In the early 1980's if you went to a specialist spiritual bookshop in London, like Watkins, to find books about angels, there were virtually none. Ten years later, there were whole shelves devoted to the subject. Some books were of value, and many were not. Often angelology and psychic experiences are mixed up, when the two are dealing with entirely different realms.

The idea of an angel is also often mixed up with the idea of a 'Master'. How a master has become a master is often not specified. There are some in the lightworker community that talk of physical angels, or the idea that we will become physical angels during the process of ascension (see here and here) which adds a further level of potential confusion.

All the major religions talk of angels. Hinduism has its devas and does Buddhism. These differ a little bit from the western view of angels, but with many similarities. The Fravashis of Zoroastrianism are akin to Guardian Angels. Judaism, Christianity and Islam not only all have an angelology, often they share the names of the key Angels as with Uriel and Gabriel and Michael.
Christianity has been hugely influenced by the insights of a mysterious writer named Dionysus the Areopagite, whose true identity is not known. It is from him that we gain deep knowledge of the three Choirs of Angels or the Celestial Hierarchies. The writings originate (it is estimated) in the 5th century CE. In Rudolf Steiner's lecture series Spiritual Beings, he suggests that Dionysus the Areopagite was an Athenian mystic alive at the same time as Jesus, which is an interesting proposition.

So what is an Angel? The meaning of the word (from its Greek roots) is messenger. Indeed the Hebrew word has exactly that meaning. So an angel bears a message from Divinity. A useful key to understanding the real nature of angels is that they are Intelligences. They are not part of nature. they are not advanced human beings. Quite simply they are divine.

It is helpful in seeking to understand the mysteries of Spirit or Soul to differentiate which chief category of knowledge it falls under. The Hermetic doctrine suggests there are three, and this classification is incredibly helpful in understanding many mysteries.

The Divine is Eternal and Spiritual. The Cosmos (which means 'beautiful order') is not Divine as such, because it is created. It is under the Divine Law, but also under immutable Natural Law. The Cosmos may be seen as the perpetual showing forth of Divine Life through endless creation. It is characterised by multiplicity. Finally Man* is a principle separate from both the Cosmos and the Divine, and yet participating in Divinity and Cosmogenesis.

Intuition
Intuition literally means 'inner teaching'
This word is often misused, to be the same as 'instinct' or 'hunch'.
In Ideal Philosophy Intuition is situated above Reason, In the Platonic scheme it is far above what he calls Doxastic learning, which is no higher than opinion and guesswork. Intuitions are of wholenesses of truth; and they are never personal as such (ie limited in scope to only the person).

Inspiration
Inspiration is a less misused word, and literally means breathing in of breath or the spirit. Inspiration is from the Divine, and comes through the agency of the Muses (in the Hellenic Scheme of Sacred Philosophy). It cannot be commanded but can, with one who dedicates their work to the highest, be encouraged. It heightens all art in all spheres, raising it above the mundane.

Revelation
Revelation is almost completely misunderstood in our era, and few would suggest in polite society that it happens. Yet, under normal circumstances all individuals receive revelations; the Still Small Voice is there for all of us. Again, it cannot be commanded, but it comes, for individuals and for groups. Apollonic revelation would be different to Dionysic, Athena's revelations would differ from those of Artemis. All are from the One Divine.

Revelations for eras and for the world are of course much more rare. They register in history. Krishna, Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed, all were such recipients. This is true even though much they received has been adulterated (altered and not in a good way).
It is worth wondering, if an individual received a revelation today, for the world, how would they promulgate (deliver it to people) it? How would its revelatory nature be recognised?

No true revelation ever contradicts the essential truth of a previous (Divine) revelation.

It is my conclusion that we receive insights and teachings from our Higher Self (Super-conscious) through Intuition. These essentially formless truths gather form as they enter our psychological space (the Intra-conscious) and we receive them as impressions, images, feelings, ideas.
The sub-conscious also impacts on our consciousness through feelings, impulses, images and ideas, but these are intensely personal. Or they are earth bound.

Two individuals can communicate directly through their Higher Selves, but may not realise that is happening, unless they listen inwardly, and without expectation. This - it seems to me - is communication in Soul Language.

As it is true to say "the mind touches what it thinks of" they can communicate in their current consciousness when apart. This skill can be developed.

If connected in some way, benignly, impersonally or malignly, they can communicate to the degree of their 'distance' from one another. This is easy for people in the same room. It is inevitable for family members, ex marriage partners, close friends, in proportion to the intensity of their relationship, past or present. This communication is via their sub-conscious, and we can certainly learn to 'pick it up' - via our inter-conscious. It affects us whether we consciously register it or not.  The effects can be a blessing or a curse.

It is my belief that when two people have loved, and sealed that love with love-making that is at all levels of their being, then the connections are opened at all levels also: sub-conscious, conscious and super-conscious. This type of connection entirely transcends separation in space, and to some degree, separation in time. I think it is how two souls find one another again, in this universe of ours ... that is, after all, constructed of awareness.