The 72 Angels: Find the Angel Ruling Your Birthday

In the Jewish mystical tradition of Kabbalah, there is a teaching about the Shem HaMephorash, the "explicit name" of God. It is drawn from three verses in the Book of Exodus (14:19 to 21), each with 72 Hebrew letters. Reading the verses in a special pattern yields 72 three-letter names, and later traditions linked each name to an angel. Renaissance and modern esoteric writers then connected the 72 angels to the zodiac, with each angel watching over five degrees of the sky, roughly five days of the year. Many people today look up the angel ruling their birthday as a guardian and a focus for prayer.

It is a beautiful way to feel that the day you arrived was held in angelic care.

Where the tradition comes from

• Exodus 14:19 to 21: the three verses describing the angel of God and the parting of the sea. Each verse has 72 letters in Hebrew.
• Kabbalistic texts describe combining the letters into 72 names of three letters each, called the 72 Names of God.
• Renaissance and later writers in the Christian Kabbalah and Hermetic traditions added an angel name to each (often with the endings -el or -iah) and linked them to the zodiac.
• Modern teachers popularized the birthday angel system.

Systems vary slightly by author, and some give each angel additional times of day. We share the most commonly used birthday dates below.

Find your birthday angel

Aries: Vehuiah (Mar 21 to 25), Jeliel (Mar 26 to 30), Sitael (Mar 31 to Apr 4), Elemiah (Apr 5 to 9), Mahasiah (Apr 10 to 14), Lelahel (Apr 15 to 20)

Taurus: Achaiah (Apr 21 to 25), Cahetel (Apr 26 to 30), Haziel (May 1 to 5), Aladiah (May 6 to 10), Lauviah (May 11 to 15), Hahaiah (May 16 to 20)

Gemini: Iezalel (May 21 to 25), Mebahel (May 26 to 31), Hariel (Jun 1 to 5), Hekamiah (Jun 6 to 10), Lauviah II (Jun 11 to 15), Caliel (Jun 16 to 21)

Cancer: Leuviah (Jun 22 to 26), Pahaliah (Jun 27 to Jul 1), Nelchael (Jul 2 to 6), Ieiaiel (Jul 7 to 11), Melahel (Jul 12 to 16), Haheuiah (Jul 17 to 22)

Leo: Nith-Haiah (Jul 23 to 27), Haaiah (Jul 28 to Aug 1), Ierathel (Aug 2 to 6), Seheiah (Aug 7 to 12), Reiiel (Aug 13 to 17), Omael (Aug 18 to 22)

Virgo: Lecabel (Aug 23 to 28), Vasariah (Aug 29 to Sep 2), Iehuiah (Sep 3 to 7), Lehahiah (Sep 8 to 12), Chavakiah (Sep 13 to 17), Menadel (Sep 18 to 23)

Libra: Aniel (Sep 24 to 28), Haamiah (Sep 29 to Oct 3), Rehael (Oct 4 to 8), Ieiazel (Oct 9 to 13), Hahahel (Oct 14 to 18), Mikael (Oct 19 to 23)

Scorpio: Veuliah (Oct 24 to 28), Ielahiah (Oct 29 to Nov 2), Sealiah (Nov 3 to 7), Ariel (Nov 8 to 12), Asaliah (Nov 13 to 17), Mihael (Nov 18 to 22)

Sagittarius: Vehuel (Nov 23 to 27), Daniel (Nov 28 to Dec 2), Hahasiah (Dec 3 to 7), Imamiah (Dec 8 to 12), Nanael (Dec 13 to 16), Nithael (Dec 17 to 21)

Capricorn: Mebahiah (Dec 22 to 26), Poiel (Dec 27 to 31), Nemamiah (Jan 1 to 5), Ieialel (Jan 6 to 10), Harahel (Jan 11 to 15), Mitzrael (Jan 16 to 20)

Aquarius: Umabel (Jan 21 to 25), Iahhel (Jan 26 to 30), Anauel (Jan 31 to Feb 4), Mehiel (Feb 5 to 9), Damabiah (Feb 10 to 14), Manakel (Feb 15 to 19)

Pisces: Eiael (Feb 20 to 24), Habuhiah (Feb 25 to 29), Rochel (Mar 1 to 5), Jabamiah (Mar 6 to 10), Haiaiel (Mar 11 to 15), Mumiah (Mar 16 to 20)

The nine choirs

Traditionally, the 72 angels are grouped into nine choirs of eight, each led by an archangel: Seraphim (Metatron), Cherubim (Raziel), Thrones (Tzaphkiel), Dominions (Tzadkiel), Powers (Camael), Virtues (Raphael), Principalities (Haniel), Archangels (Michael) and Angels (Gabriel). The assignments vary between writers. Learn about the first in Archangel Metatron.

How to connect with your birthday angel

1. Learn the name and say it slowly, three times.
2. Light a candle on your angel's five days each year, a sort of angelic birthday.
3. Write a letter to your angel about your hopes and worries.
4. Ask for one quality you want to grow, and watch for it in your days.
5. Thank them each night.

A simple birthday angel prayer

"Angel who watched over the day of my birth, thank you for your love. Help me remember who I came here to be. Guide my steps, guard my heart and let me be a light for others."

From the Infused Lights crystal shop

Angel aura quartz and selenite are traditionally associated with angelic connection. Many people keep one on their prayer altar.

Angel Aura Quartz ClusterView in the shopSelenite Stick, 3 InchView in the shopClear Quartz Comfort StoneView in the shop

Browse all Crystals and Stones. Crystals and tools are offered as reminders for reflection and intention, not as medical care.

Continue with Guardian Angels vs Spirit Guides vs Ancestors.

With love and light,
Infused Lights