Preparations and Imbolc Blessings {Resource Link Roundup}

Over the last while a few folks have been contacting me with questions about Brigid and Imbolc. I'm starting to prepare for my own observances and will be a little too busy to contact people back right away, so I figured that I would make a quick resource link round up of previous posts for people instead. I hope that it will be found to be helpful and that you all have a blessed Imbolc {in the North} and Lughnasadh {in the South}.

Warm Hearts & Hearths,

Laurel

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A Herding Croon
A Recipe for Spring Cleaning
A Rowan and Red Thread Cross for Safe Travels
As Imbolc Approaches
Candles for the Three Realms
Charm of Grace

Consecrating Seed
Crafts for Imbolc
Cross Quarter Waters
Devotionals
Every Day Rituals {and Hearth Keeping}
Fertility Charm
Forging New Bonds with Deities {focused on An Cailleach, but transferable to other deities}
Hail Brigit
Hearth/Home Blessing Candle
Lustral Bath Melts
My Brigid Doll and Her Bed
Poetic Weather Forecast
Saining/Purification Water
The Descent of Brigid
Victorious Brigit
Woolly Gaelic Songs & Prayers

Daily Purification {and some updates/happy 2019!}

It has been quite a while since I have added a proper post here. I've found myself in a place where I'm feeling more private with all areas of my life the last couple of years, more so than I have in the past, including my spiritual practice. This hasn't really changed all whole lot, but I am hoping the periods of silences this year will become smaller here. Thanks for those who have stuck around to take a peek at what I do post. Hope 2019 will treat you all well!

This year I am taking a pilgrimage to Ireland, which is being hosted by Land Sea Sky Travel and the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood. No surprise, I am really looking forward to going, not only to take a pilgrimage to the land of my own heart, but also to be able to meet fellow polytheists as we take this journey together. Being a pilgrimage, there has been, and will be a lot of preparation, both of the mundane kind and the spiritual. For most Gaelic polytheists, I think that line is blurred anyways. As I make these preparations, I am hoping to share some of my thoughts, practices, and so on. First up is the idea of daily purification. 

Recently the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood hosted an online talk covering base practices within Celtic polytheism, and one of the topics covered was spiritual hygiene{cleansing and purification of self and space}. Daily purification was talked about, which inspired me to become less lax in this department. I wanted to create a special saining water that I could use at least once a day when doing my kindling prayers in the morning, and ideally at night as well when doing my smooring prayers.

Botanical Infused Alcohol for Saining Water

Given that plants and trees play a central role in my practice, it only made sense to incorporate them into making this water. To keep things from going rancid, I decided to start off with making an alcoholic base, with nine botanicals associated with blessing, protection, and of course purification. 

To 80 proof vodka I added the following {all previously dried}:

Rowan
Juniper
Yarrow
Rose
Meadowsweet
Thyme
Birch
Oak
Heather

Stored in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, I let everything steep for nine days, under a thick red fabric to keep the light out {red is associated with protection}, wrapped in a rowan berry and hagstone charm {again for protection}. Shaking once each day, while saying a little prayer for its intended purpose. After the steeping period, I strained the botanicals from the liquid. Now I have a base to work with, which I think should keep alright for at least a year, should I not use it all beforehand. Probably something nice to make again for each Imbolc.

Making Saining Water

I thought that the perfect time to make the saining water would be during a water blessing ritual that we do on the 20th shift of every cycle in a polytheist Brighidine flamekeeping sisterhood that I belong to. I made one bottle, with a back up mason jar just in case I needed more, before it is replenished, which would be every 20 days.

To the blessed water I added 20 drops of the alcoholic base, one for each day, and nine drops of rose essential oil and 18 drops of lavender essential oil. It smells very nice. Stored in an old whiskey bottle, it sits on the hearth shrine, ready for use every day.

Daily Saining Prayer

When doing my daily purification I pour some water into a little vessel, before saying the following prayer. While dipping fingers in water each time...

"May the Three bless my hands {rub water over hands}

May the Three bless my mind {touching brow}

May the Three bless my sight {touching *around* eyes}

May the Three bless my words {touching *around* mouth}

May the Three bless my voice {touching throat}

May the Three bless my heart {touching left side of chest}

May the Three bless my center {touching navel area}

May the Three bless my whole being {sprinkling water over self three times}

May the Three bless this space and any place I may be {sprinkling around shrine}"

***Please feel free to use this prayer, adapt it as needed. This is very much inspired by various prayers that one would find in Carmina Gadelica.***

Afterwards I like to leave the remaining poured water in the vessel on the shrine until the following day, to use as needed throughout the day. Plus it makes the room smell nice. :)

Brigid's Flame for the Women of Ireland

Today is my flame vigil for a Brighidine order of flamekeepers that I belong to. My vigil has been dedicated to the women of Ireland. My hope is that tomorrow people will vote yes, so women there can have the same reproductive rights and freedoms as we have here in Canada.

Tending the Flame of Hope

Some of you have probably already heard of the lovely Tending the Flame of Hope project, which started this past January and is slotted to run until January 2021. It was started as a response to all the unrest and misery going on in the world right now. As a simple act of devotion of lighting a candle every day to spark hope in those who participate, and perhaps to bring some light and hope to others as well.

Upon hearing about the project I was inspired to participate, but realistically it is not something that I can do every day. Instead, I have slotted three hours every nine days to light my own flame, to pray, just sit and try and find my own hope. It is a time of reflection, of healing and thinking of ways how I can bring more hope into the world.

Brighid, bringer of peace,

Keeper of the communal fire-- 

May your flame bring us healing and hope,

May its light shine through the darkest despair. 

You can find out more about the Tending the Flame of Hope over at the projects Facebook page.

Blessings to you all,

Laurel

I Will Go Forth With My Sickle...

"I will go forth with my sickle under my arm,

And I will reap the cut the first act.

I will let my sickle down

While the fruitful ear is in my grasp."

~Carmina Gadelica

The above is from a Reaping Blessing, a suitable ritual that can be done for around Lughnasadh, the first harvest. Should you be interested, I posted about a reaping ritual during a previous Lughnasadh post a few years back.

As well, below you will find a lovely video done by Niamh Ní Ruairc about Lughnasadh in Ireland:

May this season be fruitful for you all!

Sláinte!

Laurel

Beannachtaí Na Féile Bríde Oraibh!

There is no denying that there has been a lot of tension, pain and anger for many around the last few months, to the point of being palpable. Unfortunately I don't think that this is going away quite yet. 

For those of us who are exhausted, ragged, and raw, Imbolc is a great time to do some purification and remedial work. Brigid can help heal our wounded hearts and grant us strength, and her day is one of hope and renewal.

Here are a few previous posts that might be of interest to give you some more information and ideas:

As Imbolc Approaches

Crafts for Imbolc

A Brigid Doll & Her Bed

Home Blessing Candles

Lustral Bath Melts

Fertility Charm for the Garden {or Women}

Consecrating Seed

Poetic Weather Forecasting

Woolly Gaelic Songs & Prayers

Charm of Grace

Should you wish to participate in something that is more ongoing, there is a lovely project that recently started called Tending the Flame of Hope, which will be ongoing over the next four years. It is promoting the act of daily flame keeping and devotionals:

"Every day, until (at least) January 20, 2021, we'll be lighting up a candle to keep the flame of hope alive, physically and in our hearts. We kindle it with the intention to bring hope to all, and we encourage you to share the pictures we take of the candles. There may be additional intentions: Liberty, Joy, Unity... but always, "Hope" is where the kindling begins."

~Tending the Flame of Hope 

If you are a devotee to Brigid {or wish to be} and are not already a flamekeeper, there are many groups dedicated to tending to her flame. Two such groups Nigheanan Brìghde {a sisterhood that I belong to} and Ord Brighideach International {cells that are mixed, brotherhoods and sisterhoods}.

I have found support and a sense of community in the group that I belong to and I am glad that I joined. 

Finally, I leave you with a lovely video about some of the Irish lore and traditions of Imbolc.

No matter how you may {or may not} observe this time, may Brigid's fire bring you comfort and may her waters be a balm to you. Beannachtaí na Féile Bríde agus Imbolc oraibh/ Brigid's Day & Imbolc blessings to you all!

Laurel

Welcoming 2015

photo of wild red deer in Scotland, 2014 by Michel

Nist o thaine sinn dh’ an duthaich,
Dh’ urachadh dhuibh na Callaig,
Cha ruig uine dhuinn bhi ’g innse,
        Bha i ann ri linn ar seanar.

A direadh ri tobht an taighe,

A teurnadh aig an dorus,

Mo dhuan a ghabhail modhail,

        Mar b’ eol domh aig a Challaig.

Caisein Callaig ’na mo phocaid,

Is mor an ceo thig as an fhear ud,

Chan ’eil aon a gheobh de aile,

        Nach bi gu brath de fallain.

Gheobh fear an taighe ’na dhorn e,

Cuiridh e shron anns an teallach;

Theid e deiseil air na paisdean,

        Is seachd araid bean an taighe.

Gheobh a bhean e, is i ’s t-fhiach e,

Lamh a riarachadh na Callaig,

Lamh a bhairig cais is im duinn,

        Lamh gun spiocaireachd, gun ghainne.

Bho ’n ta tart air tighinn an duthaich,
Is nach bi duil againn ri annas,
Rud beag a shugh an t-samhraidh,
        B’ annsa leinn e leis an aran.

Mur bheil sin againn ri fhaotainn,
Ma dh’ fhaodas tu, na cum maill oirnn;
        Eirich fein is fosgail dorus,
             Callain seo! Callain seo!

*********

Now since we came to the country
To renew to you the Hogmanay,
Time will not allow us to explain,
It has been since the age of our fathers.

Ascending the wall of the house,
Descending at the door,
My carol to say modestly,
As becomes be at the Hogmanay.

The Hogmanay skill is in my pocket,
Great the fume that will come from that;
No one who shall inhale its odour,
But shall be forever from it healthy.

The house-man will get it in his grasp,
He will put its point in the fire;
He will go sunwise round the children,
And very specially around the goodwife.

The wife will get it, she it is who deserves it,
The hand to distribute the Hogmanay,
The hand to bestow upon use cheese and butter,
The hand without stinginess, without meanness.

Since drought has come upon the land,
And that we do not expect rarity,
A little of the substance of the summer
Would we desire with the bread.

If that we are not to have it,
If though mayest, do not detain;
Arise thyself and open the door.

Hogmanay here! Hogmanay here!

 ~ Duan Callaig/The Song of Hogmanay, Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1

Over at the Tairis website there is a hand article about Hogmanay, as well as some ideas on how to celebrate it. 

Gaol Naofa also has a pretty nifty video about the holiday: 



I wish you all the best for 2015!

Sláinte!

Laurel

Charm of Grace

The guiding light of the Gods is before you,

The sage steps of the Ancestors are behind you,

The kind stream of the Spirits is through you,

To succour and aid you.

The bloom of the Gods is upon you,

The bloom of the Ancestors is upon you,

The bloom of the Spirits is upon you,

To bathe you and make you fair.

Grace is upwards over you,

Grace is downwards over you,

Grace of graces without gainsaying, 

The beauteous grace of The Three.

Excellence of men,

Excellence of women,

Excellence of council,

Excellence of lover, 

Excellence of sons and of daughters.

Excellence of dells,

Excellence of knolls,

Excellence of hollows,

Excellence of hills,

Excellence of horses and of heros.

Excellence of travel,

Excellence of journey,

Excellence of small town,

Excellence of great town,

Excellence of sea and of shore.

Excellence of beauty,

Excellence of radiance,

Excellence of goodness,

Excellence of the Otherworld,

Excellence of day and of night.

Excellence of form,

Excellence of voice,

Excellence of complexion,

Excellence of cattle,

Excellence of curd and of butter.

You are the star of each night,

You are the brightness of each morning,

You are the tidings of each guest,

You are the inquiry of every land.

You will travel rough ground,

And you will not redden your feet:

The Three are guarding you and The Three are by your hand.

The brilliance of the Gods is around your head,

The wisdom of the Ancestors is on your brow,

The hospitality of the Spirits is in your heart:

You will go forth and come home safely.

You will journey upward

And come down again,

You will journey over ocean 

And come back safely here;

No peril will befall you

On knoll or on bank,

In hollow or in meadow,

On mountain or in glen.

The protection of The Three is over you,

To shield and guard you 

From your head to your foot.

No man

No woman

No son

No daughter

Will make a glance or wish

Hate or jealousy,

Love or evil eye,

Envy or durance

That will sunder you,

That will lie on you,

That will subdue you, 

That will injure you.

Host will not make,

False one will not make,

Evil spirit will not make,

World will not make,

Word or accusation,

Lie or story,

Spell or sorcery,

Harm or hary,

That will affect you,

That will afflict you,

That will maim you,

That will overpower you.

Towards or from,

Earth or land,

Here or there, 

Up or down,

Above or below,

Sea or shore,

In the sky aloft 

In the deep below.

You are the nut of my heart,

You are the face of my sun,

You are the harp of my music,

You are the crown of my sense;

You are the love of the Shining Gods,

You are the love of the Wise Ancestors,

You are the love of the Gracious Spirits,

You are the love of every living creature.

~Altered prayer from Carmina Gadelica Vol III 

A Herding Croon

The cattle are to-day going a-flitting,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
        Ho ro la ill o,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
Going to eat the grass of the burial-place,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
Their own herdsman there to tend them,
        Ho ro la ill o,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
Tending them, fending them, turning them,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
Be the gentle Bride milking them,
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o,
Be the protective Cailleach keeping them,
        Hill i-ruin is o h-ug o,
And The Three at the end of their journey,
     The Three at the end of their journey.
        Hill-i-ruin is o h-ug o.

 

~ From Carmina Gadelica Vol. 1 {slightly altered}

Gaelic Folk Healing: Staunching Blood

This is my first entry on Gaelic Folk Healing, this one covers some of the traditional lore and practices to stop bleeding. This post is for the sake of exploration and is not intended to give medical advice!

*********

 

Blood Drop by Mattia Belletti

Is beannuighthe ainm an fhir a sgoilt croidhe an làoigh ghil ;

Is maith an nidh thainic as, fuil, fion, agus fioruisge.

An ainm a n-Athar, stop an fhuil ; Sancti, taraidh dà chobhair.

Spiritus Sancte, stop an fuil ta ag teacht go treun.

 

~ Ortha Coisgthe Fola

 

{Irish charm to staunch blood found in Gaelic Incantations, Charms and Blessings of the Hebrides by William MacKenzie}

 

There were healers who reported had the gift to stop bleeding, through the use of prayer or words of power. These gifts were sometimes thought to be passed through blood line or taught from one person to another. In some parts of Scotland, it was thought to be most effective when a male taught a female and a female taught a male these incantations. {Survival in Beliefs Among the Celts by George Henderson}.

 

In the Third Manx Scrapbook there is an instance of a Peel man named Gawne who was on a boat with a man bleeding to death and Gawne "saved his life without touching him, merely using a spoken formula." This gift was not only used on humans, but animals as well.

 

Also found in the Third Manx Scrapbook are accounts of a man named Jack Corlett of Ramsey who was thought to be especially gifted in staunching the bleeding of animals. Of this the author says:

 

"A friend of mine when about 11 years old watched a farrier cut a tumour out of the vaginal passage of a neighbour's cow near Leodas in Andreas. It was a serious operation, and the farrier refused to begin it until Jack Corlett came. As soon as the growth was cut out Corlett muttered his charm, and the bleeding ceased. This my friend saw, he says, with his own eyes."

 

There are few other accounts of people who supposed had this gift in the book which can be read here.

Some lore insists that to be able to stop bleeding on an individual, the healer must know the name of the person. An example of this is found in a story from Aultbea, Scotland where a blood-charmer named Ian Ban had trouble stopping the bleeding of a man injured at a wedding. It wasn't until another blood-charmer present spoke the victim's true name that the bleeding had stopped.

Not everyone was lucky enough to have someone around who supposedly had the power stop blood on command. Those people would turn to other means to staunch bleeding.

In Transactions of the Gaelic Society, Vol. 14 a cure to stop bleeding that was used in the Scottish Highlands was boiling a bowlful of blood into a powder, which was then given to the bleeding victim to swallow.

 

A cure reportedly used to stop bleeding in Ireland was cobwebs:

 

"This knowledge about cobwebs can be traced back to a medical manuscript that was transcribed from Latin into Irish by an Irish Liaig, T.Ó Cuinn in 1415. This manuscript is a compilation in Irish of various Latin works that were in general use by medical people in the middle- ages. The Tadhg Ó Cuinn manuscript has this to say about cobwebs:

 

Tele rania: i.e. the spider’s web; cold and dry; it has the retentive virtue; it stops the bleeding of wounds, and it heals as we have said.’ " {The Thread that Could Not Be Broken: Overview of Irish Traditional Medicine by Rosari Kingston}.

Lady Augusta Wilde cites in Ancient Cures, Charms and Usages of Ireland a prayer that is used in conjunction with scarlet coloured yarn to stop bleeding. The yarn was tied tightly around the neck and wrists {definitely not recommended!!!} while this prayer was said:

"There came a man from Bethlehem to be baptized in the river Jordan ;
 but the water was so muddy that it stopped flowing.
So let the blood ! So let the blood !
 Let it stop flowing in the name of Jesus, and by the power of Christ !"
 

Frogs and toads were used to stop bleeding in Scotland; living toads were brought face-to-face with a person to stop a nose bleed, and the ashes of a frog were administered to stop more serious bleeds {Healing Threads by Mary Beith}.

 

A charm called a "toad-stone" is noted in Scottish Charms and Amulets by Geoffrey Black that apparently was used to stop bleeding. It was a small black oval-shaped stone that was placed on a wound and the following incantation was said:

 

"The water’s mud [?wud] and runs aflood,
And so does thy blood.
God bade it stand and so it did.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, stand blood!"

 

Many different herbs were also used to stop bleeding, and there are a few named Lus na fola/Lus na fala {"herb of blood/blood weed"} including Yarrow{Achillea millefolium}, Shepherd's Purse{Capsella bursa-pastoris}, and Saint John's Wort {Hypericum perforatum}. Often these herbs would be used in ointments to be applied to wounds to stop bleeding and to promote healing in general.

 

To stop nose-bleeds Mary Beith mentions two folk cures used in the Scottish Highlands: a Broom{Cytisus scoparius} bundle was tied around a patient's neck or a seaweed called Linarich {Ulva lactuca ? } was placed on the forehead and temples. She also raises Stinging Nettle {Urtica dioica} poultices being used for minor bleeding, as well and Puffballs {Bovista nigrescens} and fresh Plantain {Plantago major} to staunch small amounts of blood flow.

 

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If any readers happen to know of other Gaelic folk cures and lore for staunching blood, please feel free to share them!

Sláinte!

Laurel


Sloinntearachd na Brighd/The Descent of Brigit

Sloinntearachd na Brighd
 

Brighid nighean Dùghaill Duinn
‘Ic Aoidh ‘ic Cuinn ‘ic
Criara ‘ic Caibre ‘ic Cais ‘ic
Carmaic ‘ic Cartaich ‘ic Cuinn.

 

Brighde nam brat,
Brighde na brig,
Brighde nan cleachd,
Brighde na frìth.

 

Brighde nan gealachos,
Brighde na bìth,
Brighde nan gealaphos,
Brighde na nì.

 

Brighde bean chomainn,
Brighde bean chobhair,
Brighde bean mhìn.

 

Gach latha agus gach oidhche
Nì mi Sloinntearachd na Brighd,

 

Cha mharbhar mi
Cha ghuinear mi,
Cha charachar mi,
Cha ghonar mi,
Cha spaltar mi,
Cha spùillear mi,
Cha saltrar mi,
Cha rùisgear mi,
Cha reubar mi,
Cha mhó dh’fhàgas

Brighde an dearmad mi.

 

Cha loisg grian mi,
Cha loisg teine mi,
Cha loisg ial mi,
Cha loisg gile mi.

Cha bhàth uisge mi,
Cha bhàth sàla mi,
Cha bhàth lighe mi,
Cha bhàth burn mi.

 

Cha laigh bruaill-brì orm,
Cha laigh suan-dubh orm,
Cha laigh druaill-drì orm,
Cha laigh luaths-luis orm.

 

‘S I mo chaombh chomainn
Brighde.

 

*********

English translation:

The Descent of Brigit

 

Brigit daughter of Dugall the Brown
Son of Aodh son of Art son of Conn
Son of Criara son of Cairbre son of Cas
Son of Cormac son of Cartach son of Conn.

 

Brigit of the mantles,
Brigit of the peat-heap,
Brigit of the twining hair,
Brigit of the augury.

 

Brigit of the white feet,
Brigit of the calmness,
Brigit of the white palms,
Brigit of the kine.

 

Brigit, woman-comrade,
Brigit, woman-helper,
Brigit, woman mild.

 

Each day and each night
That I say the Descent of Brigit,

 

shall not be slain,
I shall not be wounded
I shall not be put in cell,
I shall not be gashed,
I shall not be torn in sunder,
I shall not be despoiled
I shall not be down-trodden
I shall not be made naked,
I shall not be rent
Nor will Brigit
Leave me forgotten.

 

Nor sun shall burn me,
Nor fire shall burn me,
Nor beam shall burn me,
Nor moon shall burn me.

Nor river shall drown me,
Nor brine shall drown me,
Nor flood shall drown me,
Nor water shall drown me.

 

Nightmare shall not lie on me,
Black sleep shall not lie on me
Spell sleep shall not lie on me,
“ Luaths-luis” shall not lie on me.

 

My companion, beloved
Brigit.

 

~ All parts taken directly from the Carmina Gadelica Vol. III, save for some small changes.

 

{***Watermark on the image is due to recent image theft. My images are free to use for non-commercial purposes, just please give credit.***}

A Spell for Safe Travels

I recently started a safe travel spell and charm for a loved one and their travel companions. The candle pictured is red for protection and was anointed with protection oil and the phrase "Taisteal sábháilte" {"safe travels" as Gaeilge} was carved in ogham script. Surrounding the candle is one of the rowan berry necklaces I made a couple of months back with a World Tree charm on it, along with candles for the Three Realms {Land, Sky, and Sea}.

 

For this kind of work I use a prayer that was inspired by a prayer for travelling found in Carmina Gadelica:

 

While traversing Land: mountainous, flat or forested,

While traversing Sky: under cloud, moon glow or sunray,

While traversing Sea: stormy, placid or wave.

 

The Gods still uphold them,

The Ancestors be their shield,

The Good Folk point the way.

 

The Dé ocus Andé protect them when leaving, upon returning and during stay.

 

 



I also made a charm bottle for protection during travel for my loved one, which will be sealed with red wax from the spell candle once I am done the working. In the bottle I have representations from the Three Realms {cemetery dirt for Land, a feather tip for Sky, and a shell for Sea}, as well as some protective botanicals {birch, yarrow, comfrey and rowan}.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

Prayer for the Chase

{altered royalty free photo}

This is a hymn from the Carmina Gadelica that has been re-worded a bit. Since hunting season is starting here in my neck of the woods, I thought that I would post it for those who hunt and fish for their own food to use, should they wish.

It says in the Carmina Gadelica that the original hymn was sang by a hunter in the morning as he bathed his hands and face at the junction of the first three streams that he met.

Prayer for the Chase

In the names of The Three, Dé ocus andé,

In word, in deed, and in thought,

I am bathing mine own hands,

In the light and in the elements of the Three Realms.

Vowing that I shall never take a life needlessly,

Whether fishing, whether it be venison down from the hill,

Whether it be for fat, or blubber from out the copse.

 

O Flidais, Mistress of Stags, Lady of the Woodland and Wild Places,

Avoid thou to me the silvery salmon dead in the stream,

A duck with her kind an it please thee to show me,

A flock by the edge of the water where it does not dry.

The grey-hen on the crown of the knoll,

The black-cock of the hoarse croon,

After the strength of the sun has gone down,

Avoid, oh, avoid though to me the hearing of them.

 

Spirits of the wood, mountain, glen and stream,

May I bring no offense to you.

I ask you to bless this hunt, so that I may feed my household,

Harvesting only what is needed, hunting in honour.

 

May The Three bless me,

Crowning me in peace,

Placing a mantle of protection on me,

And teach me to walk in honour.

A Bealtaine Blessing

Bless, O Great Three true and bountiful,
Myself, my family, my household,
While in our home or out in the world.

Everything within my dwelling or in my possession,
Whether needful or sentimental, living or inanimate,
From Samhain Eve to Bealtaine Eve,
With goodly progress and gentle blessing,
From boundary to boundary, in every little space,
From ground to sky, above and below.

Be the Great Three taking possession of all to me belonging,
Be the sure Three protecting me in truth;
Oh! Guide me to live with honour,
And shield my loved ones beneath your wings of strength.

Bless everything and every one,
Of this little household by my side;
Place the glory of the Three on us with the power of love,
Until we go to live with our Ancestors.

When we shall leave these four walls,
When we shall leave the shelter of this roof,
When we shall go out into the world,
May the tending of the Three follow us.

You who have been with us since the beginning,
Please listen and attend me as I honour you
Morning and evening as is becoming of me,
In your presence, beloved Gods, Spirits and Ancestors.

~an adapted prayer from The Beltane Blessing found in the Carmina Gadelica

Herbs & Prayers for Bed Time

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Recently I have been looking into traditional Gaelic methods that help to promote sleep, good dreams and to keep nightmares at bay. One book that has been particularly helpful is Healing Threads by Mary Beith, which I highly recommend to anyone who is interested in traditional Scottish folk healing and magic.

 

In it the author mentions various different herbs used to help with sleep; heather was used for bedding and later on put under pillows, and thyme was also put under pillows to ward off nightmares. Nettle, chickweed, oats, apple, and poppy were also used, mainly to deal with insomnia.

 

 

With this in mind, I decided to create some herbal sleeping charms to be placed under pillows. In them I put heather {to promote sleep}, thyme {to keep away nightmares}, mugwort {to promote dreaming}, rowan leaves {for protection} and a few drops of lavender essential oil for a soothing smell. The herbs were sewn into wool plaid squares that are 3 by 3 inches each and stitched with red thread for extra protection.

 

In the Carmina Gadelica {Vol I} there are a variety of prayers and blessings for a restful and protected sleep. The prayer that I say every night is an adaptation of two of them: A Resting Prayer  and Sleep Consecration:

 

May the Three shield this house tonight,

And all who dwell within.

Preserve us from all danger and harm,

From disaster and foe.

Protect my loved ones in this place

And where ever they may sleep,

This night and every night.

　

Tonight I will sleep in peace and protection

With the blessings of the Gods

With the blessings of my Ancestors

With the blessings of the Good Folk.

And tonight I lay down with the blessings of

Macha, Airmid, Flidais, An Callieach, and Brigid.

May I always have the blessings of Them and the Great Three.

 

There is quite a bit more lore for me to go over, so I will likely do a more in depth post on this topic in the future.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

Woolly Gaelic Songs & Prayers

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Gaelic cultures are rich in traditional songs, prayers and blessings for daily tasks, from starting the morning fire, milking the cow, churning the butter, harvesting the crops, and putting the fire out at night. So rich in fact that there is even a collection of these songs recorded in Gaelic Songs of Scotland: Women at Work in the Western Isles.

This is a practice that I have adopted and adapted into my daily routine, which I find does make work a lot more pleasant and my actions more meaningful {I talk about this a bit more here}. While I don't have sheep, nor do I spin, weave or knit, I do find the songs and prayers associated with these activities particularly lovely.

 

The Carmina Gadelica {Vol. I} has a great selection of blessings two of which I will share below:

 

 Am Beannachd Lombaidh

 

Falbh lom ’s thig molach,
Beir am boirionn Bealltain,
Bride mhin a bhi dha d’ chonaill,
Moire gheal dha t’ aurais,
Moire gheal dha t’ aurais.

Micheal mil a bhi dha d’ dhion
Bho ’n mhi-chu is bho ’n an-chu,
Bho ’n mhac-tir ’s bho ’n mhadhan stig,
’S bho ianaibh ineach call-ghob,
Bho ianaibh ineach cam-ghob.

 

{Translation:}

 

The Clipping Blessing

 

Go shorn and come woolly,
Bear the Beltane female lamb,
Be the lovely Bride thee endowing,
And the fair Mary thee sustaining,
The fair Mary sustaining thee.

Michael the chief be shielding thee
From the evil dog and from the fox,
From the wolf and from the sly bear,
And from the taloned birds of destructive bills,
From the taloned birds of hooked bills.

 

{source}

 

Coisrigeadh An Aodaich

 

Is math a ghabhas mi mo rann,
A teurnadh le gleann;
Aon rann,
Da rann,
Tri rann,
Ceithir rann,
Coig rann,
Sia rann,
Seachd rann,
Seachd gu lath rann
Seachd gu lath rann.

Nar a gonar fear an eididh,
Nar a reubar e gu brath,
Cian theid e ’n cath no ’n comhrag,
Sgiath chomarach an Domhnach da,
Can theid e ’n cath no ’n comhrag,
Sgiath chomarach an Domhnach da.

Chan ath-aodach seo, ’s chan fhaoigh e,
’S cha chuid cleir no sagairt e.

Biolair uaine ga buain fo
’S air a toir do mhnai gun fhiosd;
Lurg an fheidh an ceann an sgadain,
’S an caol chalp a bhradain bhric.

 

{Translation:}

 

The Consecration of the Cloth

 

Well can I say my rune,
Descending with the glen;
One rune,
Two runes,
Three runes,
Four runes,
Five runes,
Six runes.
Seven runes,
Seven and a half runes,
Seven and a half runes.

May the man of this clothing never be wounded,
May torn he never be;
What time he goes into battle or combat,
May the sanctuary shield of the Lord be his.
What time he goes into battle or combat,
May the sanctuary shield of the Lord be his.

This is not second clothing and it is not thigged,
Nor is it the right of sacristan or of priest.

Cresses green culled beneath a stone,
And given to a woman in secret.
The shank of the deer in the head of the herring,
And in the slender tail of the speckled salmon.

 

{source}

 

You can see more relevant prayers and songs in the Carmina Gadelica {Vol I} online for free.

 

Since the uploader has disabled embedding, here are some links to some videos on Youtube of some traditional songs and the singers in action: A Gaelic Waulking Song & A Gaelic Spinning Song.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel

 

Prayer of the Woods

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The Prayer of the Woods

 

I am the heat of your hearth on the cold winter nights,

The friendly shade screening you from the summer sun,

And my fruits are refreshing draughts quenching your thirst as you journey on.

 

I am the beam that holds your house,

 The board of your table, the bed on which you lie,

And the timber that builds your boat.

 

I am the handle of your hoe,

The door of your homestead, the wood of your cradle,

 And the shell of your coffin.

 

I am the bread of kindness and the flower of beauty.

"Ye who pass by, listen to my prayer:

 Harm me not."

{Author Unknown}

 

*********

 

I am unsure of the origin of this poem, so if you know, please feel free to share! There is one blog that suggest that it might be a poem that is around 1,000 years old from and Portuguese in origin.

New Moon Prayer Requests

 

Every month during my new moon ritual I will make offerings and prayers for blessings for those in my life who request it. After thinking about it for a little while, I have decided to extend this service to the wider public. If you are interested, please contact me with the first name or initials of those the prayer is for.



Please note that this is an absolutely free service and you are not obligated to purchase goods or services from me. I understand that not everyone is in a position to afford the services of a magical practitioner, so this is a small way for me to give back for all the blessings that I have in my own life. 

 

If you look on the sidebar, you will see a link to the prayer request page on the Unfettered Wood website, which basically just has what I have already stated above. I may add more content to that page later on, including ideas on things one can do in conjunction with the prayers while they are being done and perhaps share photos of each month for people to see of the ritual that has been done on their behalf.

 

Sláinte!

 

Laurel