The Gaelic Roundtable for May: Devotionals

{Artwork Corax by Stephanie Lostimolo}

This is my third post participating in The Gaelic Roundtable blogging project, May's subject is Devotionals. The Roundtable asked:

"Does your Worship include Devotional acts? If not, why not? If so, why? Who is the common object of these Devotionals- or who do you find yourself performing them for the most often? Do they have a structure, or is it whatever feels right? Do you record these devotionals? What acts do they usually include? How often do you practice them? Is it daily? Weekly? Whenever the fancy strikes?"

I feel that I have touched on a lot of this already in last month's post, so for this month I will share devotionals that have become a staple within my own practice. A few I have come up with or adapted myself, and many others are created or adapted by others.

It may be noticed that one of the biggest sources of inspiration is Carmina Gadelica, and it will also probably be noticed that some of the versions I am sharing are not adapted. The adapted versions I have previously shared online I will linked to, and for the rest, the originals will be shared.  

In general I work within an outline so I don't get sidetracked when doing my devotionals, but as I have become more comfortable in my religious practice I will do spontaneous devotionals as well. 

Daily

Upon rising in the morning I light a candle, make a small offering and say a prayer. Sometimes I will add to that prayer, do divination or do a meditation. 

Togail an Teine/Kindling the Fire
Toirt Taing/Thanksgiving
Urnaigh Èirigh/Prayer at Rising

Before bed I will relight a candle for an evening prayer and sometimes a meditation. 

Smaladh an Tein/Smooring the Fire
Coisrig Cadail/Sleep Consecration

Monthly 

While a little more than monthly, every 20 days I will participate in a Brighidine flamekeeping vigil and a water blessing. I am not comfortable sharing the ritual outline as I don't feel it is mine to share, however, some of the prayers I use can be found below under the "Prayers and Praxis" section.

Another monthly practice is a new moon ritual, which I used to do monthly but have been lax on for the last bit. I would like to incorporate it and make it a monthly devotional again. A' Ghealach Ùr/The New Moon  { A ritual outline I like to use can be seen over at the Gaol Naofa website.}

Seasonal Observances

A'Ghrian/The Sun {Midwinter & Midsummer}
A Bealtaine Blessing
An Beannachadh Strùain/The Blessing of the Struan {Lughnasadh & Michaelmas}
Duan Callaig/The Song of Hogmanay
Glass úar errach {Latha na Caillich}
Song of Summer {Bealtaine}
Song of Winter {Samhain}
Summer Has Come {Bealtaine}
Summer is Gone {Samhain}
Tha Mi Dol Dachaidh Leat/I Am Going Home With Thee {Samhain}
The Feast Day of Bride {Imbolc}

Prayers and Praxis

These are some of the devotionals that I use as needed, while making offerings, doing certain tasks or when asking for aid with something. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but these are some of my favourites.

A Prayer to Macha for Safety
An Coisrigeadh Sioil//The Consecration of the Seed

An Deiseal/Sunwise Blessing {to open a ritual, by Annie Loughlin}
An Invocation of Macha {by Morgan Daimler}

An Liuthail/The Lustration
Beannachadh Buana/Reaping Blessing
Brigit Búadach/Victorious Brigit
Coisrigeadh na Seilg/Consecrating the Chase
Prayer for Peace {Gaol Naofa}
Prayer to Flidais Foltchaoin {by Morgan Daimler}
Sian Bhuadha/Charm of Grace
Sian/Sain {I have my own spin on this now, but Annie Loughlin's version is what I started out with}
Sloinntearachd na Brighd/The Descent of Brigit
The Lament of the Old Woman of Beare
To Airmed {by Fieldstones}
To Flidais {by Fieldstones}

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Sláinte!

Laurel