Sraosha is an Angel of Paradise. She is obedient to God, His dutiful servant. Her work is to keep the "world in motion". She does this by keeping balance. Like a clock pendulum has a counterbalanced point, she has an opposite. Her opposite is a demon named Ahriman. Long ago the Zoroastrian faith was very aware of Ahriman’s evil - odd, because Ahriman is the chief evil of OUR times! Ahriman is the demon quality of indifference - everyone is just a blip, an Orwellian number, a stat, a census number, advertising poll number, a social security or PIN number, a bar code. Indifference is a way to make our own self "special" by making others into nothing. We see ourselves as all important, therefore elevated and immortal. The opposite of indifference is attunement, aliveness, tender and gentle appreciation and perception of our world and others. We grow in creativity, we grow in balance and harmony as we attune with our environment. We come to see our body is a gift, the Soul an immortal truth, and we take care of the gift we are given. Some of the principles of the Zoroastrian faith are: equality of gender, appreciation of, respect of and equality of all humans regardless of religion or race, and appreciation of the environment, animals, and all living things. Zoroastrians are not worshippers of fire, rather the fire symbolizes the enduring, the radiant, the pure and sustaining nature of God.

The Zoroastrians have the equivalent of Archangels, and Sraosha is one of the holy, immortal ones, also called amshashpands or amesha spentas. The Manichean religion sees Sraosha as the "angel of obedience" and a fighter of evil. In their Paradise he is an angel of annunciation, and, as "Obedience", is one of the seven holy qualities. Obedience is the ability to be taught, to accept accountability and responsibility to a greater authority.

Sraosha’s symbol is a red chrysanthemum. Patricia Kaminski and Richard Katz, in their excellent work "Flower Essence Repertory" say this of the chrysanthemum: "The soul-spiritual part of ourselves is immortal; it chooses to continuously grow and evolve by incarnating in a particular body and expression of personality. If the soul loses connection with its true immortality, or if it overinflates the importance of a particular life, there will be great fear and avoidance of physical death. Such a soul has a psychological need to firmly establish its personality in the world as a defense against death and mortality. He or she seeks fame and fortune and falls too deeply into the forces of materialism. The spiritual part of the soul is often obliterated or blocked, although it will attempt to make its presence known through a strong awareness crisis (for instance at mid-life), though a life-threatening illness, or though death itself. The Chrysanthemum flower gives such souls the ability to contact the true spiritual ego, and to contemplate the impermanent nature of earthly affairs in the light of the Higher Self."

Sraosha would like to invite you to take time each day come to more clarity about being in touch with, and obedient to, the higher choices in your life. Making daily choices to respect, appreciate, and accept both your own self and others, to attune to your life and be more alive. You might set the stage for your daily meditation on your actions by sitting down and lighting a candle, focusing on the flame. The flame is impermanent, yet we are attracted to it because it symbolizes the Light, consumption of the material - the wick, the wax - to create the Light, energy. Then turn your thoughts to the center of your heart, imagining a fragrant red chrysanthemum within your center. The flower gentles and mellows you. As you focus, the flower becomes a flame, the inner light of your own heart chakra. God anchors a threefold flame within the hearts of each of us. Enjoy the light of God within you, letting it sustain you, fill you with tender balance.