King of the heavens
Nithael is the guardian angel of people born between December 16 and December 21, when the Sun is in Sagittarius, between 25 and 30 degrees. The Sun returns to these degrees every year, give or take a day.
- Zodiac The five degrees of the zodiac the angel governs. The 72 angels share the circle, starting at 0° Aries.
- Sagittarius 25–30°
- Days in 2026 The days the Sun crosses those degrees this year. From one year to the next they can shift by a day.
- Dec 16 – 21
- Choir The 72 angels are set in nine choirs of eight, from the Seraphim to the Angels.
- Principalities
- Decan The zodiac divides into 36 decans of ten degrees; each holds two angels.
- 27 of 36
- Decan ruler The planet that rules this decan, in the Chaldean order handed down from antiquity.
- Saturn
- Hour Its twenty minutes of the day: the 72 angels share the 24 hours, starting at midnight.
- 17:40 – 18:00
- Days of rule Every day of the year has its angel, in a seventy-two-day cycle that starts on 20 March: each angel returns five times.
- May 12 · July 23 · October 3 · December 14 · February 24
- Verse The verse the tradition ties to its name. Psalms are numbered as in modern Bibles.
- Psalm 103:19
- Hebrew name Its name in Hebrew, read from right to left.
- ניתאל
What Nithael governs
Tradition credits Nithael with obtaining divine mercy and a long life. It rules over emperors, kings, princes and every civil and church dignity, and watches over legitimate dynasties and the stability of empires. It grants a long and peaceful reign to rulers who turn to it, and protects all who seek to keep their positions.
- mercy
- longevity
- stability
- eloquence
- reputation
- virtue
Born under Nithael
A person born under this angel becomes known for their writing and eloquence. They earn a wide reputation among scholars, stand out for their virtues, and win the trust of those they serve.
The shadow of Nithael
The contrary angel rules over the ruin of empires and brings revolutions and upheavals. It sways all who work to overthrow monarchies in order to seize authority and the highest posts.
Four of Wands
The Golden Dawn starts the circle of angels at Leo and sets two angels under each of the thirty-six numbered cards. It places Nithael and Nanael under the Four of Wands.
- beauty
- celebration
- cleverness
- completion
Angels close to Nithael
Nithael, questions and answers
- How do I know if Nithael is my guardian angel?
- Nithael is the angel of people born while the Sun crossed its five degrees, from December 16 to December 21 this year. On the day the Sun moves from one angel to the next, only the hour of birth can decide.
- Which days belong to Nithael?
- In the tradition's calendar, Nithael rules five days a year: May 12 · July 23 · October 3 · December 14 · February 24. It also rules the twenty minutes of 17:40 – 18:00.
- What does the name Nithael mean?
- The tradition renders its name as: King of the heavens.
- Which verse goes with Nithael?
- Psalm 103:19, numbered as in modern Bibles.
Sources The texts on this page are written from an early nineteenth-century French treatise on the Kabbalah, now in the public domain; the tarot link follows the Golden Dawn.