(First, a bit of background)

So the last few days, I've had bad gout in one foot, and reduced renal function as well.

My mother and an aunt recommended I go to a doctor, but the reason why I haven't yet is because this isn't the first time I've had gout, and the first time I did, when I went to the local GP here, after taking a blood test, he announced my kidney fine and wasn't able to offer me further diagnosis, let alone treatment.

I've been dogged by medical incompetence my entire life. My current renal situation started at the age of four, when I developed complications that led to kidney stones, due to the delayed diagnosis of a bladder reflux problem. (Although, in medical astrological terms, the scenario shows up very clearly in my natal chart; Pluto in Libra in the 7th house)

The stones occurred repeatedly in the left kidney, to the point where I ended up having it removed in 1990. I will confess I haven't been good to the other one, either; there has been binge alcoholism and long-term consumption of Coca Cola, although the alcohol consumption largely ended several years ago. The Coke consumption, however, ended only recently.

Anyway, I'm lying in bed, in not an insignificant amount of pain. The gout was originally only in one foot, but since spread to the other, and although the first foot has now largely healed thanks to some self-medication, the second has flared up considerably.

I was going through my mind, wondering how I was going to find a doctor to hopefully help me recover from this situation, now that I've determined to be more responsible with my diet. "If I could just find one good/competent doctor!" was a final mental thought.

A few seconds after that, I suddenly and entirely randomly had the thought of how Fio Prater Humanus wrote here that he'd been able to evoke the archangel Raphael Tiphareth, and also the reference in the book "Summoning Spirits," to Raphael Tiphareth being "the Divine Physician." The thought initially caused me to draw in breath sharply; I've done some reading on the Golden Dawn recently and by their standards, I apparently wouldn't even qualify as a neophyte; Nero (I think that was his other name on here) was fairly obviously a lot more experienced. I also wasn't in any shape to get up and go into the back room and attempt to draw up a circle either, let alone equipped for the task.

Still, I thought to myself. He's an archangel, right? If I'm respecful, I assume he probably won't bite.

So I sent out the thought, "I would not even begin to presume to attempt to evoke you at my current almost non-existent level of advancement, noble Sir, but I wonder if I may offer a prayer?" I didn't mentally verbalise the nature of the problem; I figured he'd be able to determine it better than I could explain it anywayz. A few seconds later, I was a little startled to mentally get what seemed like a reply.

"And what will you offer me in return, if I render you this assistance?"

This caused me to panic momentarily, as I didn't have anything to offer on hand.

"Forgive me, Sir, but I am a man of extremely limited means. Would it be acceptable if I were to offer you public praise and recognition online, as I have seen another do?"

There was a pause.

"It is."

For some reason I got the impression however, that he was very slightly miffed about it, but that it wasn't a huge issue.

I then had a vague impression of him coming into the room. I didn't get strong visuals, but did get a sense of great height in particular (my ceiling is around 9 feet up; I think he would have been about 12) I also had an equally vague sense of disapproval directed at the statue of Bhadra Kali which I keep opposite my bed; he apparently considered it unlikely that she would help me heal from this, but that could have been just me.

I then had a sense of heat rising from my feet, moving up to my shins, knees, and then calves, as well as a transfer of the pain in the same direction. There was some kidney pain immediately after that as well, but nothing major.

"Your kidney is indeed greatly taxed. It is under siege, and near exhaustion."

He didn't say anything else, and I didn't have any other sensory impressions as far as my kidney or legs were concerned at that point, either.

After a few seconds I mentally gave him license to depart. "I trust, Sir, that when you are finished, you will graciously depart, and again, I thank you for your assistance."

There was no further reply, other than when I was mentally repeating this experience several times to commit it to memory. He seemed to complain that continuing to think about him in that manner had the effect of inadvertently re-summoning him, so I told him that he need not consider it such.

Results? Although I bought a kilogram of cherries earlier, which are also supposed to be excellent for gout, as I currently sit here typing this, the earlier pain I was experiencing is now almost entirely non-existent, to the point where I was at least able to get up in order to type this, and will possibly be able to go to the supermarket over the road from me as well. Since it's only been a few hours, time will tell as to whether or not it assists me in healing.

In the event that it does work, however, I do genuinely very much offer my thanks and praise of Raphael for his treatment of my condition. I also offer an endorsement. Assuming this does work, and it wasn't merely a product of my imagination, for people who are ill, it seems that as his reputation states, he's definitely the Angel to see.

I hope I will not be chastised excessively for lack of caution by Mr. Curi, bym, or the other more experienced evocationists here. I get the feeling I may have successfully called Michael once before as well, and to be honest with him at least I actually got the impression that he greatly preferred not being called into a triangle like some common demon.

I found an image somewhere else online which I thought I'd link, as it definitely matches what limited visuals I felt I had; short or tightly curly hair, and a vaguely foppish/18th century type appearance. It's interesting; given his assumed age, his choice of clothing must at some point have been positively futuristic. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:http://www.pyracantha.com/images/raphael.jpg)