Angel Lore

An angel is a being created by God, able to manifest physically on earth by occupying a vessel. They are part of, and perhaps may entirely comprise, The Host of Heaven. After God's long absence, angels have become the sole caretakers and rulers of Heaven.

Culture & Hierarchy

Angels in Heaven dwell in a very hierarchical society. Angels are often referred to as part of, or entirely comprising, The Host of Heaven. Much of angelic heirarchy appears to operate like a military organization, broken down into smaller units called garrisons. In the absence of God, Angels currently run and manage Heaven, as well as the spirits within it, according to Ash.

Heaven's "senior management", prior to Lucifer's release and subsequent reimprisonment, consisted of a group of angels acting as caretakers and rulers of Heaven. One of angels was Zachariah, and another was his superior and leader of Heaven, the Archangel Michael. Michael appeared to have been the authority in Heaven for some time, until his imprisonment in the cage with Lucifer.

The Archangels, Gabriel, Raphael, Michael, and Lucifer, are the oldest and most powerful angels, although the angel Joshua has the ability to hear and speak with God. As of season six, only Raphael, Michael, and Lucifer remain alive, while only Raphael remains free of the cage in Hell.

Archangels are "fierce", "absolute", and are "Heaven's most terrifying weapon", according to Castiel. Unquestioning obedience is expected of lower members of the Host, and those who question orders may be tortured to force compliance. Anna and Castiel are both subject to this torture. Disobedience can be punished by death.

For a long period of time, angels were not allowed to manifest on Earth or take a vessel. They watched over humanity from afar. ^{4.10 Heaven And Hell,5.13 The Song Remains The Same} God appears to have been absent from Heaven for a long period, prompting some angels to begin the Apocalypse.

Winchester Beliefs

Prior to angels being introduced to the show, Dean believed angels did not exist, while Sam reveals his belief and prayers to God. Dean and Sam's mother is also revealed to have been prayerful, and that the last words Mary, Dean and Sam's mother, ever spoke to Dean was that "...angels were watching over us." ^{2.13 Houses of the Holy} Specifically, when Sam and Dean investigate a series of murders in which the killers claim they were guided by an avenging angel, Dean is adamant that angels don't exist, while Sam tells Dean that he has faith in God, and prays. Dean reveals that their mother did too. This alleged angel is later revealed to be the ghost of a dead priest.

In 2.20 What Is and What Should Never Be when Dean first sees Mary, he checks to see if she is real by asking her to tell him what she would always say when she tucked him in at night. She answers, "I told you angels were watching over you".

At the end of the time travel episode 5.13 The Song Remains The Same, Mary says angels were watching over them to an unborn Dean. It is not until 4.01 Lazarus Rising that angels actually appear, when Castiel arrives and proclaims himself an "Angel of the Lord", and reveals that he saved Dean from Hell.

History

Misha Collins plays Castiel

Angels are divine beings created by God. Sometime later, humanity was created. Lucifer refused to accept the position in the divine order apportioned to humanity, and defied God's word. After Michael cast him from heaven, Lucifer twisted a human being to create the first demon, Lilith. For his crimes, Lucifer was imprisoned in a cage locked with The 66 Seals. This conflict had lasting repercussions, including Gabriel's descent to Earth. At some point, God also departed Heaven, leaving the angels in charge.

Millenia later, the demon Azazel managed to locate Lucifer's prison and to communicate with him. Azazel then proceeded with a long, intricate plan to release Lucifer that required decades of work by Azazel, Meg, Ruby, and even Lilith. Of special importance was the effort to ensure Sam Winchester's availability as Lucifer's Vessel. The plan culminated in the breaking of The 66 Seals.

It appears that when the highest ranking angels discovered the plan, they decided to allow it to proceed. According to Zachariah, they intend for Lucifer to be freed so that Michael can finally battle and defeat him, bringing about paradise. However, to maintain order, the angelic hierarchy commands the rank and file angels to descend to Earth, and even take vessels to prevent the breaking of The 66 Seals. Angels aware of the master plan included Zachariah and Michael. Even some of the angels who were kept ignorant of Heaven's plan decided not to oppose the breaking of the seals, but for a different reason. Uriel and his fellows wanted to see Lucifer rise so that they could follow him.

Most angels worked to maintain the seals, including Castiel. He was sent to rescue Dean from Hell, but did not reach him before he broke the first of the The 66 Seals on Lucifer's Cage. It is likely that Heaven wanted Dean returned to Earth, not to prevent the first seal from breaking, but so that he would be available to be Michael's Vessel.

Eventually all of the seals are broken and Lucifer is released. However, the ultimate goal of Michael's followers is not achieved, because the final confrontation between Lucifer and himself is prevented by the combined efforts of Sam, Dean, Castiel, Bobby Singer, Gabriel, and the demon Crowley, among others. In the end, both Lucifer and Michael are confined in Lucifer's Cage.

Following the loss of Michael, Castiel speculates that Heaven will be in chaos. He intends to return to Heaven and help if he can. He is proved correct, and later reveals that the angels are in a state of civil war. Other angels have abandoned the fight to live on earth.

Characteristics

Angels are multidimensional wavelengths of celestial intent. Their angelic power exists in the form of grace, the absence of which renders them human. Anna voluntarily removed her grace in order to be reborn human. She described the grace as "an energy", but this energy is somehow connected to an angel's true form. Anna said that the removal of her grace was very painful. An angel's true form and vessel powers vary depending on the type of angel.

For instance, Lucifer's angelic form was very powerful and beautiful^{4.16 On The Head Of A Pin} according to Uriel and some other angels. In another example, Raphael's angelic form is so strong that it can destroy lower angels. After manifesting in his vessel, Raphael caused the entire Eastern Seaboard to experience a blackout^{5.03 Free To Be You And Me} Zachariah's angelic form has four faces and six wings^{5.16 Dark Side Of The Moon} Castiel states that his true angelic form is the size of the Chrysler Building^{6.07 Family Matters}. Within the show, an angel's true form is often seen as brilliant white light. Psychic Pamela eyes are burnt out when she looks on Castiel's true form. Michael's voice and form prove fatal to the bar patrons in 5.18 Point Of No Return. For these reasons, angels most often communicate with humans through dreams or through a vessel.

An angel's true voice is often heard as an ear piercing, high-pitched sound which can shatter glass. Castiel tries to speak to Dean with his true voice in 4.01 Lazarus Rising, and is surprised when Dean cannot understand it because he is the Vessel of Michael. Some humans, in fact, can perceive this true nature, but to most (including Dean) it is "overwhelming", painful, or sometimes fatal to behold.

When angels converse with each other in Heaven, they speak Enochian. Anna, before realizing that she was formerly an angel, was able to hear angels speaking without them being physically present. Dean referred to this communication as "angel radio", and it appears to be a common method of relaying information between angels. This might be referred to as a telepathic link; angels also have some ability to read human minds.^{5.14 My Bloody Valentine}

Angels occupy a human vessel in order to manifest on Earth. The person they possess must consent to this, as opposed to demonic possession which is non-consensual. Angels and their vessels appear to be matched based on bloodlines, which appear to be preserved by Cupids. It appears that while occupied, the vessel's blood is altered by the angel's presence. Castiel comments in 6.03 The Third Man that he cannot use his "own" blood for a ritual, because he is "not human". See also Demon Blood.

Some angelic powers are innate, and some can be curtailed or enhanced by the hierarchy of The Host of Heaven. Castiel finds his abilities limited after he rebels and helps Dean: "I'm cut off from Heaven and much of Heaven's power. Certain things I can do. Certain things I can't."^{5.02 Good God Y'All}. Castiel appears essentially mortal in the alternate future in 5.04 The End, after he reports the angels have abandoned Earth. After he directly acts against Heaven in 5.18 Point Of No Return, Castiel returns almost mortal. He receives enhanced angelic powers from God in 5.22 Swan Song. Abilities are also correlated with the rank of the angel.

Abilities

Angels are extremely powerful beings with a wide range of abilities. Archangels have all the abilities of a normal angel but they are enhanced to a higher degree, and along with the abilities of a normal angel, archangels seem to have extra abilities that normal angels do not possess.

• Angelic Possession (displayed by all angels) - Like demons, angels have the ability to possess human beings. But unlike demons, angels must have the permission of humans. See more:Vessel
• Superhuman strength (displayed by all angels) - The physical strength of an angel exceeds that of a human's significally.
• Invulnerability (displayed by all angels) - Angels enhance the endurance to physical pain and the immunity systems of their human vessels. Angels can become drunk but it takes an extremely large amount of alcohol that would kill a normal human being.
• Telekineses (displayed by all angels) - Angels have the ability to move objects with their mind.
• Exorcism (displayed by Castiel & Uriel) - Angels have the ability kill demons by placing their hand upon their forehead. This ability is limited with lower ranked angels and extremely powerful demons are immune to this power e.g. Alastair.^{4.10 Heaven And Hell}
• Induced Sedation (displayed by Castiel & Michael) - Angels have the ability to make humans go unconscious by placing two fingers upon their forheads.
• Memory Manipulation (displayed by Zachariah & Michael) - Angels have the ability to take away and restore a human's memories. Angels can also implant fake memories into a human as well.
• Teleportation (displayed by all angels) - Angels have the ability to teleport anywhere in the world as long as the area is not protected by Enochian sigils. They can teleport themselves, and other beings, through time and space. Dean refers to teleportation as "beaming", and on some occasions as "zapping". The process can be uncomfortable for humans, according to Dean.^{5.03 Free To Be You And Me}

• Creating sudden wind, shattering lights (Castiel), and causing an Eastern Seaboard blackout (Raphael) when manifesting^{4.01 Lazarus Rising, 5.03 Free To Be You And Me}
• Covert arrival, i.e. when Anna Milton attacked Uriel, or when Castiel attacked Zachariah's henchmen ^{4.16 On The Head Of A Pin, 5.01 Sympathy For The Devil}

• Healing (displayed by all angels) - Angels have the ability to heal any wound that a person possesses. When angels are disconnected from Heaven, this is one of first powers they lose as shown by Castiel's defection from Heaven.

For example Michael heals Sam, and Castiel heals Dean.^{5.13 The Song Remains The Same, 5.22 Swan Song}

• Resurrection even from Hell (displayed by Castiel, Zachariah, Joshua and the Archangels)

Gabriel resurrects Dean ^{3.11 Mystery Spot}, and so does Heaven we he is returned from Hell ^{4.01 Lazarus Rising}; Joshua resurrects Sam and Dean ^{5.16 Dark Side Of The Moon}; Zachariah resurrects Adam^{5.18 Point Of No Return}; Castiel resurrects Bobby ^{5.22 Swan Song}

• Healing Factor (displayed by all angels) - Angels are able to maintain their vessels without food, water, or sleep, and to heal them after they are injured. Their vessels appear resistant to disease. However, when Castiel is on the verge of becoming mortal, Pestilence is able to infect him. ^{5.21 Two Minutes To Midnight} Possessed vessels do not seem to age.
• Revelation (displayed by Zachariah) - Angels can implant visions into a prophet’s mind, as demonstrated when Zachariah uses Chuck.^{5.01 Sympathy For The Devil}
• Supernatural sight (displayed by Castiel) - Angels are able to see objects and beings that are invisible to humans, for e.g. Reapers and Enochian Sigils.
• Soulreading (displayed by Castiel) - By reaching into a human's chest, an angel can read marks left on the human's soul by another angel. This procedure is very painful for the human, but leaves little physical damage.
• Voice Mimicry (displayed by Castiel and Anna) - Angels have the ability to sound like any human they choose.^{4.16 On The Head Of A Pin, 5.13 The Song Remains The Same}
• Time Manipulation (displayed by all angels) - Angels have the ability to go back and forward through time. They also have the ability to time
• Harming (displayed by Zachariah) - Zachariah gives Dean stomach cancer and removes Sam's lungs. ^{5.01 Sympathy For The Devil} He also injures Adam, causing him to cough up blood ^{5.18 Point Of No Return}.
• Telepathy (displayed by Anna, Uriel & Castiel) - Angels have the ability to communicate using their minds.

• Dreamwalking: Angels can enter human dreams in order to communicate with them. They do not need to know where the person is to use this ability.

• Knowledge of all prophets. Castiel claims that Leah, the Whore of Babylon, is not a prophet because he has every prophet's name "seared" into his brain, and it is likely that all angels do as well.

Special Abilities:

• Pyrokinesis (displayed by Michael & Castiel) - Michael has shown the ability to kill another angel by setting her ablaze from the inside.^{5.13 The Song Remains The Same} Castiel ignited and burnt Crowley's bones.^{6.10 Caged Heat}
• Cryokinesis (displayed by Lucifer) - Lucifer has shown the ability to freeze objects with his breath.^{5.22 Swan Song}
• Electrokinesis (displayed by Raphael) - When Raphael first appeared before Dean and Castiel surges of electricity were coming out of his back. ^{5.03 Free To Be You And Me}
• Weather Manipulation (displayed by Lucifer, Michael & Raphael) - When all three of these archangels arrived on Earth, they disrupted the normal weather patterns of the area they arrived in.
• Reality Warping (displayed by Gabriel) - Gabriel has shown the ability to create living beings, creatures, objects and imaginary realities out of nothing. He also showed his power of being able to completely reshape objects and human bodies including his own vessel, and he was able to create an exact copy of himself as well. ^{2.15 Tall Tales, 3.11 Mystery Spot, 5.08 Changing Channels, 5.19 Hammer Of The Gods}
• Holy White Light (displayed by Michael & Raphael) - The ability looks very similar to the demonic white energy blast, but is far more powerful. Raphael used this ability to make Castiel explode into several small pieces and Zachariah expected to be destroyed by Michael this way as well.
• Matchmaking (displayed by Cupid) - Certain types of angels in the Cherub class, can bring couples together by marking their hearts.

Vulnerabilities

• Flaming circle of Holy Oil.

• This can be used to trap an angel. Castiel uses a molotov cocktail of Holy Oil to temporarily banish Michael at Stull Cemetery^{5.22 Swan Song}

• Angel Banishing Sigil drawn in human blood. When a hand is placed on the sigil, angels are temporarily banished from the area. It can be used by humans and angels, and the angel who uses it does not disappear with the others. Castiel uses an extreme form of this when he carves the sigil into his Vessel's chest; on this occasion, he vanished with the other angels, and returned near mortal.^{5.18 Point Of No Return}
• Exorcism Chant - There is an exorcism chant to expel angels from their human vessels. It seems that the chant is not well known as only one demon, Alastair, has ever used it. ^{4.10 Heaven And Hell, 4.16 On The Head Of A Pin}
• Staff of Moses. ^{6.03 The Third Man}
• Angel Killing Sword. Can be used by humans or angels.
• Enochian Sigils

• They can be used to disguise the location of those bearing the symbols. Castiel carved the symbols into Sam and Dean's ribs. Enochian sigils can also be used to keep angels from entering a building ^{4.16 On The Head Of A Pin,5.10 Abandon All Hope}

• Death's Scythe, which Crowley states will kill an angel.^{5.21 Two Minutes To Midnight}
• Cambion. Jesse has the power to transform Castiel into a toy. Castiel says that Jesse could "destroy the Host of Heaven."
• The Colt's power against angels is uncertain. It was ineffective against Lucifer, but he stated that only five beings could not be killed with this weapon, so it is possible that the Colt could kill most angels.

Michael

Michael - God's strongest Angel occupying Adam Milligan

Michael is an archangel. He is the oldest brother of Lucifer, Gabriel and Raphael. After God left Heaven, he was given authority over all of Heaven, which is commonly and collectively called The Host of Heaven.

God ordered Michael to banish Lucifer from Heaven and then God imprisoned him in a Cage locked with 600 seals. Michael obeyed, but his relationship with Lucifer would be forever damaged. Although Michael still professes great love for his younger "brother", as he refers to Lucifer.

Anna reveled that only 66 seals had to be broken for Lucifer's cage to open. Sometime after the creation of humans, God left heaven. According to Michael, shortly after Lucifer's banishment, their family fell apart, which was why God left. Soon after God left Heaven, Michael adopted full responsible of keeping the Host stable and manageable. Michael also is the primary supporter of an 'angelic plan' that would result in Lucifer's release. He knows that once Lucifer is released that he can finally destroy his younger brother. Michael sees the defeat of Lucifer as his destiny and the act of "a good son". Raphael and Zachariah are also key supporters of the 'angelic plan'.

Dean is Michael’s true vessel, although when Dean continues to refuse this role, Michael is able to use Dean's half-brother Adam. He was also able to employ Dean's father, John Winchester, as a vessel in order to intervene in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same.

After Lucifer possesses Sam, Michael confronts him at Stull Cemetery, but their battle is interupted by Dean. When Sam momentarily overcomes Lucifer's possession of him, Michael tries to stop Sam flings Lucifer into Lucifer's Cage, but he too falls in and is imprisoned there.

Lucifer

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Lucifer - God's most beautiful Angel occupying Sam Winchester

Lucifer is an archangel. He is the younger brother of Michael, and the older brother of Gabriel and Raphael.

He claims that he was expelled from Heaven "for loving God too much". After Lucifer created Lilith, the first demon, in defiance of God, he was imprisoned by God and bound by 600 seals, and only 66 seals had to be broken for his cage to open. The demons multiply, and come to view Lucifer as their deity or 'father', although few have seen him.^{3.04 Sin City}

Lucifer is freed from his cage when Sam kills Lilith - her death breaks the final seal. Once on Earth, Lucifer possesses the body of a man called Nick, although his true Vessel is Sam. He brings about chaos on Earth in the form of the Apocalypse. Epidemics and natural disasters result, and the Four Horsemen roam free.

After Sam assents to being Lucifer's Vessel, in an initially unsuccessful ruse to trap the devil, Lucifer faces Michael. He argues that they do not need to fight, but Michael says that Lucifer must be destroyed. Before they can begin the final battle, a moment of connection with Dean allows Sam to wrestle control of his body back and fling Lucifer, and Michael, into the the cage which was opened by the Horsemen's Rings.

Gabriel

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Gabriel The Archangel

Gabriel is an archangel. He is referred to as the younger brother of Michael and Lucifer.

Gabriel loves his angelic family and God deeply. But he soon grew tired of the conflict between Lucifer, the other angels, and God, so Gabriel decided to leave Heaven so that he would not have to witness further strife. He goes to Earth and disguises himself as a Trickster. In this role he goes about giving people their "just desserts" - punishing people in a way that ironically fits what he sees as their 'crime'. He likes the good life - wine, women and food.

In his role as the Trickster, he meets Sam and Dean several times. After Lucifer is freed, Gabriel attempts to force Sam and Dean into accepting their roles as vessels so that the fighting between his brothers will at last come to an end. Sam and Dean counter with the suggestion that Gabriel join the fight against Lucifer, but Gabriel still finds the prospect of doing harm to his family, or watching them do harm to each other, difficult to bear. Like Michael, Gabriel continues to profess love for Lucifer even after what he's done.

Finally Gabriel chooses to fight for humanity against Lucifer, claiming that God was right: humans are better than angels. He dies providing Sam and Dean the chance to escape. He also reveals the potential of the Horsemen's Rings to imprison Lucifer and stop the apocalypse.

Raphael

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Raphael The Archangel

Raphael is an archangel. While manifesting on Earth, Raphael causes the eastern seaboard to black-out. Although Michael is Heaven's primary commander, Raphael holds a significant amount of authority over other angels. Raphael supports the plan for Michael to battle Lucifer; he tells Dean that he can bring him to Michael.

Raphael may be the archangel that is assigned to protect the Prophet Chuck Shurley. It is assumed that he is Chuck's protector, because he finds and destroys Castiel, who is in Chuck's presence. Castiel and Dean Winchester trap Raphael in a circle of Holy Oil, but he denies knowing the whereabouts of God.

Following the imprisonment of Michael and Lucifer ^{5.22 Swan Song} Raphael tries gain control of heaven's weapons so he can release them. He tries to obtain the Staff of Moses which has been stolen by the angel Balthazar. Castiel tries to stop him but is overcome. Just as Raphael is about to kill Castiel, Balthazar appears and turns Raphael's Vessel into a pillar of salt using Lot's Salt. This destroys the Vessel and gives both Balthazar and Castiel a break from Raphael until he can find a new vessel. ^{6.03 The Third Man}

Zachariah

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300px

Zachariah is a powerful angel of Heaven who has four faces and six wings in his true form. He has significant authority over other angels. Zachariah is superior in rank to Castiel and even Joshua, an angel who talks directly to God.

Zachariah plays a major role in the plan to allow Lucifer to be released so that Michael can kill him. Once Lucifer is freed, Zachariah takes increasingly aggressive actions to force Dean to consent to being Michael's Vessel. His failures on this score embitter him. According to Zachariah, he was greatly respected by all of his angel colleagues before being assigned Dean's case because he delivered consistent successes. His reputation is damaged by Dean's refusals, and he is 'fired' by his superiors. Michael then gives Zachariah one more chance at the task of recruiting Dean with a plot involving the resurrection of Adam, Dean's brother.

Ultimately even this effort fails, and Zachariah is killed by Dean with an Angel Killing Sword .

Uriel

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Uriel The Specialist

Uriel is an angel of Heaven. He is first introduced as a "specialist" who is part of Castiel's garrison. He exhibits disdain for both humanity and demons. By 4.16 On The Head Of A Pin, he has been made Castiel's superior. He clandestinely breaks the Devil's Trap holding Alastair, intending for him to kill Dean. Uriel secretly supports the release of Lucifer so that the archangel can return to power. He is one of a group of rebellious angels with this goal, and he has been trying to recruit other angels to the cause; he kills those who refuse. He eventually reveals his plans to Castiel in an unsuccessful attempt to recruit the other angel, and they fight. Uriel gets the upper hand over Castiel, but Anna kills him, saving Cas.

Uriel is also seen in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same when Anna travels to 1973 and recruits a younger Uriel to help in her attempt to kill Mary and John Winchester and prevent Sam's birth.

Castiel

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Castiel The Angel.

Castiel is the angel who saves Dean from Hell. As a result of his interactions with Dean, he begins to develop empathy for humans. This leads to his demotion because his superiors view this as dangerous.^{4.16 On The Head Of A Pin} At one point, Castiel is forcibly removed from his vessel, Jimmy Novak, and sent back to Heaven where it is impressed on him, under torture, that he must follow angelic orders.^{4.20 The Rapture} Ultimately, he does disobey and acts to help Dean escape Zachariah in order to try and stop Sam from unknowingly freeing Lucifer.^{4.22 Lucifer Rising}.

As a result of this action Castiel is killed, but is then resurrected by God. He next embarks on a mission to find God in order to stop Lucifer. He becomes disillusioned after Joshua reveals that God will not intervene to stop the Apocalypse. After he takes drastic action against a group of angels in 5.18 Point Of No Return, Castiel awakes in a hospital with his angelic powers all but gone. After being killed by Lucifer in the confrontation at Stull Cemetery, he is resurrected by God a second time, with enhanced powers.

Castiel returns to Heaven following the imprisonment of Michael to help restore order.

Anna Milton

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Anna The Fallen Angel

Anna was originally Castiel and Uriel's superior, but she chose to remove her Grace and become human. When Dean is saved from Hell, she begins to hear the angels speaking. Alastair wants to capture her in order to find out what the angels are doing, but Dean and Sam rescue her, and Pamela Barnes helps her regain her memories of having been an angel. Anna is under a death sentence for disobedience, but she is able to regain her Grace from Uriel and becomes an angel again.

Later, Anna tries to get Castiel to join her and stop following orders, but he refuses. She kills the traitor Uriel to save Cas. After the events of 4.21 When The Levee Breaks, Anna meets with Castiel in an undisclosed location, and a group of angels take her back to Heaven for "reprogramming".

When Anna returns in 5.13 The Song Remains The Same she travels back in time to kill Sam's parents and prevent his birth. She believes this will prevent Lucifer from possessing him and end the Apocalypse. She fails, and Michael disintegrates Anna with a touch for interfering with Heaven's plan.

Joshua

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Joshua The Angel

Joshua is an angel who communicates directly to God. Although they do not converse face to face. Joshua was seen in Heaven in 5.16 Dark Side Of The Moon.

Balthazar

Balthazar The Angel

Balthazar is an angel who fought alongside Castiel during the last angelic war. Castiel thought that he had died in the fighting. In fact, Balthazar faked his death, taking a number of powerful artifacts, including the Staff of Moses and Lot's Salt, with him. He has been on Earth enjoying a rather hedonistic lifestyle, and has bought at least one human soul.

Cupids

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A Cherub Angel

Cupids are part of a lower class of angels^{5.14 My Bloody Valentine} There are dozens of them stationed on Earth according to Castiel, who refers to them as cherubs, third class. They can manipulate the mere nature of "love" itself, allowing them to make even the most opposite of humans fall in love.

A cupid is first seen in 5.14 My Bloody Valentine.

Angel Henchmen

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Angel Henchmen taking Anna

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Angel soldier of Raphael

Zachariah - and later Raphael - appears to have significant authority over these anonymous angels. He is often accompanied by two or more of them. They appear to follow his every order - they do not speak and stand obediently at his side when not performing an appointed task. The extent of their powers and abilities is unknown. Their first appearance may be in 4.21 When The Levee Breaks, when they come to capture and escort the fugitive Anna Milton back to Heaven. Castiel kills two angel henchmen in 5.01 Sympathy For The Devil, and in the same episode Dean banishes them along with Zachariah. In 5.18 Point Of No Return, Castiel kills two more at the site of Adam Milligan's resurrection, and a fifth in the subsequent attempt to rescue Adam. In the same episode, he banishes four others with an Angel Banishing Sigil carved into his vessel.

In Season 6, a group of henchmen acts as soldiers for Raphael in his attempts to gain control of Heaven. During 6.03 The Third Man, a henchman spying on Castiel speaks for the first time. Of the three soldiers in the episode, Balthazar dispatches one, Sam and Dean banish a second, and Castiel kills the third. The henchmen appear in the following episodes: 4.21 When The Levee Breaks, 5.01 Sympathy For The Devil, 5.16 Dark Side Of The Moon, 5.18 Point of No Return and 6.03 The Third Man.

Pad of Definitions & Kripke References

Avenging Angels An angel is an ethereal creature who assists and serves God or the gods of many religious traditions. In the Christian bible, angels are portrayed as powerful and dreadful, endowed with wisdom, correct in their judgment, holy, but not infallible. When their duties are not punitive, angels are beneficent to man. When their duties are punitive, they are known as avenging angels and are mentioned inverses such as II Sam. Xxiv. 15, in which an angel annihilates thousands on God's command. These avenging angels are used by God to punish men for their sins. – Pad of Definitions (1.07 Hookman), Official Website

Angel A supernatural being found in Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and Islam. Angel comes from the Latin word angelus, which came from the Greek word, angelos, meaning "messenger". According to these religions Angels typically act as messengers from God. Though superhuman, angels can assume human form and according to the Hebrew Bible, often appeared to people in the shape of humans of extraordinary beauty. They are also described as pure and bright and are said to be formed of fire, and encompassed by light. Angels are thought to posess wings, and are depicted that way in Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian art where they are also commonly depicted with halos. In the Bible, angels are a medium of God's power; they exist to execute God's will. Angels reveal themselves to individuals as well as to the whole nation, to announce events, either good or bad, affecting humans. – Pad of Definitions (2.13 Houses of the Holy), Official Website

Never say never, (...) but in my mind, angels as supernatural beings do not exist. In my opinion there are forces of evil, but the forces of good are human. There might very well be a God, but if there is, he's working in mysterious ways through a band of very imperfect humans. – Eric Kripke, Supernatural: The Official Companion Season 2, page. 75

Angels in Lore

Angels or divine beings described as messengers of God, or guardians of souls occur in many religious traditions.

• Angels on Wikipedia
• Angels in Roman Catholicism
• Angels in Islam
• Angels in Judaism
• Reported encounters with angels