The Blessed Angels: The Reality of Things Unseen

by Manly P. Hall

An-illustrated, historical, descriptive, and philosophical treatise on the subjects of angels and angelic hierarchies, including a chapter on the planetary archangels.

68 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Canadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.

Reviews

[Liora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book to learn more about angels, and it delivered a solid starting point. The book blends religion and philosophy in a way that sparked my curiosity, pulling from a wide range of sacred texts—spanning Christian, esoteric, and other traditions—with clear citations that made the ideas feel grounded. It covers the basics of angels, like their roles and symbolism, in an accessible way, which I found helpful for when it came time to dig deeper on my own.

The book’s philosophical approach frames angels as more than just religious figures, exploring them as universal links to the unseen. This resonated with my love for big, mystical questions, though I can see why it might not click for someone looking for a strictly biblical or traditional take—it leans heavily into ideas over doctrine. For me, it was a thought-provoking entry point, even if it didn’t dive as deep into angel specifics as I might’ve hoped.

[Melanated and Bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great short read! Such much in a short book. So many takeaways in the quest for knowledge of self. Recommended by a friend, I can agree when he said it’s almost better than The Four Agreements!