christian mysticism
Angels And Miracles On The Battlefield
I remember my grandfather telling my mother about the atrocities of World War I. He was a young soldier at the time, fighting for his country in the trenches of France. My favorite part was the fascinating stories he told about the Angel of Mons.
The story of the “Angel of Mons” comes from the Battle of Mons, which took place on August 23 and 24, 1914. During the battle, British soldiers reported seeing angelic figures or supernatural beings who gave them divine protection against the German forces.
Although some called the Angel of Mons a myth, the general public chose to believe that spiritual intervention had thwarted a German breakthrough. After all, miracles can happen anywhere, right? These events were later popularized by Arthur Machen’s fictional story The Bowmen.
The British Army, part of the British Expeditionary Force, faced overwhelming German forces and suffered heavy casualties. They were forced to retreat as part of the larger retreat to the Marne, known as the “Great Retreat”.
Some British soldiers reported seeing supernatural beings during the battle. These reports included sightings of figures resembling longbow archers, specifically the phantom archers from the Battle of Agincourt (1415), and also angelic warriors.
Some soldiers also reported seeing a figure resembling St. George, a major figure in Christian hagiography, revered for his unwavering faith, courage, and the legendary deeds attributed to him. His story has been influential in Christian mysticism and has become a symbol of chivalry and heroism.
Understanding The Higher Self
In modern spirituality and metaphysics, the concept of the “higher self” is generally considered a cornerstone of spiritual awareness and conscious living.
The idea that we have a “higher self” is found in many spiritual and mystical traditions, although it may be called by different names and understood in different ways.
Despite these differences, the underlying idea is that there is a higher, more enlightened aspect of our being that we can connect with and embody.
Often mentioned in discussions of intuition, mindfulness, enlightenment, and the search for deeper meaning, the higher self is seen as a guiding force or eternal soure of wisdom that transcends our everyday consciousness.
Yet despite the common use of this term in modern spiritual communities and teachings, there remains a great deal of confusion and variation in how the higher self is understood and interpreted. There are many different opinions and beliefs. Some see it as our inner connection to the divine or universal consciousness. Others see it as the true spiritual essence, free from the limitations of the human ego. And some simply see it as an alternative term for our eternal spirit or soul identity.
In my experience, most of the confusion and misunderstanding arises because the higher self is mistakenly seen as a distinct and separate entity from the soul or spirit. From this perspective, the higher self is seen as entirely separate from our soul, representing our connection to something greater than ourselves, to the divine or universal consciousness.