, in extreme moments, cynicism and excessive materialism. All these negative aspects can be balanced by working with the archangel.

The relationship of the elements, the archangels and the zodiac goes back a long way, to early Sumerian and Babylonian times. The civilisations of the ancient Near East studied the relationship between the stars and man. In fact, the origins of the zodiac are lost in the mists of time. The word comes from the Greek zodion (little animal), designating the celestial part that the sun travels through in a year, being divided into twelve parts or signs.

Experts suggest that the Zodiac was invented by Babylonian astronomers, however, Sargon I of Akad (around 2334 BC) had an astrological work and from Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) it became a common scientific-religious practice (source: “dictionary of magic in the ancient world” Ana M. Vazquez Hoys. Óscar Muñoz Martín).

The zodiac represents the wheel of life (Zoe- life, diakos- wheel) and was related to the seven known planets in the beginning and later to the seven archangels in many traditions.

The magical tradition endows each planet with a magical square and an intelligence, a talisman or protective pantocrat can be created by putting together the squares of the seven planets.

The Egyptians, according to Budge, took the zodiac from the Greeks, and the Greeks from Babylon. The zodiac seeks to create an archetype similar to the tarot, creating a model for understanding existence, which is exactly what kabbalah does, hence its use and relationship in magical kabbalah.

The archangel Uriel’s candle is used to get in touch with his energy and all that it brings. Whenever we feel that providence has abandoned us, when it seems that there is no way out of a situation, that we lack sustenance or abundance, that the doors are closing. Also to provide us in some aspect or situation of our lives that we feel scarcity, when it seems that everything goes wrong financially, that we are not able to get out of a vicious circle, that things are repeated over and over again, the archangel Uriel can help us to put an end to that situation, making us aware of the attitudes that we repeat unconsciously or our limiting beliefs.

As earth is its element, it helps us to take root, to put deep roots in an aspect of our life that is not going as we would like it to, to be aware of reality and to see things as they are in order to transcend them.

It also helps us to appreciate life, what we have good around us, it helps us to be more grateful and to open the doors to other better things, it helps us to have a life with more abundance, more prosperous, as long as we assimilate its teachings because it is also severe and rigorous.

There is controversy about the archangel Uriel, although he does not appear to rule any Sefirah or sphere, the archangel Uriel is named in the book of Enoch along with six other archangels. He is also named in texts such as the Testament of Solomon and in the Apocalypse of Ezra. Some traditions place him as the Sunday angel, though not all. One legend names Uriel as the angel who marked the gates of the Jews in Egypt to deliver them from the plagues and protect them.

According to the Midrash Rabbash, Uriel is one of the four angels next to the throne of God, and is therefore very powerful. In the Zohar he is attributed a role with the sacrifices in the times of the first temple.

In fact, the altar was called Ariel (the name of one of the Kabbalistic angels), in relation to Uriel who descended in the form of a Lion.

In several passages of the Zohar, Uriel and Nuriel are the same angel in different aspects, Uriel under the aspect of mercy and Nuriel under the aspect of rigos and severity, so it is intuited that he is related to both sephiras or spheres.

Other Hermetic traditions relate the angel Cassiel to Uriel, both being rulers of the Sabbath. Cassiel is related to property, land and agriculture. He also helps to soothe the pain of the diseases of age.

Uriel is related to prosperity and abundance, and it is curious that he is one of the most unknown archangels. He is the archangel who makes us appreciate life, gives us a zest for life, and opulence. But, being related to the aspect of mercy, he can help us as long as we evolve, because in the aspect of rigour and severity, his lessons can be painful.