Find a quiet place where you will not be disturbed for at least thirty minutes. You might want to temporarily disconnect the phone, if you are doing this at home. The room should be warm, but not hot. If the weather is cool, you might want to heat the room or cover yourself with a blanket. I like to do this meditation lying on the floor. This is because I tend to fall asleep when doing this exercise in bed. You might prefer to sit in a comfortable chair.

Close your eyes and take several slow, deep breaths. Focus on your breathing, and allow yourself to relax each exhalation. Gradually allow all the muscles of your body to relax. I usually start with my feet, and then feel the relaxation spreading throughout my body. Once you feel totally relaxed, mentally scan your body and see if there are any areas of tension remaining. Consciously relax these, and then scan yourself again to ensure that you are totally relaxed.

Once you have reached this stage, take another deep breath, and exhale slowly. In your mind, picture yourself sitting in a beautiful garden. It is dusk, and you are watching the night fall, while enjoying the pleasant scent of the beautiful flowers that are all around you. You are pleasantly warm, and feel relaxed and contented. You are aware of a sense of anticipation. You watch the sun slowly disappear over the horizon. Suddenly, it is dark, and you notice a large hand in front of you, palm upwards. It surprises you that you haven’t noticed it before, as it is a huge hand. The reason you can see it at all is because there is a flame burning on the palm of this hand. As the hand is held steady, you realize that the hand is experiencing no pain. You know that this is the symbol of Uriel, and that the flame is the fire of love. You gaze at the flame, and watch it flicker and dance. This is Uriel’s gift to mankind, a flame of love that can provide you with emotional healing and peace of mind whenever you need it.

As you gaze at the flame, you become aware that the flame is burning in the palm of Uriel's hand. Uriel is there with you, and you can ask him for whatever you desire.

Despite this realization, you don't feel nervous or overwhelmed by the knowledge that you are sitting in a garden with an archangel. In fact, you feel totally relaxed and at peace. You feel more at peace than you have ever been before. You understand that you are surrounded and enfolded by Uriel's love and compassion. Anything you say to him will be listened to and acted upon, because Uriel will listen sympathetically, and help you gain release and closure.

Spend as long as you need with Uriel. He is patient and will always allow as much time as necessary to help you resolve your problems. When you have finished, thank him sincerely for his love, support, and help. Once you have said goodbye, you will notice the hand and the flame becoming fainter and fainter until they disappear completely. See yourself, in your mind's eye, relaxed in the beautiful garden. When you feel ready, return to the room you are in, become aware of your surroundings, and count to five slowly before opening your eyes.

You are likely to feel exhilarated after spending time with Uriel. You will feel more positive about the future, and have a sense of inner peace. Problems that seemed insurmountable before will now seem easy to overcome, and you will have greater insight into the motivations of others.

Your connection with Uriel will increase every time you perform this meditation. With practice, you will reach a stage where you can sit down, take a few deep breaths, and instantly be in the garden conversing with Uriel. However, this meditation is not intended to be a race, and frequently I take several minutes to reach the garden, purely because the process itself is so peaceful and relaxing.

Excerpted from Uriel, by Richard Webster