Up to this point we have formed a general impression about what angels do, but have explained nothing about their nature. St. Augustine wrote that “ ‘angel’ is the name of theirfunction, not of their nature. If you seek the name of their nature, it is ‘spirit.’ ”4 Precisely what a pure “spirit” or an angel is has been the object of much theological debate.

St. Thomas Aquinas thought that an angel is a totally immaterial, limited being which possesses a separate intellectual substance. In this light we see that in no way should an angel be mistaken for a ghost or a soul separated from a human body. An angel by its nature is created to exist apart from a body.

Because angels are not composed of any material substance whatsoever, but are held in being by God, they cannot decay and perish; and they are not vulnerable to physical injury or death at the hands of other creatures. Angels, like human souls, do not occupy a quantitative space. A human soul does not occupy any single part of the human body, and yet it exercises its power everywhere in the body. In this respect, angels are similar to the human soul, since they act upon the physical world and have effects there in large and small ways without occupying a certainplace.

Aside from acting as celestial couriers who deliver messages between God and humans, angels can also act directly on material things and can influence human actions in a number of ways. As we have already noted, the actions of angels on earth and in relation to human beings sometimes require that an angel assume a quasi-human form in order to accomplish a mission. Such an assumed body is not a living organism, however, but only looks and acts like one. How angels appropriate matter into a human form is their own practical concern.

The important point for us to remember is that the ultimate cause of all such change is God. Likewise, when an angel moves a material object locally, it is only by God’s will that this is achieved.

Angels assist us and only perform miracles as God’s agents, at his command and with his consent.

An angel can act indirectly upon the intellect and will of a person in much the same way as one human influences another. However, an angel’s ability to influence someone is far more powerful than any human attempt to do the same. Yet, even with their superior intellect and will, an angel has no privileged access to our thoughts or to our free will. An angel is able to stir a person’s imagination and emotions in persuasive and effective ways in order to influence the will. What an angel cannot do is infuse knowledge into a human mind anymore than a teacher can pour ideas into a student’s mind

Ajna said by some to correspond to the third eye is linked to the pineal gland. Ajna is the chakra of time and awareness and of light. The pineal gland is a light sensitive gland, that produces the hormone melatonin, which regulates the instincts of going to sleep and awakening. Symbolised by a lotus with two petals.

(Note: some argue that the pineal and pituitary glands should be exchanged in their relationship to the Crown and Brow chakra, based on the description in Arthur Avalon's book on kundalini called Serpent Power or empirical research.

Vishuddha also Vishuddhi or the throat chakra is said to be related to communication and growth, growth being a form of expression. This chakra is paralleled to the thyroid, a gland that is also in the throat, and which produces thyroid hormone, responsible for growth and maturation. Symbolised by a lotus with sixteen petals.

Anahata or the heart chakra is related to higher emotion, compassion, love, equilibrium, and well-being. It is related to the thymos, located in the chest. This organ is part of the immune system, as well as being part of the endocrine system. It produces T cells responsible for fighting off disease, and is adversely affected by stress. Symbolised by a lotus with twelve petals.

MANIPURA also known for the chakra is related to the SOLAR transition from base to higher emotion, energy, assimilation and digestion, and is said to correspond to the roles played by the pancreas and the outer adrenal glands , the adrenal cortex. These play a valuable role in digestion, the conversion of food matter into energy for the body. Symbolized by a lotus with ten petals.

Swadhisthana or the sacral chakra is located in the groin, and is related to base emotion, sexuality and creativity. This chakra is said to correspond to the testicles or the ovaries, that produce the various sex hormones involved in the reproductive cycle, which can cause dramatic mood swings. Symbolised by a lotus with six petals.

Muladharaor the base or root chakra is related to instinct, security, survival and also to basic human potentiality. This center is located in the region between the genitals and the anus. Although no endocrine organ is placed here, it is said to relate to the inner adrenal gland, the adrenal medulla, responsible for the fight and flight response when survival is under threat. In this region is located a muscle that controls ejaculation in the sexual act. A parallel is drawn between the sperm cell and the ovum, where the genetic code lies coiled, and the kundalini. Symbolized by a lotus with four petals.