Raphael, whose name means “God has healed” or “Healing of God,” is one of the three archangels named in the canonical Book of Tobit and the only archangel explicitly assigned a healing function in the Hebrew Bible. In the angelic hierarchies of both Jewish and Christian mysticism, Raphael is the angelic overseer of the south wind, travel, medicine, and the Mercurial sphere of intellect and communication.

Position on the Tree of Life

On the Qabalistic Tree, Raphael is assigned to Chokmah (Wisdom) in the world of Briah (the World of Creation). This placement reflects Raphael‘s role as the channel who transmits the raw, dynamic force of Chokmah (the second Sephirah) into an ordered, healing, and communicative form. At this level, Raphael is not merely a messenger but the archetypal healer—the supernal Wisdom that restores balance through knowledge and mercy.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

Raphael corresponds to the planet Mercury (in traditional astrology, the ruler of Gemini and Virgo) and to the element Air. The Mercurial connection underscores his function as the angel of swift travel, eloquence, and medical science—Mercury being the classical planet of physicians, hermetics, and scribes. In Liber 777, this alignement also associates Raphael with the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes, both lords of writing, healing, and psychic crossing.

Historical context

Raphael’s earliest definitive appearance is in the Book of Tobit (c. 3rd–2nd century BCE), where he disguises himself as a human named Azariah to guide Tobias. He heals Tobit’s blindness by applying fish gall and drives away the demon Asmodeus from Sarah. The text explicitly states, “I am Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints” (Tobit 12:15). This established Raphael’s identity as the angelic doctor.

Later Jewish angelology, particularly the Zohar and the works of Maimonides, identifies Raphael as the angel of the second heaven (sometimes called Raqia’) and as the chief of the order of Principalities or Might. In Christian apocrypha, such as the Book of Enoch, Raphael binds the demon Azazel and chases the giants—broadening his purview to the binding of sickness and evil. In the Sword of Moses (Hebrew magical text, ca. 10th century), Raphael is invoked for protection, healing, and the revelation of hidden secrets.

By the Renaissance, Raphael standardly appears as the angel of Wednesday (planet Mercury’s day) and the ruler of the scheduim (spirits of Air) in grimoires like the Key of Solomon and The Occult Philosophy of Agrippa. In the Heptameron, his rituals emphasize the south wind and the hour of Venus on Wednesday. His seal (from the Lemegeton) is a square dyad used in talismanic medicine.

Position in Liber 777

In table row LXXXV (Angels of Briah), column step 2 (Chokmah), Raphael stands as the second of the Archangels of Creation. He is the Mercurial healing force issuing from the Wisdom of God—co-equal with his fellow archangels but singularly dedicated to the restoration of form. In angelic hierarchy, he stands as the peer of Kerubiel (Binah), Tzadqiel (Chesed), Tharshish (Geburah), Metatron (Tiphereth), Usiel (Netzach), Hisniel (Hod), Yehuel (Yesod), and Michael (Malkuth).