Vehuiah: Angel 1 of 72, Regency Dates, Psalm and Symbolism

Who is Vehuiah?

Vehuiah opens the list of the 72 angels. In the Kabbalistic and esoteric tradition, he bears the first name of the cycle, at the moment when spring settles in. He is presented as the angel of beginnings: that of a project starting out, a wish to change course, a first impulse. He belongs to the choir of the Seraphim, the highest rank of the celestial hierarchy as described around the year 500 by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite. His name is also spelled Véhuiah.

The name Vehuiah comes from a method of reading: the three verses of Exodus 14:19–21 (72 letters each) are superimposed (the second is read backwards), and the first column gives the three letters והו (vav-hé-vav). The ending -iah, which recalls the divine name Yah, makes it an angel's name. The meaning most often given to Vehuiah is “God exalted and above all”.

This page is part of our guide to the 72 angels. The correspondences given here (dates, hour, choir, psalm) are presented according to the Kabbalistic and esoteric tradition: they are symbolic reference points, which everyone is free to accept or not. The historical context is detailed in the introduction to the 72 angels.

Vehuiah's reference points

Here are the reference points for Vehuiah, as given by the tradition.

Please note: depending on the author, these dates shift by one or a few days. Here we follow the calendar of five days per angel, running without interruption from 21 March (365-day year); other lists align the periods on the signs of the zodiac. The quinary is the 5-degree slice of the zodiac attached to this angel; it does not exactly coincide with the actual position of the Sun on these dates. The decan (10 degrees) and its planet come from classical astrology: see the page on the sign of Aries and the profile of the associated planet.

Vehuiah's psalm

The psalm associated with Vehuiah is Psalm 3, verse 4: “But you, O LORD, are a shield for me” (in Latin: Tu autem, Domine, susceptor meus es). The title attributes it to David fleeing from his son Absalom, an episode told in the second book of Samuel (chapters 15 to 18). It is the prayer of a man surrounded by adversaries, who nonetheless keeps enough trust to write: “I lie down and sleep”. According to the liturgies, this psalm is read in the evening, at bedtime, or sung in the early morning. The choice of this verse for the first angel is telling: before acting, one needs a foundation, an image of solidity. Read outside any faith, it reminds us that we begin better when we feel a little supported. The numbering given is that of the Hebrew Bible; some English editions shift it by one verse.

Traditional symbolism

Vehuiah is associated with will, with the first impulse, with what rises. His name, “God exalted and above all”, evokes a force that goes beyond the individual, but also the act of raising oneself. Nineteenth- and twentieth-century French authors describe him as the angel of initiative and transformation, and link him to the very first degree of the zodiac, that of Aries.

• The impulse: finding the energy to begin something new
• The will: holding a chosen course rather than simply going along with events
• Transformation: accepting that personal change takes time

These attributions come from the esoteric literature of the 19th and 20th centuries; they differ from one author to another and rest on no established ancient text. They are themes for reflection, never guaranteed effects.

The time of year and the hour of Vehuiah

Vehuiah's period coincides with the start of spring. The March equinox falls on the 20th or the 21st depending on the year: day and night are then roughly equal, after which the days grow longer. By convention, tropical astrology also starts the zodiac at this moment, at 0° Aries. In the Christian calendar, Easter always falls between 22 March and 25 April: the feast of renewal therefore follows closely after this period.

Vehuiah's hour runs from 00:00 to 00:20. The tradition links each 20-minute slot to an angel: a person born during it would come under Vehuiah as the “angel of the hour”. Authors disagree on which time to use, legal time (as recorded on the birth certificate) or solar time. The full method is set out on our calculation page.

A gentle practice with Vehuiah

Choose a tiny project: tidy a drawer, write a page, make a phone call. Note it on paper and fix the first action to take within ten minutes. Some people like to read Psalm 3 quietly before starting; others prefer three calm breaths. What matters is to act, not to recite.

A few questions to ask yourself, in writing or aloud:

• What do I feel like starting, even on a very small scale?
• What holds me back: fear, tiredness, lack of information?
• What first step can I take today, in ten minutes?

These exercises belong to personal reflection and do not replace medical advice or psychological support.

What belongs to tradition, and its limits

Let us keep an honest view of this system. It dates from the Renaissance (Reuchlin's list, 1517) and is not recognised by the Catholic Church, which names only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. No experience demonstrates the action of an angel, and the correspondences change from one author to another. Being first on the list gives him no superiority: the order comes from reading the letters of Exodus, not from a ranking of value.

To put this guide in perspective, see also the guide to the archangels and the page on angel oracles.

Frequently asked questions

Also read

The meanings mentioned belong to tradition and symbolism. They are neither promises of results nor medical advice. Back to Guide to the 72 guardian angels.