Protecting a Soldier in War

From the Sepher Ha-Razim

If you wish to protect a soldier who is going to war from all harm, call upon these angels, who stand upon the ninth step of the second firmament. These angels are helpful to anyone who approaches them in purity, so you need not appeal to the overseer of the second firmament, or “Heaven of Heavens” as it is also called. These angels may be addressed directly.

The Heaven of Heavens is where precipitation is stored, in great storehouses. These storehouses hold snow and hail, mist and frost, and are large structures

In order to work with these angels, you must cleanse yourself for three weeks in the following manner:

• You may not eat any fruit of palm.
• You may not eat of any animal, small or large (i.e. neither sheep nor cattle).
• You may not drink wine.
• You may not eat any fish or any animal that bleeds when slaughtered.
• You may not approach a woman in her menses nor commit adultry with a woman.
• You may not touch anything which has died.
• You may not come near a leper or any person affected by venereal discharge (even accidental).
• You may not speak any evil words or any sins.
• You may not commit any sin.

The names of the angels who stand on the ninth step of the second firmament are these:

GDWDY'L  SKSY'L  TRSWNY'L   NSHY'L
'SDD'    RBNY'   HLYL'L     TWQPY'L
SMKY'L   PDH'L   QRB'       SY'L
PR'L     PTHY'L

These angels are quick and mighty, and fly through the air. They wear breastplates and carry swords in their hands, prepared for war, sometimes holding bows and javelins, and they leap forth from the fire. They right horses of fire, and the harnesses of their chariots are of fire, and they bring terror with them wherever they go.

These angels protect soldiers in battle, if you call upon them. To call upon them, take seven leaves of a bay tree and write the names of these angels upon them, two names to each leaf, and place them in spikenard oil. On the day the soldier goes forth to war, smear the oil on his/her flesh and weapons. Write the names of the angels again on a silver lamella, put the lamella in a bronze tube, and let the soldier wear it over his/her heart. No injury will come to the soldier.