The following notes were submitted by the Rune master and BH reader Alex, after a period of practice with the Holy Guardian Angel.

I opened a thread on RuneGild Forums about the possible parallels between the Northern tradition and the HGA model. Some thoughts on exploring parallels:

The fetch or fylgia

As Ristandi writes (I've divided the text into points for ease of comparison) in his inspiring paper 'Fetchcraft: the Hidden Link between Lik and Fylgia' of the qualities of the fylgia:

1. Although closely connected to the individual, the Fetch possesses autonomous existence...

2. it can be passed transpersonally, and it both pre- and post- exists the physical body…

3. It can appear either as the physical double,

4. as a human body of the opposite sex,

5. or as an animal

6. (In Gild tradition, it can also be perceived as a geometric shape).

7. It is separable, and can travel at will or accidentally.

8. It is a guarding, protecting force.

9. It is a source and repository of transpersonal information. It can guide and advise.

The HGA  

Comparing this list of attributes with those usually given to the HGA:

1. Similar.

2. Some would say that is the case with the HGA;

3. Quite possibly, for some people.

4. Certainly - note the contrasexual dimension Aleister Crowley applies in some of his writings about the Angel.

5. Tricky one, this: I can't remember coming across any descriptions of the Angel in beast-form. [Alan: Duncan's HGA often appears as a bird!]

8.  Its name ‘HGA’ suggests this, but we don’t normally think of it in such terms in modern magick.

9.  Yes.

Another key point Ristandi makes is:

The Fetch, like Runa herself, is the object of our seeking.

This point is central. It seems to me that there's a parallel between the High One's encounter with Runa and the mystic's encounter with the Absolute. Both of those concepts are to do with something which is decidedly non-human, is in some sense the greater world, the macrocosm. The HGA represents a middle stage which the aspirant aims at and which plays the part of the most suitable configuration of his individuality - something very much more complex and subtle than any of the selves the magician has - with which to encounter the Absolute. My experience of working with the HGA model is that the core of the preparatory work consists of learning to open up and surrender to the Angel, in other words to entrust the running of your moment-to-moment consciousness to a neural configuration you cannot usefully imagine, something which is unknown, a mystery. I suspect that it is the ability to engage in this kind of mental attitude that transforms one's ability to engage with the Absolute, with Runa, before even considering what the metaphysical implications of this kind of mental action might be.