As you may have noticed much of this site contains certain aspects within the Celtic culture. The logo on the top left hand corner with the three spirals is a Pictish symbol. The Picts were one of the largest tribes in Scotland, until the coming of the Scots from Ireland. The word Pict was the description given to this tribe by the Romans, roughly translated it means 'painted one' - in other words these were the fierce warriors of both men and women, who painted themselves in blue designs (from wode) for important ceremonies, including war. The three spirals has a significant meaning within Celtic culture and is a version of the triskelion (three in one). The three spirals represent the three aspects of being: birth, life & death, being in a continuous cycle. It also represents Maiden, Mother, Crone, and of course with the coming of Christianity it had an additional representation: The Holy Trinity - three in one.
Above is the picture of St.Ninian
A Celtic Saint with a deep meaning for me, as I was born in his Parish and sang in the Kirk Choir for him - on my ordination he is one of my patrons, the other being Columba or Colum.
One of the fundamentals within Celtic Religions is that there is no distinction between Divinity and other aspects of life, whether that be stones, trees, land, water, or the work that you do, all is classed as Divine and as such spiritual. As a result Celtic Religions, especially from Scotland and Ireland have a rich culture of poetry, music and song and of course blessings. These are not static, but are ever evolving to take into account modern times. I recently heard a blessing being recited for going up on 'moving stairs' also known as escalators.
I have included on this site some of my favourite blessings for everyday events, I usually recite my own - but on this occassion I cannot take credit for these. I hope you enjoy and more importantly use them. More will be added as time moves on.
- Night Blessing
- My Druid is Christ
- Blessing on seeing the Northern Lights
- Morning Blessing
- Friendship Blessing
- Despair
- More Joyful
- My Druid is Christ
- Blessing for the home
- Prayer for Protection
- My Druid is Christ
- Holy Spirit - Wild Goose
- A Sacred Heart
- A Triscilion
- The Circling Prayer
- Gardens
- Friendship
- Lighting Sabbath Candles
- Lighting other Candles
If you can find no reason to give a blessing - the fault lies within you!
(Native American Indian Meditation)
Night Blessing
May we rest this night in the stillness of Your Being
O' Radiant Dawn, splendor of enternal light, come and shine on us
O' Emmanuel, G-d with us, we will lie down and You will lie down with us
And the dawn shall come and so will Your appearing
and we shall know as we are known
And in pleasure You will receive us
Call forth this night bearers of Your presence
Call for this night believers in Your Truth
(Gaelic Blessing - Scotland)
My Druid is Christ
Deep Peace of the running water to you
Deep Peace of the flowing air to you
Deep Peace of the quiet earth to you
Deep Peace of the shining stars to you
Deep Peace of the Son of Peace to you
(by the Iona Community Scotland)
Below the Northern Lights
Blessed are You Lord G-d, King of all Creation
Who produces the wonders and beauty of the Universe
Morning Blessing
Encircle my soul
In morning stillness
Scatter the shaddows of fear
Be at my side in midday bustle
Weave through the knotwork of time
Talk to my heart
In teatime chatter
Speak through the discords of life
Lighten the load
of incoming darkness
Glow like a star at midnight.
(Jane M Mackichan)
Friendship Blessing
Beauty of friendship grow between us
Friendship;
without guile
without malice
without striving
Goodness of Friendship grow between us
Frienship;
with light
with wings
with soul sharing
Be the eye of each friend
of my journey
to bless and teach each one.
The eye of the Father be upon us
The eye of the Son be upon us
The eye of the Spirit be upon us
The eye of the Friendly Three
be upon us forever.
(Author unknown)
(Above The Pieta)
Despair
Christ of the agony
Christ of the bleeding
Christ racked and stretched out on the Tree
I place upon You my own agony
I place upon You my own bleeding heart
I place upon you my own despair.
Take it
Break it
Remake it
Your Tree of Death became the Tree of Life
Give You Blessing of Life to me.
(Western Isles)
At the first cry of the first bird
They began to crucify Thee
O cheek like a swan
It were not right ever
to cease lamenting -
It was like the parting of the day from the night!
More Joyful
May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always on your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
May the rains fall softly upon your fields
Until we meet again,
may G-d hold you in the hollow of his hand
(ancient Gaelic Blessing, author unknown)
My Druid is Christ
My Druid is Christ, the Son of G-d
Christ, the Son of Mary
The Great Abbot
The Father, the Son, and The Holy Spirit
Blessing for the Home
(touching frame of the right hand side of the front door, before entering)
May the One who created all things bless this home
In your comings and goings may you be safe
May all who enter here do so in peace
May all who enter here receive the blessings of Love and Harmony
May all who reside within these walls be kept safe from the snares of the fallen ones
May Light reside in this Home, shining through the windows as a beacon for all who are lost and weary
May servants of The Creator circle this home providing protection and peace
(Rev Greig McNeish)
Above St. Columba
May the everlasting Father Himself, take you in His own generous clasp, in His own generous arm.
Prayer for Protection
G-d my Father protect me
G-d my Mother succor me
G-d my Brother strive with me
G-d my Sister comfort me
G-d my Lover dance with me
G-d my Friend accompany me
G-d my G-d find room for me
(Celtic Prayer - Author Unknown)
(Above the Standing Stones at Callanish)
My Druid is Christ
My Druid is Christ
Son of the Clouds
Son of the Stars
Son of the Elements
Son of the Heavens
Son of the Moon
Son of tthe Sun
Bless to us, O G-d
The moon that is above us,
The earth that is beneath us,
The friends who are around us,
Your image deep within us.
Amen
(Creation Liturgy - The Iona Community)
(Above wild geese taking flight before a storm on Sherrif Muir)
Holy Spirit, Wild Goose
Great Spirit,
Wild Goose of the Almighty
Be my eye in the dark places;
Be my flight in the trapped places;
Be my host in the wild places;
Be my brood in the barren places;
Be my formation in the lost places.
Ray Simpson
Community of Aidan & Hilda
Below the Sacred Heart
There is a Mother's Heart in the Heart of G-d
Above a Triscilion
Three folds of the cloth, yet only one napkin is there
Three joints in the finger, but still only one finger fair
Three leaves of the shamrock, yet no more than one shamrock to wear
Frost, snow-flakes and ice, all in water their origin share
Three Persons in G-d, to One G-d alone we make prayer
(from the Celtic Way of Prayer)
Circle us Lord, Keep evil without
Circle us Lord, Keep deceipt without
Circle us Lord, Keep ignorance without
Circle us Lord, bring joy within
Circle us Lord, bring honour within
Circle us Lord, bring wisdom within
Circle us Lord, bring Love within
(Adaptation of the Scot's Circling Prayer; by Rev Greig McNeish
Gardens
There is no plant in the ground
That does not tell of your beauty, Lord
May this garden speak to us of the fragrance of Your Love
May the fruits of the earth speak to us of Your mercy
Bless the moon that is above us
The earth that is beneath us
The hard work to be done here
The seedlings that shall grow here
The neighbors that we shall greet here
And all who overlook here.
(Author unknown)
Friendship
Beauty of friendship grow between us
Friendship:
without guile
without malice
without striving
Goodness of Friendship grow between us
Friendship:
with light
with wings
with soul sharing
Be in the eye of each friend
of my journey
to bless and to teach each one
The Eye of the Father be upon us
The Eye of the Son be upon us
The Eye of the Spirit be upon us
The Eye of the Friendly Three
be upon us forever
On Lighting Candles for the Sabbath
(Taken from an English Translation of Jewish Blessings)
Blessed are You our Lord G-d, King of all Creation
Who commands us to light the Sabbath Lights
On Lighting Candles for Other Occassions
Blessed are You our Lord G-d, King of all Creation
Who commands us to light these festival lights
My dearest Lord
be Thou a bright flame before me
be Thou a guiding star above me
be Thou a smooth path beneath me
be Thou a kindly shepherd behind me
today and for evermore.
(St Columba)
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