To that question, the answer of millions of people would be an emphatic yes. In fact, in the United States alone, seven out of ten people believe in their existence. Personally, although I was aware of this belief, the subject had never truly caught my attention. It was not that I believed or disbelieved in angels; they simply were not part of my spiritual interests.
From childhood, my spiritual relationship had always been direct with God. Not with Jesus, not with Mary, and not with angels either. For me, dealing with intermediaries was unnecessary, since I believed I had a personal and close relationship with God, who, in my understanding, is also the “chief” of all of them.
However, a few years ago, my perspective changed. During a period when I was away from my usual place of residence, I found myself in an unexpected environment: everything around me seemed to revolve around angels. It felt as if I were being mentally bombarded with comments, stories, and arguments about their existence. Gradually, the topic began to awaken my curiosity.
I have a particular way of dealing with concepts I do not fully understand. In my mind, there is a kind of “mental folder” marked with a question mark. In it, I store topics that might be true or not, but that, for some reason, do not interest me enough to explore immediately. So, after that mental bombardment, I decided to take this subject out of that folder and investigate it on my own to verify its truth.
What I am about to share is my personal experience—an experience that transformed my perception of angels, whom I now consider my friends and companions of eternity. Everything began when I decided to verify their existence for myself.
I was sitting on a lounge chair under the shade of a tree, embraced by a beautiful vine, reading texts on my computer. At one point, I decided to take a break and, spontaneously, asked my guardian angel whether he truly existed and was by my side. I remembered the prayer many people know and perhaps repeated in their childhood:
“Angel of my guard, sweet companion, do not leave me nor abandon me, for I would be lost.”
I know there are variations, but that was the version I knew. I felt somewhat ridiculous—almost childish—asking for a sign after so many years of walking with God, but I saw no other way to verify their existence.
Semi-reclined in the chair, I noticed three flowers on a branch above me. Among them, one in the center was wilted. At that moment, I said, “If you are really here, make that wilted flower fall.” After saying this, I forgot about it and continued reading.
Some time later, I looked up and noticed that the wilted flower was no longer between the other two. I looked down, and there it was, on the ground. Of course, my mind tried to rationalize the event, but I must admit that it seemed very interesting to me.
The next day, I sat again in the same chair. As I reflected on what had happened, I realized that although the event had occurred exactly as I had asked, I still did not feel completely convinced of the existence of angels. I remembered reading that some people associate the presence of an angel with the appearance of a small white feather. I decided to ask once more:
“Forgive me for asking for another confirmation, but if you are really here with me, leave a small white feather as proof.”
I returned to my reading, just as the day before, and some time later my eyes fell on the ground, where something white caught my attention. I approached and, to my surprise, it was a small white feather.
The breeze had begun to turn into a stronger wind, so I quickly picked up the feather to prevent it from being carried away. Determined to rule out any mundane explanation, I carefully examined the branches of nearby trees to make sure there was no nest. It was late autumn, almost winter, a time when birds are generally less active in their reproductive cycles.
Was it coincidence? Was it something more? The truth is that both signs I asked for manifested themselves precisely.
After these events, I had two dreams that deeply impacted me. The most common way in which God or the spiritual world communicates with me is through dreams. Over time, I learned to distinguish ordinary dreams from those that carry a special meaning. The latter are called “night visions.” They are events or scenes that occur within dreams while sleeping, but with a clarity and purpose that set them apart from ordinary dreams.
In this type of dream, I usually see myself from behind, observing what is happening in front of me. The first dream I had was of an angel. Although he was somewhat distant and I could not see him with complete clarity, his presence was unmistakable.
The angel was tall, and his height stood out in the dream. He had dark hair that fell to his shoulders. I tried to discern whether he had more masculine or feminine traits, but it was as if both were present, without a clear distinction.
The second dream was different. This time, the angel had a serious expression and short hair. If angels had genders, I would have said this one appeared more masculine, although I am not certain that such a classification applies in the spiritual realm.
In both dreams, what struck me most was their notable height and their simplicity. Contrary to what I had imagined, they had no wings or extravagant details. They were beings who conveyed a simple and natural presence.
Angelic appearances in the Scriptures are usually described as beings with human form, without wings. It is mainly in prophetic visions that winged beings are mentioned. Therefore, representations of angels with wings appear more often in prophetic visions or artistic depictions, such as sculptures, than in direct interactions with human beings.
It is interesting to note that the idea of winged beings was not exclusive to the Hebrew tradition. In Mesopotamian and Persian religious beliefs, such figures already existed. The karibu or kuribu were winged spirits who acted as guardians in Mesopotamian mythology. They were depicted as human figures with outstretched wings, in attitudes of prayer or protection.
During the Babylonian exile (597–538 BC), the Jews were in direct contact with these iconographic and mythological representations. In 597 BC, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II conquered Jerusalem, destroying Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC. Much of the Jewish elite was deported to Babylon, where they lived as an exiled community, preserving their religious traditions while being exposed to the rich Mesopotamian culture and religion.
The Babylonians revered winged figures such as the karibu and the lamassu, protective creatures that may have influenced the Hebrew conception of cherubim. This cultural contact not only exposed the Jews to new symbolism, but also enriched their worldview in matters such as cosmology, angels, and demonology.
In 538 BC, the Persian king Cyrus the Great conquered Babylon and issued a decree allowing the Jews to return to their land and rebuild the Temple, known as the Second Temple. During this period, the Jews lived alongside the Persians, who practiced Zoroastrianism—a religion that included spiritual beings such as the Amesha Spentas and the yazatas, who acted as divine guardians and mediators.
Zoroastrianism introduced concepts such as celestial hierarchies, guardian spirits, and the struggle between good and evil—elements that began to be reflected in later Jewish ideas about angels. During Persian rule, many biblical texts were consolidated, including portions of Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, which contain descriptions of winged beings and celestial hierarchies.
Another experience that strengthened my belief in angels occurred the first time I came to the United States. I was waiting to collect my luggage and began to worry a bit. Among my belongings was a long, military-style bag, quite heavy, and I wondered whether I would be able to lift it off the conveyor belt by myself. These thoughts were circling in my mind as I watched the bag approach.
Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, something incredible happened: the bag literally flew off the conveyor belt, landing directly at my feet. It was so unexpected that I stood there stunned for a moment. A woman standing next to me opened her eyes and mouth in absolute surprise and let out a gasp. She looked at me as if searching for an explanation, while I was still processing what had just happened.
Reflecting later, I understood that this event, although unexpected, fit perfectly with the experiences that followed. From the dreams to the signs I had requested, it seemed that God had been allowing angels to manifest themselves at significant moments in my life, reminding me of their presence and care.
I am convinced that angels exist and that they have a mission given by God to protect us in all our ways. From the day our first parents made the foolish decision to separate themselves from the love of God, angels have been present to care for us. They protect us from forces that are, technically, stronger than we are. However, when we are reconciled with the Creator and live under His protection, those forces cannot defeat us unless we give them permission to do so.
As for cherubim, seraphim, or winged beings that appear in certain representations, I cannot say for certain whether they exist or not. What I am clear about is that angels are not subject to gravity because, although they possess a form similar to ours, their bodies are not physical. For this reason, thinking of beings with wings to fly like birds does not fully align with my spiritual logic, although it might make sense in a purely earthly one. For now, I have placed them back in my question-mark folder.