Hariel: Angel No. 15, Ruling Dates, Psalm and Symbolism

Who is Hariel?

Hariel is the fifteenth angel on the list, of the Choir of Cherubim. His name, "God the creator", makes him the angel of creation, in the double sense of artistic work and the renewal of the self. He is also associated with purification, that is to say with sorting through what weighs us down, and with faith, whatever tradition one lives it in.

According to the most widespread interpretation, the name Hariel is understood as "God the creator". It is drawn from a three-letter name, הרי (hé-resh-yod), obtained by reading together verses 19, 20 and 21 of Exodus chapter 14: each one contains 72 letters. A divine ending, -el, which means "God" in Hebrew, is then added.

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 each reader is free to accept or not. The historical background is detailed in the introduction to the 72 angels.

Hariel's key facts

Here are Hariel's key facts, as handed down by tradition.

Dates vary from one source to another. This page follows the classic calendar of five days per angel, running continuously from March 21, over a 365-day year; many websites instead align the periods with the signs of the zodiac and give dates shifted by one to a few days. The quinary is the 5-degree slice of the zodiac linked to this angel; it does not exactly match the real 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 Gemini and the entry on the associated planet.

Hariel's psalm

The associated psalm is Psalm 94, verse 22: "But the Lord has become my stronghold, and my God the rock of my refuge." (Vulgate: Psalm 93). This psalm is one of justice: it opens with a plea addressed to the "God of vengeance" and the "judge of the earth". In the Temple liturgy in Jerusalem described by the Mishnah (tractate Tamid), it was the psalm sung on Wednesdays. In verse 19, a sentence speaks to modern situations: "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." Hariel's verse connects with the theme of purification: turning towards a stable place makes it possible to lighten what burdens us.

Traditional symbolism

Hariel is the symbol of creation and of sorting. Creating first requires making room: setting aside habits that no longer serve, thoughts that go round in circles. Esoteric authors add faith and openness to something greater than oneself. Their Hariel is therefore both an angel of artists and an angel of those who want to "tidy up" within themselves.

• Creation: bringing a small work into being, a dish, a page, a drawing
• Sorting: deciding what to keep and what to let go
• Faith: leaning on what gives meaning, along one's own path

These attributions come from 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.

Hariel's time of year and hour

Hariel's period marks the end of the flowering season and the beginning of the season of fruit: cherries, strawberries, the first harvests. In Paris, the Sun then rises before 6 a.m. (summer time), and the angel's hour, from 4:40 a.m. to 5:00 a.m., falls at dawn. The theme of the day's birth accompanies that of creation well.

Each angel also rules over a fraction of the day, lasting 20 minutes. For Hariel, it is from 4:40 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. According to tradition, a person born within this window is said to be placed under his influence as the "angel of the hour", in addition to the angel of their birth date. Authors do not agree on which time to use (legal time, as it appears on the birth certificate, or local solar time). Our calculation page explains the method in detail.

A gentle practice with Hariel

Sort through a drawer, a folder or an email inbox: keep what is useful or brings pleasure, and give away or archive the rest. Then create something very simple with whatever you have to hand: a sketch, a dish, a four-line poem. The aim is to feel that you are making room and then building.

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

• What am I keeping out of habit that no longer serves me?
• What very simple thing would I like to create?
• Which recurring thought would I like to lighten?

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

What belongs to tradition, and its limits

Let us recall the limits. The system of the 72 angels is neither biblical nor recognised by the Catholic Church, which retains only three archangels named in Scripture: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. It was built within Renaissance Christian Kabbalah, with the list given by Johannes Reuchlin in 1517, later taken up by Agrippa. Nothing demonstrates the action of these angels, and the tradition itself presents the correspondences as conventions. Some books credit him with the power to free one from harmful habits or addictions: no evidence supports this. In case of addiction, a doctor or a specialist service can help you; in France, Drogues Info Service can be reached on 0 800 23 13 13.

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.