ITHURIEL'S SPEAR ONLINE JOURNAL
Why is it called Ithuriel's Spear?
Ithuriel was one of the three deputy sarim (princes) of the Sefiroth serving under the ethnarchy of the Angel Sephuriron. S/he was one of the angels commissioned by Gabriel to search for Satan, making possible Satan's original entrance into Paradise. Ithuriel, whose name means "the discovery of God," was accompanied by the angel Zephon during the search.
Ithuriel's spear was said to to expose deceit at its slightest touch. Thus, when Satan squatted like a toad "close to the ear of Eve," Ithuriel touched the creature with its spear, and it resumed the form of Satan.
Him (Satan), thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear
Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness.
Milton: Paradise Lost, Book IV, 810-813.Henry Fuseli (British, 1741-1825) made a weird drawing of this incident, entitled Satan Starts from the Touch of Ithuriel's Spear. It is now in the Cleveland Museum of Art, and it illustrates the moment when the angels Ithuriel and Zephon discover Satan disguised as a toad in the bower where Adam and Eve lie sleeping. Ithuriel forces Satan to reveal himself by prodding him with a spear.
Ithuriel's Spear is also the name of a common California wildflower, a photo of which you can see right here.
Where are the pictures from?
The photos of Hibiscus and Daniel Ware were screen-captured from "The Cockettes," a film by David Weissman and Bill Weber, Strand Releasing, 2002. More information about this fabulous film can be found at http://amazon.com, or at http://strandreleasing.com/Cockettes-The.html.
For information about Ithuriel's Spear book publications please go to www.ithuriel.com.