Angel Mikael (No. 42): regency, psalm, symbolism and reading

Who is Mikael, angel no. 42?

Mikael is the forty-second angel of the classical list, second of the choir of the Virtues. His name is the form used in the table of the 72 for Mikhaël, the same Hebrew name as that of the archangel Michael, which means “Who is like God?”. He is nonetheless a distinct figure in the system: an angel of the choir of the Virtues, not an archangel.

In French editions, he is above all the angel of journeys, travel and political order.

Mikael bears the number 42 in the list of the 72 angels of the Shem HaMephorash, which Kabbalistic tradition draws from three verses of Exodus (14:19 to 21). Everything that follows is presented according to the Kabbalistic and esoteric tradition. For the origin of the system, read our introduction to the 72 angels.

Traditional benchmarks

Dates follow the most common calendar (angel no. 1 reigns from 21 to 25 March, then five days per angel over 365 days); sources sometimes shift by a few days, and leap years are handled differently: see how the guardian angel is calculated. According to many authors, the hour is counted in local solar time.

The verse and the name

The verse retained comes from Psalm 121, one of the most loved in the Psalter: “The Lord will keep you from all harm; he will keep your soul.” The psalm is a pilgrim's dialogue: he lifts his eyes to the mountains and asks where his help will come from. It repeats the verb “keep” six times.

The list of 72 keeps this sentence of protection. But the psalms express the faith of a believer, not a contract: they say in whom one places one's trust and do not promise that no harm will come.

The name is formed, according to tradition, from the Hebrew letter triplet מיך (Mem, Yod, Kaph) followed by the ending Aleph and Lamed (El, “God”). Spellings vary (Mikael, Mikhaël) according to transliteration. Psalm 121 is Psalm 120 in the Vulgate; it is one of the “Songs of Ascents”, and verse 7 carries the same number in most Bibles. The verse lists also differ slightly from one author to another.

What tradition associates with Mikael

French editions associate with Mikael:

• Travel: the pilgrim of Psalm 121 has become the image of the traveller, hence the link with modern transport.
• Political order and loyalty: some lists evoke ambassadors, diplomats and rulers.
• Watchful care: a discreet presence that accompanies.
• Discovery: the appeal of elsewhere and of the unknown.

These attributes are symbolic. No angel prevents an accident: road safety, caution and travel insurance remain the real safeguards.

A reading for today

Travelling is a secular form of pilgrimage: one leaves one's familiar landmarks and opens oneself to the unexpected. Many people carry a symbolic object, a medal or a lucky charm, which reassures them without guaranteeing anything.

If you like this idea, the figure of Mikael can become a small departure ritual: a word, a thought. It does not replace checking the car or fastening the seatbelt.

Its period of the year and its sign

Mikael's period, 12 to 16 October, falls in autumn (northern hemisphere, within the framework of the original calendar). It roughly covers the sign of Libra. In the table of the 36 decans, each ten-day span receives two angels: Mikael shares his with Hahahel (no. 41).

In the choir of the Virtues

In the writings of Pseudo-Dionysius (around 500), the Virtues belong to the second triad; the word comes from the Greek dynameis, “forces”. Tradition sees in them the angels of the strength of the soul and of the “signs”. In the list of 72, this choir comprises angels 41 to 48, and follows that of the Powers (33 to 40), whereas Dionysius reverses the two.

Mikael is the second angel of the Virtues. In this choir of force in action, he embodies movement: the one who travels, who goes towards.

To place Mikael in the sequence of angels, here are his immediate neighbours: Hahahel (no. 41) before him and Veuliah (no. 43) after him. The choir is presented in detail on the page Choir of the Virtues.

A gentle practice with Mikael

A departure ritual, lasting five minutes:

1. Before a journey, take a calm moment to check the essentials: documents, route, contacts.
2. Say quietly a phrase that suits you, such as “may my journey go in peace”.
3. If you wish, reread verse 7 of Psalm 121.
4. Let someone close to you know your departure and your arrival.

The last gesture is the most useful: the safety of a journey depends first of all on concrete precautions.

What to keep in mind

This system is symbolic, not an established fact. Nothing shows that a particular angel corresponds to your date of birth, and no one can promise you protection or any event. Read these pages as a bestiary: for the images and the reflection they prompt.

The Catholic Church does not recognise this system: it retains only the three archangels named in Scripture, Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Believers of all faiths nevertheless find in the psalms a text for prayer.

See also the guide to the 72 angels and the guide to the archangels.

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.